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Federal Court Orders Shakman Decree to be Vacated, Citing Gov. Pritzker's 'โ€˜Durable" Reforms

2 years 8 months ago
CHICAGO — The U.S. Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals today ordered the lower court to vacate the 1972 Shakman Consent Decree, citing Governor Pritzker’s significant progress “instituting and supporting several remedial measures in recent years to minimize the risk of political patronage in employment practices.” The ruling acknowledges that the administration has instituted long-term policies and procedures that will ensure “compliance sticks.” This ruling means the state will no longer be under federal court supervision related to hiring practices, saving taxpayer dollars and ensuring state government can better serve the people. “I’m gratified that the Court recognized my commitment to hiring practices that fully live up to the principles of the U.S. and Illinois Constitutions,” said Gov. JB Pritzker. “From the time that I took office, my administration has worked to strengthen the state’s hiring practices and ensure

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TNI Wildflower Market Offers Many Native Plants

2 years 8 months ago
GODFREY - Did you hear? The Monarch butterfly has been put on the endangered species list. They have been listed as endangered due to the lack of high-quality habitat available as they migrate in the spring and fall. By adding a few native plants to your yard, you can help to make it a refuge for visiting wildlife. This year at The Nature Institute’s Wildflower Market, many species of flowering plants will be available for purchase. All of these plants will help make your yard a habitat hotspot for pollinators like the Monarch. The Nature Institute (TNI), located in Godfrey, IL, has provided the community with native plants at its annual plant sale since the year 2000. On Saturday, August 27, 2022, from 9 am to 12 pm, TNI and Lewis and Clark’s Restoration Ecology Program will provide many species of native plants to the community at its annual Wildflower Market. The Wildflower Market will be located at TNI’s greenhouse at the corner of Levis Lane and South Levis

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New Signalization And Turn Lanes To Provide Enhanced Access To MidAmerica St. Louis Airport And New Boeing Production Facility Under Development

2 years 8 months ago
MASCOUTAH, IL. - A construction project began on August 1 by the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) will provide improved access to MidAmerica St. Louis Airport (BLV) and the new Boeing Production Facility currently being built next to the airport. The project will include a new signalized entrance to the Boeing Production Facility, widening of IL Route 4 for turn lanes at this new entrance, signalization of the existing entrance to MidAmerica Airport at Airport Blvd, and improvements to the roadside drainage ditches along IL Route 4 in areas previously prone to flooding. In September 2021, Boeing began constructing a new aircraft production facility along IL Route 4 on MidAmerica St. Louis Airport property. Before this construction, in 2020, MidAmerica St. Louis Airport commissioned a Traffic Impact Study to determine the impacts on IL Route 4 of the proposed new Boeing Production Facility. The study indicated a need for traffic signals at the facility entrance and the

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Commentary: What? Work From Home?

2 years 8 months ago
GLEN CARBON - What? Shake the dust off your clothes and get back to the office? About a month ago I was talking with my executive assistant, and we both noted how long it has been since we went out to an event. It had been a while for both of us - about two years. It had been so long that we actually had to shake the dust off our suits. I started thinking about the need to go into the workplace. When you think about staff working from home, what are you thinking? Hmm…maybe they are in their pajamas watching TV or playing video games on their laptops? Well, my view is quite the opposite. Since the pandemic and even before, I allowed my staff to work from home and here are my findings. Staff increased productivity more than when they were working in the office. It’s like getting an extra day’s work from each employee. They said they took shorter breaks and HR discovered staff was taking fewer sick days and took less time off. They also reported higher job satisfaction

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