By Steve Rhodes
“Nearly 90 percent of interstate highway miles in Illinois will have 70-mph speed limits starting Wednesday, state transportation officials announced Friday, but the sponsor of the law raising the limits is upset almost all existing posted speeds in the Chicago area will remain unchanged and he vowed to push for them to be higher,” the Tribune reports.
“‘It’s unacceptable,’ said State. Sen. Jim Oberweis, R-Sugar Grove, who sponsored the bill that Gov. Pat Quinn signed into law in August. Oberweis said he was upset that IDOT, which had the authority to draw up the speed limit map, left unchanged the 55-mph speed limit across virtually all of the Chicago region. ‘They’re putting law-abiding citizens into danger.'”
To avert disaster, Oberweis said he’d hire a fleet of helicopters to evacuate anyone who felt they couldn’t get out of the scary city fast enough.
Pig Report
“A strain of the swine flu is rapidly spreading throughout the Chicago area,” CBS Chicago reports.
Officials attributed the problem to a rise in swine.
Rest In McPeace
McDonald’s kills McResource Line.
Country Mice
“A nonprofit group has commissioned a public sculpture to remember a 1946 train crash in the Chicago suburb of Naperville that killed 45 people.”
Sorry, suburbs, you’ll never compete with the city no matter how hard you try.
Graterheads Seek Cheese Sandwiches
Not Dead Yet.
Love The Drake
Hate The Drake.
Obama (Doesn’t) Care
“Workers in Nevada, California, Illinois, Georgia, and New Jersey will get hit hardest when jobless benefits expire [today].”
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The Weekend Desk Tip Line: The future is unwritten.
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The Blue & Orange Kool-Aid Report: We Regret The Errors.
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The Sound Opinions Weekend Listening Report: “2013 Mixtapes & Ask The Critic.”
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The Flying Saucer Weekend Brunch Report: “Flying Saucer will be closed from Dec. 23 thru Dec. 31 for Winter Vacation. We will re-open on Dec. 31 at 10 a.m. to provide New Year awesomeness!”
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The CAN TV Weekend Viewing Report: CAN TV brings you local, relevant issues from Chicago’s neighborhoods and communities. See what’s happening around the city in education, the arts, government, cultural events, social services and community activities.
JBTV’s Don’t Drink or Text and Drive Marathon
A tradition for more than two decades, JBTV helps you rock into 2014 with a 10-hour marathon of live performances of emerging artists and national acts on CAN TV.
Saturday at noon on CAN TV19 & Tuesday at 9 p.m. on CAN TV19.
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Perspectivas Latinas: Mujeres de HACE
Latina professionals offer their advice and experience to others who are looking to make an impact through their careers.
Saturday at 8 p.m. on CAN TV21.
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Exploring The Future Of The RTA
Transportation experts weigh in on how the Regional Transportation Authority can adapt to better oversee and develop the region’s evolving public transit network of elevated trains, commuter rail and buses.
Sunday at 9 a.m. on CAN TV21.
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Overcoming Barriers To Success: Resources For People With Disabilities
Universidad Popular hosts a community forum on the special needs of people with disabilities and services that help them flourish and contribute at home, at work, and in the community.
Sunday at 10:30 a.m. on CAN TV21.
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Which Way Forward For Health Care Reform
This three-way public debate between physicians takes on different sides of health care reform, including whether the program should be continued, abandoned for a free-market based system, or pushed further into a universal, single-payer system.
Sunday at 12:30 p.m. on CAN TV21.
Posted on December 28, 2013