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Story category: business
Gambling Expansion, Pro and Con
Story air date: Wednesday, May 16, 2012
A bill authorizing new casinos and other expansions of gambling has been filed in the Illinois General Assembly --- and backers say the House could vote on it as soon as this week.
Like last year’s version, the bill would license new casinos, including one in Danville, and it would allow race tracks to install slot machines --- something Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn firmly opposes.
Illinois Public Media’s Jim Meadows spoke with advocates on both sides of the issue.
Former Illinois House member Bill Black of Danville supports the bill, and he is lobbying for it as chairman of the Illinois Revenue and Jobs Alliance. Black said the gambling bill won’t pass without the portion allowing slot machines at race tracks.
Anita Bedell, who is the executive director of Illinois Church Action on Alcohol and Addiction Problems (ILCAAAP), opposes gambling expansion. Bedell said the social cost of gambling outweighs its potential for tax revenue.
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Former Illinois House member Bill Black of Danville supports the bill:
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ILCAAAP's Anita Bedell opposes gambling expansion:
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business • economy • government • IllinoisHospital Offers Employees Incentives to Stay Healthy
Story air date: Monday, April 23, 2012
A growing number of companies across the country have started encouraging employees to stay healthy by offering financial incentives. Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana, which is one of the largest employers in the area, is pushing for a healthier workforce through its Charge Rewards Program. Illinois Public Media's Sean Powers reports on how it works.
(Photo by Sean Powers/WILL)
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business • health • health careRaw Audio: Jon Corzine Testifies Before House Ag Committee
Story air date: Friday, December 09, 2011
Former U.S. Senator and New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine told a congressional panel Thursday that he never intended to break rules requiring failed securities firm MF Global to safeguard client funds. He also said he doesn't know what happened to an estimated $1.2 billion that went missing. Among those who questioned Corzine on Capitol Hill was Congressman Tim Johnson (R-Urbana).
(AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
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business • economy • government • United States • peopleChallenges Accessing Broadband Service Highlight of Congressional Hearing
Story air date: Tuesday, September 27, 2011
People living in a city may take broadband Internet service for granted. But in many rural areas, broadband service is hard or even impossible to obtain. The problem was a topic of a recent congressional field hearing in Springfield, Ill. Illinois Public Media’s Jim Meadows reports.
(AP Photo/Toby Talbot)
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- FCC National Broadband Plan
- Illinois Broadband
- House Agriculture Subcommittee on Rural Development
- Map of Broadband Coverage
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business • economy • government • United States • technology • internetEatery Inspection Reports Are Tough to Get
Story air date: Monday, September 12, 2011
About one in 10 restaurants in Champaign County failed a health inspection from April 2007 through April 2011, according to a review of inspection records by CU-CitizenAccess.org. But customers have no easy way of knowing just how sanitary the places at which they eat really are. Dan Petrella reports.
(With additional reporting by University of Illinois journalism alumna Jennifer Wheeler, CU-CitizenAccess reporter Pam Dempsey and UI journalism alumnus Steve Contorno)
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- Read the full story to this report on CU-CitizenAccess.org
- Eatery Inspection Reports Are Tough to Get (Related Story)
