Illinois House Panel OKs New Plan to Expand Gambling

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - An Illinois House committee has approved a new, smaller gambling plan that backers hope can survive a threatened veto by Governor Pat Quinn. It passed 8-2. Democratic Rep. Lou Lang says the measure could be changed even more before a vote by the full House. Lawmakers approved a major gambling expansion during the spring legislative session. But they never bothered sending the bill to Quinn out of fear that he would veto it. The Democratic governor has a number of concerns, particularly the idea of allowing slot machines at horseracing tracks.The new proposal would still allow slots at racetracks but not at Chicago airports. It also lowers the amount of growth allowed for existing casinos. It would allow five new casinos, including one in downtown Chicago.  - http://goo.gl/Ab2FE

SIU-C Union Considers Latest Offer

CARBONDALE, Ill. (AP) - The SIUC Faculty Association's bargaining team is considering the administration's latest offer in an effort to end a five-day-old strike at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. WSIU Radio reports that negotiators spent about 27 hours at the bargaining table. Afterward, the university presented the union with an offer that includes a 4 percent pay increase over the life of the contract and no furlough days for the 2012 fiscal year. SIUC Chancellor Rita Cheng says the university's bargaining team is ready to return to negotiations if the Faculty Association is ready to finalize an agreement and end the strike. Faculty Association spokesman Dave Johnson says they're giving SIU's offer serious consideration. He says the package does cover all of the issues in dispute but large differences remain.   - http://goo.gl/igP2u

Salem City Manager Thomas Christie Takes Settlement Agreement From City, Will Resign November 30th

Salem City Manager Thomas Christie has taken a settlement offer from the city council and will resign on November 30th. In addition to the three months severance pay included in his contract, Christie will receive an additional three months of pay for agreeing to release all claims against the city. After the council accepted the agreement without debate, City Attorney Mike Jones outlined the terms. "He will withdraw his pending claim with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and release all claims under federal and state law he may have against the city. In exchange, the city has agreed to pay the city manager a severance package consisting of his salary and benefits through May 31st, 2012," said Jones. Christie will also be paid for half of his accumulated sick leave, amounting to about another month of salary. Like other city employees, he'll also be paid for unused vacation time. As a result of those payments, Christie will continue to receive a pay check from the city through September first. Christie estimated the value of the settlement above the terms of termination in his contract about about $30,000. Christie says the previously undisclosed EEO complaint is a retaliation claim. He indicated the claim came in the aftermath of an EEO complaint filed by Economic Development Director Tracey McDaneld that is still pending. Christie confirms he has applied for other jobs as city manager, but says he hasn't decided if he will pursue that avenue or retire. As part of the agreement, both sides agreed not to make disparaging remarks against the other. Raymer says after the council decided they wanted to make a change in the city manager's position more than a month ago, the attorney's worked out the details of the actual agreement.   - http://goo.gl/gW2ae