Since 1954, the Veterans Day National Committee has worked to ensure Veterans Day receives proper and widespread observance.

President Woodrow Wilson first proclaimed an Armistice Day for November 11, 1919. Veterans Day continues as an annual United States holiday honoring military veterans. The federal holiday is observed on November 11. Major hostilities of World War I were formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 with the German signing of the Armistice.

What’s closed on Veterans Day?
The following public, government and school services are affected today, November 11, 2010:

Most schools are closed.

Most government buildings are closed.

Post office branches are closed. There will be no mail delivery, except for Express Mail

All courts will be closed, except for Cook County Holiday Bond Court.

Major banks are closed.

See also …
va.gov/opa/vetsday

United States Marine Corps …

Video of USMC Silent Drill Platoon video of 2007 performance at a Denver Nuggets game.

United States Navy

Flyover of two F/A-18F Super Hornets from Strike Fighter Squadron 11 (VFA-11) based at Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The Red Rippers flew to Soldier Field for a south-to-north flyover during the National Anthem before the Chicago Bears, Arizona Cardinals game November 8, 2009 preceding Veterans Day 2009.

Allied jet fighters are reported over Libya Saturday as Gaddafi’s troops pushed toward Benghazi. So far U.S. forces are not involved.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy told Clinton that “we need action now” and she responded to him, “there are difficulties,” the source said, explaining that Clinton was referring to China and Russia’s opposition to intervention at the United Nations. Sarkozy replied that the United States should at least try to overcome the difficulties by leading a strong push at the U.N., but Clinton simply repeated, “There are difficulties.”

One jet fighter, possibly a Libyan warplane, was shot down near Benghazi by rebels.

“Gaddafi must stop his troops from advancing on Benghazi, pull them back from Ajdabiya, Misrata and Zawiyah, and establish water, electricity and gas supplies to all areas. Humanitarian assistance must be allowed to reach the people of Libya.”
– President Barack Obama

President Barack Obama arrived in Brazil on Saturday for the start of a three-country, five-day tour of Latin America to promote greater economic ties and improved regional security.

After a winning layup, Wes Leonard was surrounded by adoring fans. Suddenly he collapsed and was surrounded by family and then paramedics. He was transported to Holland Hospital. After Advanced Life Support measures by paramedics and emergency department physicians lasting lasting 80 minutes, Wes Leonard was pronounced dead.

An autopsy Friday showed that Leonard died of cardiac arrest due to an enlarged heart, according to a statement from Dr. David A. Start, the Ottawa County chief medical examiner.

Wes Leonard, 16, is the second Fennville High School Blackhawk athlete to lose his life in 14 months. In January of 2010, a wrestler, Nathaniel Hernandez, 14, died after suffering a seizure at home after he had participated in a match.

Facebook R.I.P. Wes Leonard …

Chicago Police Supt. Jody Weis is leaving his position at the end of Tuesday, March 1, 2011, when his $310,000-a-year contract expires. Weis said several factors led to his decision. He was “mainly guided by his commitment to the people of Chicago and the members of the Chicago Police Department.”

Terry Hillard who headed the Chicago police department from 1998 until 2003 will serve as interim police superintendent. After his previous retirement from the Chicago Police Department, Terry Hillard co-founded Hillard Heintze, a Chicago-based strategic security and corporate investigations consulting firm, with Arnette F. Heintze, a retired Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service’s Chicago Field Office, and an ex-Fortune 100 director of security.

“Serving as the superintendent of the Chicago Police Department has been an honor and a great privilege. I thank Mayor Daley, and the residents of Chicago, for this opportunity of a lifetime.”
– — Jody Weis

Mayor-elect Rahm Emanuel has expressed that he will select a new leader after he is sworn in on May 16, 2011.

Weis was selected to serve as the 54th Superintendent of Police by Mayor Richard M. Daley on February 1, 2008. Weis’s previous experience included 22 years in the Federal Bureau of Investigation after graduating from the University of Tampa in 1979.

On April 6, 2010, the Chicago Sun-Times reported that the Independent Police Review Authority received a complaint charging Weis with “failure to take proper police action.” The complainant, retired Chicago Police Sergeant John Northen, called Weis a “coward” who “cut and run” from a shooting incident where a man was killed, instead of responding to assist and support his officers. Weis was holding an outdoor press conference at an intersection in the crime-ridden Englewood District on a recent 26 hour period of violence in Chicago where 41 people were shot with four dead. Four blocks from the shooting incident, Weis abruptly left the media event and reportedly returned to headquarters after the shots rang out.

SOURCE:
Spielman, Fran (April 6, 2010). “Retired cop says Weis ‘cut and run’ after shooting”. Chicago Sun-Times (Chicago: Sun-Times Media, LLC). Retrieved April 6, 2010. (link to the article is expired)

  Scott Adam

Jean and Scott Adam, a couple from California, and Phyllis Macay and Bob Riggle, of Seattle, Washington, who had been sailing around the world since December 2004 with a 58-foot yacht carrying Bibles, were shot and killed by Somali pirates as four U.S. warships trailed their vessel ‘The Quest’.

Scott Adam grew up in Prospect Heights, Illinois.

U.S. naval forces, who were trailing the Americans’ captured yacht with four warships, quickly boarded the vessel after hearing the gunfire. Rescuers tried to provide lifesaving care to the four Americans, but the Adams and Macays were killed. U.S. Central Command says negotiations were underway to free the hostages when gunfire erupted aboard the pirated vessel.

Two pirates died during the confrontation and 13 were captured and detained. The remains of two other pirates who were already dead for some time were also found, according U.S. Central Command. A total of 19 pirates are believed to be involved in the hijacking.

The four Americans were sailing the world to deliver Bibles when their yacht was hijacked last Friday, off the coast of Oman. The shooting deaths mark the first known deaths of hostages at the hands of Somali pirates. At least one of the arrested pirates has claimed that killing hostages is the new standard operating procedure when pirates are pursued.

The niece of Phyllis Macay says her aunt knew the risks of sailing into dangerous waters near Somalia but enjoyed the seas. Macay was one of four Americans the U.S. Navy says were killed by pirates while on a yacht.

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Satellite image showing Arabian Sea off of coast of Oman.

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Wider view of the region around Somalia, Oman and the Arabian Sea.

President Barack Obama traveled Thursday night to Woodside, California (in Northern California) for a meeting with a group of Silicon Valley chief executives, including Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook, Oracle Founder/CEO Steve Ellison, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings, Twitter CEO Dick Costolo, Cisco Systems CEO John Chambers, Yahoo! President and CEO Carol Bartz, AND Apple Founder/CEO Steve Jobs.

Jobs is also reported to have ‘bravely’ worked a full day February 7, 2011 at Apple — working on a new subscription service for the iPad.

The bad news is that doctors (who, by the way, have not treated Steve Jobs) are speculating that he has only six weeks to live. Their comments are based on photos obtained by the National Enquirer. The photos were taken while Steve Jobs was apparently getting breakfast before heading to the Stanford Cancer Center – the treatment center where Patrick Swayze, who died of pancreatic cancer, was treated during his final days.

‘Mr Jobs is most likely getting outpatient chemotherapy at Stanford because the cancer has recurred.’
– Dr Jerome Spunberg

‘He is terminal. What you are seeing is extreme muscle wasting from calorie deprivation, most likely caused by cancer. He has no muscle left in his buttocks, which is the last place to go. He definitely appears to be in the terminal stages of his life from these photos. I would be surprised if he weighed more than 130lb.’
– Dr Gabe Mirkin, a physician/author/radio personality

‘Judging from the photos, he is close to terminal. I would say he has six weeks. He is emaciated and looks to have lost a lot of muscle mass, which spells a poor prognosis.’
– Critical care physician Dr Samuel Jacobson

‘He is very frail, moving like a weak, feeble old man.’ … ‘pain with every step’
– Unnamed source

Last week, Apple had lost almost $10 billion value in four minutes on the stock market. Market analysts at first called the the flash plunge mysterious, but now the drop is blamed on unsubstantiated rumours that Jobs was in the hospital and sicker than people thought — even knowing that he is on his third health care leave of absence from Apple, Inc.

Earlier in February 2011, several media outlets, including ZDNET, CNBC, CBS MoneyWatch, THE STREET, The Motley Fool were reporting that Apple, Inc. is the most valuable company on earth.

As a safety precaution, the Walmart Superstore at 475 E. Route 173 in Antioch was closed when safety engineers discovered there was too much snow on the roof. Engineers estimated the weight of the snow, and compared it to the weight that the roof was designed to hold.

About 20 inches of snow fell in Antioch.

In Chicago, a historic church, the First Baptist Congregational Church, 1613 W. Washington Boulevard, was severely damaged. Two Gothic-style towers collapse with bricks, stone and parts the truss roof falling into the sanctuary.

The building survived the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.

Construction of the church began in 1869 and was completed in 1871, The First Baptist Congregational Church was named a state landmark in 2006 and a National Historic Landmark in 2007.

Chicago Public Schools are also closed with school officials stating they could not “ensure that schools will be safely accessible for students and staff.”

See complete listing …
emergencyclosingcenter.com

Sister Mary Paul, Superintendent of Catholic Schools, has issued a closing of all Catholic schools in Cook and Lake County for Thursday, February 3, 2011 due to continued drifting of snow and the prediction for tomorrow morning of a dangerous wind chill.

Become a fan of The Cardinal weather page. Submit your pictures or just stay up-to-date on weather topics — go direct to the Arlington Cardinal Weather photos. For a list of all of The Cardinal Facebook fan pages, go to Arlingtoncardinal.com/about/facebook …
extra

Cairo’s international airport was a scene of chaos and confusion Monday as thousands of people flee the unrest in Egypt. Countries are organizing chartered planes to evacuate citizens. The United States has promised they will have enough charter planes to evacuate all U.S. citizens (about 2,400) that want to leave. There area an estimated 50,000 Americans in Egypt.

The U.S. Department of State recommends that people stranded in Egypt communicate by phone with people in the United States that have access to the Internet, and check for updates and information needed.

In the event of demonstrations, U.S. citizens in Egypt should remain in their residences or hotels until the situation stabilizes. Security forces may block off the area around the U.S. Embassy during demonstrations, and U.S. citizens should not attempt to come to the U.S. Embassy or the Tahrir Square area at such times. The U. S. Embassy is open for emergency services for U.S. citizens only until further notice. As always, any change to Embassy hours will be posted on the Embassy website. U.S. citizens in Egypt who require assistance, or those who are concerned that their U.S. citizen loved one in Egypt may require assistance, should contact the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Embassy in Cairo at EgyptEmergencyUSC@state.gov, or at 1-202-501-4444. Please follow the directions on the Embassy website for all other consular inquiries.

– U.S> Department of State January 31, 2011

The State Department is prepared to evacuate thousands of U.S. citizens from Egypt on chartered planes, but it is relying largely on friends and families in the U.S. to relay that information to stranded Americans.

According to the U.S. Department of State, there are restrictions on photographing military personnel and sites, bridges, and canals, including the Suez Canal. Egyptian authorities may broadly interpret these restrictions to include other potentially sensitive structures, such as embassies, other public buildings with international associations, and some religious edifices. Visitors are advised to refrain from taking photographs of any uniformed personnel. Consider the contrast of the state department warning with news that Egyptian protesters were taking pictures of their children with military personnel.

Qatar-based news service Al Jazeera said six of its English service journalists were freed Monday after being detained, a day after the news network was told to shut down its operations in Egypt.

The local equivalent to the “9-1-1” emergency line in Egypt is 1-2-2.

Recent reports received from multiple news sources of robberies, looting and roving gangs of vigilantes or militia in the streets.

Before the demonstrations, the crime rate in Egypt is reported to be low. While incidents of violence are rare, purse-snatching, pick-pocketing and petty theft do occur. Travelers are strongly cautioned not to leave valuables such as cash, jewelry, and electronic items unsecured in hotel rooms or unattended in public places. Unescorted women are vulnerable to sexual harassment and verbal abuse. The Embassy has received increasing reports over the last several months of foreigners being sexually groped in taxis and in public places. Travelers are cautioned to be aware of their surroundings and to be cautious going anywhere with a stranger alone.

The United States Embassy in Egypt had received increasing reports of U.S. citizen women subject to domestic violence, sexual harassment, verbal abuse, and rape in Egypt. Women have been groped in taxis and public places. The Consular Section strongly encourages women who seek our assistance to take legal action against perpetrators in order to bring them to justice. Some Egyptian NGOs (non-governmental organizations) provide assistance to victimized women within the Egyptian community. Women victimized overseas may be entitled to receive compensation for counseling and/or other services such as relocating back to the U.S. For further information visit the Office on Violence Against Women.

See more …

Specific instructions and travel updates …
http://travel.state.gov

U.S. Department of State Egypt: Public Service Announcement for American Citizens

U.S. Department of State Country-specific information for Egypt …

U.S. Department of State Worldwide Caution

The icebreaker ships Krasin and Admiral Makarov resumed efforts to tug the Coast of Hope mother ship to ice-free waters, which were suspended due to the tow rope breaking on Wednesday.

Rescue operations are expected to resume Thursday after repair of the towing mechanism that was damaged when the tow rope broke. The Admiral Makarov is busy breaking a channel through thick ice, while The Krasin is towing the sea platform away from the ice trap.

The convoy will sail 100 miles to an area where the earlier released Coast of Hope refrigerator ship awaits. After that, all four vessels will keep moving to safe waters to meet with a fuel tanker.

One weather report indicated conditions with a temperature as low as – 9 F and winds of 55 mph.

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Video with clips from Governor Jan Brewer and Senator John McCain … includes some recent video of Representative Gabrielle Gifford. Also a clip of the Dr. Peter Rhee, Trauma Director of the University Hospital at University of Arizona.

Rep. Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona was shot in the head Saturday when an assailant opened fire outside a grocery store during a meeting with constituents, killing at least five people and wounding several others.

Cullerton was pulled over during early-morning hours April 18 in the 800 block of North Dearborn Street. Police alleged he had a blood-alcohol level of 0.188, more than twice the legal limit of 0.08.

Garritt M. Cullerton, 27, also pleaded guilty to an improper lane usage citation, according to the Cook County state’s attorney’s office.

Cullerton was sentenced to two years of conditional discharge today in Cook County traffic court before Judge Sharon Johnson. He was also ordered to perform 240 hours of community service, seek treatment for alcohol abuse and pay a $1,250 fine with George Livas representing him as his defense attorney.

Garritt Cullerton has had previous charges of DUI in 2004 and 2008, but this marks his first conviction for DUI.

Senate President John Cullerton gave up his 2009 Ford Escape in May 2010, and returned it to the State of Illinois.

Senate President John Cullerton sponsored legislation that requires motorists convicted of drunken driving to blow into an ignition-locking device to prove their sobriety. Even first-time convicted DUI offenders have to do it every time they get behind the wheel in order to start their vehicle. The ignition-locking device is one of the strictest in the United States.

Senate President John Cullerton is also in the news this week as he pushed legislation that would require some online retailers, such as Amazon.com, to collect the state’s 6.25 percent sales tax. Cullerton was quoted saying the tax is not a new tax. “It’s just a way of collecting the tax,” Cullerton said.

Amazon immediately sent a letter to Illinois Amazon Affiliates with a notification that if the bill is signed by Governor Quinn, Amazon.com would end its relationships with Illinois-based Associates, and terminate the participation of all Illinois residents in the Associates Program.

Amazon would no longer pay any advertising fees for sales referred to amazon.com, endless.com and smallparts.com.

Amazon notes that the law is unconstitutional and that over a dozen other states have considered essentially identical legislation but have rejected these proposals largely because of the adverse impact on their states’ residents.

The end result is that Illinois wouldn’t get any tax income from Amazon because Amazon would pull out of Illinois. The state would also incur high legal expenses because Amazon is likely to sue the State of Illinois for the unconstitutional law. Also, thousands of residents and businesses, who are Amazon affiliates would lose income and have less money to spend in the State of Illinois.

To avoid the tax or avoid losing the affiliate relationship with Amazon, businesses could move out of the State of Illinois, further reducing tax income for the State for Illinois.

A portion of The Cardinal — Arlingtoncardinal.com income is gained from Amazon affiliate sales.

A CBS Chicago 2 helicopter with veteran news chopper reporter Kris Habermehl onboard and pilot Jeff Fair at the controls were following a search that was just getting started when the CBS crew discovered a body. Authorities in LaSalle County then found the body of Tanya Shannon, in the cornfield below. She was a mother of four who most likely left an accident scene in search of help after a vehicle crash on December 5, 2010. Her husband, Dale Shannon died in the one-vehicle crash into a utility pole. His blood alcohol was .266 — more than three times the legal limit of .08.

Tanya Shannon’s body was found at 9:21 a.m. Monday near the intersection of North 20th and East 27th roads in a rural area of unincorporated Brookfield Township, according to LaSalle County Sheriff Tom Templeton. The location is about three-quarters of a mile southeast of the crash scene.

A magnitude 3.8 earthquake at a depth of 3.0 miles hit central Indiana at 6:55 am local time (12:55 GMT) Thursday, according to the USGS.

There were no immediate reports of injuries or damages from the quake, which was centered 50 miles (75 km) northeast of Indianapolis.

Numerous reports from people in Greentown, Kokomo, Elwood, Fairmount, Jonesboro, and Marion.

Several people on Twitter wrote that their houses shook, doors rattled and the earthquake sounded like rolling thunder. Some people reported hearing a loud boom like a semi-trailer hit a building. The earthquake lasted about 5 or 6 seconds.

An American Airlines Boeing 757 jetliner from Chicago O’Hare International Airport ran off the runway about 1:00 p.m. Wednesday at Jackson Hole Airport in Jackson, Wyo., after it landed there, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

No injuries were reported. American Flight No. 2253 departed from O’Hare at 9:53 a.m. carrying 175 passengers and six crew members onboard and apparently slid into deep snow after landing on-time at 11:41 a.m. MST.

Passengers exited the aircraft via air stairs and were taken by bus to the Jackson Hole Airport terminal.

The Jackson Hole airport has difficult weather at times. The higher altitude of the airport is also associated with higher air speeds.

Flightaware info on FLIGHT 2253 on December 29, 2010 …

A 35-year-old chair lift fails at one of Maine’s most popular ski resorts, sending skiers plummeting into ungroomed snow far below. At least six skiers at Sugarloaf resort in Shapleigh, Maine were transported to the hospital.

At approximately 10:30 this morning, the Spillway East lift at Sugarloaf derailed from the lift’s eighth tower. Five chairs fell an estimated 25-30 feet to the ground below. None of the injuries were reported to be life-threatening. At the time of the accident there were about 220 people on the chair lift.

According to a Sugarloaf press release, the Spillway East chair is A two-passenger monocable fixed grip chair manufactured and installed by Borvig in 1975. This lift was modified in 1983. Spillway East is 4,013 feet long with a vertical of 1,454 feet. This chair moves at a speed of 500 feet per minute and the chairs are 50 feet apart. There are 162 chairs on this lift each weighing 140lbs. Spillway East has a 250 horsepower motor and has a capacity for 1,200 skiers per hour.

See also …
sugarloaf.com

twitter.com/SugarloafMaine

Included are pension reforms for most new public employees, limits on campaign contributions, requiring Governor and Lt. Governor candidates to run as a team in primaries and changes to laws regarding the use of red-light cameras, Murphy said.

Also of note is legislation requiring mandatory imprisonment for aggravated weapons convictions and a number of new measures to stiffen penalties for sex offenders, along with a measure targeting “sexting.”

One of the most important new laws to pass the General Assembly in 2010—bipartisan pension reform—advanced in SB 1946/PA 96-0889. The pension reforms will not change benefits for existing public employees, but new employees will be subject to a higher retirement age, limits on cost-of-living adjustments when they retire and an imposed ceiling on the maximum earnings that can be counted toward their pensions. Under the new measure, no additional benefits will accrue for salaries above the current Social Security maximum level of $106,800 (inflation adjusted).

Illinois will impose campaign contribution limits beginning in January. Under SB 1466/PA 96-0832 political contributions for individual candidates will be limited to $5,000 from individuals and $10,000 from corporations, labor unions and trade associations. While applauding the intent of the legislation, Republicans criticized the measure because it allows unlimited campaign contributions from political party leaders in the general election. A related measure — HB4821/PA 96-1263 — corrects errors in the original bill affecting the duties of the State Board of Elections.

House Bill 5820/PA 96-1018 requires the Governor and Lieutenant Governor to run as a team in the General Primary Election.

Also beginning Jan. 1, changes to the law regulating the use of red-light cameras will take effect under SB 935/PA 96-1016. The measure mandates all red-light violations be reviewed by a police officer, retired police officer, or technician not employed by the same company that runs the cameras, and prohibits the ticketing of a vehicle that comes to a complete stop without entering the intersection. It also directs that an image of the violation must be made available on the Internet and any municipality or county that uses red light cameras must provide notice to the public by posting the locations of the cameras on the official Web site. Finally, a safety impact study must be undertaken to assess the number of accidents at the intersection.

A new law targeting gun violence will increase penalties for aggravated unlawful use of a weapon. HB 5832/PA 96-1107 requires mandatory imprisonment of one to three years for an individual who was 18 years or older, who did not have a valid FOID card, and who possessed a loaded and uncased firearm. The penalties would also apply to those who are caught in possession of an unloaded, uncased firearm with ammunition accessible, if they do not have a valid FOID card. Currently, individuals could see one to three years in prison and a $25,000 fine. The new law will make imprisonment mandatory.

House Bill 4583/PA 96-1087 targets the growing social issue of “sexting,” a trend where explicit photos or video are sent via cell phone or E-mail to someone else. The bill is aimed at people younger than 18, as “sexting” has become increasingly problematic among young people in recent years.

Currently, there is little that could be done to address “sexting” aside from pursuing felony child pornography charges—which prosecutors are reluctant to do. HB 4583 seeks to create a middle ground by stipulating that a minor who electronically sends an indecent image of another minor can be brought into juvenile court for a proceeding to determine if they are a minor in need of supervision. If the young person is found to be in need of supervision, he or she could be ordered into counseling or other supportive services. They may also be ordered to complete community service.

At least eight new laws focus on sexual predators and sex crimes. Most are clarifications designed to close loopholes, increase restrictions on known sex offenders or impose additional penalties, such as SB 1020/PA 96-1390 which gives judges discretion to impose longer terms on offenders who prey on victims younger than 18 who are under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crime.

Other bills that will become law on Jan. 1 include:

Adoption Form (HB 6080/PA 96-1461): Requires forms for consent to adoption to be signed to acknowledge that the birth parent received and had time to read the Birth Parent Rights and Responsibilities – Private Form before signing the consent.

Administration Certification (SB 2537/PA 96-0982): Makes changes to how prospective school administrators can earn necessary endorsements/certification by adding “chief school business official” to the list of types of experience which makes a prospective administrator eligible to earn the superintendant endorsement, and for the “chief school business official” endorsement, adds an internship of six semester hours to the requirements of the MBA path.

AED (HB 5838/PA 96-1268): Eliminates the requirement that a supervisor of an outdoor physical fitness facility be responsible for ensuring that an automated external defibrillator (AED) is available during the time that an event or activity at the facility is being conducted.

Affordability Index (SB 374/PA 96-1255): Requires the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the Department of Transportation and the Housing Development Authority to adopt the Housing and Transportation Affordability Index as a tool for the development of plans in Metropolitan Planning Organization areas.

ALL Kids Eligibility (HB 5927/PA 96-1272): Deletes the All Kids mandate that states non-payment of the required monthly premiums will result in the child’s ineligibility for re-enrollment for a minimum period of three months.

Animal Disclosure (HB 5772/PA 96-1470): Requires animal shelters, animal control facilities, and pet shops to disclose certain information regarding dogs and cats that are being adopted or purchased.

Bilingual Education Funding (SB 3635/PA 96-1170): States that at least 60% of transitional bilingual education funding received from the state must be used for the instructional costs of transitional bilingual education.

Bilingual Information (HB 5044/PA 96-1166): Requires the state to publish a Web page that contains information about predatory lending written in Spanish.

Brian’s Law (HB 5152/PA 96-1235): Creates a system of independent review teams to hold inquiries into the deaths of residents of state-operated facilities for people with developmental disabilities and/or mental illness.

Burglary Tools (HB 4715/PA 96-1307): Prohibits knowingly selling any key, lock bumping key, or lock pick specifically manufactured or altered for use in breaking into a building, motor vehicle, or depository designed for safekeeping or property.

Chicago Public Schools Violence Hot-line (HB 4647/PA 96-1425): Requires the Chicago Board of Education to establish a telephone hot-line for anonymous calls that may prevent violence in Chicago Public Schools.

Chicago School Council Membership (HB 6017/PA 96-1412): Adds one member to the Local School Council’s membership, who will be a non-teacher employee of the attendance center.

Child Abuse Terminology (SB 2605/PA 96-1196): Changes the definition of the term “subject of report” to mean any child reported to the central register of child abuse and neglect as an alleged victim of child abuse or neglect and the parent, guardian, or other person responsible for the alleged victim.

Child Protection (HB 4691/PA 96-0914): Increases penalties for drivers transporting a child passenger who fail to properly secure the child in the appropriate child restraint system.

Child Sex Offenders (HB 6464/PA 96-1094): Makes it unlawful for a parent or guardian to leave their child in the custody of a convicted child sex offender, and also requires registered child sex offenders to report to law enforcement whether they reside in a household with a child younger than 18 who is not their own child.

Child Support (SB 2570/PA 96-1072): Establishes that following the entry of a judgment for dissolution of marriage, a child support order cannot be suspended or stayed due to the filing of post-judgment motions.

Civil Commitment (SB 3467/PA 96-1128): Allows the state to seek the civil commitment of certain sex offenders who are about to complete a sentence of imprisonment on their sex offense, if the state proves the person has a mental disorder that predisposes engagement in acts of sexual violence.

Commercial Vehicles (HB 4673/PA 96-1179): Increases the fine to no less than $500 for commercial trucks that fail to display the name of the company on the side of the vehicle.

Construction School Grant Index – Cooperative/Consolidated Schools (HB 5633/PA 96-1381): Allows the average of both school districts’ grant index to be used as the grant index for school districts that have consolidated or have approved a cooperative high school within a prior fiscal year and are seeking a school construction grant.

Continuing Education for Psychologists (HB 5691/PA 96-1050): Mandates that the state create and set continuing education requirements for clinical psychologists.

Cook County Treasurer (HB 6235/PA 96-1159): Requires the Cook County Treasurer to post information related to un-cashed checks on its official Web site.

Cooperative Income (SB 1826/PA 96-0932): Allows Illinois to treat farm cooperatives differently than the federal government. The intent was to eliminate a conflict between state and federal law that could result in double taxation for cooperatives.

Corporate Accountability (HB 5230/PA 96-1429): Provides that a recipient of multiple development assistance agreements in the same award year, and for a single project site, may file a consolidated progress report if the applicant’s base number of employees and number of jobs to be created and retained as stated in the multiple development assistance agreements or applications are the same.

Corporate Document Recording (SB 3211/PA 96-1121): Eliminates the requirement of recording certain corporate documents with the county recorder.

Court Video Conferencing (HB 5351/PA 96-1321): Provides that the Illinois Supreme Court or any circuit court may adopt rules allowing the use of video conferencing in involuntary admission hearings under certain conditions.

Credit History Discrimination (HB 4658/PA 96-1426): Prevents an employer from inquiring about an applicant’s or employee’s credit history; refusing to hire or otherwise discriminating against an individual in employment, compensation, or condition because of the individual’s credit history or credit report; or ordering or obtaining an applicant or employee’s credit report from a consumer credit agency.

Criminal Justice Information Authority (SB 3628/PA 96-1343): Increases the membership of the Criminal Justice Information Authority by two with the addition of the Cook County Public Defender and a Public Defender from some county other than Cook to be appointed by the Governor.

Crime Victim Notification (HB 5791/PA 96-1092): Allows the Attorney General to establish a crime victim and witness notification system to assist public officials in carrying out their duties to notify and inform crime victims and witnesses.

Critical Care Transport (HB 5183/PA 96-1469): Provides for the creation of minimum standards by the Department of Public Health for “Critical Care Transport,” or advanced specialized care while transporting patients to or between healthcare facilities; establishes additional fees to be collected for additional specialized emergency licensees; and designates equipment certification to be used for the licensure and inspection process.

Dangerous Animals – Primates (HB 4801/PA 96-1219): Prohibits a person from having in his or her possession any primate, except at a properly designated facility.

DCEO Audit Compliance (SB 3422/PA 96-0995): Makes changes in response to a DCEO audit that identified mandates and other requirements that are outdated, duplicative, or obsolete including allowing the Motor Sports Promotion Council Task Force to meet at the call of the Chair or any four members; makes the creation of the Center for Business Ownership Succession and Employee Ownership permissive; makes the appointment of an Illinois Emergency Development Coordinator permissive; makes a feasibility study for future development of Parks College permissive; repeals the Gang Control Grants Act and the related DCEO authorizing statutory authority.

Death Concealment (SB 2590/PA 96-1361): This law was sought by law enforcement officers as a result of cases where individuals died of drug-related causes and their companions disposed of the bodies in order to conceal their own drug abuse. Moving the body and resultant delay in identifying the individual extended the grief and suffering of the families of the deceased. Law enforcement also lost time and potential evidence regarding the circumstances of the deaths. Since the deaths were not the result of a homicide, there was not any charge that could be brought for concealing the deaths.

Debt Collections (HB 5781/PA 96-1383): Allows Illinois to enter into agreements with other states to collect debts owed to that state if the debtor resides in Illinois; provides that collection agency fees charged to the State will constitute an additional liability of the taxpayer; caps the amount of collection fees at no more than 25% of the tax liability; replaces DOR’s 20% debt collection fee with administrative cost reimbursement; and allows the Secretary of State to furnish social security numbers to the Department of Revenue.

Deer Archery Permits (HB 5307/PA 96-1042): Requires DNR to provide for the issuance of single, either-sex, resident archery deer permits.

Defendant Failure to Appear (HB 5494/PA 96-1431): Requires a $75 fee to be assessed against a defendant who fails to appear on an offense charge as required by the court when an arrest warrant was issued for the defendant, with $70 of the assessment going to the law enforcement agency that arrests the defendant on the arrest warrant and $5 to the Circuit Clerk.

Dental Reimbursement Fund (SB 3290/PA 96-1123): Creates the Medical Assistance Dental Reimbursement Revolving Fund to contain all funds to pay for dental services provided by enrolled dental service providers for services to participants in the medical programs administered by DHFS.

DHFS Identification (HB 5204/PA 96-1316): Authorizes the HFS Inspector General to issue identification shields to employees to distinguish the detectives from the employees and increase the detective’s credibility.

DHS Office Applications (HB 1801/PA 96-0867): Provides that aid applicants may apply at any local DHS office, not just the county office in which the applicant resides.

Disability Parking (SB 3309/PA 96-1125): States that 24 hours following a storm or other severe weather incident, property owners can be held responsible for any unreasonable obstruction of a parking place specifically reserved for disabled persons. Also prohibits the accumulation of debris or large objects without providing equivalent alternative parking on-site.

Disabled Veteran Homestead Exemption (SB 3666/PA 96-1298): Allows a disabled veteran to keep the disabled veterans homestead exemption if he or she goes to a nursing home or VA facility, as long as the house is either unoccupied or used by the spouse.

DNA Testing (SB 2606/PA 96-1074): Modernizes archaic language included in the provisions regarding DNA testing.

DNR Reinstatement Fee (HB 6317/PA 96-1160): Allows DNR to assess a fee of up to $1,000 for the reinstatement of revoked licenses, permits, registrations, and other privileges that it administers in the exercise of its powers and duties under Illinois law.

Documentation Fraud (HB 5749/PA 96-1432): Raises the penalty from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class 4 felony for a deceptive practice when a person with an intent to defraud causes another, by deception or threat, to execute a document disposing of property, or a document by which a monetary obligation is incurred, when the property in a single transaction exceeds $150 or separate transactions over 90 days exceeds $150.

Dog Fighting (HB 5790/PA 96-1091): Increases the penalties for dog fighting offenses occurring on property within 100 feet of a school, public park, playground, child care institution, or day care center.

Driving Permits (HB 6450/PA 96-1284): Authorizes issuance of a family financial responsibility driving permit to allow a person who has lost his or her driver’s license for non-payment of child support to drive to and from a job, to receive alcohol treatment, drug treatment or medical care, or for the purpose of seeking employment.

Driving Privilege Revocation (HB 4580/PA 96-1305): Requires the Secretary of State to immediately revoke the driving privileges of any person who has been convicted of the unlawful operation of a motor vehicle, if the accident caused the death of any person.

DUI Fee Increase (SB 3616/PA 96-1342): Provides for an administrative fee increase for DUI violations from $500 to $750 and gives the law enforcement agency that made the arrest a bigger percentage of the fine than current/previous law provides.

DUI Vehicle Seizure (SB 3029/PA 96-1289): Cleans-up current cross-references to the DUI statute in the Criminal Code seizure and forfeiture of vehicles used in the commission of an offense.

Early Education Transportation Reimbursement (HB 4879/PA 96-1264): Allows pre-K students to be counted towards the total number of students transported by a school district when the State Board of Education calculates transportation reimbursements.
Economic Interests (SB 3183/PA 96-1336): Permits the county clerk’s office to send electronic notices of a statement of economic interest, but only applies to people appointed to the governing board of a local government, zoning boards, planning commissions, etc. Also gives county clerks the authorization at their discretion to institute an Internet-based system for the filing of statements of economic interests in his or her office.

Education Homeless Grant Program (HB 4755/PA 96-1229): Creates the Education of Homeless Children and Youth State Grant Program, to aid school districts in facilitating the enrollment and success of homeless children in Illinois schools.

Electronic Citation Fee (SB 3508/PA 96-1210): Creates a new fee of $5 charged to the defendant found guilty in any traffic, misdemeanor, municipal ordinance, or conservation case supervision, to offset the costs of establishing and maintaining electronic citations.

Emancipation Proclamation Week (HB 5463/PA 96-1238): Designates the first full week in January as Emancipation Proclamation Week.

Emergency Special Needs Alert (HB 5669/PA 96-1168): Provides that any person holding a State ID card or Driver License can designate if they have a disability or special needs. The information can be entered into the state’s emergency contact database.

Emergency Vehicles (SB 2794/PA 96-0986): Designates emergency services and disaster agency vehicles as authorized emergency vehicles.

Emergency Volunteers (SB 2541/PA 96-0983): Allows Illinois’ emergency management agency to coordinate health or veterinary services while an emergency declaration is in effect.

Energy Technology Grant Program (HB 6153/PA 96-1279): Allows DCEO to create financial incentives and grant programs to encourage private companies to share their new energy technologies with public institutions of higher education, public utilities, electric cooperatives, State agencies, and federal agencies.

Experimental Treatment (HB 5079/PA 96-0967): Clarifies the role of the physician in external reviews involving experimental treatment, by providing that before a determination is made on an appeal relating to an experimental or investigational treatment, a licensed physician who ordered care must certify that certain situations are applicable.

Explosives Act (HB 6416/PA 96-1194): Updates technical definitions which have changed since the current Illinois Explosives Act was amended in the early 1990s.

False 911 Call (HB 6101/PA 96-1261): Increases the penalty for making a false 911 call to make equal the penalty for transmitting a false 911 call with the penalty for making a false police report.

False Identification (SB 3169/PA 96-1120): Provides that information concerning a non-existent address or altered photo used on a State identification card or driver’s license is false information for the purposes of prosecuting a fictitious or altered card or license.

Family Military Leave (SB 3818/PA 96-1417): Adds children and grandparents to the list of people eligible for Family Military Leave, if a loved one is on active military duty for more than 30 days.

Farm-School Database (SB 615/PA 96-1095): Requires that the Department of Agriculture establish a Farm-school Web database to facilitate the purchase of fresh produce and food products by schools.

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Awareness (HB 5448/PA 96-1323): Requires each county board to annually submit a report to Dept. of Public Health establishing the county clerk’s compliance with the requirement that the county clerk provides a pamphlet on fetal alcohol syndrome with each marriage license.

Firefighter Death Claim (HB 5956/PA 96-0923): Extends the time limit for families of a firefighter killed in the line of duty to file a claim following the death of a firefighter.

FOID Revocation (HB 5489/PA 96-1239): Provides for mandatory surrender of a FOID card in the remedies for emergency orders of protection and for civil orders of protection, if the court is satisfied that there is danger of the illegal use of firearms, thus making the criminal orders of protection consistent with civil orders of protection.

Fund Transfer (SB 2976/PA 96-1100): Removes the requirement that excess dollars in the Public Aid Recoveries Trust Fund be transferred to the General Revenue Fund (GRF), and instead moves those dollars to the Health Care Provider Relief Fund; utilizes the Juvenile Rehabilitation Service Medicaid Matching Fund to deposit matching dollars related to Medical Assistance service provided by counties; codifies the current practice of appropriating to CHIP, ALL Kids, Senior Care, and Circuit Breaker from the Drug Rebate Fund; codifies the current practice of depositing federal receipts into the Child Support Administrative Fund as opposed to the Child Support Enforcement Trust Fund.

Funeral Directors and Embalmers Licensing (HB 6420/PA 96-1463): Requires that only a licensed funeral director can have direct contact with consumers when making funeral or burial arrangements, and negotiating, developing or finalizing contracts with consumers; provides that a licensed funeral director or his or her designee must remain at the cemetery and personally witness the burial.

Gaming Board (SB 1937/PA 96-1392): Separates the Illinois Gaming Board from the Department of Revenue, making a separate board under the jurisdiction of the Governor, and makes administrative changes to the Riverboat Gambling Act.

Greek Sprinklers (HB 5664/PA 96-1303): Requires fraternity and sorority houses built after January 1, 2011, to install fire sprinklers during construction, and all houses already built to install sprinklers prior to January 1, 2019. Supporters of the bill indicated that in the past decade, 110 fires have occurred in Fraternities and Sororities and ten students have died as the result of these fires.

Green Manufacturing Grant (HB 6030/PA 96-1413): Creates a grant program for manufacturers with 500 or fewer employees for the cost of capital equipment that will reduce environmental impact and achieve cost savings.

Guardianship Termination (SB 3386/PA 96-1338): Clarifies jurisdictional issues surrounding Probate Court proceedings on a petition for the appointment of a guardian. Provides that when a minor has a parent, whose parental rights have not been terminated, whose whereabouts are known, and who is willing and able to make and carry out day-to-day child care decisions concerning the minor, the court does not have jurisdiction to proceed unless the parent or parents voluntarily relinquished custody of the child; agreed or did not object to the appointment of a guardian; or there is already a guardian for the minor appointed by a court. Also modifies the provisions regarding revocation of the guardianship of a minor to establish the process and standards by which a parent can seek to have the guardianship revoked.

H-2A Unemployment (SB 3494/PA 96-1208): Exempts employers from paying into unemployment insurance for H-2A workers.

Hair Braider License (HB 5783/PA 96-1246): Allows a licensed cosmetologist to provide hair braiding services without being licensed as a hair braider, and provides lesser education requirements for hair braiders as compared to licensed cosmetologists.

Hispanic and Bilingual Employment Plan Report (SB 387/PA 96-1286): Requires Constitutional offices, State Universities, Community Colleges and the Toll Highway Authority to provide an annual report describing the implementation and progress of the State Hispanic Employment Plan and the bilingual employment plan.

Holocaust Commission (HB 6059/PA 96-1063): Authorizes the members of the Illinois Holocaust and Genocide Commission to provide advice concerning education, memorials, events, and other matters regarding the Holocaust and genocide.

Homeowners’ Solar Rights Act (HB 5429/PA 96-1436): Prevents homeowners and condominium associations from prohibiting solar energy systems on homes. The groups can adopt reasonable restrictions on solar energy systems, provided they do not have the practical effect of banning the systems.

Honey Regulation (SB 2959/PA 96-1028): Provides that state Department of Public Health (DPH) may not regulate honey that is left in the comb or that is removed from the comb and in an unadulterated condition, and prevents DPH from regulating or inspecting a producer’s honey house if the producer is engaged in the sale of honey at a local market and packs or sells less than 500 gallons of honey produced in Illinois per year.

Information Sharing/Fees (SB 3540/PA 96-1414): Increases the monthly fee from $25 to $50 that a juvenile who is placed on supervision, probation or conditional discharge must pay; provides that in cases where a defendant is granted probation, conditional discharge or supervision, the circuit court may not impose a probation fee in excess of $25 per month; provides that the court may waive probation fees based on an offender’s ability to pay; states that if a minor is a victim of aggravated battery, battery, attempted first degree murder, or other non-sexual violent offense, the identity of the victim may be disclosed to appropriate school officials, in order to prevent future violence involving minors.

Inspector General (SB 3118/PA 96-1347): Creates an Inspector General (IG) for the Toll Highway Authority to detect and deter fraud and corruption.

Insurance Policies (HB 4782/PA 96-1034): States that the provisions of the Insurance Code concerning dependent coverage do not apply to short-term travel, disability income, long-term care, accident only, or limited or specified disease policies.

Intoxicating Compounds (HB 3869/PA 96-1440): Increases the penalty on a second or subsequent conviction for use of a certain drugs defined in state law as intoxicating compounds. Gives first-time offenders the opportunity to defer prosecution if addiction treatment is undergone.

Intoxicated Vehicle Instructors (HB 5341/PA 96-1237): Makes it a moving violation for a person who is under the influence of alcohol or drugs to accompany or provide instruction to a driver who is a minor operating the motor vehicle with an instruction permit.

Juvenile Criminal Program (HB 5913/PA 96-1022): Provides that when possible the Department of Juvenile Justice is allowed to share or assign services, powers, or duties with the Department of Children and Family Services.

Juvenile Criminal Protection (HB 6129/PA 96-1251): Provides that a statement or incriminating information offered by a minor or parent/guardian as part of any behavioral health screening evaluation is not admissible as evidence against the minor on the issue of whether the minor committed a delinquent act in a juvenile court proceeding, or on the issue of guilt in a criminal proceeding.

Juvenile Justice Commission (SB 3085/PA 96-1199): Charges the existing Illinois Juvenile Justice Commission with studying the impact of developing timelines, and proposing a funding structure to accommodate the expansion of the jurisdiction of the Illinois Juvenile Court to include youth who are age 17 under the jurisdiction of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987.

Juvenile Parole (HB 5914/PA 96-1271): Directs the Juvenile Justice Commission to develop recommendations for due process protections for youth during release decision-making processes including, but not limited to, parole revocation proceedings and release on parole.

Limited Liability Company (SB 2553/PA 96-0984): Requires all fees collected by the state for limited liability companies be deposited into the General Professions Dedicated Fund.

Lupus Education and Awareness Program (HB 4587/PA 96-1108): Creates a program to promote public and health professional awareness of lupus, and increase knowledge concerning the causes and consequences of lupus.

Marital Trusts (HB 5282/PA 96-1145): Allows a married couple who holds their family residence in revocable trust(s) for estate planning purposes to do so as tenants by the entirety, which would protect the home from being sold to satisfy the debts of one of the spouses.

Mass Transit Application (HB 5732/PA 96-1458): Requires IDOT to develop an application process for funding in new mass transit service areas.

Medicaid Dental Services (HB 5859/PA 96-0926): Authorizes Healthcare and Family Services to develop a system to allow dental payments to be made to a clinic so that a volunteering dentist does not have to personally enroll as a participating provider in the medical assistance program.

Medicaid Fraud (SB 3815/PA 96-1346): Creates a 17-member Public Benefits Fraud Protection Task Force to conduct a thorough review of the nature of public assistance fraud to determine if more stringent penalties are necessary.

Medicaid Health Cards (HB 5054/PA 96-0940): Requires Healthcare and Family Services to quit issuing monthly MediPlan cards and instead issue permanent or semi-permanent member cards to individuals enrolled in Medicaid.

Meter Malfunction (SB 2476/PA 96-1256): Provides that if a meter is malfunctioning due to accumulation of snow and ice, violators can use that as an affirmative defense.

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (HB 4802/PA 96-1308): Extends the non-voted bonding authority of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District to December 31, 2024.

Military Foreclosure (HB 3762/PA 96-0901): Requires the court to stay mortgage foreclosure proceedings for a period of 90 days upon application to the court by a mortgager who was deployed on active military duty within the previous 12 months.

Military Hunting/Fishing (HB 4721/PA 96-1226): Allows Illinois residents who are on emergency leave from active duty in the United States Armed Forces to fish and hunt without a license.

Military License Plates (HB 4778/PA 96-1409): Eliminates only the additional fee for Korean War Veteran, U.S. Veteran, Vietnam Veteran, World War II Veteran, Army Combat Veteran, and U.S. Army Veteran special license plates.

Military Voting (HB 6077/PA 96-1004): Permits members of the armed forces to vote by fax or email.

Minor Exploitation (HB 5321/PA 96-1090): Provides sexual exploitation of a child includes committing a sexual act or exposing oneself in front of a child via the Internet or Web cam for sexual gratification.

Minor Tattoos/Piercing (HB 4895/PA 96-1311): Makes it unlawful for a person to falsely represent that he or she is the parent or legal guardian of a minor younger than 18 at a tattoo parlor or a body piercing business.

Misrepresentation Penalties (SB 3684/PA 96-1113): Adds to existing home invasion and burglary offenses by adding: gaining entry to the home by misrepresenting oneself to be a representative of government, a construction company, a telecommunication company, or a utility company.

Mortgage Licensing (SB 3781/PA 96-1216): Makes technical changes to address the Secure and Fair Enforcement for Mortgage Licensing Act, the SAFE Act of 2008, to make Illinois law consistent with SAFE Act requirements.

Motor Vehicle Driving Privileges (HB 4859/PA 96-1180): Allows the Secretary of State to grant a Restricted Driving Permit for individuals convicted of certain offenses to transport elderly or disabled persons to and from daycare if the elderly person cannot drive and the is living in the offender’s house.

New Employee Portal (HB 6271/PA 96-1387): Requires Central Management Services to establish and maintain a searchable, public database of information about new employees entering State employment.

Open Meetings (HB 5329/PA 96-1043): Provides that members of a municipal transit district who participate by teleconference can be counted as part of a quorum if the transit district covers 4,500 square miles. This was initiated by RIDES Mass Transit District in Southeastern Illinois because of the difficulty of getting a physical quorum due to the large size of the district. (HB 5483/PA 96-1473): Requires that a public body approve minutes of its open meeting within 30 days after the meeting or at its next regularly scheduled meeting, and also requires that a public body make its approved open meeting minutes available for public inspection and, if the public body has a Web site, post those minutes within 10 days after approval of the minutes.

Order of Protection (HB 5510/PA 96-1241): Requires a judge who issues a domestic violence emergency order of protection to promptly notify the Sheriff of the order, to facilitate entry of the order of protection into the Law Enforcement Agencies Data System.

Outdoor Veterans’ Licenses (SB 384/PA 96-1014): Allows veterans who are applying for a free camping pass, fishing license, or hunting license to provide acceptable verification of service or mobilization at one of DNR’s regional offices.

Outpatient Medicaid Reimbursement (HB 5765/PA 96-1382): Requires DHFS to reimburse critical access hospitals for outpatient Medicaid services at an amount that is no less than the cost of providing such services, based on Medicare cost principles.

Penalty Increase (SB 2488/PA 96-1109): Raises the penalty on aggravated assault against a police officer, when the offender uses a deadly weapon.

Podiatric Act (HB 5991/PA 96-1158): Adds provisions concerning the prohibition against fee splitting with respect to podiatrists.

Police Officer Witness (SB 3304/PA 96-1206): Provides a procedure for a police officer who witnessed the commission of a misdemeanor to sign a complaint sufficient to charge the defendant with the misdemeanor offense, eliminating the need to fill out a long form complaint, track down a Notary and formalize the oath.

Political Signage (HB 3785/PA 96-0904): States that municipalities may not prohibit political signs on residential property.

Poppers (SB 3503/PA 96-1112): Prohibits “poppers,” or devices that can override, block or defeat a locking mechanism, from being possessed within a prison.

No Blagojevich Portrait (HB 5109/PA 96-1017): Bans the financing of a governor’s portrait if the Governor was removed from office by impeachment and conviction.

Prescription Drug Information Cards (HB 5527/PA 96-1326): Provides that a discounted health care services plan administrator providing discounts on prescription drugs or devices must issue a card containing certain information like its Web site, toll-free number, names of all provider networks, group, cardholder ID and BIN number, etc.

Primary Elections (SB 355/PA 96-0886): Moves the general primary election to the third Tuesday of March in even numbered years. In 2008 the primary was moved to February in order to give Illinoisan Barrack Obama an advantage.

Prompt Vendor Payment (SB 3587/PA 96-1085): Requires vendors to forward any interest derived from the Prompt Payment Act to a consumer if the vendor required the consumer to pay upfront for any services.

Propane Cargo Tank Vehicles (SB 3282/PA 96-1337): Allows certain propane cargo tank vehicles to continue operating for emergency heating purposes during imposed highway use restrictions.

Property Tax Title Search Redemption Fee (HB 5158/PA 96-1067): Limits tax sale redemption fees for title searches to $150.

Psychiatry Practice Incentive (HB 5053/PA 96-1411): Requires DPH to establish a program under which programs of grants, loans, and loan forgiveness are established to recruit and retain psychiatric service providers in designated shortage areas of the State.

Public Adjusters (SB 660/PA 96-1332): Creates the Public Adjusters Law to set requirements and standards for acting as a public insurance adjuster in the State of Illinois, which contains licensure fees and outlines penalties if violated, and allows the Director of Insurance to place on probation, suspend, revoke, deny, or refuse to issue or renew a public adjuster’s license or levy a civil penalty or any combination of actions, for having been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor involving dishonesty or fraud.

Public Corruption (SB 2551/PA 96-1019): Creates a public corruption profit forfeiture provision requiring forfeitures of profits and proceeds derived from a criminal public corruption offense that resulted in a criminal conviction, including forfeiture of all political contributions held by a political committee or organization controlled by the convicted person.

Public Employee Disability Suits (HB 5458/PA 96-1430): Allows the state to commence or join in a suit against a third party that’s liable for injuries that trigger the payment for occupational disability benefits to an eligible public employee, concerning correctional workers and state employees working in penal institutions, or mental health or developmental disabilities facilities operated by the Department of Human Services.

Public Health Technical Material (HB 6034/PA 96-1433): Mandates DPH to provide technical assistance materials based on guidelines or standards such as the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s guidelines, the U.S. Access Board final guidelines, or the standards of the American Society for Testing and Materials by June 30, 2011.

Public Indecency (SB 2589/PA 96-1098): Increases the penalty for public indecency and sexual exploitation of a child when the offense is committed by a person older than 18, and on or within 500 feet of school grounds when children are present.

Public Land Pack (SB 2632/PA 96-0985): Provides that the Department of Natural Resources must facilitate the use of public land by pack and saddle animals, and must post a notice at the trailhead when there is a trail closure.

Purple Heart Motorcycle Plates (SB 3023/PA 96-1101): Provides that the Secretary of State must make a version of the special Purple Heart registration plate in a form appropriate for motorcycles.

Physician Murder Sentence (HB 5745/PA 96-1475): Allows the court to consider imposing natural life imprisonment on a person (18 or older) who knowingly murders a physician, physician assistant, psychologist, nurse, or advanced practice nurse while the victim was acting in their professional capacity.

Real Estate Closing Entities (HB 5677/PA 96-1457): Provides that with respect to the disbursement of settlement funds in a real estate closing, a “purchaser”, “seller” or “lender” are each considered a single party to the transaction, regardless of the number of people or entities making up the purchaser, seller or lender, and clarifies what types of funds can be aggregated to be “good funds.”

Real Estate Licensing (SB 3018/PA 96-0989): Allows for reinstatement of a managing broker, broker, or leasing agent license if that license has been expired for more than two years, but less than five years, if certain conditions are met.

Reckless Driving (SB 2951/PA 96-1007): Prohibits a driver from recklessly driving unnecessarily close to a bicyclist, pedestrian, person riding a horse, or person driving an animal-drawn vehicle.

Record Tampering Penalty (SB 3800/PA 96-1217): Increases the penalty for the altering, destroying, defacing, removing or concealing a public record by any judge, circuit clerk, clerk of any court, public official, public employee, court reporter or any other person.

Retail Theft (SB 3797/PA 96-1301): Increases the property value thresholds generally used to make an offense a felony rather than a misdemeanor on some theft, retail theft, financial crime, online property, and telephone fraud offenses.

Retirement Board of Municipal Employees (HB 4788/PA 96-1427): Allows the Chicago Treasurer, with approval of the Retirement Board of Municipal Employees to designate a city employee to act in the absence of the treasurer on all matters pertaining to administering the provisions of the pension Article.

Road Districts (SB 3430/PA 96-0996): Clarifies that all road districts have the same powers, regardless of whether or not the county where the road district is located is under township organization.

Roadside Memorial (SB 3803/PA 96-1371): Allows for placement of a fatal accident memorial marker for the victim or victims of a reckless homicide offense that was not related to a DUI offense.

Railroad Safety (HB 4987/PA 96-1132): Makes it a crime to willfully place upon an active railroad track any object that would adversely affect safe railroad operations. (HB 5712/PA 96-1244): Requires railroad track equipment to be treated with the same caution as approaching trains.

Rape Crisis Records (HB 5976/PA 96-1010): Expands the privacy rights that adults with guardians have over their rape crisis counseling records.

Sanitary District Annexation (SB 2520/PA 96-1070): Permits the board of commissioners of the Metro-East Sanitary District to annex property into the district, even if the property is within a home-rule unit of government, if the property is contiguous to the corporate limits of the district and currently “served” by the district.

Seat Belt Security (SB 3272/PA 96-0991): Requires the driver of a motor vehicle to properly adjust and fasten a seat safety belt if they are transporting a passenger who is unable to do it themselves, due to infirmity, illness, or age, but who is not exempted from wearing a seat safety belt.

Seth’s Law (HB 5764/PA 96-0925): Provides that hospitals must have policies and procedures for readily gaining access to a locked bathroom in a patient’s room.

Sex Offender Registration (SB 1702/PA 96-1096): Turns the responsibility for registering all sex offenders, outside of Chicago, over to the county sheriff where the offender resides, temporarily lives, works, or attends school, and the offender resides, temporarily lives, works, or attends school in Chicago, then registration remains with the Chicago Police Department at its headquarters. Also raises the initial registration fee for sex offenders to $100 and the annual registration fee is also raised to $100. (SB 2462/PA 96-1097): Requires a sex offender registering after release from prison, to provide the law enforcement agency where he or she is registering with a copy of the terms and conditions of. (SB 3293/PA 96-1104): Requires sex offenders to provide their phone number and cell phone number when registering with law enforcement his or her release from prison.

Sexual Predator (HB 5043/PA 96-1089): Requires lifetime registration as a sexual predator for a sexually motivated first degree murder of a person under 18 by a person who is least 17; kidnapping or unlawful restraint of a person under 18 by someone who is not the child’s parent; child abduction by luring a child under 16 without the consent of the child’s parent; and sexual misconduct with a person with a disability.

Sex Offender Restrictions (SB 2824/PA 96-1099): Prohibits sexual predators and child sex offenders from being in a public park or loitering within 500 feet of a public park.

Sex Offender Location Notification (SB 3176/PA 96-1102): Requires a sex offender or sexual predator to register with the appropriate law enforcement agency if the offender is residing or temporarily domiciled in that jurisdiction for a period of time of 3 or more days, and requires a sex offender or sexual predator who is temporarily absent from his or her current address of registration for 3 or more days to notify the law enforcement agency having jurisdiction over the current registration, including the itinerary for travel, in the same manner as the must notify a law enforcement agency of a change of address.

Sex Offense Sentencing (SB 1020/PA 96-1390): Gives the sentencing judge discretion to impose an extended term prison sentence on a major sex offense, if the victim was under 18 and the victim was known to be under the influence of alcohol at the time of the offense.

Sex Offense Victim Polygraph (HB 5931/PA 96-1273): Prohibits law enforcement from even asking a sex offense victim to submit to a lie detector test.

Shaken Baby Conviction Registration (HB 5762/PA 96-1115): Requires registration under the Child Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth Registration Law for a person convicted of involuntary manslaughter or endangering the life/health of a child, where baby shaking was the proximate cause of the child’s death.

Share the Road Plates (SB 2798/PA 96-1006): Provides for the creation of a new Share the Road license plate.

Small Business Impact (HB 5191/PA 96-1448): Provides that prior to the filing of any proposed rule or amendment that may have an adverse impact on small businesses, an economic impact analysis that includes certain information must be prepared.

Smoke Detectors (SB 3097/PA 96-1292): Provides that smoke detectors permanently wired into the structure’s AC power line must also maintain an alternative back-up battery power source in the case of any dwelling unit or any unit of a nursing home, community care facility, community residential alternative, or child care facility that is newly constructed, reconstructed, or substantially remodeled on or after January 1, 2011.

Smoking Exemption (SB 851/PA 96-1357): Removes the exception that allows private and semi-private rooms in nursing home and long-term care facilities to be smoking rooms; allows facilities licensed under the Nursing Home Care Act to establish a smoking room; establishes that a “qualified examiner” can be a licensed marriage and family therapist if certain qualifications are met; authorizes licensed marriage and family therapists to involuntarily commit a client for a mental health evaluation if they feel the person is at risk to themselves or another.

Specialty License Plates (HB 4966/PA 96-1377): Provides for the issuance of “Soil and Water Conservation District” license plates and “St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital” license plates. (HB 5193/PA 96-1449): Provides for the issuance of 4-H license plates

Speeding Penalty (SB 3796/PA 96-1002): Raises the penalty for driving a vehicle at a speed that is 30 miles per hour or more, but less than 40 miles per hour in excess of the posted speed limit, and prohibits a defendant from receiving supervision for a speeding violation of 40 MPH or more over the posted speed limit.

STAR Bonds (SB 2093/PA 96-0939): Permits a municipality, in this case Marion, IL, to issue bonds backed by state and local sales tax increments of large “destination and entertainment businesses” in order to finance development in new “STAR bond districts,” that are intended to stimulate job growth and economic development.

State Banking Board (SB 2581/PA 96-1163): Makes changes to the State’s Banking Board, including eliminating the Board of Trustees of the Illinois Bank Examiners’ Education Foundation and transferring those duties to the State Banking Board, reducing the number of members from 17 to 12, and changing the scope of its powers.

State Group Insurance (HB 4737/PA 96-1227): Requires that the program of group health benefits include coverage of medically necessary physical and occupational therapy ordered or referred by a licensed physician, physician’s assistant, or advanced practice nurse.

Statute of Limitations (HB 6124/PA 96-1093): Increases the statute of limitations for a civil action for childhood sexual abuse to 20 years from the date the person turns 18, or 20 years from the date the abused person discovers that the act of childhood sexual abuse occurred, and that the injury was caused by the childhood sexual abuse.

Stolen Weapons (SB 3546/PA 96-1133): Provides that whenever a shipment of firearms, explosives, or other weapons is reported as stolen or missing to the railroad police force, the railroad police force must report all information regarding the incident to State and local law enforcement.

Strict Criminal Liability (SB 3028/PA 96-1198): Raises the fine amount for strict criminal liability on a misdemeanor offense from $500 to $1000.

Student Athlete Agent (SB 2542/PA 96-1030): Requires agents for student athletes to register and provides the student athlete with several protections, including contract requirements and “eligibility” safeguards.

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (HB 5930/PA 96-1116): Requires hospitals to provide, free of charge, information and instructional materials on SIDS, which must be given and reviewed with parents or guardians of newborns upon hospital discharge.

Surety Bond Amounts (SB 3682/PA 96-1062): Increases the amount of the surety bond commercial driving schools are required to post.

Synthetic Marijuana (HB 6459/PA 96-1285): Outlaws two synthetic marijuana-like substitutes commonly known as K2 or Spice.

Title Insurance Agents (HB 5409/PA 96-1454): Regulates title insurance agents who act as escrow agents in closing residential property transactions by requiring an agency agreement with the title insurance company or a closing protection letter.

Tow Truck Misrepresentation (SB 3584/PA 96-1369): Provides that it is an unlawful practice for an owner or operator of a tow-truck or wrecker to misrepresent an affiliation with the State, a unit of local government, an insurance company, a private club, or any other entity for the purpose of securing business from a vehicle owner or operator.

Traffic Violation (HB 6151/PA 96-1462): Provides that if a traffic ticket is not paid over the counter and a court appearance results, then upon conviction or pleading guilty, a fine that cannot be waived must be imposed by the court so local police departments and municipalities can receive the fine penalty.

Transfer Fee Covenant (SB 3747/PA 96-1345): Provides that a transfer fee covenant must not run with the title to real property and is not binding on or enforceable at law or in equity against any subsequent owner, purchaser, or mortgagee of any interest in real property as an equitable servitude or otherwise; provides that any fee, charge, assessment or other amount payable to a charitable organization whose purpose includes the conservation of land or natural areas and all living organisms located within the same subdivision or planned unit development or within one-half mile of the property is not a transfer fee for purposes of this Act.

Truth-in-Sentencing (HB 4776/PA 96-1230): Requires a person to serve at least 85 percent of a sentence on an Aggravated DUI, and eliminates the possibility for meritorious good conduct credit when the DUI was the cause of an accident that resulted in great bodily harm, permanent disability, or permanent disfigurement of another person.

Unemployment Benefits (HB 5376/PA 96-0970): Provides that employees of non-profits that do not employ four or more individuals within each of 20 or more calendar weeks must be given written notice that they are ineligible for unemployment benefits.

Uniform Arbitration Act (HB 5888/PA 96-1476): Sets forth rules requiring arbitrators to decide the dispute in accordance with any rules of law that are chosen by the parties as applicable to the substance of the dispute; requires any designation of the law or legal system of a given jurisdiction be construed as directly referring to the substantive law of that jurisdiction and not to its conflict of law rules; states that if the parties do not make a designation as to the rule of law, the arbitrators must apply the law as determined by the conflict of laws rules that they consider applicable; and nothing in these new provisions can apply to an arbitration which is part of or pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement.

Unused County Roads (SB 3763/PA 96-1001): Provides that upon completion of a relocated highway, the county will have full authority over the relocated highway and that portion of the original location not incorporated into the new location, rather than requiring that the original location be considered abandoned.

Verbal Screenings (SB 2601/PA 96-1259): Requires all new nursing home admissions to be verbally screened for risk factors associated with Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV within 10 days of admission to a nursing facility.

Veterans EMS System (SB 3637/PA 96-1009): Authorizes the Department of Public Health to permit limited EMS System participation by facilities operated by the US Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration.

Veteran Criminal Act (HB 4738/PA 96-1228): Allows a judge to impose a sentence of imprisonment or a more severe sentence on a first degree murder, assault, battery, or robbery committed against a person known by the defendant to be, or the defendant reasonably should have known was, a veteran, performing duties as a representative of a veteran’s organization.

Wage Payment Violations (SB 3568/PA 96-1407): States that employees are allowed to collect legal fees in a civil action suit in order to address abuses of poor workers who do not have the means to reclaim their lost wages.

Whistleblower Act (HB 6231/PA 96-1253): Adds a licensed physician practicing at a state-funded medical facility to the definition of an “employee” under the Whistleblower Protection Act in order to ensure their protection.

Wind Farm Property Tax (HB 4797/PA 96-1036): Extends the sunset for the uniformed assessment methodology on wind farms until 2016, rather than 2011.

RAW VIDEO: Despite a travel nightmare underway for some in the Northeast due to severe weather, travelers in New York’s Penn Station were taking delays in stride.

A Thundersnow Nor’easter bypassed Washington, D.C. and hit Atlantic coastal locations with one foot or more of snow from southeastern Virginia and Maryland to coastal New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts, including the cities of Atlantic City, Philadelphia, New York City, and Boston.

AT 900 AM EST…AN INTENSE 962 MB…28.41 INCH…SURFACE LOW WAS
ESTIMATED TO BE EAST OF NANTUCKET MASSACHUSETTS.

SNOWFALL AMOUNTS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE CAMP SPRINGS, MD:

SELECTED STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL IN INCHES FROM 600 AM EST THU DEC 23 THROUGH 900 AM EST MON DEC 27…

...CONNECTICUT...
DANBURY                              11.1                     
BURLINGTON                           11.0                     
LITTLE MILFORD                       10.0                     
STAMFORD                             10.0                     
TORRINGFORD                           9.5                     
WETHERSFIELD                          8.0                     
STAFFORDVILLE                         7.5                     
MANCHESTER                            7.0                     
WEST HARTFORD                         6.5                     
EAST KILLINGLY                        5.5                     

...DELAWARE...
WOODBURY                             11.7                     
SELBYVILLE                           11.3                     
STOCKLEY                              9.7                     
ELLENDALE                             8.2                     
VIOLA                                 6.2                     
DOVER                                 4.0                     
WILMINGTON                            3.4                     

...MASSACHUSETTS...
NORTH OTIS                           17.0                     
SAUGUS                               17.0                     
EAST BOSTON                          16.5                     
WHITMAN                              12.3                     
RANDOLPH                             11.8                     
TAUNTON                              11.0                     
SOUTH ATTLEBORO                      10.0                     
FRAMINGHAM                            9.6                     
WORCESTER                             9.5                     
CHESTERFIELD                          7.5                     
VINEYARD HAVEN                        4.0                     
WEST SPRINGFIELD                      3.5                     

...MARYLAND...
OCEAN CITY                           13.5                     
FRUITLAND                            11.8                     
POCOMOKE CITY                        11.0                     
PORTNEYS OVERLOOK                     5.7                     
RIDGE 1 NW                            4.9                     
SAINT JAMES 1 E                       4.5                     
DENTON                                4.0                     
MECHANICSVILLE                        4.0                     
TANGLEWOOD                            2.5                     
HOLLYWOOD                             2.0                     

...MAINE...
AUGUSTA 1 SE                         10.0                     
HARRINGTON                            9.0                     
AURORA                                8.0                     
KENNEBUNK 2 NE                        8.0                     
MACHIAS                               7.5                     
DOVER-FOXCROFT                        7.0                     
CAMDEN 1 SSW                          6.2                     
BAR HARBOR                            6.0                     
BANGOR                                3.0                     

...NEW HAMPSHIRE...
RANDOLPH                             15.5                     
UNITY                                15.0                     
NEW LONDON                           13.0                     
WEBSTER 3 SSW                        12.0                     
WALPOLE                              11.0                     
BRISTOL 1 NNW                        10.5                     
KEENE                                10.0                     
NEWBURY 4 SE                          9.5                     
EATON 3 SSW                           8.0                     
GOFFSTOWN                             7.0                     

...NEW JERSEY...
LINCOLN PARK                         29.0                     
LYNDHURST                            29.0                     
ELIZABETH                            26.5                     
FANWOOD                              26.0                     
HARRISON                             25.0                     
HASKELL                              24.5                     
CHESEQUAKE                           23.2                     
EDISON                               20.1                     
MILLBURN                             20.0                     
NEWARK AIRPORT                       20.0                     
ATLANTIC CITY                        19.0                     
CAPE MAY                             18.0                     
NORTHFIELD                           17.5                     
SOUTH RIVER                          16.5                     
TABERNACLE                           12.5                     

...NEW YORK...
TUXEDO                               26.0                     
PINE PLAINS                          25.0                     
BEDFORD PARK                         22.0                     
KINDERHOOK                           21.0                     
MONROE                               20.6                     
NORTH CHATHAM                        20.3                     
GHENT                                20.0                     
BROOKLYN                             17.5                     
MAPLECREST                           17.0                     
MOUNT VERNON                         17.0                     
LONG BEACH                           16.0                     
NEW HYDE PARK                        14.2                     
CENTRAL PARK                         13.0                     
ISLIP                                11.8                     
ALBANY                                9.0                     

...PENNSYLVANIA...
PHILADELPHIA INTL ARPT               12.4                     
CLIFTON HEIGHTS                      11.7                     
WYNNEWOOD                            11.0                     
BENSALEM                              8.1                     
EAST NANTMEAL                         7.0                     
QUAKERTOWN                            7.0                     
BLAKESLEE                             6.3                     
FOLCROFT                              4.5                     
POCONO SUMMIT                         4.3                     
ALLENTOWN                             2.8                     

...RHODE ISLAND...
NORTH KINGSTOWN                      12.0                     
WEST WARWICK                         12.0                     
WOONSOCKET                           12.0                     
EAST PROVIDENCE                      10.0                     
WEST GREENWICH                        9.5                     
WARREN                                9.0                     
WESTERLY                              8.0                     
CRANSTON                              7.0                     
NEWPORT                               7.0                     
BRISTOL                               6.2                     

...VERMONT...
WOODFORD                             20.0                     
LANDGROVE                            18.0                     
SPRINGFIELD                          15.0                     
N HARTLAND RES                       11.0                     
LUDLOW                               10.0                     
WOODSTOCK                            10.0                     
CORINTH                               7.2                     
BROOKFIELD 2 WSW                      6.5                     

...SELECTED PEAK WIND GUSTS IN MILES PER HOUR IN THE LAST SIX
HOURS...

...CONNECTICUT...
BRIDGEPORT AIRPORT                      58                     

...MASSACHUSETTS...
WELLFLEET                               80                     
ORLEANS                                 79                     
NANTUCKET                               70                     
MARSTON MILLS                           64                     
ROCKPORT                                59                     

...MAINE...
MOUNT DESERT ROCK                       67                     
CUTLER RAINWISE                         65                     

...NEW HAMPSHIRE...
PORTSMOUTH 3 WNW                        52                     

...NEW YORK...
BAYVILLE                                68                     
ISLIP AIRPORT                           64                     
SHINNECOCK HILLS                        58                     

...SELECTED STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL IN INCHES WHERE THE EVENT HAS
ENDED...

...ALABAMA...
HUNTSVILLE 3 NE                       6.0                     
SKYLINE                               5.5                     
HACKLEBURG 2 E                        4.0                     
MERIDIANVILLE                         4.0                     
MUSCADINE                             4.0                     
MADISON 2 N                           3.5                     
MOULTON 6 W                           3.5                     
ANNISTON 5 SW                         3.0                     
ATTALLA                               3.0                     
HEFLIN 7 S                            2.5                     
ONEONTA 10 SW                         2.2                     
HARTSELLE                             2.0                     
NEW MARKET 6 SW                       2.0                     
FLORENCE 5 N                          1.0                     

...GEORGIA...
ROSMAN 5 W                            7.4                     
FORT MOUNTAIN STATE PARK              7.0                     
SUCHES                                7.0                     
BREVARD 1 NNE                         6.5                     
BLAIRSVILLE                           6.0                     
BLUE RIDGE                            6.0                     
CAMP MERRILL                          6.0                     
HIAWASSEE                             6.0                     
RINGGOLD                              6.0                     
SKY VALLEY                            6.0                     
TRENTON                               6.0                     
HICKORY 2 NW                          5.5                     
DAWSONVILLE                           5.0                     
LAFAYETTE                             5.0                     

...IOWA...
NORTH WASHINGTON                     10.5                     
NEW HAMPTON 1 S                      10.0                     
SPRINGVILLE                           9.7                     
OELWEIN                               9.5                     
LOWDEN                                9.2                     
BERTRAM                               9.0                     
ANAMOSA 4 ENE                         8.8                     
MARION 2 NW                           8.8                     
DAVENPORT MUNICIPAL AIRPORT           8.4                     
CEDAR RAPIDS 5 NW                     8.3                     

...ILLINOIS...
BEACH PARK 1W                         9.9                     
CHATSWORTH                            8.0                     
GURNEE 2NE                            8.0                     
NORTHBROOK                            7.4                     
MOLINE QUAD-CITY AIRPORT              7.2                     
ABINGDON 1 N                          7.0                     
PEORIA                                7.0                     
ALTONA                                6.6                     
BLOOMINGTON 3 NE                      6.5                     
CORDOVA                               6.5                     
EVANSTON                              6.1                     
MORTON GROVE                          4.8                     
SPRINGFIELD                           4.6                     
BROOKPORT 3 N                         3.0                     
OHARE AIRPORT                         2.0                     

...INDIANA...
NEW HARMONY                           6.0                     
POSEYVILLE                            6.0                     
RAINSVILLE                            4.2                     
LAFAYETTE 11 S                        4.0                     
WEST LAFAYETTE 2 NW                   3.6                     
ATTICA                                3.5                     
EVANSVILLE                            3.0                     
VINCENNES 4 E                         2.6                     
INDIANAPOLIS INTL ARPT                1.6                     

...KENTUCKY...
SMILAX                                6.0                     
ELVA                                  5.5                     
FONDE                                 5.5                     
HOLMES MILL 1 SW                      5.5                     
HARDY                                 5.0                     
TATUMSVILLE                           5.0                     
VIRGIE                                5.0                     
GREENVILLE 8 ESE                      4.8                     
ASHCAMP                               4.5                     
BENTON 3 WNW                          4.5                     
CENTRAL CITY                          4.5                     
GREENVILLE 8 SE                       4.5                     
BASKETT                               4.1                     
MOUSIE                                4.0                     

...MINNESOTA...
RED WING                              7.0                     
AUSTIN 2 W                            6.8                     
MADELIA                               6.2                     
OAK CENTER                            6.2                     
ROCKFORD                              6.1                     
MORGAN                                6.0                     
WELCOME                               6.0                     
WHEATON                               6.0                     
WINNEBAGO                             6.0                     
MINNEAPOLIS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT     4.6                     

...MISSOURI...
FRENCH VILLAGE 2 E                    4.0                     
GLENDALE                              3.9                     
MONROE CITY                           3.8                     
ST LOUIS                              3.4                     
ELLISVILLE                            3.1                     

...MISSISSIPPI...
NEW ALBANY                            2.0                     
OXFORD                                2.0                     
YUMA 4 ESE                            2.0                     
BOONEVILLE                            1.5                     
FULTON 3 W                            1.3                     
AMORY                                 1.0                     
GRENADA                               1.0                     
HOUSTON                               1.0                     
MANTACHIE                             1.0                     
PITTSBORO                             1.0                     
WATER VALLEY                          1.0                     
WATER VALLEY 4 W                      0.8                     

...NORTH CAROLINA...
NASHVILLE                            13.0                     
TARBORO                              12.5                     
ROANOKE RAPIDS                       12.0                     
GATES                                11.0                     
PIKEVILLE                            11.0                     
ASHEVILLE                             9.0                     
SMITHFIELD                            9.0                     
RALEIGH                               8.5                     
ELIZABETH CITY                        8.0                     
HERTFORD 7 S                          7.0                     

...SOUTH CAROLINA...
FRANKLIN 10 N                        10.0                     
GRANITE FALLS 4 ESE                   7.0                     
POLKVILLE 5 S                         5.5                     
PUMPKIN CENTER                        5.3                     
SIMPSONVILLE 6 ENE                    5.0                     
CLARKESVILLE 5 W                      4.7                     
MONROE                                4.7                     
HARRISBURG 1 S                        4.3                     
BROOKWOOD TRAILER 1 NNE               4.2                     
LANDRUM                               4.2                     
HARTSVILLE                            4.0                     
LANCASTER                             4.0                     
MULLINS 1 N                           4.0                     

...SOUTH DAKOTA...
VICTOR 4 NNE                          8.0                     
MCINTOSH 6 SE                         5.0 ESTIMATED           

...TENNESSEE...
COSBY                                 9.0                     
ERWIN                                 8.0                     
GATLINBURG 3 SE                       8.0                     
COWAN                                 6.5                     
BENTON                                6.0                     
GATLINBURG                            6.0                     
MURPHY                                6.0                     
CLEVELAND                             5.0                     
ETOWAH                                5.0                     
HAMPTON                               5.0                     
CHATTANOOGA                           3.0                     

...VIRGINIA...
ONLEY                                14.0                     
NORFOLK                              13.4                     
FRANKLIN                             13.2                     
SMITHFIELD                           13.2                     
CHESAPEAKE                           13.0                     
HAMPTON                              13.0                     
WAKEFIELD                            11.8                     
NEWPORT NEWS                         11.5                     
WALLOPS ISLAND                       11.5                     
WILLIAMSBURG                          9.5                     
PETERSBURG                            6.8                     

...WISCONSIN...
KENOSHA 4 SW                          8.1                     
CASSVILLE 8 NE                        5.5                     
WYALUSING                             5.2                     

...WEST VIRGINIA...
BLUEFIELD                             2.0                     

...SELECTED STORM TOTAL SLEET AMOUNTS IN INCHES WHERE THE EVENT
HAS ENDED...

...ALABAMA...
LEBANON 10 W                          0.10                     

...TENNESSEE...
LEBANON 10 W                          0.10    

Republican Rep. Eric Cantor, R-Va., issued a statement urging the White House to agree to expedite a final ruling by appealing directly to the Supreme Court without first stopping at an appeals court.

U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson is the first federal judge to strike down a key provision of the law, which had been upheld by fellow federal judges in Virginia and Michigan.

The Obama Administration proposed that the Commerce Clause of the Constitution gives it the power to require people to buy health insurance or face a penalty.

The Commerce Clause is an enumerated power listed in the United States Constitution (Article I, Section 8, Clause 3). The clause states that the United States Congress shall have power “To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes”. Courts and commentators have tended to discuss each of these three areas of commerce as a separate power granted to Congress. It is common to see the Commerce Clause referred to as “the Foreign Commerce Clause”, “the Interstate Commerce Clause”, and “the Indian Commerce Clause”, each of which refers to a different application of the same sentence in the Constitution.

Dispute exists as to the range of powers granted to Congress by the Commerce Clause. As noted below, the clause is often paired with the Necessary and Proper Clause, the combination used to take a broad, expansive perspective of these powers. Many strict constructionists deny that this is the proper application of the Commerce Clause because it refers specifically to “the foregoing Powers”.

The Commerce Clause grants Congress the power “to regulate commerce . . . among the several states,” but insurance contracts have not traditionally been considered commerce, which referred to trade and carriage of merchandise.

Extending the clause to include economic inactivity and force people to engage in a transaction with a private company has raised a lot of eyebrows.

Hudson sided with Virginia Attorney General Kenneth Cuccinelli, who argued the mandate overstepped the bounds of the Constitution. Hudson acknowledged his court will not be the last stop.