TexasTowelie
TexasTowelie's JournalDes Plaines River Bridge On I-80 Found Structurally 'Intolerable'
CHICAGO (CBS) A day after a cracked beam was discovered in a Lake Shore Drive bridge, CBS 2 investigated another bridge in desperate need of repair.
Last spring, inspectors found the Des Plaines River bridge on I-80 in Joliet in such bad shape, it may need to close.
Several months later, nothing has been done to repair the issues.
More than 42,000 drivers drive across Des Plaines River bridge everyday, and the most recent inspection reports reveal serious safety concerns.
Read more: https://chicago.cbslocal.com/2019/02/13/des-plaines-river-bridge-structurally-intolerable/
Illinois Students Could Soon Be Taught About Fake News
SPRINGFIELD Illinois high schools students could soon be learning more about fake news.
A plan to add media literacy courses in high schools across Illinois is moving forward at the State Capitol.
State Rep. Elizabeth Hernandez, D-Cicero, is driving the idea. She said young people need to learn how to read the news they see on the internet or on social media.
Media literacy really aims at trying to be more cognizant of the kind of information that is out there nation-wide, Hernandez said. This information has been phrased as fake news.
Read more: http://rockrivertimes.com/2019/02/28/illinois-students-could-soon-be-taught-about-fake-news/
Jimmy Kimmel on Michael Cohen's Bombshell Testimony
'Star Trek: Discovery' Renewed for Season 3 as part of Expansive, Multi-Series Plan
On Wednesday, streaming service CBS All Access announced Star Trek: Discovery has been renewed for a third season.
In a press release, CBS All Access also announced Season 3 will have a new co-showrunner, Michelle Paradise, partnering with CBS Studios Star Trek series architect Alex Kurtzman. Paradise previously worked on The CWs The Originals and joined Star Trek: Discovery as a writer for Season 2.
Michelle joined us midway through season two and energized the room with her ferocious knowledge of Trek, Kurtzman said in the season renewal statement. Her grasp of character and story detail, her drive and her focus have already become essential in ensuring the Trek legacy, and her fresh perspective always keeps us looking forward. Im proud to say Michelle and I are officially running Star Trek: Discovery together.
Star Trek: Discovery Season 3 Renewal Just The Beginning
According to Julie McNamara, Executive Vice President of Original Content for CBS All Access, Star Trek: Discoverys second season exceeded expectations for subscriber growth. McNamara positioned the season renewal as part of the streaming services expansive plans for Star Trek, making it just one component in bringing fans new Star Trek stories for many years to come.
Read more: https://www.newsweek.com/star-trek-discovery-season-3-renewed-picard-series-cbs-all-access-lower-decks-1346288
Fight over progressive income tax starts in Illinois
Even though the issue would be decided at the ballot in November of 2020, Illinoisans are already getting a glimpse of whats in store in the fight to change the states income tax structure from a flat percentage to one that taxes higher earners more.
Two nonprofits have formed with the missions of fighting for and against changing Illinois constitution to allow a higher percentage of income to be taxed from higher-earning residents.
Ideas Illinois is an initiative of the Coalition for Jobs, Growth and Prosperity. That's a privately-funded nonprofit run by former Illinois Manufacturers Association President Greg Baise and businessman James Gidwitz, brother of President Donald Trump's former Illinois campaign finance head, Ron Gidwitz. In the past, the organization successfully fought back then Gov. Rod Blagojevich's push for a Gross Receipts Tax, the union-led "card check" campaign and Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle's tax on sugary drinks."
We will focus on policies that will create jobs and grow our economy, it says. Its going to take hard work and straight talk but together we can put Illinois on the right track.
Read more: https://www.ilnews.org/news/economy/fight-over-progressive-income-tax-starts-in-illinois/article_13e34422-3933-11e9-b083-efa4d8511c33.html
Recession fears loom over state budget talks
Gov. J.B. Pritzker's administration has laid out its revenue estimate for the coming year for a House committee, projecting an increase in the near-term and noting predictions of an economic downturn ahead.
Coming up with a revenue estimate is part of the state's budgeting process. The state's constitution requires that the budget is balanced, but politicians have been able to get around that mandate. Illinois lawmakers have a long-standing practice of spending more than the state collects. The state hasn't had a balanced budget since at least 2001.
On Thursday, the Governors Office of Management and Budget and the Department of Revenue shared revenue estimates for the coming fiscal year with the House Revenue and Finance Committee.
Committee chair state Rep. Michael Zalewski, D-Riverside, said it sounds like revenue will be fairly flat.
Read more: https://www.ilnews.org/news/economy/recession-fears-loom-over-state-budget-talks/article_48f6d846-3b99-11e9-a156-1ba5a7e552b3.html
Attorney charged with stealing clients' investments back in South Bend for court appearance
SOUTH BEND Eric Marshall, the local attorney who appeared to have skipped town amid fraud allegations and charges last year, is back in South Bend and made his first court appearance Monday.
Marshall, 61, closed his office without notice and stopped communicating with clients at the beginning of last year. Not long after, two civil lawsuits were filed against Marshall by former clients accusing him of running a Ponzi scheme and stealing their investments.
In December, he was charged in federal court with five counts of mail fraud in what the U.S. Attorney called an elder abuse scam. In January, Marshall was arrested in Clearwater, Fla. After being extradited, Marshall was booked into the St. Joseph County Jail at the end of last week.
Monday, Marshall was arraigned on his federal charges before Magistrate Michael Gotsch. Marshall pleaded not guilty on all counts. Judge Gotsch denied bond and ordered Marshall to remain in pre-trial detention. A jury trial has been scheduled for April 29.
Between two civil suits, Marshall has been ordered to pay roughly $2.5 million. His wife, Kathleen Marshall, is named in one of the suits, but recently had the default judgement against her vacated. She said she had no knowledge of her husbands alleged crimes and she didnt know she was being sued.
Read more: https://www.southbendtribune.com/news/local/attorney-charged-with-stealing-clients-investments-back-in-south-bend/article_b3b0bb02-0e89-59b4-8f9e-c7e8bbb03fef.html
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Gender: MaleHometown: South Texas. most of my life I lived in Austin and Dallas
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