Statewide update—Feb. 18, 2011

Peoria Journal Star—Federal panel says workers were fired by Blagojevich reps for being Republicans, “A federal jury found Thursday that 16 former workers with the Illinois Department of Transportation were fired seven years ago by representatives of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich because they were Republicans.”

• State Journal Register—Quinn plan targets more than 500 school districts for merger, “The state offers financial assistance to districts that consolidate, including guarantees of no loss in state aid, help in covering disparities in teacher salaries between the merging districts and an extra $4,000 for each certified staff member for three years.”

• (AP) Bloomington Pantagraph—Quinn’s budget calls for 950 new state workers, “The administration said adding some jobs will actually save money because some state agencies, particularly the Corrections Department, are spending huge amounts on overtime as guards work long hours to make up for a staff shortage.”

• SouthtownStar—Sheriff ‘appalled’ at cemetery’s treatment of bodies, “Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart called for a review of its contract with the cemetery at a news conference in which he criticized the operation for haphazard practices and restated his belief the state needs legislation requiring DNA collection on all unidentified bodies.”

• Chicago Tribune—State crime lab reports more than 4,000 untested rape kits in Illinois, “The new law came after a Tribune investigation found that Chicago-area police and prosecutors had placed many unexamined kits in storage, robbing the state of the ability to solve crimes, exonerate the wrongfully convicted and bring closure to victims.

• Chicago Sun-Times— Feds: Company gave phony physicals to police, fire applicants and workers, “The company’s contract with the city required that board-certified specialists review the tests.  But the firm simply used signature stamps of specialists to sign letters indicating they had reviewed the tests…”

• The Southern—Poverty hits children hard, “The child poverty rate in Illinois jumped from 17 percent in 2008 to 19 percent in 2009, which was the highest level since 1993…”

Statewide Update—Jan. 28, 2011

• (AP) Belleville News Democrat—Some Illinois candidates miss campaign disclosure deadline, “Among those filing late were Chicago mayoral candidates Carol Moseley Braun and Miguel del Valle (del VAH’-yay)…(and) Dan Proft.”

• Southtown Star—Board says Burge can keep police pension, “The 4-to-4 vote means Burge, 63, will continue to draw a $3,039-a-month pension that he began receiving in 1997 — four years after the department fired him for misconduct involving a murder suspect.”

• Chicago Sun-Times—How about $10 to get into the Taste? “‘The city can keep doing what they’re doing without an admission fee. But, no private company is gonna do it for free. It’s impossible,” said a source close to the negotiations.”

• Chicago Sun-Times—Emanuel back in mayoral race after ruling, “The Illinois Supreme Court ruled 7-0 Thursday that Emanuel qualifies as a Chicago resident and can remain on the ballot for the election, which is now less than a month away.”

• State Journal Register, Editorial—A proposal to save state’s capital plan, “The invalidated bill was rammed through the legislature as a sort of bipartisan Hail Mary pass by lawmakers desperate to enact the first major capital construction plan in a decade.”

• Chicago Tribune—Preckwinkle criticizes Tom Dart on payroll, spending, “New Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle criticized Sheriff Tom Dart on Thursday, suggesting his payroll is bloated and saying she will try to force him to cut his budget more than he contends would be responsible.”