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Southwest Illinois News is designed & hosted by the Moore Design Group. How To Reach Us: St. Louis Front Page P.O. Box 1354 St. Louis, MO 63188 Voice: 314-771-0200 Fax: 314-771-0300 To advertise, contact: advertising@slfp.com To submit news, contact: editor@slfp.com |
By Bob Moore, SLFP.com BROOKLYN, IL, (SWI-News.com), August 13, 2010 - Illinois Transportation Secretary Gary Hannig joined U.S. Congressman Jerry Costello and other officials today for a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the official start of construction for the Illinois approach to the new Mississippi River Bridge (MRB). The MRB project is a joint undertaking by the Illinois and Missouri Departments of Transportation. It will provide congestion relief across the region, especially on the Poplar Street Bridge. The new bridge will be a four-lane, cable-stayed structure that will relocate Interstate 70 from the Poplar Street Bridge, which now carries I-55, I-64 and I-70. U.S. Congressman Jerry Costello, stated, "Yesterday, we were at Scott Air Force Base where we cut the ribbon on a new Command Headquarters, a $130 million facility. We are bringing about 800 new jobs from Virginia to Southwestern Illinois at Scott Air Force Base and they will be housed in the new facility." "Today is another great day when we begin the process of building this bridge," continued Costello. "At the time, this was identified as the number one public works transportation project by the business community, local elected officials and everyone in the entire region. We were able at the Federal level to get $239 million in the Federal Highway Bill to build this bridge." In remarks, Alan J. Dunstan, Madison County Board Chairman, said that the Illinois side provided the best view of the city of St. Louis. He stresed that the new Mississippi River Bridge would be toll-free. "It's very important that we have a good link to St. Louis. The Mississippi River is a barrier as it is. We do not need another barrier with a toll bridge. It's a great day for Madison County, St. Clair County and this side of Illinois." The approach project includes construction of new, dual 10 span (Eastbound and Westbound) bridge structures on relocated Interstate 70 from Illinois Route 3 to the new Mississippi River Bridge. The construction of this project alone is expected to create nearly 100 construction related jobs. The overall MRB project is expected to create more than 2,200 jobs and spur more than $25 billion in regional economic activity over the next 45 years. The Illinois Department of Transportation is the lead agency in the construction of the Mississippi River Bridge Illinois approach, which allows for the utilization of Project Labor Agreements (PLAs), to help ensure that the project is completed on time and within budget. The project also includes a Mentor-Protégé special provision encouraging the Prime Contractor, a joint venture between Keeley & Sons and Keller Construction, to act as a Mentor to a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) sub-contractor. The $46.3 million approach project, which is funded by federal and state funds, was on the May 2010 letting. The construction for the Illinois approach is expected to be complete by Summer 2013. The main span contractor is a joint venture of Massman Construction, Traylor Brothers and Alberici Constructors. The estimated $670 million project to build the bridge and approaches is funded through a combination of federal and state funds, which includes funds from the federal Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users, or SAFETEA-LU. The entire project is expected to be completed in 2014. Families Can Take Advantage of Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, IL, (SWI-News.com), August 8, 2010 - On Friday, Governor Quinn today visited retail stores throughout Illinois to encourage shoppers to take advantage of the state's first-ever back-to-school sales Sales Tax Holiday. The holiday started early August 6 and continues through Sunday, August 15. The Sales Tax Holiday will suspend the State's Sales Tax of 5 percent on eligible school supplies, clothing and footwear while leaving the 1.25 percent rate paid to local governments. The program is expected to drive sales in all retail sectors during the second week of August, benefiting retail businesses, retail employees and local tax revenues. The tax holiday runs longer than those in bordering states such as Iowa and Missouri, encouraging more out-of-state consumers to shop in Illinois stores. This will help shift tax revenue from neighboring states and drive up sales in all retail sectors. The additional expenditures will help increase overall state sales tax revenue and the need for additional retail workers will boost income tax revenue. "We have a 10-day window to really take advantage of this state government tax break," said Fairview Heights Chamber of Commerce Director Scott Leas. "It's a rare opportunity to save money and help out local businesses and the economy at the same time." While the tax exemption is designed for back-to-school purchases, it isn't limited to purchases for school children. Besides school supplies, the Holiday applies to purchases of qualified clothing and footwear with a retail selling price of less than $100. Computers and computer supplies, PDA's and cameras are not eligible. For a complete list of qualified items, visit the Illinois Department of Revenue website at http://tax.illinois.gov. New Law Strengthens Penalties for Unpaid Wages CHICAGO, IL, (SWI-News.com), August 1, 2010 - A new Illinois law amends existing state law to help thousands of Illinois workers recover unpaid wages more quickly. In signing the bill, Governor Pat Quinn, said "Illinois workers deserve every penny they have earned, on-time and in-full. This important legislation will help Illinois workers recover unpaid wages faster and will further crack down on wage theft throughout our state." Senate Bill 3568 strengthens the rights of Illinois workers who have been victims of wage theft. The bill makes both first and repeat wage theft violations more serious crimes. Civil and criminal penalties for wage theft will increase under the new law, and repeat offenders can face up to three years in prison. Workers will now be able to take alleged violations directly to the state circuit court and collect all costs and reasonable attorney's fees. The Illinois Department of Labor (IDOL) will also establish a streamlined process to resolve small claims. For the first time ever, employees will be expressly allowed to file class action lawsuits against employers. Additionally, workers will be protected from retaliation for reporting alleged violations in public forums. Meachum Crossing Development Opens Affordable Homes for Madison County Families VENICE, IL, (SWI-News.com), August 1, 2010 - The Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA), the state's housing finance agency, invested nearly $1.4 million in federal low-income housing tax credits and a $500,000 zero-interest Illinois Affordable Housing Trust Fund loan to build the Meachum Crossing Apartments in Venice. On behalf of Governor Pat Quinn, IHDA Executive Director Gloria L. Materre joined Madison County Housing Authority officials at a ribbon cutting ceremony, July 30, celebrating the new complex, located at Klein Avenue and Bissell Street in Venice. IHDA's financing was critical to the development; the state's federal tax credit investment generated an additional $12.4 million in private equity to construct the apartments. "We are proud to have financed Meachum Crossing Apartments to ensure Madison County families have access to quality rental homes that fit their budget," said Materre. "These new homes demonstrate the state's commitment to building secure and affordable housing that enables residents to live near the workplace and spend less money on their commute." Meachum Crossing features 10 one-bedroom, 45 two-bedroom and 23 three-bedroom homes, including nine accessible units for persons with a disability. Monthly rent ranges from $248 to $675, depending on a resident's income. Meachum Crossing features open space and playgrounds for its residents, who also have access to a community room with exercise equipment and a computers with Internet access. Illinois State Fair Features Ten Nights of Entertainment SPRINGFIELD, IL, (SWI-News.com), July 23, 2010 - The 2010 Illinois State Fair, beginning August 13 - 29, 2010, will feature Grandstand entertainment every night, including an eclectic mix of country, rock, pop and Christian recording stars, plus two free shows, an Illinois Symphony Orchestra performance Monday, Aug. 16 and an appearance by home and style expert Sandra Lee, host of the hit Food Network show "Semi-Homemade Cooking," Thursday, Aug. 19. "I wanted to bring entertainment to the Grandstand during the week and not just concentrate on the weekends when crowds are the largest," State Fair Manager Amy Bliefnick said. "I'm really pleased. The line-up is diverse, which I think fairgoers should find appealing, and fit our limited budget." Lady Antebellum, a country trio nominated for an industry-leading seven Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards, including song of the year for its chart-topping single "Need You Now," will perform on opening night of the fair, Friday, Aug. 13. The first weekend's Grandstand entertainment is devoted to rock. Saturday, Aug. 14, Kiss Army, a tribute band noted for an excellent reproduction of its legendary namesake's costumes and music, will take the stage for a $5 per ticket show. Then Sunday, Shinedown, a hard rock band that has sold more than six million albums worldwide, will bring its version of heavy metal to the Grandstand. "Our grounds crew will be plenty busy this year," Bliefnick said. "In addition to the evening entertainment to prepare for, the Grandstand also will host harness horse and auto races. There will be no twilight races this year. All harness races will take place at noon. The USAC and ARCA auto races will be held Aug. 21 and Aug. 22." The biggest name in contemporary Christian music, MercyMe, will give a State Fair concert Tuesday, Aug. 17. Blake Shelton, a country artist who has had six #1 singles since his debut in 2001, will perform the following night, Aug. 18. Rock icons Cheap Trick and Blondie will headline the Friday, Aug. 20 concert. The Grandstand entertainment concludes with performances Aug. 21 by Selena Gomez and Aug. 22 by Darius Rucker.Supporting Rucker's appearance will be Eric Church. All concerts begin at 8 p.m. except for the Selena Gomez concert, which will begin at 7 p.m. For more information, see www.illinoisstatefair.info/. 
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