Patch on Politics

3 Things to Annoy You Right Before Christmas

The bad news: Job growth in Illinois is too slow, and prison inmates probably watch better TV than you. The good news: Your lawmaker is one of the highest paid in the nation.

Feeling all warm and full of good cheer? Bah! Here's a little something to satisfy the Scrooge in you before the spirit of Christmas takes hold. We Need More Jobs: At 8.7 percent, the Illinois unemployment rate is 1 percent above the national rate. And job creation is improving at a faster clip all around us, in Wisconsin, Indiana, Kentucky, Iowa and Missouri, on average, according to Ted Dabrowski and John Klingner at the Illinois Policy Institute.  "The reality is Illinois’ poor policies aren't allowing the state to participate fully in the national recovery. If only Illinois’ unemployment rate were equal to the average of its neighbors, 100,000 more Illinoisans would be working. Yes, jobs are slowly returning to the state, but that’s …

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Dennis Robaugh

12:27 pm on Thursday, January 3, 2013

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Southland Stories

Citizen Watchdog Training on Thursday

Better Government Association hosts educational session at St. Xavier University for citizen watchdogs.

Want to learn more about how to hold your public officials' feet to the fire? Curious about where your tax dollars are being spent? In honor of Presidents Day, Patch highlights a Citizen Watchdog training session taking place at St. Xavier University. The next Better Government Association Citizen Watchdog Training session takes place Thursday, Feb. 23, hosted in partnership with the Saint Xavier University Center for the Study of Fraud and Corruption.  Citizen Watchdog Training empowers you to keep an eye on government by giving you the tools you need to access government. You'll learn from legal experts how to obtain public information using the Illinois Freedom of Information Act and the Open Meetings Act. BGA Citizen Watchdog Training …

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Local Group Hopes to Shine Light on Government With Citizen Watchdog Trainings

The Better Government Association is hosting Citizen Watchdog Trainings in Joliet to teach local residents how to be more informed and serve as government watchdogs.

Many local residents feel lost when it comes to their understanding of and involvement in municipal government. They feel like government decisions go over their heads. Or maybe they think something fishy is going on, and although they’re not quite sure how to investigate, they’re concerned enough to have that desire. A group of nearly 50 Chicago-area residents decided to overcome that vulnerable feeling and learn how to take action by attending the first of two Better Government Association Citizen Watchdog Training sessions last week in Joliet. Led by former ABC 7 political reporter and BGA Executive Director Andy Shaw, the training teaches average joes how to monitor local government, access public information and what to do with that …

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What's Ahead

A Look at the Next Five Days: Feb. 21-25

We tell you what's closed on Presidents Day, who the Griffins face in the girls basketball sectional and when to register for L-W preschool.

When: All day  Where: Around the area   Schools, banks and government agencies won't be open for the holiday. Here's a look at some of the places that will be closed: When: 8:10 p.m. Where: Lincoln-Way North High School, 19900 S. Harlem Ave.   The Griffins continue their run through the playoffs as they face Marist in this first round of the Lincoln-Way North Sectional. Check Frankfort Patch on Monday night for complete coverage and analysis of the game.  When: 7 p.m.  Where: Frankfort Police Station, lower level, 20602 Lincoln Way Lane This week's board meeting moves to Tuesday because of the Presidents Day holiday. The agenda includes votes on new ordinances and approval of the 2011 zoning map. Go here for a look at the meeting'…

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