Below are links to news stories of interest from newspapers that came up during a search today. These links were active at the time of this e-mail, but should you want to save a story, printing it or cutting and pasting the entire article and saving it to your computer is recommended.
State News 
Schools awaiting state aid
Wilmette Life – Wilmette school officials are awaiting some state aid payments that are months overdue as the state of Illinois falls ever-farther behind in paying bills for routine services. “We would love to be able to write a check for all the school categoricals today,” said Carol Knowles, press secretary for State Comptroller Daniel Hynes. “But you have to have the revenues to support the payments you make.
Technical schools give students a leg up on a career Seventeen-year-old Konner Fenwick doesn’t want to go to college. She isn’t taking any more history or English classes. The Springfield High School senior doesn’t want to get a job after she graduates in June, either. Her plan? Attend a technical school.
Unit 40 signage points to overdue funding
Effingham Daily News – Most school marquees have announcements about basketball games, band concerts and early dismissals. But in addition to activities and holidays, Unit 40 schools in Effingham are also letting the community know how much money they’re owed. The district isn’t happy that the state is behind on its payments to schools, and it thinks the public should know.
U46 eyes high school electives for cuts
Elgin Courier News – the students included Michelle Zommer’s freshman son, and now she and some other parents fear the students might have to drop a course from their schedule. The more courses that are dropped, the fewer teachers will be needed, according to those District U46 parents and some teachers.
Gavin Dist. 37 to talk teacher cuts tonight
Arlington Heights Daily Herald – Gavin school board members will need to make some tough choices as they look to trim about $360,000 from the annual operating budget. Gavin Elementary District 37 Superintendent John Ahlmeyer said
Mokena District 159 says plunging state aid is forcing tax increase request
Chicago Daily Southtown – On the line are all extracurricular activities, full-day kindergarten, 14 full-time teaching positions and one part-time position. The school board already approved the cuts, which would begin in the 2010-2011 school year, but has promised to repeal them if the referendum request is approved.
D300 discusses proposed budget cuts
Elgin Courier News – With that money, D300 only will need to issue $11 million in tax anticipation warrants to make its payrolls in the spring, as opposed to the $20 million it had anticipated, she announced at Monday’s school board meeting. And it’s not unusual for the district to borrow about $10 million to cover its payroll between the two times a year it receives tax money.
SD 122 looks at cuts, including layoffs
Frankfort Neighborhood Star – Forecasting a $3.4 million budget deficit, the New Lenox School District 122 Board is expected to vote Wednesday on raises for staff, a new contract for Supt. Michael Sass and a proposed $2.6 million in budget cuts. The proposed cuts include laying off staff, including teachers and aides. Another proposal would eliminate reading specialists, who would return to the classrooms. There’s also a proposed cut to bus service.
Dist. 88 plans $3.2 million in cuts for 2010-11 budget
Arlington Heights Daily Herald – revenues and weakened state funding, administrators in DuPage High School District 88 will begin planning $3.2 million in budget reductions for the 2010-11 school year. On Monday, the District 88 school board discussed how much cost-cutting would be prudent. Superintendent Steve Humphrey said the minimum reduction should be $2.2 million to make up for falling local revenues.
Warren County schools face layoffs
Danville Commercial-News – A potential $700,000 shortfall in state funding might lead to teacher layoffs and program cuts in the Warren County School District. Beginning in 2009, the state lowered property tax and removed local control of school funding from Warren County residents.
Pleasant Hill principal on leave after incident with 10-year-old Pleasant Hill Elementary School principal Bertha Love has been placed on paid administrative leave while the Springfield School District investigates an incident involving Love and an unruly 10-year-old female student.
5-year charter school contract approved
Peoria Journal Star – a five-year contract with Peoria Charter School Initiative Inc., establishing the new math, science and technology academy at Loucks School. The 22-page agreement, approved unanimously by the school board, essentially formalizes the green light District 150 officials gave for the charter school earlier this month. “I think the accountability that’s being established is really excell
Illinois prison schools can’t lock down enough teachers
Chicago Tribune – If educating troubled youths is difficult in Chicago Public Schools, it is even tougher inside the state’s youth prisons, where resources have long been scarce and progress slow. In the eight youth prisons across the state, studies show that a teacher shortage is improving but still acute; students at some facilities go to classes only half the time; and student funding has been dramatically lower than for other public school students in Illinois.
Daley waiting to see reports on schools’ credit card use Mayor Richard Daley on Monday would not criticize his last two school board presidents for ringing up thousands of dollars in meals, travel,…
Board of Education credit cards revoked
Chicago Sun Times – The credit cards of 89 Chicago Board of Education employees have been yanked in the midst of an investigation into questionable spending by the last two Chicago school board presidents and their staff, officials revealed Monday. If employees at board headquarters want their credit cards back, they will have to justify their expenses dating back to June 30,
Chicago Public Schools adds to woes of youths in custody or suspended
Chicago Tribune – After Jishell Murphy’s son T.J. was arrested for stealing a car, then suspended from John Marshall Metropolitan High School for fighting, an attendance official strongly suggested that he go to school elsewhere. Officials at Marshall did not try to transfer the special education student to a high school that had programs for him. Nor did the officials try to formally expel him.
Penny packs a punch in Pakistan for education
What’s a penny worth in Afghanistan and Pakistan?
1 PENNY A pencil
2 PENNIES An eraser
15 PENNIES A notebook
$2 OR $3 One teacher’s salary for one day
$20 One student’s school supplies for one year
$600 One teacher’s annual salary
Political News
Our View: SB 315 represents what’s wrong with government
Geneva Kane County Chronicle – The circumstances surrounding passage of Illinois Senate Bill 315 represents all that is wrong with government in 2010, whether it be in Springfield or Washington, D.C. In exempting teacher, principal and superintendent evaluations from public scrutiny, the bill overturns a significant part of what was accomplished last year with the passage of a historic, new Freedom of Information Act.
Former comptroller endorses Hynes
Chicago WLS (ABC) 7 – A progressive Democratic icon has endorsed Dan Hynes in the Democratic primary race for governor. vFormer State Comptroller Dawn Clark Netsch not only endorsed Hynes, but also said Gov. Pat Quinn is incompetent when it comes to managing the state’s financial crisis. In the past, Quinn, who is running to keep his office, has said he has support from the Democratic progressive wing.
Quinn, Hynes get more personal in last debate CHICAGO — Gov. Pat Quinn and his Democratic opponent Dan Hynes wasted no time attacking each other Monday in their last televised debate, with Hynes saying Quinn was “disoriented” and Quinn calling Hynes “incompetent.” Their meeting at Chicago’s WTTW-TV wasn’t billed as a traditional debate, and it could more accurately be called a brawl.
Quinn taking Hynes’ surprising assault rather personally
Chicago Sun Times – About 11 animosity-filled minutes into Monday night’s Democratic gubernatorial debate between Pat Quinn and Dan Hynes, moderator Carol Marin asked the two candidates a most reasonable question. Had the campaign gotten personal between the two of them? Hynes jumped to answer first. “No, it’s not personal,” he said. “It’s . . . “
Quinn: Clout Caused Harold Washington To Fire Me
Chicago WBBH (CBS) 2 – “Alton Miller, who spent most of the time with Harold, said that’s exactly how Harold felt about Pat Quinn, as a manager,” Netsch said. “This is about Mayor Washington’s own words speaking to Gov. Quinn’s incompetence, mismanagement and grandstanding,” Hynes said. Quinn again stressed that the Hynes family did not support Washington back then. “
Early release plan haunting Quinn
Champaign News – Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn just can’t shake the early release prison scandal. Years ago, former Texas U.S. Sen. Lloyd Bentsen, the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, was caught charging well-heeled lobbyists thousands of dollars just for the privilege of having breakfast with him. Embarrassed by the disclosure, Bentsen lamented, “When I make a mistake, it’s a doozy.” Gov. Pat Quinn could
Gov promotes 1982 endorsement from Harold
Chicago Sun Times – Harold Washington continued to be an unlikely focal point in the Democratic gubernatorial race Monday as Gov. Quinn trotted out a 28-year-old endorsement from the late Chicago mayor. Quinn’s move was designed to counter a devastating campaign ad rival Dan Hynes debuted four days ago that features Washington, in one of his last televised interviews, expressing strong regrets
Campaign cash disclosure lacking in Senate race
Chicago Daily Herald – Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias raised $521,340 and Chicago attorney Jacob Meister raised $53,511 as the Senate candidates campaigned in the last three months of 2009, but the public won’t likely know who gave the money until after the Feb. 2 primary. That is because Giannoulias and Meister chose to file a campaign finance disclosure report that details only the first 13 days of this year’s fundraiser
Candidates hit the campaign trail with a week to go
Mattoon Journal Gazette – With polls showing the races for governor tightening up heading into the final week of the campaign season, the candidates spent Monday criss-crossing the state and highlighting their recent endorsements.Gov. Pat Quinn, who is in a pitched battle for the Democratic nomination for governor against Comptroller Dan Hynes, spent time on Chicago’s south side, picking up support
Dems rally to retain U.S. Senate seat
Chicago Daily Southtown – Four Democrats – including three who have never held elected office – hope enough time has passed since Illinois’ junior senate seat became the subject of a nationwide scandal and voters won’t hold it against the party. The four are vying for the Democratic nod in the Feb. 2 primary election. Each hopes to fill the seat being vacated by Sen. Roland Burris (D-Chicago), whom former Gov. Rod Blago
Palin to speak in central Illinois in April Former vice presidential candidate-turned political commentator Sarah Palin is coming to central Illinois in April.
Bernanke rallies more Senate votes for confirmation
Washington Post – Ben S. Bernanke’s confirmation for a second term as Federal Reserve chairman appeared to be back on track Monday, as more senators indicated that they will support him when a vote is held in the days ahead. His confirmation was thrown into question late last week when several key senators balked at giving Bernanke four more years as the nation’s top economic policymaker.
Budget Freeze Is Proposed
The Wall Street Journal – President Barack Obama intends to propose a three-year freeze in spending that accounts for one-sixth of the federal budget—a move meant to quell rising concern over the deficit but whose practical impact will be muted. To attack the $1.4 trillion deficit, the White House will propose limits on discretionary spending unrelated to the military, veterans, homeland security and
Chief of Staff Draws Fire From Left as Obama Falters
Fox News – WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama’s liberal backers have a long list of grievances. The Guantanamo Bay prison is still open. Health care hasn’t been transformed. And Wall Street banks are still paying huge bonuses. But they are directing their anger less at Obama than at the man who works down the hall from him. Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, they say, is the prime obstacle to the changes they
Obama gets back to basics, election mode
The Hill – President Barack Obama is changing his political strategy to revive public support for his endangered legislative agenda and avert a catastrophe in the midterm elections. Obama has decided to strike a more populist tone and will take his message outside of Washington, crisscrossing the nation to sell his policies to voters much the way he did during the 2008 campaign. The president’s new tack
Obama Plans Stimulus for Middle Class
Time Magazine – President Barack Obama on Monday offered help for people struggling to pay bills and care for their families, appealing to a middle-class he says has been “under assault for a long time.” In a partial preview of a State of the Union address that aims to answer voter angst about the economy and reconnect with the public, Obama outlined the series of proposals from the White House.
National News
Female teachers may pass on math anxiety to girls, study finds
Chicago Tribune – Little girls may learn to fear math from the women who are their earliest teachers. Despite gains in recent years, women still trail men in the United States in some areas of math achievement, and the question of why has provoked controversy. Now, a study of first- and second-graders suggests what may be part of the answer: Female elementary school teachers who are concerned about their own math skills could be passing that along to the little girls they teach.
John Legend helps shine Sundance light on schools
Bloomington Pantagraph – — A convenient truth greeted John Legend when the singer contacted documentary director Davis Guggenheim about collaborating on a film to examine the nation’s public-school system. Legend had been working with the hip-hop group the Roots on an album exploring 1960s and ’70s music, which led to a discussion about the civil-rights movement and then education, which he considers the civil-rights issue of our time.
The Case for Reconfirming Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke If Republicans don’t want to give Obama a victory, they should think of Ben Bernanke as one of Bush’s best appointees. If Democrats want distance from Wall Street, they should pass tough financial reforms so Bernanke never has to save the world again
How Some Haitians Want to Save Port-au-Prince: Leave it Behind The capital of Haiti cannot sustain its old population and some Haitians are heading abroad. But the real solution may be to seek refuge in the countryside
Was the Threat of H1N1 Flu Exaggerated? After governments spent billions of dollars on H1N1 vaccines that are going unused, some politicians and health professionals are asking whether the threat of flu was overblown
In the Middle of the Baghdad Hotel Attacks A TIME reporter recounts surviving the attack on a hotel compound housing foreign journalists in the Iraqi capital
Why Bin Laden Isn’t Worth Worrying About Why the best way to respond to Osama bin Laden is to ignore him (and al-Qaeda)
Most Viewed Articles on washingtonpost.com
1) Worker deaths close Red Line between Rockville, Shady Grove
Two Metro workers were struck and killed early Tuesday by a large truck that was backing down the track just north of the Rockville Metrorail station, officials said.
2) Obama to propose freeze on spending
Under mounting pressure to rein in mammoth budget deficits, President Obama will propose in his State of the Union address a three-year freeze on federal funding that is not related to national security, a concession to public concern about government spending that could dramatically curtail Obama…
3) In dying color: NBC, the fading peacock
Where there’s mire, there’s muck, and NBC is just the place to find both. It’s long been a kooky little tradition that when TV columnists and critics write about which of the four major broadcast networks is doing worst in the ratings, they say it is “mired in fourth place” or “mired” in third.
4) New debate on sex education as teen pregnancies head back up
The pregnancy rate among teenage girls in the United States has jumped for the first time in more than a decade, raising alarm that the long campaign to reduce motherhood among adolescents is faltering, according to a report released Tuesday.
5) Too quick to fall for a smile
John Edwards isn’t a scandal — he’s a lesson on a weak spot in our electoral system.
6) Friday morning may be Simpson’s last at WPGC-FM
Donnie Simpson’s 32-year run on Washington’s airwaves will end this week, with the longtime morning host expected to sign off after a falling out with his longtime station, WPGC-FM (95.5).
Barack Obama will regain the political initiative with action, not words or populist style.
They met for the first time inside the White House, three anonymous Americans who would be transformed into icons of President Obama’s vision. There was a South Carolina teenager who had next to nothing, a Kansas mayor whose town had lost everything and a Miami banker who had $60 million to give …
9) Al-Qaeda still plans to take aim at U.S., report warns
When al-Qaeda’s No. 2 leader, Ayman al-Zawahiri, called off a planned chemical attack on New York’s subway system in 2003, he offered a chilling explanation: The plot to unleash poison gas on New Yorkers was being dropped for “something better,” Zawahiri said in a message intercepted by U.S….
10) Pilot in Beirut crash didn’t follow tower’s advice
BEIRUT — The pilot of an Ethiopian Airlines plane that crashed into the sea flew in the opposite direction from the path recommended by the control tower after taking off from Beirut in thunderstorms, Lebanon’s transportation minister said Tuesday.
Word of the Day for Tuesday, January 26, 2010
evince \ih-VIN(T)S\, transitive verb:
To show in a clear manner; to manifest; to make evident; to bring to light.