March 2008
Recycling not required for Mahomet haulers
MAHOMET – The four licensed garbage collectors in Mahomet will not be required to offer recycling services in 2008.
The village board voted 6-0 Tuesday night to approve four licenses to collect garbage in Mahomet, and the garbage services can offer recyling to their customers – or not.
Teen tells his story of addiction
TUSCOLA – It started as a hobby.
It was nothing serious when he started drinking and "drugging," said Nate B., an 18-year-old recovering addict who can't use his last name because of his participation in Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous.
Clerical errors haunting drivers for years
SIDNEY – Eleven years ago, Jack Peterson made a bad mistake. The Sidney man drove his '85 Chevy through Campustown while under the influence, and he got caught.
Time passed, wife and family followed, and Peterson thought he'd paid for his mistake with a fine and a suspension. But last week he was one of about 100 Champaign County residents who face a steep fine and loss of driving privileges because their original guilty pleas were lost somewhere between the courts and the state.
Tax increase referendum awaiting approval of school districts
TOLONO – In October 2007 Illinois lawmakers passed legislation allowing school districts to propose a sales tax increase in their counties – with one stipulation – that the revenue be used for school construction projects.
Unit 7 Superintendent Michael Shonk told school board members Wednesday that the tax increase could be a good way to help Champaign County children.
Sales tax holiday a bad idea
Illinois lawmakers, faced with a budget hole of at least $750 million, are discussing a plan to make that deficit even worse.
You can tell it's an election year.
The difference between good government and good politics
The Blagojevich administration likes to rave about how many state jobs it has eliminated over the years. But it's missed at least one substantive job: executive director of the do-nothing Governor's Commission on Discrimination and Hate Crimes.
In a world where government operated efficiently and effectively – instead of politically – Illinois wouldn't need a special commission on discrimination and hate crimes.
UI trustees call for 'Bill of Health'
URBANA – The University of Illinois is asking legislators for a multimillion-dollar "Illinois Bill of Health" to tend to its financially ailing medical school and health sciences programs.
If the special appropriation is approved by legislators, the state would provide another $50 million annually, phased in over five years, to support education of doctors, dentists, nurses and other health professionals.
Tuition hike at UI approved 'reluctantly'
URBANA – They're not happy about it, but University of Illinois trustees approved a 9.5 percent hike in tuition costs for next school year.
Before voting unanimously Wednesday to raise tuition to $9,242 annually for new students, trustees agonized about the impact on affordability, especially for middle-class families who don't qualify for financial aid.
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