Topic: University of Illinois

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Local jobs: Top five cities leading the turnaround

Last year, these five metropolitan areas were struggling economically with unemployment above the national average. By February 2011, however, they were among the fastest recovering cities in the United States, most of them with unemployment rates below the national average of 9.5 percent. Here’s a look at these Top 5 fast-recovery cities:

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Why recall target Gov. Scott Walker is taking his message to Illinois

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker is facing a recall, but he still found time to visit Springfield, Ill., Tuesday to take on one of his favorite targets: Illinois' $8 billion budget deficit.
Are pesticides responsible for bee deaths? (+video)

Important pollinators, both bumblebees and honeybees have trouble functioning after being exposed to pesticides, two new studies say. Industry experts question several aspects of the work.
Illinois primary: For Mitt Romney, delegates less important than 'winning'

The Illinois primary Tuesday is an opportunity for Mitt Romney to extend his delegate lead on Rick Santorum. But a big win in the popular vote might be more important.
Life Sentences: Literary Judgments and Accounts

In 'Life Sentences,' author and critic William H. Gass entrances the reader with his lilting prose and skilled literary criticism.
New Orleans' razing craze aims to clear way for post-Katrina recovery

New Orleans is on a mission to raze thousands of properties abandoned after hurricane Katrina. Many are in neighborhoods, such as the Lower Ninth Ward, where poor and minority residents were concentrated.
Chicago area called most corrupt in US. Why Rahm Emanuel is under fire.

Chicago and its suburbs have averaged 51 public corruption convictions per year since 1976, a new study finds. Critics say Rahm Emanuel has not made City Hall sufficiently transparent.
Indiana 'right to work' law: what it means for the pro-union Rust Belt

Indiana's new 'right to work' law is the first of its kind in the Midwest. But amid the region's disputed union issues, will the right-to-work law mean more jobs or lower wages for all workers?
Indiana becomes first Rust-Belt 'right to work' state. Will others follow?

Laws that curtail union clout have faced heated opposition in Wisconsin and Ohio, making passage of 'right to work' laws in other industrial states a difficult political proposition.
The Vote
Who is Saul Alinsky, and why is Newt Gingrich so obsessed with him?

Newt Gingrich keeps likening President Obama to radical community organizer Saul Alinsky. But Gingrich seems to have adopted Alinsky's tactics himself, as has the tea party. Mainstream Republicans aren't happy.
Top GOP candidates won't qualify for Va. primary ballot

Rick Santorum, Newt Gingrich, Rick Perry, and Jon Huntsman have all failed to qualify for the ballot in at least one upcoming GOP primary.
Proposal to make Chicago a state shows Illinois divide

Whether it's the state's shaky finances, its recent tax hike or strict gun laws, downstate Illinois knows it can always vent its frustration by blaming Chicago.
Illinois train explosion: How safe are ethanol tankers?

A freight train that derailed and exploded Friday in Illinois was carrying ethanol. Though rail transport of ethanol has increased dramatically, accidents involving hazardous materials are down.
Schools weigh risk, benefit of Facebook

Fears over bullying and improper teacher contact with students are prompting many schools to limit social media sites like Facebook, which critics argue may not be a wise educational move.
Chapter & Verse
Project Gutenberg founder Michael Stern Hart: an e-book visionary

Hart was a college student in 1971 when he first glimpsed the potential of the e-book.
How could Virginia quake be felt in Canada and crack the Washington Monument?

Rocks of the East Coast conduct earthquakes much better than rocks in the West. It means a moderate quake in rural Virginia can travel far and damage the Washington Monument.
Fine art of hurricane tracking: Push is on for the 7-day forecast

NOAA currently forecasts the paths of storms five days ahead. But scientists hope to identify storm systems sooner and better predict when one is poised to intensify – thereby improving hurricane preparedness.
Illinois' new solution to huge budget crisis: gambling

The Illinois Legislature has passed a bill to dramatically expand gambling in the state in a bid to help close a $15 billion budget deficit. But the bill still needs a wary governor's signature.
NFL in 'chaos' after lockout ruling. What happens now?

A federal judge's ruling to lift the lockout prompted a flurry of legal action and lots of confusion as players reported to empty practice facilities Tuesday. What it means for NFL football could become clearer in the days ahead, but for now, the league is in 'uncharted territory.'
Diggin' It
Earth Day: 10 ways to go green in the garden

10 ways any gardener can go green -- practice sustainability -- in the garden on Earth Day and all year.
Crackdown on Full Tilt Poker clouds future of online gambling

The US Attorney in Manhattan has filed fraud charges against Full Tilt Poker and two other online companies. The move is roiling the US poker community, and it plays into a larger debate about the legal status of online betting.
Local jobs: Top five cities leading the turnaround

Last year, these five metropolitan areas were struggling economically with unemployment above the national average. By February 2011, however, they were among the fastest recovering cities in the United States, most of them with unemployment rates below the national average of 9.5 percent. Here’s a look at these Top 5 fast-recovery cities:
Small is big: a cellphone chip that allows monthly battery charge

When small is big: Tinier chips demand less energy and could produce a cellphone that needs a battery charge only once a month.
Ecuador’s president: US must respect Latin America's own path

Ecuador's president Rafael Correa discusses political and social change in Ecuador, the possibilities for Peru under new leadership, and US arrogance and dominance toward Latin America.
NFL lockout: If Friday's deadline passes, is the 2011 season doomed?

Thursday brought some positive news in the bid to avoid an NFL lockout, but even if Friday's deadline passes without a deal, there could be more opportunities ahead.
What happens to America – and the NFL – if there's no football?

An NFL lockout could begin Friday, endangering the 2011 season. Major League Baseball and the National Hockey League both struggled after they canceled seasons due to labor strife. How might the NFL weather such a storm?