Free Republic

The Illinois Secretary of State’s Office has cancelled its annual Vehicle Show and Swap Meet due to the state budget impasse. The event, held in downtown Springfield near the capitol building, usually costs around $18,000 to put on, but is being postponed this year to save money. The show usually draws about 300 entries from car enthusiasts around the state and attracts more than 1-thousand people. The show has been around since 1949 and featured cars, trucks, motorcycles, hot rods, tractors and even recreational vehicles. A spokesman for the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office says it’s their hope the show...

Most people know that our $13 trillion national debt is endangering America’s credit rating and pushing the United States closer to bankruptcy. But hidden beneath the surface is another ticking time bomb that threatens economic collapse : unfunded public employee pensions. ...Historically, increasing public employee pensions has been a practical way to resolve a budget crisis. .... voting to approve richer pensions is easy because they know they’ll be long gone before the bill comes due. ...According to an analysis by the Pew Center on the States, state and local governments now owe at least $1 trillion to public employee...

Delaware businesses fearful for future Carmine Alessandro, general manager of the Brunswick Doverama bowling alley in the Rodney Village Shopping Center, believes patrons who may initially stay away once the smoking ban goes into effect will eventually come back. Other Downstate business owners are less certain, even angry, about the law. Staff photos by John King By Jack Brighton and Hilary Corrigan, Staff writers DOVER - Members of Delaware's General Assembly last week completed the bold step of banning smoking in nearly all public buildings. The measure, Senate Bill 99, now awaits the signature of Gov. Ruth Ann Minner, who...