Illinois State University
Illinois State University’s president says he’s moving ahead with plans for a new engineering college, despite recent opposition in the Academic Senate.
The Academic Senate supported the new engineering college previously, as recently as early March when it approved its curriculum and fiscal plans. That changed March 24, however, when the Academic Senate voted narrowly against taking next steps. Several of those voting “no” cited ISU’s ongoing and contentious contract negotiations with its graduate workers union. Many wanted to show solidarity with the graduate students.
In an April 19 letter to the Academic Senate chair, ISU President Larry Dietz said he intends to seek authorization from the Board of Trustees for the new College of Engineering regardless of those March 24 votes.
by Tyler Durden
By Adam Andrzejewski of OpenTheBooks.com, first published in Forbes,
Illinois public employees and retirees with $100,000+ paychecks grew from 109,881 (2019) to an all-time high of 122,258 in 2020 – costing taxpayers $15.8 billion.
Congressional “bailouts” made it possible. The recent $1.9 trillion American Rescue Act provided an additional $13.5 billion to Illinois state and local governments.
(Look up your hometown here $350 billion flowed to states and 30,000 communities.)
Auditors at OpenTheBooks.com compiled the list of six-figure earners from Freedom of Information Act requests.
Barbers at State Corrections trimmed off $115,000; janitors at the State Toll Highway Authority cleaned up $123,000; bus drivers in Chicago made $174,000; line workers on the Chicago Transit Authority earned $222,278; community college presidents made $418,677; university doctors earned up to $2 million; and 171 small town managers out-earned the Illinois governor ($181,67
Alex Brandon / AP
Originally published on April 20, 2021 9:30 pm
After weeks of mounting tension during the murder trial of Derek Chauvin, observers in Bloomington-Normal expressed mixed emotions Tuesday after the guilty verdicts from a Minneapolis jury that heard testimony in the killing of George Floyd.
Some felt validation that police misconduct did not go unpunished. Others looked ahead to the still tangled and fraught dialogue on race and police in the nation and in central Illinois. Still others said they felt injured from the trial and the images of Floyd’s death seen over and over on replay.
NAACP
Leaders with the Bloomington-Normal NAACP said the Chauvin verdict provided justice, but it does not minimize the discrimination the Black community faces on a daily basis.
Why Illinois Is In Trouble – 122,258 Public Employees Earned $100,000+ Costing Taxpayers $15 8 Billion Despite Pandemic forbes.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from forbes.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Illinois State University
Illinois State University is bringing back a few parts of the traditional commencement experience this spring, even if looks and feels a little different for students.
ISU is offering a new method for graduation called Redbird Stage Crossings. The program was developed to include the most important elements of commencement, including the walk across the stage, being surrounded by loved ones, and having your name called. The only thing missing from a student’s Redbird State Crossing will be the enormous, socially undistanced crowd.
Associate Dean of Students Jill Benson said students were the main priority when creating Redbird Stage Crossings.