SPews: August 27, 2010
"Prussing insisting on full Olympian Drive project," News-Gazette, August 21
Laurel Prussing, never known to shrink from a fight, isn't about to back down from her insistence that the entire Olympian Drive project - from Apollo Drive to U.S. 45 - must be built.
The Urbana mayor said Friday that she wants the road built all the way to U.S. 45, even though several Champaign County Board members indicated Thursday that they would support construction only to Lincoln Avenue.
"University sees drop in national rankings report," Daily Illini, August 25
The University fell eight places to 47 from 39 in the recently released U.S. News and World Report 2011 Best Colleges rankings.
"The campus doesn't depend on U.S. News or any other rankings to tell us whether we are serving our students well," said University Spokeswoman Robin Kaler in an e-mail interview.
"MTD board OKs $13.1 million for 23 hybrid buses," News-Gazette, August 26
Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District officials hope to have 23 new 40-foot buses on the streets by next April.
The MTD board Wednesday authorized spending about $13.1 million in federal, state and local funds to purchase the buses that will replace 1996- and 1997-era buses that have corrosion problems.
"Illinois shut out again in 'Race to Top'," Pantagraph, August 24
Illinois was shut out on a whopping federal education grant for a second time Tuesday despite building support and adopting school reform laws after losing out on the first round of money.
The state was hoping to use as much as $400 million in stimulus money from Washington, D.C., to develop a statewide student data system, train teachers to better evaluate students and practice cutting-edge learning standards in their classrooms, and develop better leaders among school principals.
"Judge says Rod Blagojevich retrial will be in 2011," State Journal-Register, August 26
By dropping all charges against Rod Blagojevich's brother on Thursday, the federal government removed what had become an obstacle to its primary mission: convicting the impeached Illinois governor in a retrial now set for early next year.
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Thank you for discussing Ron Paul’s “successors” - the future of the freedom movement. The movement didn’t begin with Dr. Paul, nor will it end with his exit from the political scene. How many future political leaders were in that audience of nearly 5,000 last night?
I went to the Ron Paul event last night. There was alot of energy & the audience responded to Ron Paul’s ideas which surprised me. I didn’t think most people would be aware of NDAA. Another person, who was there last night, observed that quite a few…
I love the Guitars
Hi my name is Harry Huffman, professional speaker…. keynote humorist and above all story teller. I have also been a ballroom dancer, competitor and instructor over 45 years.I’m looking to get on the story telling circuit or radio. Can you give me some advice. Thank you. My web site http://www.speakdance.com
Man, I cannot wait for these four records to be released by Parasol/Hidden Agenda - seriously great music for them to be working with. Thanks for letting me hang out in the studio and see you at the party…
I’ve looked at this page with two different browsers, and four different operating systems. I’ve decided that the embedded media player is just plain busted.
$100K for a toy house? No wonder my taxes are killing me. http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/solar-decathlons-rainy-start_594112.html
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I also got to visit Big Grove Tavern during the soft open and definitely enjoyed the pork belly the most of all the dishes I sampled. The cheesy grits and the vinegary pickled vegetables were a perfect compliment to the rich pork belly.
The Alan Partridge lookalike on the right in the first small photo has nothing to condescend to anyone about. AH HA!
Snell and the little Hitlers of the neighborhood association need to chill out. Legitimate businesses should have the freedom to exist without having to endure the slings and arrows of ignorant and misguided opposition.
Yeah, I’d agree that Transporter Room 3 is the worst house venue I’ve ever seen.
Food trucks are the start-up, small businesses of the future for those unable to afford real estate. No surprise, that merchants who pay rent, utilities, and maintenance on a property would despise the traveling competition. Or developers who build more empty retail spaces would want to close…
Not so much far-right Tea Party as a balanced, moderate viewpoint between letting businesses succeed and protecting society with reasonable regulations. In spite of what the city reps are saying, the interpretation of policy on this issue certainly has changed. Letting a business start up under one…
I think it’s neat that SP has turned rightward, now espousing a Tea Party-style frustration with government regulations & taxes.
This makes me so sad. (Happy to live in Urbana, though!) Crave Truck has been a GREAT addition to the food choices in C-U, and it’d be a travesty to chase them away. This town should be supporting small businesses. I’m glad to hear that they’ll still…
*slow. clap.* Still offering no threat of intelligence…. I know I said I thought you should just write this whole column yourself next year, Isaac, but now that you’ve gone and taken a “part deux” run at it, I’d like to modify my request: Best Music 2013,…
Actually, it’s kind of nice, the quiet. John Heoffleur’s engaging commentary/dialogue is sorely missed, however. In lieu of someone intelligent saying something, I’ve compiled a list of Honourable Mentions: BEST ROCK BAND: Take Care ::these gentlemen have four completely different sets at their disposal right now (which…
This weekend will mark the first appearance of Kayla Brown’s Fire Doll Candle booth at the Market. Check it: http://www.facebook.com/firedollcandles
And without bloodshed. Sounds like the Savoy trustees aren’t as narrow-minded as some of their whiny pants constituents. Do you think quack Snell is already planning an asinine counterattack or is he still laying low after those “threats” against his person?
Okay, almost 24 hours later and I finally got Issac’s Summer joke. I’m an idiot.
Swap the dog for a fire pit and it sounds like you’re writing about my back yard. Very nice.

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What a great job by all the volunteers! This event was really put together fast, and well. What I noticed about the crowd was how many old faces I saw despite occurring on a college campus. I talked to quite a few, including students, who assured me…