This letter is being sent to governor, senators, state reps and congress person in the state of Illinois

Dear insert name here,

I am working on a documentary film about DCFS. I have had two of my children in the system, so I have experienced the system up close and personal. I have seen the squander of taxpayer’s dollars. DCFS pays out to Catholic Charities close to 250 million dollars each year (these are estimated based on figures obtained under the FOIA from DCFS and are compiled in a loose manner from 2009-2010). This is just a small percentage of the wasted monies that the state should be investigating. With more than Catholic Charities billing the state, there are thousands of agencies with their hands in the pocket of Illinois. The recent problems with the former director should be bewildering enough to want to overhaul the system, yet it seems to be business as usual for Illinois.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 30, 2012
1:56 PM

CONTACT: Center for Biological Diversity and Sierra Club

Mollie Matteson, (802) 318-1487
Shawnee National Forest Plan Would Trade Away Endangered Bat Habitat for Strip Mining

HARRISBURG, Ill. - January 30 - Conservation groups submitted comments today opposing a proposal by the Forest Service to trade away a parcel of the Shawnee National Forest that is home to two kinds of endangered bats to a subsidiary of Peabody Energy Company. The company intends to strip-mine the parcel for coal. The Center for Biological Diversity and Sierra Club oppose the land swap, which would put nearly 400 acres of wooded river bottom and upland forest along southern Illinois’ Saline River into the ownership of American Land Holdings, in trade for three other privately owned tracts within the national forest boundary.

The groups also filed a formal notice of intent to sue the Forest Service today for failing to consult with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to ensure that the land exchange and other actions affected by the Shawnee Forest Plan do not illegally hurt endangered species.

Tactical Briefing #25: Showdown in Chicago

Hey you redeemers, rebels and radicals out there,

Against the backdrop of a global uprising that is simmering in dozens of countries and thousands of cities and towns, the G8 and NATO will hold a rare simultaneous summit in Chicago this May. The world’s military and political elites, heads of state, 7,500 officials from 80 nations, and more than 2,500 journalists will be there.

And so will we.

On May 1, 50,000 people from all over the world will flock to Chicago, set up tents, kitchens, peaceful barricades and #OCCUPYCHICAGO for a month. With a bit of luck, we’ll pull off the biggest multinational occupation of a summit meeting the world has ever seen.

That sound that you hear of cameras running, is really the sound of your career dissipation meter running.

As part of Urbana Public Television’s day-long salute to the legacy of Dr. King on Monday, January 16th, there will be several opportunities to view this year’s Champaign Countywide Celebration (held 1/13/12). The program will air Monday at midnight and again at 8:01 am, 2 pm, 5pm, 8 pm and 11 pm on UPTV (Comcast Channel 6 / ATT U-Verse Channel 99).

Other programs of related interest will also be seen throughout the day on UPTV, including documentaries on Dr. King and the civil rights movement, and archival broadcasts of past Countywide Celebrations from recent years.

UPTV is the television service of the City of Urbana, providing governmental, educational and public access television to, and by, the local community. It is available on Comcast Channel 6 to over 40,000 homes in Urbana, Champaign, Savoy, Bondville, Philo, Ogden and St. Joseph, as well as in Springfield, Decatur and Danville on ATT U-Verse Channel 99. The complete program schedule is at www.urbanaillinois.us/uptv. Membership is free and entitles volunteers to free video and editing training and equipment use. For more information, contact UPTV at 217-384-2452 or at uptv@urbanaillinois.us.

At Chicago Indymedia, Andy Thayer calls our attention to proposed changes in Chicago law that will hinder possible protests at the G8 and NATO summits, and continue to remain in effect afterward, even though they were originally announced as temporary measures. 

(proposed changes to the city's protest ordinance now include a sunset provision)

According to Thayer, Mayor Rahm Emanuel has pulled a bait and switch, pending final approval by City Council on January 18th:

"Last month, while introducing draconian amendments to sections of the Chicago code and a wholesale rewrite of the parade permit ordinance, he in effect said, "Don't worry, this is just for those 'bad people' coming to Chicago to disrupt the G8 and NATO summits. This won't affect the good people of Chicago. Go back to sleep."

But then came the classic switch: when the actual language of the proposed legislation was produced, there were no sunset clauses in most of the proposed "temporary" measures.

Champaign-Urbana Folk and Roots Festival brings Canadian Fiddler and Singer April Verch to the IMC on January 19

Urbana, Ill. (January, 2 2012) – On Thursday, January 19, the Champaign-Urbana Folk and Roots Festival presents the internationally renowned Canadian fiddler, singer, songwriter, and step dancer April Verch. Kate Fritz, local Scottish-style fiddle marvel, will open the show at the Independent Media Center (202 South Broadway, Urbana, Ill.) from 7:30-10:30 p.m.

This week Urbana Public Television presents this lecture by food systems analyst Ken Meter. It airs Tuesday 1/10 @ 7:30 pm, Wednesday 1/11 @ 4:00 pm, and Saturday 1/14 @ 7:30 pm.

Ken Meter is president of the Crossroads Resource Center in Minnesota, a non-profit organization working with communities and their allies to foster democracy and local self-determination. His work integrates market analysis, business development, systems thinking, and social concerns. Mr. Meter's lecture was sponsored by Urbana's Common Ground Food Co-op, and was recorded there by UPTV in September of 2011.

UPTV is the television service of the City of Urbana, providing governmental, educational and public access television for, and by, the local community. It is available on Comcast Channel 6 to over 40,000 homes in Urbana, Champaign, Savoy, Bondville, Philo, Ogden and St. Joseph, as well as in Springfield, Decatur and Danville on ATT U-Verse Channel 99. The complete program schedule is at www.urbanaillinois.us/uptv. Membership is free and entitles volunteers to free video and editing training and equipment use. For more information, contact UPTV at 217-384-2452 or at uptv@urbanaillinois.us.