Illinois House considers grid upgrade bill amid rate hike concerns
Illinois lawmakers weigh House Bill 14 backed by Ameren Illinois and ComEd to invest in electric system upgrades, smart grid projects, and training facilities. Critics warn of rate increases averaging about 5 dollars yearly for Ameren and 3 dollars monthly for ComEd, while proponents say outages will lessen and jobs will be created. The measure faces opposition from Attorney General Lisa Madigan who argues consumer protections are weak.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Kevin McCarthy
Orlando Park
Springfield
Illinois
Ameren
ComEd
Scott Cisel
Cisel
Lisa Madigan
Paul Gaynor
Gaynor
Exelon
Tenaska
Illinois lawmakers vote to cut their own pay
Illinois House members approve a ten percent pay cut to about $61,000 base pay starting January 2013. The measure, backed by freshmen and critics alike, would save taxpayers about $650,000 while lawmakers see a weekly decrease of roughly $70 with furloughs.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Illinois
Springfield
Michelle Mussman
Schaumburg
Mussman
House
Senate
Murderer Registry Advances in Illinois Legislature
Illinois House passed a bill requiring convicted first degree murderers to register upon release. Named for Andrea Will, slain in 1998, the measure would have applied to Justin Boulay who served 12 of 24 years. Will’s mother praised the approval, saying the registry will track ex-inmates after prison. Davis cast the lone no vote.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Springfield
Illinois
Senate
Andrea Will
Eastern Minors University
Justin Boulay
Will
Patricia Rosenberg
Batavia
Rosenberg
Fritzler elected Carbondale mayor in tight race
Fritzler defeated rivals in a close mayoral vote as Maroney finished second with 815 votes and Goldman placed third. Fritzler will replace departing Mayor Brad Cole in May after Cole chose not to seek reelection. Haynes, a council member, may seek the vacated seat while noting Fritzler’s agenda.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Fritzler
Carbondale
Maroney
Memorial Hospital of
Sam Goldman
SIUC
Steven Haynes
Council
Haynes
Brad Cole
Cole
Butler Wins 13th Straight Term as Marion Mayor
Marion mayor Bob Butler will serve a 13th consecutive term, age 84, saying this will be his final term. He emphasizes practicality and gratitude over bitterness as he concludes a 52-year run. Opponent Carolyn Swartos calls the race hard against a long-serving incumbent and notes outspent funds and union support for Butler. Owens, a city commissioner who did not seek re-election, says results matched expectations. Butler envisions strong future collaboration with the City Council and local unions to drive jobs and STAR bond progress.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Butler
Marion
Swartos
Star Bond
Owens
Vari
Ous
Grim Sleeper may have more victims in LA
Los Angeles detectives report the Lonnie Franklin Jr case could tie to up to eight more killings with strongest link to three women whose photos were found in a secret stash in a refrigerator. Police seek help locating the three women and released photos at a news conference along with four others missing in Franklin’s neighborhood. Franklin, a mechanic, was arrested last July and indicted this month on 10 counts of murder and one attempted murder.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Los Angeles
Franklin
Cullerton urges tailored funding and tax moves in Illinois
Senate President Cullerton told The Southern Illinoisan Editorial Board that universities should be funded by individual performance, while Illinois owes nearly 140 million in FY2011 appropriations. He seeks re passage of tax-increase provisions, supports a one dollar per pack cigarette tax, and backs workers compensation reform and clean coal.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Paul Newton
SOU Illinois Senate
John Cullerton
Southern Illinoisan
Carbondale
SIU
Glenn Poshard
Cullerton
Senate
Illinois
Pat Quinn
Quinn
Springfield
Jefferson County
Also Mentioned on This Page
Greg Fowler
F. Electric
Edwardsville
Rich Morthland
Cordova
Adam Brown
Decatur
Jason Barickman
Champaign
Barickman
Monique Davis
Chicago
Davis
Kutterickson
See
hurterickson@see.net
Dw.norris
Thesouthern.com
Joel Fritzler
Julie
Bob Butler
Bob Owens
Carolyn Swartos
Stephen.rickerl
Thesouthern
Lonnie Franklin Jr
Dennis Kilcoyne
The
Associated Press
Theri
Cadell.rodriguez
Rob.crew
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