1. Are Two States Better Than One? (4)
   5:29 PM on Sun, 2/19/12

Are Two States Better Than One?
got a new comment by Matt Wavering

Narc, you don't think that this proposal would solve the problem of chicago political corruptness infiltrating Springfield and pushing the will of a few on the entire population?

2. Wednesdays Game Vs Purdue may be win or get fired for Bruce Weber (2)
   7:27 AM on Fri, 2/17/12

Wednesdays Game Vs Purdue may be win or get fired for Bruce Weber
got a new comment by Eric Bussell

Bruce Weber has to go. It's unfortunate because I like the man. I hope he lands another good job and finds success.

3. What happened?!! (4)
   5:06 PM on Mon, 2/13/12

What happened?!!
got a new comment by Wingnut

Faraci (district 5) and Kyles (district 1) both voted against the tax. I don't see how this is a pork barrel issue for those districts. 2/3 of the at-large councilpeople voted no as well.

4. Women in Politics Series: Stephanie Holderfield (12)
   11:30 AM on Mon, 2/13/12

Women in Politics Series: Stephanie Holderfield
got a new comment by Eric Bussell

You can see where Winkel endorsed Holderfield here:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.news-gazette.com/news/politics-and-government/2012-02-08/winkel-drops-out-circuit-clerk-race-takes-new-ui-job.html" rel="nofollow">www.news-gazette.com/.../...-takes-new-ui-job.html</a><br />

5. High Tuition Cost at UofI Helps Mizzou (3)
   6:06 PM on Wed, 2/8/12

High Tuition Cost at UofI Helps Mizzou
got a new comment by Charles Sikora

@thelowdown - well stated. This article is perhaps not comparing apples to apples since it didn't give any details concerning the level of direct state funding in Missouri. The U of I is practically a private university in terms of funding -- and the state still gets to call the shots because of the charter. Very sad. But we need tax breaks.

6. Women in Politics Series: Lori Hansen (11)
   11:21 AM on Wed, 2/8/12

Women in Politics Series: Lori Hansen
got a new comment by Eric Bussell

"Patton has no obligation to give equal time. If you don't like it, post your own candidate profile."<br /><br /><a href="http://www.halfwayinteresting.com/Aboutus/Guidelines/tabid/96/Default.aspx" rel="nofollow">www.halfwayinteresting.com/.../Default.aspx</a><br /><br />Angie did not violate any of the HI guidelines and can feature anyone she wants to. If she were working for or closely with the Hansen campaign, I would extend an invitation to the other campaigns to post. I see nothing wrong here. Please discuss Lori Hansen and/or the Circuit Clerk race...<br />

7. Shuffle Board (2)
   9:14 AM on Wed, 2/8/12

Shuffle Board
got a new comment by Eric Bussell

Eric, maybe we should start a pool on who will be the next person to withdraw or resign...

8. County jail study session 31 Jan (5)
   10:40 AM on Sat, 2/4/12

County jail study session 31 Jan
got a new comment by Local Yocal

"We need to expand the jail at 12-20 million dollars of taxpayer money because we house more medical and mentally ill people in the jail."

Today's News-Gazette: Carle Pavillion is proposing an 8.2 million dollar expansion/remodeling project to expand it's psychiatric beds by 22 beds. 57% of its patients are on medicaid, they turn away over a 1000 patients a year, and the expansion will allow 756 more patients per year to be served.

What we have he'ah, is failure to communicate.

9. I Endorse Alan Nudo for State Senator (8)
   9:48 AM on Wed, 2/1/12

I Endorse Alan Nudo for State Senator
got a new comment by Ghost of Alan Nudo

Eric - Thank you for your endorsement. Alan Nudo is a man of integrity and honesty and yes he dropped out because he couldn't stand to have his good name tarnished by politicians who will stop at nothing to gain election.

Political office is a service. If you are not in it to serve your community, your state, or your country, then you should stick to your day job. Too many of us are in it for notoriety and that was not what our founders envisioned. That is why I am endorsing Rick Winkel for Circuit Clerk. I give my endorsement to Rick Winkel for several reasons: First, he has a plan to convert to current archaic filing system to a more efficient system where all filings can be done online. Second, he is a highly organized person and hard worker who can pull it off. Third, I have never heard Rick Winkel talk his opponent down.


10. We Are Number Four? (3)
    4:41 PM on Tue, 1/31/12

We Are Number Four?
got a new comment by Eric Bussell

Great interview, Mark. Way to keep 'em honest!

11. Rock Bottom? (10)
    3:53 PM on Mon, 1/30/12

Rock Bottom?
got a new comment by AJ Thoma

Also being a commercial broker in the community, I would like to throw in my 2 cents. I would have to agree with Matt on this about 90%. We have seen some large redevelopments take place in our community over the past year and here are just a few: Redevelopment of the Northwest corner of Bloomington Rd. & Prospect Ave, redevelopment of of both the Southwest and Northeast corner of Prospect & Marketview Dr, and the redevelopment of Cheddars. All of these required millions of investment dollars being brought into our community in some way or another. <br />I too am cautiously optimistic about the outcome of the new year. In the previous years, we have seen more businesses fail than we have in decades. But here is what I see: This past recession has been a blessing in disguise. (And after reading that I'm sure that you think I am nuts, but hear me out.) As we arise out of what is considered to be the worse recession that since the great depression, we have a new outlook on life. Companies are leaner than they have ever been, fat has been trimmed, and they are looking to grow under they new principles that have been learned. With that being said, I feel that companies that not only survived the downturn but were in the black, have a new outlook on business. For years national and local businesses spent frivolously as profits soared and growth occurred.<br />Now with all that being said, 2012 should be a better year than 2011. Here is why: Investors, local businesses, and corporations alike have showed signs of pent-up demand during the downturn. Local business has also been generated by businesses expanding and contracting to suit their new plans and attitudes. This generates not only extra $$$$$$ in the community from their moving, but also new opportunity for others. I agree with the fact that everyone is more cautious with whatever endeavor they are pursuing, but that in and of itself is not an inherently bad thing.

12. Unofficially Dead (2)
    10:59 AM on Mon, 1/30/12

Unofficially Dead
got a new comment by TJking

I am sorry, but I disagree with your viewpoints. Your article seems to suggest that somehow Scott Cochrane is indirectly the cause for this fatal accident. Scott has every right to open as many bars and create as many drinking festivals as he wants to. It is a free enterprise. The only that is wrong is the widespread culture of binge drinking. Like it or not, binge drinking is a very common phenomenon on almost every campus. And people like Scott, amongst many other bar owners, are benefiting from it. Students should have a hard look at themselves and make up their own minds. <br /><br />I am a strong believer in freedom and liberty. And this culture of blaming others for ones own actions is steadily growing. I mean where else on earth can one sue a company for serving unhealthy food, after willingly and possibly knowingly eating what is being served. If students wish to drink copious amounts of liquor, it is also entirely their responsibility to cope with the effects of intoxication.

13. The David Rule: New Blog Policy (23)
    6:04 AM on Mon, 1/30/12

The David Rule: New Blog Policy
got a new comment by Eric Bussell

This policy change was based on receiving consistent complaints. I can see why some will try and paint this as me being un-American, soviet-like, thin-skinned, or whatever, but this really isn't the conspiracy some are hoping to convince you that it is. I don't need to thicken up my skin because this blog will not be a home to insults, name-calling, and other unattractive **** talking. Maybe that doesnt make this a real blog, but that is the way it is going to be.

14. Unity and Reconciliation (6)
    7:50 PM on Sun, 1/29/12

Unity and Reconciliation
got a new comment by Narc

"... the following statement of reconciliation and unity ..."<br /><br />We also need to unite in carrying buckets of water to put out this fire. Please pay no attention to the matches and gasoline in my hand.

15. Governor Mitch Daniels to Headline ChampaignCounty Republican Lincoln Day on April 19 (3)
    9:52 AM on Thu, 1/26/12

Governor Mitch Daniels to Headline ChampaignCounty Republican Lincoln Day on April 19
got a new comment by David

My reaction to the johnny's comment is that although contributing $90 to a political cause is fine, tickets to many more enlightening local events can be purchased for substantially less than $90. And I illustrated the point with examples. Your removal of the comment is puzzling.<br /><br />Concerning Mitch Daniels's response to the State of the Union address. Even looking at Daniel's remarks from a Republican perspective, the response was very weak.

16. Bambenek Admits Truth About Alleged Nudo Donation to Frerichs (8)
    6:06 AM on Thu, 1/26/12

Bambenek Admits Truth About Alleged Nudo Donation to Frerichs
got a new comment by Eric Bussell

I removed a small section of Local Yocal's comment. Politics has a tendency to make people angry, but engaging in petty name-calling isn't going to help anything. Selling out common decency is the cancer in politics and both Frerichs and Bambenek, to me, have demonstrated they are part of the problem and not the solution. All we can do is try to find candidates who will put the community before themselves and their political ambition, and support those candidates when we are fortunate enough to find one. If Nudo would have stayed in, I think he would have distinguished himself with his integrity and honest/direct approach to getting things done.

17. Champaign County--upcoming issues (8)
    12:46 PM on Mon, 1/23/12

Champaign County--upcoming issues
got a new comment by pattsi petrie

Apologies for not replying sooner to some of the above inquiries. Since I have only been on the CB for a year, I had to do some research to make certain as to the accuracy of this reply.<br /><br />It is difficult to ascertain the assumption whether the elected position was expected to be full time when the 1990 statute was put in place. That said the duties of the elected officials per statute might cause one to assume that the job is full time. The statutes are much to long so I am including the citations to enable anyone who is curious to look up the statutory descriptions of each elected officials responsibilities. Statutory requirements for elected officials--55 ILCS 5/ (County Code) and statutory requirements for circuit clerk--705 ILCS 105/ (Clerks of Court Act).<br /><br />As to the inquiry about retirement benefits, the following explanation is from Deb Busey. " A law was passed in Springfield which created the Elected County Officials (ECO) pension through IMRF in 1997. The County Board was presented with Resolution No. 3870 to enter into the ECO IMRF Plan for Champaign County officials at the July 1997 board meeting, and approved it at that meeting. At the time, I do not believe anyone was able to really predict the financial impact of that action. By 2000, the County Board became aware of just how expensive the ECO pension plan was, and rescinded it on February 21, 2000 with Resolution No. 4207. At the time the plan was rescinded, the county officials already enrolled in the plan were allowed to continue in the plan - those officials were Linda Frank, Circuit Clerk; Dan Welch, Treasurer; Barb Frasca, Recorder; Dave Madigan, Sheriff; Gerrie Parr, Auditor. Those who had previously retired under the plan included Denny Bing, County Clerk; Roger Little, Treasurer; and Bud Barker, County Board Chair. Linda Frank will retire under the ECO plan, which means her final pension will be at 80% of her annual salary for the last year she held her elected position."<br /><br />I hope that all of this information helps people have a more complete understanding of the issue of elected officials salaries.

18. Who Needs Democrats When Illinois Republicans Will Attack Each Other? (7)
    1:42 PM on Sun, 1/22/12

Who Needs Democrats When Illinois Republicans Will Attack Each Other?
got a new comment by Terra Patient

I have a great deal of respect and admiration for Alan Nudo. I think it's time we all respected his privacy.

19. Updated: Bambenek and Frerichs Join Forces (16)
    10:50 AM on Thu, 1/19/12

Updated: Bambenek and Frerichs Join Forces
got a new comment by Eric Bussell

Matt, Alan has made it clear that he had nothing to do with the decision to support Frerichs. I don't believe John Bambenek believes Nudo ever contributed to Frerichs and I don't believe Frerichs believes Nudo contributed to Frerichs. At this point I'm challenged to find anyone local to go on the record saying they believe Nudo contributed to Frerichs. They redirect the question. Do you even remotely believe that Nudo contributed Frerichs? If you had a signed statement by Triple R owners saying that Nudo had nothing to do with the decision, would you still not be convinced?

I'm concerned that since Nudo signs all the checks for Robeson's, we're going to learn that Kyle Robeson donated to Dukakis just before the primary election and it will ignite another check-related firestorm. Please Kyle, say it ain't so.

20. I'm a Republican (6)
    3:03 PM on Mon, 1/16/12

I'm a Republican
got a new comment by David

Hello Eric:<br /><br />What do you think Martin Luther King would think of the Champaign County Republican Party Platform?<br /><br />Regards<br />David

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