Blagojevich requests storm aid from government

Gov. Rod Blagojevich on Thursday asked the federal government to help cover the storm response costs faced by Champaign, Piatt, DeWitt and 46 other Illinois counties declared state disaster areas on Tuesday.

"Response and recovery efforts continue after the season's first blast of winter weather, but these communities need federal help to fully recover and prepare for more severe weather," he stated in a written release.

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