Local history

In 1910, “The One-Room Country Schools of Illinois” is a 92-page booklet published by the state superintendent of public instruction. Chapter 1 is devoted to the school house, including a plan for a modern structure that will seat 40 children. There are separate cloak rooms for boys and girls, a neat library room and a coal room. A bill of materials is given, stating what materials would be needed to build the school. Two schools are detailed, one costing between $1,350 and $1,650, the other between $800 and $1,000.

In 1960, Illinois grade and high schools reopen this week and more than 1,300 of them do not comply with state fire safety rules. The tragic Dec. 1, 1958, fire at Our Lady of Angels School in Chicago triggered a movement for a more stringent school fire code in Illinois.

Cool nights ahead

Temperatures are forecast to drop to as low as 48 degrees tonight and tomorrow night in Champaign-Urbana.

The last time we had temps in the 40s here was May 17 when it was 49. That was 81 days ago.

Kirk-Alexi poll

Who are these 68 percent who like either of these guys?

From The Chicago Tribune ...

"Democrat Alexi Giannoulias and Republican Mark Kirk are wounded rivals running neck and neck for the U.S. Senate seat once held by President Barack Obama, a new Tribune/WGN-TV poll shows.

"After a bruising summer of controversies, both major party candidates have work to do to win key swing voters while at the same time exploiting their opponent's weak spots, the survey found. Energized by the political symbolism of capturing the president's former seat, national Republicans and Democrats are expected to pour millions of dollars into an advertising war during the two months before the Nov. 2 election.

"Giannoulias, the first-term state treasurer, and Kirk, a five-term North Shore congressman, both had 34 percent in the statewide poll of 600 registered likely voters conducted Aug. 28 through Wednesday. Another 22 percent of voters were undecided.

"The softness in support opens the door for third-party candidates to play a spoiler role in the close contest. LeAlan Jones, the Green Party candidate, had 6 percent and Libertarian Party candidate Mike Labno had 3 percent in the survey. The poll has an error margin of plus or minus 4 percentage points.

"Many Republican-leaning voters are undecided about the previously little-known Kirk, whose ability to push his credentials has been hampered by revelations that he embellished his military record. Kirk, who has not been warmly embraced by conservatives, could lose much-needed support if Labno can raise his name recognition among disaffected voters.

"Giannoulias has been able to withstand months of controversy over his association with his family's failed Broadway Bank, as well as loans made to convicted felons during his tenure as senior loan officer. But the survey suggests that Giannoulias could find it difficult to improve his standing and is vulnerable to a well-funded Republican attack."

http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2010/09/tribunewgn-tv-poll-giannoulia...

New Yorkers don't want Muslim center near World Trade Center site

From The New York Times ...

"Two-thirds of New York City residents want a planned Muslim community center and mosque to be relocated to a less controversial site farther away from ground zero in Lower Manhattan, including many who describe themselves as supporters of the project, according to a New York Times poll.

"The poll indicates that support for the 13-story complex, which organizers said would promote moderate Islam and interfaith dialogue, is tepid in its hometown.

"Nearly nine years after the Sept. 11 attacks ignited a wave of anxiety about Muslims, many in the country’s biggest and arguably most cosmopolitan city still have an uneasy relationship with Islam. One-fifth of New Yorkers acknowledged animosity toward Muslims. Thirty-three percent said that compared with other American citizens, Muslims were more sympathetic to terrorists. And nearly 60 percent said people they know had negative feelings toward Muslims because of 9/11."

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/03/nyregion/03poll.html?_r=1&hp

Democrats take another hit

From The New York Times ...

"The college vote is up for grabs this year — to an extent that would have seemed unlikely two years ago, when a generation of young people seemed to swoon over Barack Obama.

"Though many students are liberals on social issues, the economic reality of a weak job market has taken a toll on their loyalties: far fewer 18- to 29-year-olds now identify themselves as Democrats compared with 2008.

“'Is the recession, which is hitting young people very hard, doing lasting or permanent damage to what looked like a good Democratic advantage with this age group?' asked Scott Keeter, the director of survey research at the Pew Research Center, a nonpartisan group. 'The jury is still out.'

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/03/us/politics/03students.html?hp

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