Press Releases/Announcements from local sources
Date...	Source	Click on blue hyperlink to see article.
31 May	WegoWeb	Letter to the Editor - Gordon Brand "All this for the possible improvement of profits for Main Street merchants and landlords (many absentee). Benefits in the long run to the citizens of West Chicago will be nil. Are plans by outside hired planners who know really nothing about West Chicago and its history really what's needed?"
		Wildcats' Foreman takes 10th in state "West Chicago senior Jim Foreman had an uncharacteristic performance last weekend. He finished 10th at 14 feet, 6 inches. Foreman placed fourth as a junior."
		Geneva man seeks position in Congress "I believe America is a place that can work for everyone, from small business owners to working families to our military and our senior citizens. But we need to make serious changes beginning with ending the war in Iraq, and responsibly bringing our troops home. ... We need a new direction and I am confident that I better represent the values of Illinois families in Congress."
	Sen Durbin	Advisory Committee on Student Financial Aid Offers Solutions to College Affordability Problem "The average college student spends nearly $900 on textbooks every year and the cost of textbooks has been climbing at twice the rate of inflation," said Durbin. "Previous studies have confirmed factors that contribute to the rising costs of textbooks. Today's report takes another step in the right direction by offering a set of solutions to the affordability crisis."
	Sen Durbin	India not abusing H1B visas: NASSCOM - CNN-IBN - New Delhi,India "NASSCOM, the body that represents Indian software companies, has once again refuted claims made by some US senators that Indian IT companies are abusing H1B visas. It says that layoff of IT workers in America and the H1B visa quota are not related and has offered to meet and discuss issue with US senators."
	Sen. Obama	Obama Statement on Darfur Sanctions "Conspicuously absent from this package of sanctions is maximal punitive action against the Sudanese oil industry, which the Administration once touted as a critical element of its so-called "Plan B." Targeted pressure by the international community against the Sudanese oil economy is a much-needed step to stop the killing and displacement of innocent civilians in Darfur."
	Sen. Obama	Obama's incomplete health plan - Boston Globe "THE CONSENSUS among Democratic candidates for president is that every American ought to be covered by health insurance. Senator Barack Obama came out yesterday with his plan, which comes close but doesn't cover everyone, though he implies it does."
	Rep Hastert	Send In The Clowns - The Conservative Voice - Kernersville,NC "During their tenure as Senate and House leaders, Frist and Hastert did more damage to Republican congressional prospects than all of the Democrats in America, combined. A Republican president watched all of that happening and did nothing to save them from their own rapaciousness."
30 May	Merle Berle	Around and About in West Chicago LivingWell Cancer Resource Center Benefit High School Graduation Dollar Tree First Year Anniversary Park District's Senior Summer Social Officers for VFW Post 6791 and the Auxiliary
	Sen John Millner	Backroom Budget Process Needs Reform “For the last several days the two Democrat leaders in the Senate and House and the Governor have been meeting, trying to come up with a budget that will fund the needs and wants of more than 12 million Illinois residents,” Millner said. “The fact that only three people are in control of the final product is just wrong. There should be more disclosure and sunshine in this process because the public has a right to know how their money is being spent.”
	Rep Fortner	A Budget with No Tax Increase "House Republican Leader Tom Cross put forward a plan to balance the budget with limited growth using no new taxes yet pay the pension obligation and modestly increase school spending. I've joined two other new DuPage representatives Franco Coladipietro and Dennis Reboletti to support that plan."
	Rep Fortner	Fortner Posts to Change Format at WegoWeb This Budget item at Rep Fortner's website was previously posted in its entirety on May 28th. I will, in the future, link directly to his website when items become available there but am moving items sent separately as email to a SoapBox category and linking to there. This will allow reverse chronological listing and easier searching the archives. You also can take advantage of the RSS feed there.
	Sen Durbin	on President's Request for More Funds to Combat Global Aids "Today, along with 28 other members of the Senate, I am sending a bipartisan letter to the Chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee for State and Foreign Operations, asking for $1.3 billion to fund the Global Fund program in FY08. I urge the President to work with all of us to support an increase in US contributions to this program."
	Sen. Obama	Healing Warriors "Lengthy deployments and inadequate time for rest and relaxation magnify the intensity of the conflict. And those who serve multiple tours are yet more likely to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental ailments."
		Obama Calls for Hearing on Bill to Give Shareholders Vote on Executive Pay "... request that they hold a hearing on the Shareholder Vote on Executive Compensation Act, a bill he sponsored that would give shareholders an advisory vote on executive compensation and spur both increased transparency and public debate over pay packages."
		Bill to Recognize and Fund Predominantly Black Institutions “These institutions have for years given our children the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in today’s economy, and their recognition is long overdue. To restore America’s competitiveness we must invest in the success of traditionally underrepresented groups."
	Governor Blagojevich	Honoring Illinois' Fallen "The Department of Central Management Services has received notice from Governor Blagojevich’s Office to fly the United States and Illinois flags at State occupied buildings at half-staff from sunrise to sunset on Friday, June 1, 2007 for: Lance Corporal Benjamin Desilets, United States Marine Corps"
		Adam Walsh Child Protection Safety Act “I’m proud that today Illinois becomes the first state in the nation to implement this law at private schools, allowing these institutions to go through federal background checks for potential employees.”
		Internet Payday Lender Fined More Than $230,000 for Unlicensed Lending In Illinois
29 May		Honoring duty "Roskam said the holiday is unique in that it is borne of sadness and urged the crowd to use their gift of freedom wisely. “Friends, we live in a dangerous world and we are so beholden to those who have given sacrificially, who have been wounded grievously, who have left loved ones overseas.”"
		D94 teacher brings the world into the classroom "One of Daneels’ successful experiments is the elective Community Leadership class. Students are required to volunteer their time for one semester and last year organized a communitywide fundraising campaign to build a school in the poverty-stricken African nation of Angola." [Disclosure: This item was previously covered at WegoWeb with items May 1st and April 26th... not to mention 3 or 4 paragraphs Around and About in West Chicago in the last month and a half. - Bob]
		Roadway named after fallen West Chicago cop "“This is a happy day because we are dedicating a part of West Chicago to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice to the city they loved,” Police Chief Don Goncher said."
	Sen Durbin	Administration Decision Regarding Sudanese Sanctions "Six weeks ago, President Bush declared that the U.S. has 'a moral obligation' to stop the genocide in Darfur. Last week, I urged him to follow-through on his call to stop the killing. Today, the President took a first step."
	Sen. Obama	Obama Vows Lifetime Mental Health Care for Vets Campaigns & Elections “That trust begins the moment a service member signs on and lasts the duration of his or her life. We’re falling far short in addressing the mental health care needs of these heroes, and that’s inexcusable. I’m proposing a comprehensive approach to meeting the lifetime commitment we make to our servicemembers.”
	Sen. Obama	Obama Offers Health Care Plan - New York Times "Senator Barack Obama proposed a major overhaul of the nation’s health care system today, aimed at covering the nearly 45 million uninsured Americans, reducing premium costs for everyone else, and breaking what he asserted was “the stranglehold” that the biggest drug and insurance companies have on the health care market."
28 May	Cable Com Channel 17	Cable Schedule Posted "If you can't attend the Memorial Day Program on Monday morning, tune in to Channel 17 at noon for an opportunity to see what you missed. We will broadcast this progam and previous programs all Monday evening. Also, catch all the music from Railroad Days '02-'04 later in the week."
	Rep Fortner	Reboletti, Coladipietro & Fortner Support “No Tax Increase” Budget “Since the Governor’s budget address, I have continually stated my support for the State to fully fund education and find a reasonable solution to the uninsured. The entire Democratic leadership of our state had the opportunity to come together to find solutions to these problems. However, they squandered this opportunity squabbling among themselves.”
	Rep.Randy Ramey	Ramey Bill Donates State Computers to Communities in Need "State Rep. Randy Ramey (R-Carol Stream) is sponsoring legislation that offers state agencies the option to donate their used computers and other surplus equipment to communities in need."
		Four houses of worship have neighbors praying for a little relief "A patchwork of large estate homes, businesses, some of the last relics of farmland within the county and the sites of four new religious centers dot the landscape between Carol Stream and West Chicago."
		Made it by this much "Field events were relatively kind to DuPage County athletes. West Chicago’s Jim Foreman, Lake Park’s Alex Schrautemyer and Hinsdale Central’s John Kotansky each rose 14-3 to make the pole vault finals."
	Sen Durbin	Immigration Fight: Tech vs. Tech - BusinessWeek "Politicians, led by Senator Dick Durbin (D- Ill.), say the H-1B visas are being used to outsource American jobs to other countries. In a speech earlier this month, Durbin said he's concerned the program is "being abused by foreign companies to deprive qualified Americans of good jobs.""
		Durbin discusses Iraq war at local roundtable - Bloomington Pantagraph - Bloomington,IL "“I don’t think the Iraqis are going to stand up and do what they are supposed to do while they are leaning on us, and they have been doing that for a long time,” he told the group. Durbin said it is time for Iraq to govern itself and it is time to start bringing American troops home."
		Durbin weighs in on immigration - WHOI - Peoria,IL "That has to stop, and so we've got to change the laws -- tougher border enforcement, tougher work place enforcement, dealing with those who are here in a firm but fair manner. Let them earn their way into legal status, but it will take them a long time -- they go to the back of the line,”
	Sen. Obama	Sen. Obama welcomed at Chicago labor event - ABC7Chicago.com "Union workers in Chicago gave a warm welcome to U.S. Senator Barack Obama Friday afternoon. The Democratic candidate for president spoke to the Coalition of Black Trade unionists. Twelve hundred members of the group are holding a convention in downtown Chicago this week."
	Rep Hastert	Hastert Congratulates Local Fulbright Award Recipients “This international program will give these outstanding individuals the opportunity to enrich their personal and international experience. I am extremely proud to have them represent our country as we continue to build diplomatic bridges between the United States and other nations.”
	Rep Hastert	From immigration buzz saw to jigsaw - Palm Beach Post "So much has changed over the course of one election year. It was only last spring that - with Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., sitting as speaker and Rep. James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., chairing the Judiciary Committee - the House passed an immigration bill that was too draconian even for many conservatives. The Hastert-Sensenbrenner version of reform made illegal immigrants felons and threatened prosecution for charities and advocates who provided them humanitarian aid. It treated soup kitchens like crack houses."
27 May		The road to China - The Post and Courier "He can treat patients immediately with these cells because the Chinese government doesn't consider stem cells a new kind of drug. Drugs would require clinical trials. Rather, the government regulates injections as if they were medical procedures similar to bone marrow transplants."
26 May		Prosecutor was speeding, on phone "A high-ranking DuPage County prosecutor killed in a head-on collision was drunk, driving nearly double the speed limit and likely using her cellular phone."
		Report says prosecutor was drunk, speeding and on phone at time of crash ""Excessive speed, the BAC (blood alcohol content), and evidence of cell phone use all played significant and contributing factors in this crash," sheriff's detective Kevin Farley wrote in the report. The report was released at the same time as Radostits' close friend and colleague, Deputy Chief Assistant State's Atty. Jeffrey Kendall, announced his impending resignation."
		Laesch announcing his bid for Congress "Laesch joins state Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia of Aurora and Geneva attorney Jotham Stein as Democrats who have announced their intention to run in the 2008 primary. Laesch beat Auroran Ruben Zamora in the 2006 Democratic primary."
25 May	City of West Chicago	Dedication of Michael Browning Way "The dedication of a West Chicago roadway in honor of slain police officer Michael Browning brought family, friends and fellow officers to the southwest intersection of Route 38 and Route 59 yesterday."
		Fallout in prosecutor’s office "Kendall admitted he drove his county car May 11 after drinking at an Oak Brook restaurant with a group of off-duty prosecutors who had their day cut short by a bomb threat at the courthouse."
	Sen Durbin	Durbin, Emanuel Prevent Cuts to Medicaid Payments to Hospitals "With passage of this emergency spending bill, Cook County Stroger Hospital and other hospitals throughout the country are one step closer to protecting their critical Medicaid funds. This is money that helps hospitals provide basic services to the uninsured and those with limited insurance,"
	Sen. Obama	Senator Obama's Statement on Memorial Day "Today we pause as a nation to honor the fallen who gave their lives defending our security, our rights, and our liberties. We must recognize the extraordinary sacrifices of our most courageous sons and daughters not only on Memorial Day, but throughout the year."
		Obama Statement on Asian Pacific American Heritage Month "This month, let's honor Asian American and Pacific Islanders by coming together to build a better future for all Americans."
		Obama Response to McCain and Romney - National Review Online Blogs "Governor Romney and Senator McCain are still supporting a war that has cost us thousands of lives, made us less safe in the world, and resulted in a resurgence of al-Qaeda. It is time to end this war so that we can redeploy our forces to focus on the terrorists who attacked us on 9/11 and all those who plan to do us harm."
		Making History, Reluctantly - Washington Post "Two years ago to the day, then-Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) violated the "Hastert rule" -- that only bills supported by a majority of the majority can come up -- by bringing up legislation to allow federal funding for stem cell research. The majority of the Republican majority opposed the law. He voted against it, but he knew it would never become law over President Bush's signature."
		Hastert -- House speaker no more -- may call it quits - Chicago Sun-Times "Former House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) will decide in a few weeks if he is going to seek another term, the Sun-Times has learned. Hastert, 65, is considering retiring, said chief of staff Mike Stokke. "I think that is a possibility," Stokke said."
	Governor Blagojevich	Gov. Blagojevich awards $535,000 in Anhydrous Ammonia Security Grants to fight meth production
	Governor Blagojevich	State provides safety tips for families visiting amusement parks, street festivals and carnivals this summer
24 May		Recieved from Becky Hall... "The West Chicago City Museum is having an exhibit reception from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. this Saturday, honoring artist Anni Holm, who's work is on display through Saturday in the upper gallery. The artist will give a gallery talk on her exhibit, entitled Immigration Project, at 5:00. Refreshments will be served outside. Becky"
		District 94 cracks down on students who play hooky "As part of the new policy, students can’t miss more than six days of school per nine-week quarter — even if the absences are excused. When students miss their seventh day of a class, they will get a failing grade. Parents will have 10 days to appeal that grade."
		Small city receives big makeover from Scout "And with the help of supplies donated by the Park District, Gemco Roofing Supply and Murphy Ace Hardware, Kovanda and his helpers had all the wood, shingles, nails and power tools they needed to remodel three of the miniature homes last Saturday."
		District 94 board looks to future "“In the past there’s been kind of a brick wall,” board newcomer Tammie Murphy said. “With a new board coming in, hopefully everybody’s a little more willing to listen to each other.”"
		West Chicago water tax goes down the drain “West Chicago residents were paying tax on water they didn’t receive,” said Rep. Randy Ramey, R-55th District, of Carol Stream, who sponsored the bill. “We worked on a bill, worked with the Water Commission, got it passed, and everybody is happy.”
		Blooming Fest gives downtown a boost “Every year we’ve added something new and now we’re big enough to spread across Main Street,” organizer Linda Ericksen said. “We’re going to keep making it bigger and better.”
	Sen Durbin	Food Stamp Program In Illinois, individuals and families in 450,000 households cannot secure an adequate diet. These Americans skip meals, eat too little, or go without food for days,"
		Call To Action On Darfur "Five weeks after his hopeful and promising speech, the President has failed to put actions behind his words," said Senator Durbin. "I agree with the President that we have a moral obligation to end the genocide, but we must lead. We must act. Five weeks is too long to wait."
		Durbin Announces Senate Passage Of Bill To Name Post Office In Fairbury For Dr. Francis Townsend
	Sen. Obama	Obama Votes to Demand Changed Course in Iraq “We must fund our troops. But we owe them something more. We owe them a clear, prudent plan to relieve them of the burden of policing someone else's civil war. We need a plan to compel the Iraqi people to reach a political accommodation and to take responsibility for their own future. It's time to change course.”
		Obama, Feingold Laud Passage of Strong House Ethics Package "Our bill proposed: a full ban on gifts and meals from lobbyists; an end to subsidized travel on corporate jets; closing the revolving door to ensure that public service isn’t all about lining up a high-paying lobbying job; an end to lavish, lobbyist-funded parties honoring members of Congress at the national party conventions; and a requirement that lobbyists disclose the contributions that they bundle for members of Congress.”
		Senators Introduce Bipartisan Ethanol Education and Expansion Act "Reducing our nation's consumption of gasoline and encouraging the use of renewable fuels, like ethanol, are important steps in combating global climate change,"
	Rep Peter Roskam	ROSKAM STATEMENT ON IRAQ SUPPLEMENTAL SPENDING BILL “The benchmarks contained in this bill are an important tool to put pressure on the Iraqi government without continuing to delay funding that negatively impacts our forces on the field."
	Governor Blagojevich	slaughter of horses in Illinois for human consumption “It’s past time to stop slaughtering horses in Illinois and sending their meat overseas. I’m proud to sign this law that finally puts an end to this practice,”
	Governor Blagojevich	IDNR announces summer Urban Fishing clinics schedule
		Lawmakers urge Senate vote on major government reforms "Similarly, House Bill 3, which Coulson sponsored with Rep. Suzanne Bassi, would open the state budget to public scrutiny by requiring the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget (GOMB) to establish a searchable public database containing information on all entities receiving state grants, contracts, awards and other funding; House Bill 3 is similar to the “Google for Government” federal legislation sponsored by U.S. Senator Barack Obama."
23 May	Merle Berle	Around and About in West Chicago - 23 May 2007 Tastee-Freez Early Learning Center Touch A Truck Blooming Fest the new police chief Don Goncher road construction project on Hawthorne Lane
	Elementary District 33	Final Fiesta! "Final Fiesta will be held on Tuesday, May 29, 2007 from 6:00 - 8:00 pm at West Chicago Middle School, in the cafeteria and on the school grounds. Featured entertainment will be provided by the DuPage International Dance Troupe 2007. Additional entertainment will be provided by DJ sonido TITANIUM."
		Park shifts roadway upkeep "Opened in 2004, the park will see the beginning of three construction projects this year. Next year, Northern Illinois University could begin construction of a 112,000-square-foot proton therapy cancer treatment center. A recently released study commissioned by the authority predicted that the airport and park would contribute as much as $1.6 billion to the local economy by 2011."
		Remembering the heroes "American Legion Post 300 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6791 will hold a series of services at local cemeteries on Memorial Day." [A single paragraph ... this is sad. Check Merle's stuff instead. - Bob]
	Sen Durbin	Withdrawal Of The Baroody Nomination "This is the right decision for the consumers of America. This agency is far too important to be headed by someone whose body of professional experience has been spent opposing the mission of the agency."
	Sen Durbin	Senate Votes, 64-31, to Retain Temporary Worker Program in ... - New York Times “This bill is drawing opposition from business, labor, Democrats, Republicans, theists and nontheists, American League and National League baseball fans. What I’m trying to say to you is there’s more opposition to this bill than support.”
	Sen. Obama	Comprehensive Immigration Reform Should be Tough, Respect Nation’s Values “In approaching immigration reform, I believe that we must enact tough, practical reforms that ensure and promote the legal and orderly entry of immigrants into our country."
	Sen. Obama	Withdrawal of Industry Lobbyist Nomination to Head Consumer Safety Agency "I hope the President will appoint someone to this important position who has a demonstrated commitment to protecting the public from dangerous consumer products."
22 May	Elementary District 33	Indian Knoll Students Place 1st in Moviefest Competition "The first place winner in the Elementary category is the Indian Knoll School team Aztecas from West Chicago Elementary School District 33 with their PSA: “I Have the Power to Change the World!” "
	Elementary District 33	District 33 Future Problem Solvers Attend State Competition "Five teams of students from West Chicago Elementary School District 33 recently competed in the Illinois Future Problem Solvers State Bowl on May 18 and 19, 2007 on the campus of Illinois State University in Bloomington, IL."
	Cable Com Channel 17	Cable Schedule Posted
	Sen John Millner	Millner: Salvia Divinorum Bill Passes Senate "House Bill 457 makes Salvia Divinorum a Schedule I controlled substance and bans the use of the seeds, extract or other derivatives of the plant. The bill is similar to Senator Millner’s Senate Bill 226, which is currently awaiting a floor vote in the Illinois House of Representatives."
		A few cicadas just can’t hold back, emerge early "Because the females deposit the eggs in slim branches, arborists are advising gardeners to wrap small trees and bushes in wedding veil lace to protect vulnerable foliage. This year’s cicada emergence is found in Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin and Iowa."
		They're here: Cicadas resurface after 17-year hibernation "They will mostly come to areas heavily wooded as they did during their last appearance in 1990 or to suburbs with many trees. Areas that are highly wooded but are sites of major construction are not expected to see as many cicadas. Despite their racket, these pesky visitors are not dangerous. Cicadas do not carry diseases and in fact, are healthy to munch on. There are several recipes for cicada dishes."
		Staying the course on quality golf clubs "Glod eventually opened a 5,000-square-foot facility in West Chicago. Throughout the 1990s, while local golf equipment companies such as Northwestern, Ram and Tommy Armour struggled or even went out of business, Tour Edge continued to enjoyed steady, solid growth."
	Label & Narrow Web	Eagle Flexible Packaging adds shrink sleeves to portfolio "Eagle Flexible Packaging Inc., of West Chicago, IL, USA, announces the addition of shrink sleeve labels to its flexible film packaging capabilities. Eagle’s primary business is in short-to-medium runs, and many of its customers shrink products for new label and package development, including test market and product launch print runs."
	Sen Durbin	Durbin Asks All Legislative Branch Agencies To Conduct Energy Audit, Lead By Example "... the legislative branch was responsible for 316,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions. That amount is equal to the emissions of over 57,000 cars. The report also noted that based on trends from fiscal years 1998 through 2001, legislative branch emissions are expected to grow by about 4 % annually."
	Sen Durbin	$44 Million In DOT Grants For Chicago Airports "U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded $43,730,000 in grants to the city of Chicago for O'Hare International Airport and Midway International Airport."
	Sen. Obama	Boxer, Obama, and Bond Remain Troubled by State of Mental Health Care Services for Soldiers at Ft. Carson “A growing number of service members at Ft. Carson and throughout our military hospitals are returning from war with serious psychological injuries that must not go untreated, to say nothing of those who are going undiagnosed and falling between the cracks,”
	Rep Peter Roskam	STATEMENT FROM CONGRESSMAN ROSKAM ON ILLINOIS TOPPING THE NATION IN GAS PRICES “Our refinery capacity is woefully inadequate—roughly 150 refineries are on-line today compared with more than 300 in 1980."
	Governor Blagojevich	Blagojevich Administration unveils new Veterans Cash Lottery Ticket "With Memorial Day right around the corner, we think about those who have fought for our freedoms and those who are still fighting. A good way to honor their sacrifices and support them is to buy the Veterans Cash lottery ticket,”
	Governor Blagojevich	Emerald Ash Borer Awareness Week "The emerald ash borer has already killed more than 20 million ash trees since it arrived in North America just five years ago and now is threatening to destroy millions of ash trees here in Illinois."
21 May	City of West Chicago	Dedication for Michael Browning Way to Honor Slain Officer "Please be advised that the start time of the dedication ceremony has changed to 10:30 a.m."
		Meeting to discuss ousting president "Arneson is a member of the national group World Can’t Wait, which will have a town meeting to discuss the possible impeachment of Bush at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Batavia Library, 10 S. Batavia Ave. (Route 31). The group is holding Town Hall meetings across the country. Arneson invited former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Plano, to the meeting."
	Sen Durbin	Durbin on the Leading Edge - New York Times "It’s in one sense a natural role for the senior senator from Illinois, who’s been a trial attorney and clearly relishes vigorous debate. In another sense, though, it’s an odd choice: Durbin is the only member of the majority leadership facing re-election in 2008, so if the caucus produces little to no legislative progress, he’ll be answerable for it at the polls."
	Sen. Obama	Protecting America’s Seniors from Telemarketing Scams "In the letter, Senator Obama says that while telemarketing may help seniors maintain access to products and services, seniors must be protected from exploitation, identity theft, and privacy violations. He calls on the FTC to aggressively enforce the law to ensure that the consumer protection challenges faced by vulnerable populations like seniors are addressed."
	Sen. Obama	Remarks of Senator Barack Obama on the Iraq War "I said then that a war based not on reason but on passion, not on principle but on politics would lead to a US occupation of undetermined length, at undetermined cost, with undetermined consequences."
	Rep Peter Roskam	ROSKAM ANNOUNCES GRANT FOR O’HARE AIRPORT NOISE MITIGATION “While this grant will help fund vital noise mitigation efforts, it does not solve the problem. Many area residents are still affected by airport noise pollution.”
	Governor Blagojevich	State public health director encourages healthy swimming practices and warns of water illness
	Governor Blagojevich	Nursing Home Violations for the Month of November and December
		Happy trails: Iron County ATV trails look to be in good shape for weekend rally "Iron County's all-terrain vehicle trails are in good shape and all trails are open for the 22nd annual Iron County Memorial Weekend ATV Rally that begins Friday."
20 May	Rep Fortner	HB 3766 - Clarifying Unlawful Video Recording "Even the best legislation can sometimes lead to unintended consequences. One example is the unauthorized video recording law passed a few years ago."
		Electric Deregulation in Illinois "The Winfield Register is a new local paper. They've asked me to contribute occasional articles on the goings on in Springfield. For the May 16th edition I wrote about the issues and debate about the electric utilities since deregulation took effect this year."
		Rep Fortner's website repaired "My web page has been restored after the hack on Friday. It was actually a hack on the server that handles a number of web sites."
		A guide to suburban bike trails "Illinois Prairie Path/Great Western Trail, DuPage County ... • Where it goes: From Fox River Trail in south Elgin, southeast through Wayne, Winfield, West Chicago, Wheaton; southwest to Aurora."
	Cbs2chicago	DuPage Prosecutor Was Drunk When Killed In Crash "Two other vehicles also were damaged in the collision, which happened on a four-lane stretch of Winfield Road and seriously injured a West Chicago woman driving the Tahoe."
	Sen Durbin	Durbin relishes increased responsibility - Fort Wayne News Sentinel - Fort Wayne,IN "Durbin, of Springfield, Ill., is a second-term senator who served seven terms in the House. He has much the same responsibility he had as the minority whip in 2005 when Republicans ran the Senate - to persuade Democratic senators to vote together on major issues. He likes to describe the task as pushing a wheelbarrow filled with frogs - read senators - down the road at 20 mph and keeping all the frogs from jumping out."
	Sen. Obama	Obama "counting" on young voters in New Hampshire - Boston Globe - Boston,MA "We're counting on you to restore the image of America around the world," Obama said. "We are counting on you to bring this planet from the brink of a climate-change crisis. "We are counting on you to help fix a health-care system that's leaving too many Americans sick or bankrupt or both."
19 May	West Chicago High School	STUDENT OF THE MONTH June 2007 "The faculty and administration of Community High School would like to congratulate Scott Staiton, of Winfield, for being chosen Student of the Month for June."
	City of West Chicago	agenda for the May 21st West Chicago City Council Meeting Proclamation Honoring Frank M. Burzynski American Cancer Society Police Dept Promotions Dedication of Tech Park Infrastructure Motorcycle Training Facility
	Sen John Millner	Millner Bills Approved by the Senate "Measures aimed at providing autism instruction to school police officers and closing a criminal sentencing loophole were among the bills sponsored by State Senator John J. Millner (R-Carol Stream) approved by the Illinois Senate the week of May 14."
	Trinity Lutheran Church	Kindergarten is right-a-round the corner The kindergarten and preschool for Trinity Lutheran Church wants to talk with parents who want information about enrolling a youngster next year.
	Sen Durbin	Bush Asked to Reconsider Safety Nominee - New York Times "In a letter to President Bush, Senator Bill Nelson of Florida and Senator Richard J. Durbin of Illinois, both Democrats, said Mr. Baroody “cannot escape a serious conflict of interest” because he will receive a $150,000 departing payment from the association. They asked Mr. Bush to withdraw the nomination."
18 May
		Rep. Chapa LaVia takes first step to run for Congress "State Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia, an Aurora Democrat, has taken her first official step toward running for the 14th Congressional District seat, forming an exploratory committee to scope out her support."
	Iowa Section PGA	Please Help! Junior Golf Academy - By Tess Goudy "The Illinois PGA will once again host the general qualifier for the LaSalle Bank Open Championship which is a Nationwide Tournament. Qualifier is scheduled to take place on May 29 at Prairie Landing GC in West Chicago, IL."
	Sen Durbin	Durbin, Nelson, Obama Continue to Press for Withdrawl of Baroody Nomination "In today's letter, the senators asked for copies of a $150,000 severance agreement Mr. Baroody received from his current employer, the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), an addendum to that package and additional documents regarding the possible conflict of interest that pay package may have caused."
		Boxer And Durbin Introduce Legislation To Help Expand Foreign Market For US Agricultural Products "The Market Access Program helps our farmers compete overseas, reduces the need to subsidize agriculture, and supports jobs and economic activity here at home. I'm glad to join Senator Boxer as a cosponsor of legislation to increase funding levels for the Market Access Program."
		Pet Food Recall: Dog & Cat Food Recall Safety Summit Planned - National Ledger - Apache Junction,AZ How did this happen? According to Senator Dick Durbin, "Fewer than one in 50 food products from overseas are inspected. Those are poor odds for any bet, and not a risk American families should have to take."
	Sen. Obama	Barack Obama to Haaretz: Turn up the pressure on Tehran - Ha'aretz - Tel Aviv,Israel "Obama calls for an urgent escalation of economic pressure on Iran, and backed this up yesterday by announcing his Iran Sanctions Enabling Act. If the bill is passed, it will make it easier for investors to know which companies are economically involved with Iran and to act accordingly. "
	Sen. Obama	Obama, Brownback want US companies to end Iran oil investments - WQAD - Moline,IL "The bill would authorize state and local governments to divest their assets from such companies and give legal protection to people who divest. It also would require the federal government to publish a list of companies investing at least $$20 million in Iran's oil and gas industries."
	Rep Hastert	Early primary hits local - Kane County Chronicle - Geneva,IL "One big race drawing candidates is the House District 14 seat, currently held by Rep. Dennis Hastert, R-Plano. Hastert, who lost his title as House speaker in November, has not announced whether he would seek re-election."
	Governor Blagojevich	IDNR observes National Safe Boating Week, urges boaters and anglers to be safe while on the water
17 May		Life’s not a fairy tale in school musical "Fairy tales don’t always come true. But, most of the time, that’s OK. That’s the message behind West Chicago Community High School’s last theater production of the year, the expansive Steven Sondheim musical “Into the Woods."
		Will Hastert run again? No word yet "With both the reduction in power and the specter of scandal over his head, many have predicted that Hastert will step down when his 11th term ends in 2009. A number of Republicans, including state Sen. Chris Lauzen of Aurora and state Rep. Tim Schmitz of Batavia, have expressed interest in running, but only if the seat becomes available."
		School chief looks back on 32 years "John Highland had held almost every title possible in District 94 before finally becoming principal. Although it was the one job he didn’t want at the time, he now calls it the best decision he ever made."
		Trinity Lutheran School secures lighting grant "“Improvements like these help to ensure a bright environmental future for Illinois. It is my hope that our local schools and communities will continue to apply for these grants.”
		UNDERGROUND MOVEMENT "Interest in upgrading basements is escalating as a remodeling priority, according to John Habermeier, chief executive of West Chicago-based Synergy Builders Inc., contractor for the O'Banions' basement project."
	Sen Durbin	Durbin Commends Announcement by University of Illinois to Divest From Sudan "Thanks to the efforts of State Senator Jackie Collins, and her colleagues, Illinois was the first of seven states to pass divestment laws. Today I applaud the leadership of the University of Illinois trustees who have taken steps to divest and make a commitment to peace in the region."
		Statement of U.S. Senator Durbin on Immigration Reform Proposal "Hopefully those efforts will result in legislation that we can all support - one that includes stronger border security, tougher sanctions on employers who knowingly hire undocumented immigrants, protections for American workers, and provisions allowing families to reunite and those who work hard and play by the rules to earn their way to legal status."
		Durbin, Nelson Send Letter Of Opposition To Bush Consumer Safety Nominee "Protecting our children and families is of the utmost importance. The CPSC deserves leadership that will protect consumers. Mr. Baroody has spent a career protecting industry from the agency he's now asked to run, and that raises serious concerns."
	Sen. Obama	Anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education "While this courageous decision opened doors for me and millions of my fellow Americans, many of today’s schools remain divided by resources and opportunities, and we must push forward until all children are afforded an equal chance to succeed.”
	Sen. Obama	Ethics Reform Legislation that Includes Bundling Disclosure "This includes not only campaign contributions, but also contributions to presidential libraries, inaugural committees, and lawmakers’ charities. The law doesn’t call for a complete halt in bundling. It just calls on lobbyists who have a stake in the outcome of legislation to disclose that information to the public.”
	Rep Fortner	Fortner's Website Hacked Today you will find a cryptic "H4X0R3D BY XTech Inc Pablin77 Was Here!!" and a picture of an eyeball, instead of Representative Fortner's information.
	Governor Blagojevich	Police Target Nighttime Drivers During 2007 Memorial Day “Click it or Ticket” Safety Belt Campaign
		Tazewell County - second Illinois county testing positive for West Nile virus
		Ceremony honors fallen firefighters, recognizes 27 others for life-saving acts of bravery
16 May	Merle Berle	Around and About in West Chicago - 09 May 2007 American Cancer Society Relay Blooming Fest WeGo Buddies Field Day Michael Browning Way Buddy Poppy program Casa Ma Mi orphanage
	Trinity Lutheran Church	Job Opennings at Church School "Due to dramatic growth in adding new programs, we are in need of several staff members. Our staff has been known to stay at Trinity for a long period of time (20 to 25 years service is not uncommon)."
	West Chicago High School	GRANT FROM AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION & THE CIVIL AIR PAT

Around and About in West Chicago - 23 May 2007