Illinois’ has a larger economic output than Wisconsin and Minnesota combined, but economists looking at the three Midwestern states didn’t have much praise for the Land of Lincoln.

Here’s a link to the story at Illinois News Network.

Facing a court hearing Wednesday in a lawsuit that seeks to block the Obama Presidential Center from being built in Chicago’s Jackson Park, the center’s backers on Friday released closely guarded proposals from four universities that in 2014 were bidding to host the center.

Here’s a link to the story at the Southern Illinoisan.

The Mega Millions lottery may see a streak of jackpot rollovers end as it heads toward a record $1.6 billion drawing on Tuesday.

Here’s a link to the story at the Southern Illinoisan.

Korean War hero Lester Hammond gave his life to protect his unit

QUINCY — Gov. Bruce Rauner announced today that the old Sycamore nursing home in Quincy is being named in honor of Korean War veteran Lester Hammond, who was raised in Quincy. The Medal of Honor recipient was killed in action protecting his unit against heavy enemy fire. He was just 21 years old.

Cpl. Lester Hammond Jr. is buried at Sunset Cemetery on the grounds of the Illinois Veterans’ Home in Quincy (IVHQ).

“Cpl. Hammond was a true hero. His courage and fighting spirit will live on here in Quincy and across the state,” Rauner said. “This building will serve as a reminder of a life that was lost in the cause of freedom and that his selfless courage under fire is a legacy of devotion to the care of his unit that we follow today for our veterans all across the state.”

Cpl. Hammond’s nephew, Brad Richmiller, was in Quincy as the new building was dedicated to his uncle. He said he and his family will be eternally thankful for the recognition.

“Our hearts are filled with pride today, knowing that our uncle’s sacrifice was not in vain,” Richmiller said. “We’d like to thank Gov. Rauner, the staff at the Quincy Veterans’ Home, and everyone who worked to make this possible. I’d also like to personally thank the governor for his commitment to the future of the veterans’ home. I believe it is a moral obligation for us to take care of those who have served us.”

Lester Hammond Hall is the newest addition to the Quincy Veterans’ Home. The State purchased the building in June as part of an expansion of the IVHQ campus. It will provide skilled nursing care for up to 150 veterans and is the next step in ensuring quality health care for our heroes.

“Crews have worked over 70,000 hours to get this building ready for our veterans. It will have all new plumbing and a state-of-the-art water filtration system,” said Mike Hoffman, senior adviser to Gov. Rauner. “I’d like to recognize the skill, work ethic, and dedication of the dozens of Illinois workers who made this rapid renovation possible. Hammond Hall will be a worthy addition to our Veterans’ Home here in Quincy and will provide safe and comfortable accommodations for our residents.”

“We stand with pride knowing that the legacy of a local Korean War hero will live on forever in our community,” said Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs Director Stephen Curda. “We salute Cpl. Hammond and honor the ultimate sacrifice he made while protecting our freedoms.”

There is also progress being made on building a new, world-class facility on the IVHQ grounds. Demolition crews knocked down the old Rowland Barracks building this week. It’s one of several buildings that will be razed ahead of construction.

“I’m pleased that we have been able to cut through the red tape and move forward with this critically important project. This building demolition paves the way for us to quickly start building the new, world-class facility here that our heroes deserve,” Rauner said.

The Rowland Barracks is an old residence hall and programming unit that has been unoccupied since 2006. It’s the first building to come down since Rauner announced plans to rebuild the Quincy Veterans’ Home and incorporate a new piping system that will bring cleaner water to the residents and staff.

The state has partnered with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other environmental experts since 2015 to enhance water quality and safety at the Quincy Veterans’ Home. A new water treatment plant was brought online in 2016, point-of-use water filters have been installed on all sinks and showers, and new water heaters have been installed in all residential buildings to thermally treat the water against bacterial contamination.

To further advance the usefulness of the home, Rauner spearheaded an effort to rebuild it with enhancements to accommodate veterans who served in the War on Terror.

The IDVA’s Curda said the new facility’s modern features will prove beneficial for decades.

“We are designing the new facility at Quincy to take care of our veterans’ needs not just today and tomorrow, but for generations to come,” he said. “Behavioral health needs are currently not being met for veterans across the nation. Our investment here will change that and make Illinois a leader in this area.”

In less than five hours on Sunday, six people were shot, one fatally, in Chicago attacks, including two men who were caught in the crossfire of two shooters.

Here’s the link to the story at the Chicago Tribune.

PEORIA — The number of minors in Illinois’ foster care system inched upward over the last few years, while the number of licensed adults caring for non-related foster children significantly dropped, according to a national study released this week.

Here’s a link to the story at the Southern Illinoisan.

CHICAGO (AP) — Attorney General Jeff Sessions will deliver a speech in Chicago on the heels of a Trump administration decision to oppose a proposed plan to overhaul Chicago police under close court supervision.

Here’s a link to the story at the Southern Illinoisan.

October 21 at The People’s House

Art in Illinois exhibit is focal point of four-part Governor’s Mansion series

 

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Governor’s Mansion Association has announced the upcoming schedule for their complimentary “Families First Adventures” series on the third Sunday of each month from October through January. Art of Illinois family tours are designed for families with children ages 3-12 to encourage children and adults to enjoy art exhibitions together at the Governor’s Mansion located at 410 E. Jackson Street.

The upcoming schedule is as follows:

October 21 – “The Nature of Art”

November 18 – “Listening to Visual Art”

December 16 – “Sculpture Safari”

January 20 – “Art Investigation”

Reservations are required and can be made by calling (217) 782-6450. No large bags will be allowed on the Mansion grounds. Photography of the exhibits will not be permitted.

“We are excited to offer this opportunity for families to experience these unique art exhibits together,” said First Lady Diana Rauner, Chair of the Illinois Governor’s Mansion Association, a not-for-profit organization. “Each month will showcase a different theme and exhibits, making this a fun family-friendly outing children can enjoy all season long.”

Then Art of Illinois exhibit features more than 100 works of fine and decorative art as well as industrial arts dating back 750 years. Pieces in the collection are on loan from museums and organizations across Illinois, including the Chicago History Museum, the Illinois State Museum’s Legacy Collection, and the Peoria Riverfront Museum, among others.

Art of Illinois was made possible by the support of private individuals, corporations and foundations, including grants from the Illinois Arts Council Agency & the Terra Foundation for American Art as part of its Art Design Chicago initiative.

Rauner cites digital technology advances as he opens NGA Smarter States conference

 CHICAGO —Illinois is using advanced digital technologies to give taxpayers better service at lower costs. The result is a “smarter state,” one with more efficient government operations, lower ongoing costs, and savings of millions of taxpayer dollars.

Gov. Bruce Rauner struck this “more for less” theme here today at the opening of the National Governors Association’s (NGA) Smarter States, Smarter Communities Learning Lab. The Lab is a three-day conference for state officials from all over the country to learn how to deploy smart technologies and advanced data analytics to improve state government operations.

“Illinois is at the forefront of the smart state movement,” Rauner said. “We see technology advances as opportunities to foster economic development and support our job creators by delivering service that is efficient, timely, and accessible by modern digital standards. The NGA’s Learning Lab gives us a chance to share our experiences with other states and find out what we can learn from each other. It’s a great program.”

The Smarter States, Smarter Communities Learning Lab is hosted by the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices, a bipartisan organization that works with the nation’s governors on pressing policy issues. The Learning Lab will take place from October 17-19 at the Ambassador Hotel in Chicago.

“NGA is pleased to recognize Illinois as the first “smart state” that is working to share their lessons learned with others through the NGA Smarter States, Smarter Communities initiative,” said Sue Gander, Director, Environment, Energy & Transportation Division, NGA Center for Best Practices. “Governors have a great opportunity to enhance the quality of life for their citizens and improve economic development by harnessing the power of advanced communications networks, data analytics, smart transportation and energy technologies. This first cohort of five states will help demonstrate how to advance a “smart for all” vision.”

Promoting innovation within government has been a priority for Rauner since the beginning of his administration. In 2016, an executive order established the Department of Innovation and Technology, which consolidated Illinois’ I.T. functions into one agency. Since then, the cybersecurity operations center has strengthened protections for confidential records and has trained more than 46,000 state employees in cybersecurity.

Rauner also has promoted increasing online access to government information and services. The administration’s “Going Mobile” strategy has increased mobile service deliveries from 3 percent to 45 percent in the last year and has produced more than 40 mobile apps to streamline access to information. Ninety percent of state licenses are now available online, lowering application times by 22 percent and reducing costs of paper and postage by $600,000 a year. Additionally, 96 percent of the state’s school districts now have access to high-speed internet, up from 71 percent in 2015.

Modernized state technology is reducing cyber risk and saving money. Eighty-one percent of state agencies have migrated to the Illinois.gov platform, reducing the costs and security risks associated with maintaining multiple domains. Meanwhile, 420 different human resources, grant management, and financial reporting systems are being consolidated into one integrated platform. This enterprise resource plan will save taxpayers between $139 million and $300 million annually once it is fully implemented.

“The Department of Innovation and Technology has played an important role in making Illinois government more efficient and effective,” said Acting Secretary Kirk Lonbom. “The state’s collaboration with the NGA and other states from around the country will help us achieve our mission of cutting costs, improving service delivery, and providing value to Illinois taxpayers.”

Illinois ranked dead last in terms of fiscal stability using the most recent data that marks the first year lawmakers and Gov. Bruce Rauner failed to agree on a budget. The author of the report notes that the state also had lower taxes at the time.

Here’s a link to the story at Illinois News Network.