Quinn: Pension plan ‘meets the standard’

     SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – Gov. Pat Quinn says the pension agreement legislative leaders have reached meets the goal he set of eliminating long-term retirement-system debt.

     House and Senate leaders emerged from a meeting Wednesday to announce a tentative agreement they plan to bring to floor votes next week. House Speaker Michael Madigan says it would save $160 billion over 30 years for pension accounts that are $100 billion in debt.

     Quinn assigned the long-elusive pension-reform task to a conference committee of lawmakers in June. The governor said he wanted a proposal that eliminated the debt and stabilized the systems.

     He said Wednesday: “This plan meets that standard.”

     The Democrat says he will be working with leaders and rank-and-file legislators during the coming days to “get this job done for the people of Illinois.”

 

Ladd Anniversary committee to sell Christmas greens

If you enjoy the sight and fragrance of a real Christmas tree, members of Ladd’s 125^th Anniversary Committee can help you out. 

Christmas wreaths, garland and other arrangements will be on sale at the Ladd Christmas Walk Saturday, December 7. 

The committee will have a table set up across from Rip’s Tavern on Main Street.   They’ll also be selling bows.

Eastside Streator Fire Destroys House

If you’re struggling with the cold weather, imagine having to fight a fire in these conditions.

Firefighters from Streator, Reading, Grand Ridge, Cornell and Long Point responded to a house fire just before 9pm Tuesday on Schmitt Drive in Streator.  A family staying at the house were able to get out okay.  They’re staying with relatives.

Firefighters were on scene for about three hours.  A representative from the state fire marshal’s office is investigating the cause of the fire.

Ottawa Gearing Up For Festival Of Lights Parade

Ottawa will be lit up with holiday cheer Friday night.

The annual Festival of Lights Parade gets going at 6 at the south end of La Salle Street.  The parade will go north to Washington Square and then east onto West Jackson before circling back around the square.  The official lighting of Washington Park will wrap up the parade.

Jaimie London will broadcast from the Festival of Lights Parade on 96.5 the Wolf starting at 5.

Princeton Churches Ready To Serve Up Holiday Meal

Looking for a place to get a free meal on Thanksgiving?

For the 14th year in a row, Evangelical Covenant, St. Louis Catholic and New Hope Nazarene churches in Princeton are bonding together to provide a free Thanksgiving meal.  The meal with all the fixings will begin tomorrow at noon at the Evangelical Covenant Church on North Main Street.

Church members served around 80 people last year in Princeton.  You can take meals to go.