While a couple of state budget analysis groups differ on how much more Democratic gubernatorial candidate J.B. Pritzker could spend if he’s elected, they agree Pritzker will cost taxpayers more.

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

Illinois high school students posted the highest average ACT score in at least nearly three decades, but that achievement is tempered by the tremendous drop in the number of students who took the test.

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

Democratic governor candidate J.B. Pritzker’s record $146 million in self-funding of his campaign has been documented in real time, but campaign finance reports filed late Monday show just how much he and Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner are spending.

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

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Illinois officials have a message for voters this election season: Your vote is safe.

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

BELLEVILLE — The two challengers in Illinois’ 12th District contest had the conversation all to themselves Tuesday during the first of two public debates — incumbent Mike Bost had other plans.

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

BENTON, ILLINOIS — Following “National Preparedness Month” in September, individuals and communities throughout Franklin County will participate in the Great Central US ShakeOut earthquake drill.

Held annually on the third Thursday of October, the International ShakeOut Day is set for Thursday, October 18, 2018.  During the self-led drill, participants practice how to “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” at exactly 10:18 AM.

Endorsed by emergency management officials and first responders, the safe response to an earthquake is to:

DROP where you are, onto your hands and knees. This position protects you from being knocked down and also allows you to stay low and crawl to shelter if nearby.

COVER your head and neck with one arm and hand

• If a sturdy table or desk is nearby, crawl underneath it for shelter
• If no shelter is nearby, crawl next to an interior wall (away from windows)
• Stay on your knees; bend over to protect vital organs

HOLD ON until shaking stops

• Under shelter: hold on to it with one hand; be ready to move with your shelter if it shifts
• No shelter: hold on to your head and neck with both arms and hands.

The April 2015 M7.8 Nepal earthquake and M8.3 September 16, 2015 earthquake near Illapel, Chile serve as reminders that large earthquakes can occur with little to no warning.  Citizens in Southern Illinois are not immune to earthquakes—the region is home to several active seismic zones capable of producing damaging earthquakes, including the New Madrid and Wabash Valley Seismic Zones.

According to Director of Emergency Management Ryan M. Buckingham, “Damaging earthquakes can occur at any time with no warning, and it is vital that you Drop, Cover, and Hold to protect yourself when the shaking starts”. Buckingham also suggests taking steps in your home or business to mitigate the risk of damage and injury from an earthquake. “Taking time to perform earthquake mitigation steps such as securing heavy furniture that can overturn, or strapping down your hot water heater can prevent injuries and damage during a large earthquake” added the Director.

The ShakeOut Earthquake Drill is free and open-to-the-public, and participants include individuals, schools, businesses, local and state government agencies, and many other groups.  To take part in the ShakeOut, individuals and organizations are asked to join the drill by registering to participate www.shakeout.org. Once registered, participants receive regular information on how to plan their drill and become better prepared for earthquakes and other disasters.

To date, 2.4 million people are registered to participate in this regional event, however Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drills will also occur throughout the nation and in several countries worldwide.  More than 35 million people around the globe are expected to participate; and in addition to safety drills, many participants take extra steps to become more prepared for earthquakes or other disasters.

SPRINGFIELD – Gov. Bruce Rauner today announced nearly $1.6 million dollars has been awarded for recreational trail development projects in 11 Illinois communities, helping them meet the growing demand for improved trails and outdoor recreation facilities.

“These projects will help provide safe places for children and families, hikers, bike riders and horseback riders to enjoy the outdoors,” Rauner said.

Funding for the grants is supported by the federal government’s Recreational Trails Program (RTP), which provides up to 80 percent reimbursement to local grant recipients for the cost of the trail projects.  Grant recipients provide the balance of the funding for the projects.

The RTP grant program in Illinois is administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) in cooperation with the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT).

“We are pleased to partner with the local government sponsors of these trail construction, improvement, and maintenance projects that will benefit trail users in communities throughout the state,” said IDNR Director Wayne Rosenthal.

“These projects are going to add to the state’s impressive collection of trails and strengthen multimodal connections in several of our great communities,” said IDOT Secretary Randy Blankenhorn. “Not only will they improve transportation, but they will also enhance the quality of life for residents and families.”

Grants may be awarded for the acquisition of land from willing sellers, trail construction and rehabilitation, purchase of equipment for trail development and maintenance, restoration of areas damaged by unauthorized trail use, construction of trail-related support facilities (such as parking and restrooms), and educational programs.

The projects were recommended for funding by the Illinois Greenways and Trails Council, composed of representatives of statewide motorized and nonmotorized trail user organizations, statewide agency organizations, organizations involved in greenways and trails, and metro-area greenways and trails coalitions.

Recreational Trails Program grant recipients, grant amounts and project descriptions are listed below.

Recreational Trails Program (RTP) grants

                                                           

City of Aurora (Kane County), $140,000 for replacement of a crumbling concrete staircase which connects the south end of the East Branch of the Fox River Trail with New York Street in downtown Aurora. The Fox River Trail extends nearly 60 miles from Oswego north to near the Wisconsin border. The city will install a metal stairway to replace the concrete steps.

City of Charleston (Coles County), $76,100 for trailhead improvements related to the existing 12-mile Lincoln Prairie Grass Trail. Includes the development of new concrete parking with an accessible parking area at Country Club Road, new concrete parking with accessible parking at Decker Springs Road, and new concrete parking with accessible space at the TGM elevator entrance.

Cook County Forest Preserve District, $200,000 for repairs to the underpass at 119^th and LaGrange Road and repair of the adjacent trail in Palos Hills. The underpass is on an 8.1-mile trail loop and has a stone aggregate surface. This loop connects to the 20-mile Sag Valley Trail System, which also connects to the 40-mile Palos Trail.

DuPage County Forest Preserve District, $200,000 to construct .6 miles of equestrian/multi-use trail along the northern boundary of St. James Farm. The trail will expand the preserve’s equestrian recreational opportunities and provide links to an existing carriage walk along Winfield Road and to a future trail through Cantigny Park.

Macon County Conservation District, $180,800 to repair three bridges spanning the Sangamon River and Stevens Creek. Wood material used in bridge construction is reaching the end of its useful life and is in need of replacement, while embankment settling and scour erosion require regrading and riprap replacement. The project will replace deteriorated wood and fencing and reshape the bridge embankment.

Village of Mahomet (Champaign County), $98,000 for a concrete trail south from the parking lot through 120 yards of bottomland forest. The launch site will include a small overlook with a bench, interpretive signage, and a turnaround to accommodate visitors with disabilities. The launch will create a concrete ramp with an incline to water level for kayak and canoe launching.

Prairie State College District 515, (Cook County), $135,800 for a 1-mile walking trail. The trail loop will be located in a 30-acre nature preserve.

Rockford Park District, (Winnebago County), $104,000 to develop a 1.2-mile trail at Alpine Hills Adventure Park to provide a unique year-round “gateway” trail for beginner level mountain biking.

Shabbona Township, (DeKalb County), $72,000 for acquisition of approximately 5.7 acres of dedicated right-of-way through purchase, land donations or through intergovernmental agreements between the applicant and four other public bodies. This strip of land will be used to provide 2.5 miles of new paved path connecting the Village of Shabbona to other outdoor recreational opportunities.

Southern Illinois University – Touch of Nature Center, (Jackson/Williamson counties), $200,000 to construct a 5-mile multi-use mountain bike trail that will eventually be part of a 30-mile park. These trails will be natural surface and primarily built by removing the top layer of soil. They will be easily accessible to mountain bikers, hikers and trail runners, but built with mountain biking as the intended primary use.

Village of Tinley Park (Cook County), $192,000 to address the maintenance needs of the existing 2.5-mile multi-use trail which will include patching, resurfacing and restriping the path. Maintenance activities also include minor drainage improvements, small culvert replacement, ditch regrading and landscape restoration.

Application forms  for the next round of grants are available by contacting the IDNR Division of Grant Administration, One Natural Resources Way, Springfield, IL 62702-1271, or by calling 217-782-7481, TDD 217-782-9175, Ameritech Relay 800-526-0844, or on the IDNR website at www.dnr.illinois.gov. The annual deadline to submit an RTP application is March 1.

Sarah Barazza doesn’t have health insurance, but money was the last thing on her mind as she and her 15-month-old son raced to the hospital in an ambulance last year. The toddler’s airway had become swollen from croup, and he struggled to breathe.

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

Gov. Bruce Rauner says his administration has put into place a managed-care program to make Illinois’ Medicaid program more efficient for taxpayers and improve services for “our most vulnerable families.”

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