Hospital Scandal
ArchPundit
Is covered over at OneMan–check it out, good coverage of the story and the various political aspects.
2004
Why Drudge is Useful
He has a great link to an archeological site that has been protected by the owner for years.
There aren’t many private land owners protective enough of such treasurers to do the following:
Although the University of Utah hired a seasonal caretaker and students from three Utah schools are working the sites this summer, Wilcox worries about possible looting, especially at odd times of the year when nobody may be watching the ranch. He said he gave it up on a promise of protection from the San Francisco-based Trust for Public Land, which transferred the ranch to public ownership.
The promise barely assured Wilcox, but he knew one thing: “I’m getting old and couldn’t take care of it.” He said he asked $4 million for the ranch, but settled for $2.5 million, moved to Green River, Utah, and retired.
Over the years, Wilcox occasionally welcomed archaeologists to inspect part of the canyon, “but we’d watch ’em.” When one Kent State researcher used a pick ax to take a pigment sample from a pictograph, Wilcox “took the pick from him and took him out of the gate.”
The What Agenda?
Has been up for some time at the Illinois Leader.
One can argue against equal rights for gays and lesbians and not be bigoted. Judging from the recent stories and comment board postings over at the Leader, few there are capable of just sinking into plain bigotry.
If I Were Dick Cheney
That’s a pretty damn funny thought in itself, but I’d be banned from going to the Senate floor, just as Ms. ArchPundit has banned me from conversations with our cable operator.
Kingdom of God Revealed at 10 AM
The Right Reverend Batty was to explain the whole deal this morning. Apparently some folks took issue with politicians helping to crown the RRB the Messiah. Go figure.
Jerry Kohn Video
The Libertarian Candidate for the Illinois Senate was on WEEK and Jeff Trig has the link
In case Jeff is wondering why I don’t blast the Republicans challenging his petitions, well I figure I’ll save any complaining for the Dems, of which I am one, when they do that. It’s my effort to not be too hypocritical.
From the Capitol Fax
In an especially hysterical version that had me laughing for a several minutes, there is some scuttlebutt on the Senate. Most important, check out the Machiavelli quote.
US SENATE STUFF Jayne Thompson, the wife of the former governor, reportedly has some interest in running for US Senate. *** DuPage County Board Chairman Bob Schillerstrom and, to a lesser extent, retired CEO Ron Gidwitz are reportedly leaning against a run. *** Jim Ryan? Hmm. *** Carbondale Mayor Brad Cole’s name was floated yesterday as a possible replacement for Jack Ryan. Cole is a cracker jack of a mayor, a very hard worker and is hugely popular in southern Illinois and with many conservatives. He would probably be a great pick if the party decides to build for the future instead of go for the win this year. *** Some well-known hopefuls may not survive the state GOP’s intense vetting process, designed to ferret out everything about a prospective candidate’s past. ? 2004
I think Cole is intriguing, and I’ll include him in the Cattle Calls. I just don’t buy that Jayne Thompson would make the run, but given the way this race has gone, I’m done making solid predictions for a while.
It’s All Fun and Games Until Someone Ends Up on the Hood of Car
THE END GAME (excerpt) * Thousands of retired teachers will descend on the Statehouse today to pressure the General Assembly to approve a bill that will allow them to keep their health insurance.
Retired teachers will lose their health insurance July 1 if the General Assembly does not approve legislation extending a deal that was cut in 2001. The Senate had been expected to pass the extension yesterday, but the chamber didn’t move the bill.
The insurance program faced financial collapse a few years ago until it was bailed out by the state. Active teachers were also required to kick in part of their paychecks to underwrite the program. The new bill would increase premiums for retirees and also require annual state funding.
Daley to the Blagorgeous: Take Head Out of Butt On School Funding
Daley challenges Blagojevich to take on school funding in Illinois. While it matters in the City, rural areas need these changes most of all (along with some significant mergers).
This has long been a hobby horse of mine: see my endorsement of The Blagorgeous in 2002 for one of the earlier (though not the earliest post on this)
Leader Correction Watch Day 5
The Leader has yet to correct Jill Stanek’s Column June 24th Column saying the files were sealed from the end of the divorce–which is not the case. There was a one year period where the files were not sealed.
Jeff Berkowitz graciously gives me a walk on the files sealing issue, though he still thinks it’s an open question. While it can be confusing, the key point is in Rick Pearson’s article which is consistent with other news outlets version of the timeline.
2000
June: Ryan requests that the court seal records of custody hearings that occurred after the couple’s divorce was finalized. The request is opposed by Jeri Ryan and rejected by the judge.
September: An attorney for Jeri Ryan says in a court filing that one of Ryan’s attorneys had told her a few months earlier that Ryan wanted parts of the divorce file blacked out, removed or sealed because he was “concerned [it] would negatively impact his political aspirations and embarrass him.”
2001
September: Ruling that portions of the Ryan divorce file, if revealed, could harm the couple’s young son, additional documents are sealed and all sealed documents are ordered removed for safekeeping in Ryan’s attorney’s office. Jeri Ryan supports the request, citing safety concerns after a man was convicted of stalking her.
The stalker was on Usenet in 2000 and his rantings are available here (warning strong adult content).