State Finds Budget Breathing Room

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Billions in budget surpluses have led to repayment of old, new debt •February 1, 2023• By Jerry Nowicki Capitol News Illinois jnowicki @ capitolnewsillinois.com Sustained higher-than-predicted state tax revenues have in recent months given lawmakers a level of budgeting flexibility that is, at least in modern times, without precedent in a state with a reputation for perilous finances. For the current fiscal year and the one before it, that’s led to another uncommon Capitol occurrence: budget surpluses in the billions of dollars. Over those two budget years, lawmakers have increased pension contributions by $500 million beyond required levels, paid off … Read More

February Quarter Auction

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•February 1, 2023• Moultrie County Monthly Quarter Madness will hold their February Quarter Auction on Wednesday, February 8, 2023. The event will be held at the Sullivan American Legion. Courtyard Estates Activity Department is the charity of the month (find them on Facebook at “Courtyard Estates of Sullivan”). These funds will be used for various activities for their residents. Bring an item for a bingo prize for a free $1 bidding number (one number per person). … Read More

‘Omnibus’ Health Care Bill Passed Amid Criticisms

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Wide-ranging law put popular, controversial measures into a single package By Peter Hancock Capitol News Illinois phancock @ capitolnewsillinois.com A law recently signed by Gov. JB Pritzker will extend the deadline for the state to transfer criminal defendants deemed mentally incompetent to stand trial from jail to a mental hospital. That same bill, House Bill 240, also gives nursing homes in Illinois two more years to comply with minimum staffing levels implemented in 2022 before getting fined by the Department of Public Health. Those are just two parts of a 67-page “omnibus” health care bill that passed the General Assembly … Read More

Did Your Mama Raise You Right?

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•February 1, 2023• By Jim Baumann NP Guest Writer Several questions arose while my wife and I were driving to a place that would surely serve us Italian bread: Does bread raise or does it rise? Does the baker raise the dough or rise it? What the heck is a transitive verb? Questions like these constitute about 85% of our conversations. So today we’ll take a look at “raise” and “rise” and their various usages and homophones. Let’s start with the issue of bread. Although I’ve heard it expressed both ways bread indeed “rises.” I often supplement my research by … Read More