State Representatives Blasts Tax Credit After Sears' Layoffs

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. (AP) - A Democratic state legislator says the layoffs reported at Sears aren't a surprise to him after the Illinois legislature approved a tax credit for the Hoffman Estates company. Rep. Jack Franks of Marengo was a vocal opponent of the credit. In December, legislators approved a $150 million tax credit for Sears after the company threatened to move out of state. The credit depends on the company's ability to maintain 4,250 jobs at headquarters. But the company has more workers than that. Franks says that means that Sears could still lay off numerous workers and get the benefit provided by Illinois tax payers. He says the approval of the tax incentives showed weak leadership in the General Assembly. Sears Holding Corp. said Thursday that it's laying off about 100 people.  full story

Illinois Budget to Include State Facilities Closures

HAZEL CREST, Ill. (AP) - Gov. Pat Quinn says he'll propose closing "quite a few" state facilities in his budget address next week. The Democrat told The Associated Press Thursday that the closures are necessary for a better budget. He declined to give any specifics on the closures, saying details would come during his budget address Wednesday. Quinn announced last month that he wants to close a Tinley Park mental hospital and a Jacksonville center for people with developmental disabilities in an effort to move people out of state institutions and into community care, like group homes. His budget office predicted the two closings would save nearly $20 million. Quinn has said his budget proposal will also include cuts to Medicaid. Quinn wants to slash about $2 billion of Illinois' approximately $14 billion Medicaid budget.  full story

Centralia Man to Spend 180 Days in Jail for Yelling Obscenities in Marion County Court Wednesday

A 20-year-old Centralia man will spend the next 30 to 180 days in the Marion County Jail after yelling obscenities at the judge and those in the courtroom on Wednesday. Lonnie Williamson of North Poplar had been brought over from jail following his early Wednesday morning arrest for alleged illegal consumption of liquor by a minor and resisting arrest.

While no new charges were filed, prosecutors had asked to increase Williamson's bond on his pending unlawful possession of heroin and drug paraphernalia charges based on the new offenses, failure to abstain from alcohol and drugs, and failure to submit to a drug test at the jail. Judge Sherrie Tungate agreed to increase the bond to $25,000. When Williamson allegedly became disruptive, the Judge warned Williamson about his behavior.
As the outburst continued, Tungate found Williamson in direct contempt of court for allegedly yelling obscenities and crumpling up paperwork on his case.  full story

Sears Laying Off 100 at Illinois Headquarters

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. (AP) - A published report says Sears is laying off 100 workers at its Illinois headquarters. Sears Holding Corp. spokesman Chris Brathwaite told Crain's Chicago Business the company is laying off "about 100 people" Thursday at its headquarters in Hoffman Estates. He says the layoffs take effect immediately.

Brathwaite told Crain's the layoffs don't violate the terms of a $150 million tax credit for Sears approved by the Illinois Legislature in December after the company threatened to move its headquarters out of state. The Sears spokesman says the legislation doesn't go into effect until next fiscal year and the job levels in the legislation are well below the figure Sears will reach even with Thursday's layoffs. - http://goo.gl/67mWp