SPews: May 27, 2011
"Urbana deals with revenue loss by not filling vacant posts." Daily Illini, May 22
Because of the recession, the city of Urbana's revenue stream has been declining. One thing the city council has been doing to cope with the lost income is not filling vacant posts in city government after their occupants quit. This includes the police department, which currently has two vacant positions that will not be filled in the next fiscal year under the proposed budget.
"Report: Money manager's fraud as much as $12 million," News-Gazette, May 24
People may have lost as much as $12 million as the result of alleged fraud by Urbana money manager Timothy J. Roth, according to a report from a court-appointed receiver.
The Securities and Exchange Commission filed a civil complaint against Roth in U.S. District Court in March, claiming he stole mutual-fund shares from several employee deferred-compensation plans that he advised.
. . .
Timothy Bertschy, the receiver appointed to oversee assets controlled by Roth and his enterprises, now says the total loss to victims "may be as high as $12 million," based on interviews with attorneys, witnesses and victims.
"$3 million remodeling planned for Christie," News-Gazette, May 22
Christie Clinic is undertaking a $3 million remodeling project at the main clinic in downtown Champaign.
The downtown building at the corner of Neil Street and University Avenue houses most of Christie Clinic's specialists and major diagnostic equipment, and some of those specialty departments have grown too crowded, Christie's CEO Alan Gleghorn said.
The clinic has been steadily adding patients, and many of them are winding up at the downtown clinic for specialty care and diagnostics, Gleghorn said.
"Champaign city council to discuss redistricting," Daily Illini, May 24
The Champaign City Council will hold a study session Tuesday night to begin the process of redistricting the city of Champaign.
The City is obligated by the Constitution every ten years to make sure that the boundaries of its districts reflect accurate population numbers. It is expected that populations shift over time, and now that the 2010 Census has been completed the City Council will begin to formulate the general parameters of the redistricting.
"Jobless rate drops in every Illinois metro area," Pantagraph, May 26
Unemployment dropped in April in each of Illinois' 12 metro areas for the eighth straight month, the state Department of Employment Security said Thursday. And officials noted that - aside from flood-soaked Alexander County in southern Illinois - the jobless rate dropped in all of the state's counties.
. . .
It isn't clear how much of those decreases are due to unemployed people who've given up on finding a new job and aren't counted, department spokesman Greg Rivara said.
Most Recent News Comments
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…
A really well researched article. Great job!
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…
Rob, I’m slightly confused about the media player you are referring to.
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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Most Recent Comments
Oh nice! I’d totally vote for Matt Campbell!
“Smile Politely sports writer announces candidacy for city government.”
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.
represent, Matt.
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…
What? Echo! (Echo!) Where’s the dischord and dissent?
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?
hey, if hair ain’t gon’ be over your head, my jokes may as well be.
Okay, almost 24 hours later and I finally got Issac’s Summer joke. I’m an idiot.
Excellent. I am glad sometimes American dreams are encouraged, rather than stifled.
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…