Your source for community news and sports 7 days a week.
FRESHMAN IS A HIT IN WARRIORS LINEUP SOFTBALL, B1
Throw another shrimp on the barbie FOOD A9-11
dailyGAZETTE
Wednesday, June 1, 2016 ■ SERVING ROCK FALLS, STERLING AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1854
ILLINOIS | BUDGET BATTLE
‘Stunning failure’ Governor, Dems end session still staring each other down, and neither side blinks AP
Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner talks to reporters outside his office at the state Capitol on Tuesday.
SPRINGFIELD (AP) – Illinois Senate Democrats approved a nearly $16 billion bill for public schools next year while rejecting an out-ofbalance House spending plan that the governor threatened to veto. The action came as the deadline loomed Tuesday night on this year’s spring legislative session – one that Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner called
a “stunning failure.” The Senate bill would add nearly a billion dollars to schools at a time when the state is running a massive deficit. Republicans said the bill was unrealistic and it was unclear as of 11 p.m. Tuesday whether the House would take it up before concluding the year’s session. BUDGET CONTINUED ON A4
POLO
gauges Larry Acker isn’t just a fair-weather friend; he’s a man for all seasons, and he can tell you just how those seasons have an impact on the rest of the world
POLO – Sitting amid piles of paper, documents, and books, Larry Acker expounds on the weather. It is something that has fascinated him nearly his entire life. It’s also something he knows a lot about. He should. He’s seriously studied the subject for more than a half-century. “The weather affects everything, from crops and commodity prices to finance and the entire economy,” the rural Polo native said. “It even affects things Speaking of like disease and weather ... war cycles. In fact, Parts of the we’ve just started another war Sauk Valley had a run-in with some cycle.” C o n f l i c t o v e r wild weather over r e s o u r c e s h a s the weekend. been a determin- Page A3 ing factor in world history, Acker said, and resource availability has a lot to do with the weather. “Take water or energy. Without enough water or sources of energy, things get pretty tough, and you have conflict. Weather is the number one environmental influence.” For Acker, the weather moves in cycles, and understanding those cycles is a key to understanding the past, the present, and what can be expected in the future. GAUGES CONTINUED ON A5
Weather spotter Larry Acker checks one of two rain gauges he has set up in his rural Polo yard. Acker keeps data for the National Weather Service.
Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com
$1.00
TODAY’S EDITION: 24 PAGES 2 SECTIONS VOL. 162 ISSUE 123
INDEX
ABBY ................... A8 BUSINESS ......... A12 COMICS ...............B6
Illinois Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago, holds a press conference outside Gov. Bruce Rauner’s office Tuesday.
TRANSPORTATION BY TERRY THOMAS Special to Sauk Valley Media
A man for the
Justin L. Fowler/ The State Journal-Register via AP
CROSSWORD....B10 LIFESTYLE ........... A8 LOTTERY ............. A2
FOOD ..............A9-11 OBITUARIES ........ A4 OPINION .............. A6
A long and rough road ahead Illinois will get more money for roadwork, but it still falls short of state’s needs BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5570 @pam_eggemeier
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Transportation has updated last year’s 6-year projects plan, which reflects an increase in federal funding, including more money for the Sauk Valley. IDOT released its new plan May 26 that calls for $11.2 billion in spending on Illinois’ roads and bridges. That represents a $2.8 billion increase from the $8.4 billion available in last year’s plan. Of the new total, $2 billion has been targeted for the new fiscal year that begins July 1. The new federal surface transportation bill added about $134 million a year to the state’s projects coffers, and a new collective bargaining agreement for federal construction projects is projected to free up about $65 million a year for more construction. The new federal transportation bill was a catalyst for a revamped plan, but IDOT reevaluates its 6-year plans annually. “This is a planning blueprint for our goals, but conditions can change considerably from one year to the next,” said Guy Tridgell, deputy director of communications at IDOT. In addition to changes in funding levels, construction timelines also warrant planning adjustments. “The larger transportation projects can take a long time to come to fruition,” Tridgell said. “While 6 years may seem like a long time, it doesn’t necessarily take you through some projects.” While the additional federal funds are good news, IDOT says the total still falls far short of what is needed for Illinois infrastructure. “Our latest multiyear highway program is more promising than a year ago, but we still have our work cut out for us,” Illinois Transportation Secretary Randy Blankenhorn said. “Revenue projections for transportation do not meet the needs of the state, and the condition of our systems will continue to deteriorate.” IDOT’s Region 2, District 2, based in Dixon, oversees projects in 10 counties, including Lee, Whiteside, Ogle, and Carroll. ROADWORK CONTINUED ON A5
Today’s weather High 79. Low 55. More on A3.
TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE PAPER, CALL 815-625-3600
Need work? Check out your classifieds, B7.