Illinois School for the Deaf in Danger of CLOSING!

BY KATIE ANDERSON
Journal-Courier

The governor is serious this time, says Sen. Deanna Demuzio when talking about cuts that could close the doors to the Illinois School for the Deaf and the Illinois School for the Visually Impaired.

If Illinois lawmakers can’t pass a full budget by the end of the month, the state will face devastatingly deep cuts and Jacksonville will be hit hard.

Gov. Pat Quinn released a statement Tuesday listing the Illinois School for the Deaf and the Illinois School for the Visually Impaired among state services that will be closed if the state can not get past its $9.2 billion budget impasse.

The announcements also predicted the closing of six of nine state-operated psychiatric hospitals, four of nine state-operated developmental centers and 42 of 120 DHS Family and Community Resource Centers.

“It tells you something about the amount of crisis that we’re in,” said Sen. Deanna Demuzio.

In addition to forcing visually impaired and deaf or hard of hearing students to find alternative education centers, the shuttering of ISD and ISVI would mean more than 350 employees in Jacksonville would lose their jobs.

“People think, this is usual, they’re playing games,” Sen. Demuzio said.

Yes, that has happened in the past, but we’re now down to what like 10 days? And I don’t think people realize the severity of this.”

A spokeswoman from the governor’s office said the announcements today are not scare tactics.

“What we’re doing is trying to make sure Illinois citizens understand the budget that was passed,” the spokeswoman said. “The General Assembly passed a 50 percent budget and funded services provided by community organizations at 50 percent, a 5 billion dollar cut essentially with an additional 4.2 billion dollar shortfall.”

“I think what the governor is trying to do is make people understand how bad the budget is, rather than just go ahead and implement these closures and changes,” she the spokeswoman said.

Stay tuned for more updates news later in this week.

PLEASE SHOW YOUR SUPPORT OF ISD STAYING OPEN!

Poll: New Year’s Resolutions

The New Year is a good time to set new resolutions. You feel fresh and having a chance to start things new in the coming year provides motivation as you embark on new challenges. However, I know many people who have given up on setting New Year’s resolutions entirely because “it doesn’t work for them”. Inevitably, the resolutions they set are forgotten and never acted on. The result is feelings of guilt and incompetence and they conclude that they are simply not disciplined enough to follow through on their resolutions.

So, what is your resolutions? This poll has multiply choices.

Poll: Believe in Santa Claus

Did you believe in Santa Claus when you were a little kid. Were you so excited or scared or cried to see Santa Claus? Have you ever write a wish lists letter to Santa Claus before? Met deaf Santa Claus?

Poll: Video Relay Service (VRS) company Part Two

The poll talks about the whole of general services like in tech support, customer service, interpreter, etc. The poll has multiple choice.

Poll: Video Relay Service (VRS) company

Poll: Who will win on Election Day?

John McCain (Republican) and Barack Obama (Democratic)
The photo from (AP)

Poll: Is Ridor cool or not?

Is Ridor always bluntly honest or is he a verbal abuser?

Poll: World Series

(The photo from US presswire)

Thirty teams have been whittled down to two, and seven more games—or less—will leave one standing.

The Philadelphia Phillies and Tampa Bay Rays will open the World Series at Tropicana Field on Wednesday, with each franchise looking to change its fate in one way or another.

The Phillies have been the historic doormat of the National League for over a century, winning the World Series only once (1980) in 125 years of existence and becoming the first franchise to top 10,000 losses last season.

But with a team full of home-grown superstars making the playoffs in back-to-back seasons, Philadelphia can erase some bad memories for both the franchise and the city, which hasn’t celebrated a championship since the 76ers won the NBA title in 1983.

The Rays are in their 11th year of existence but are in the midst of their first winning campaign, somehow navigating the waters of the treacherous American League East all season and outlasting the Boston Red Sox in the AL Championship Series to reach this point.

Also built largely of players from its own system, Tampa Bay has the second-lowest payroll in the game and a World Series win would not only put it on the map as perennial contenders, but would strike a blow for the little guy in a sport that has long been dominated by the big-market teams.

Scoreboard:

Hitting: The Phillies have enough depth to score without relying on power from Ryan Howard, Chase Utley and Pat Burrell. Timing could be an issue early because of weeklong layoff. Edge: Phillies

Pitching: The Phillies have an efficient bullpen with a lights-out closer in Brad Lidge. No. 1 starter Cole Hamels is the key, but Jamie Moyer must rebound. But I’d match the Rays’ rotation against anyone. Price might be right as closer. Edge: Rays

Defense: The Phillies pitch to contact, putting pressure on a solid infield. Pitchers trust catcher and unsung hero Carlos Ruiz. The Rays got here on defense, but it became an issue in the ALCS. Edge: Phillies

Manager: Heavy-hearted Charlie Manuel came through on early promise of Phillies advancing farther than in ’07. He keeps it simple and feels the team pulse in every situation. Preparation is an asset for the Rays’ Joe Maddon, who exudes control and decisiveness. Edge: Rays

Intangibles: The Phillies will try to erase the sour memories of 1993 with their balanced and poised team. An extra bat as a DH in the AL park will help. The Team of Destiny has the Trop, the cowbells, and the desire to prove to anyone that the Rays are here to stay. Edge: Rays

With home-field advantage, thanks in part to All-Star Game winner Scott Kazmir, the Rays will be hard to stop. The story of last-to-first playing in the tough A.L. East is too good to come to an end. Rays in 6 games.

With home-field advantage, thanks in part to All-Star Game winner Scott Kazmir, the Rays will be hard to stop. The story of last-to-first playing in the tough A.L. East is too good to come to an end. Rays in 6 games.

Schedule:

Game 1, Wednesday, at Tampa Bay (8:35 p.m., FOX); Game 2, Thursday, at Tampa Bay (8:29 p.m., FOX); Game 3, Saturday, at Philadelphia (approx 8 p.m., FOX); Game 4, Sunday, at Philadelphia (approx 8 p.m., FOX); x-Game 5, Monday, Oct. 27, at Philadelphia (approx 8 p.m., FOX); x-Game 6, Wednesday, Oct. 29, at Tampa Bay (approx 8:35 p.m, FOX); x-Game 7, Thursday, Oct. 30, at Tampa Bay (approx 8 p.m., FOX).

New feature: Poll

From now on, we will put poll for you to vote, also you can leave the comment, too.