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DuPage Airport Building On Its Success
posted June 17th, 2013
The DuPage Airport is one of the busiest airports in the state and it’s positioned to continue to attract corporate travelers. Jet traffic from the West Chicago facility routinely flies non-stop to Europe and South America. Airport Director David Byrd says maintaining and building on that business is the key to the airport’s future. He tells WDCB News improvements at the airport have put it in a good position for the future. Byrd says the airport's in the final phases of interior improvements at the passenger terminal and in the process of building a new rescue and fire fighting station. The extension of the airport’s main runway is complete and an
overlay of one of the “cross-wind” runways is finished as well. All the projects are coming in on-time and under budget. Byrd says the improvements will help maintain the airport’s attraction to corporate business travelers.
University Backs STEM School
posted June 17th, 2013
Aurora University is spearheading an effort to open a STEM academy that could serve as a model for school districts across the state. The university’s Sherry Eagle says the proposed John C Dunham STEM Partnership School would focus on science, technology, engineering and math curriculum. It would serve approximately 200 students in third through eighth grades from four Aurora school districts. Eagle tells WDCB News if the university is able to successfully raise enough money to start construction, the STEM collaboration would be the first of its kind in Illinois. Last month Congressman Bill Foster introduced legislation that would reward public-private collaborations that promote STEM-based programs. Eagle says Aurora’s proposed STEM school initiative aligns perfectly with Foster’s ideas.
Planners Want To Breathe Life Into Union Station
posted June 17th, 2013
Every day thousands of commuters from DuPage County take the train into Chicago’s Union Station. At the end of the day, they breeze through the iconic building to get back on the train. The Metropolitan Planning Council wants to give those people and others a reason to spend time at the station. M-P-C’s Marisa Novara says that’s the idea behind the organization’s “place making” contest called Activate Union Station. She tells WDCB News planners want to make Union Station
a destination. She says building in the east end of the West-Loop neighborhood that is seeing a tremendous growth in both business and residential activity. The Metropolitan Planning Council want to see the massive space put the best use possible. Novara says the main train stations in other cities have become shopping and dining destinations. The contest asks people to submit ideas for activities that can breathe new life into the station and attract visitors to the space.
Wheaton Continues Its Strategy To Deal With EAB
posted June 14th, 2013
When emerald ash borer first made headlines in Northern Illinois, Wheaton
had more than 6300 ash trees in its public right-of-ways. Today the city
has just over 5800. Wheaton Forestry Superintendent Kevin Maloney says the city adopted a strategy of slowly removing all of its ash trees. Other communities are treating trees to fight the invasive pest or using a combination of treatment and removal. Maloney tells WDCB News there was one key factor in Wheaton's decision. He says it came down to cost, and the fact that there's no guarantee paying to treat trees will save them when the pressure of infestation gets very high. Wheaton recently got a federal grant to help pay for the replacement trees after it removes an ash. Maloney says it will probably take the city about 10 years to remove all of its ash trees.
Merchant's Group Blasts Tax Change
posted June 14th, 2013
A group of business, labor and construction industry leaders has a plan to
generate $800-million a year for road, bridge and rail construction. The Transportation for Illinois Coalition wants to eliminate the 19-cents per
gallon state motor fuel tax. In its place…the group wants a 9.5% tax on the wholesale price of fuel. The Illinois Petroleum Marketers Association’s Bill Fleishli says the change will add to the highest gas prices in the country. He tells WDCB News it will also hurt what are already sagging fuel sales. Fleishli says in 2006 the nation had its highest ever usage of gasoline and he doesn't think the country will ever reach that level again. He says more efficient cars are part of the reason, but high prices at the pump have curtailed the driving habits of people in Illinois and around the country. Fleishli says the first thing Illinois has to do is stop diverting motor fuels tax dollars to non-construction spending. He says lawmakers have taken millions of dollars from the road fund over the years…if they returned the money there wouldn’t be a need for new revenue.
Non-Profit Holds "Day Without Hunger"
posted June 14th, 2013
A Naperville-based non-profit is highlighting its efforts to end hunger. Loaves and Fishes has been providing food assistance to DuPage County residents since 1984. But the social service provider has expanded its operations over the past five years to keep up with demand. Loaves and Fishes launched its “Day Without Hunger” initiative back in 2008 to draw attention to food disparity issues in Dupage County. The organization’s Matt Chicola says the event continues to grow every year. But he tells WDCB News the ultimate goal is to end hunger, so events like this aren’t necessary. Loaves and Fishes currently provides food to approximately ten thousand area residents every month.
Could Cubs Move to DuPage County?
posted June 13th, 2013
DuPage officials have begun aggressively putting together a proposal to lure the Chicago Cubs. DuPage County board chairman Dan Cronin says the team has grown frustrated with the increasingly “hostile” negotiations with the city of Chicago. He’s been told the Cubs are open to the idea of relocating and building a stadium outside of Chicago. The county and its development organization, Choose DuPage, have identified four potential sites that fit the team’s requirements. Cronin tells WDCB News he doesn’t support offering the Cubs an incentive package, but the team would definitely save some money by coming to Dupage. He says DuPage doesn't have an amusement tax. Cronin wouldn’t give specific on WHERE a potential new stadium could be build. But he says it would have to be close to public transportation and a major roadway. Cronin says he hopes to meet with Cubs owners within the next two months.
Schillerstrom Considers Running For State Treasurer
posted June 13th, 2013
Former DuPage County board chairman Bob Schillerstrom believes he can help fix Illinois’ fiscal problems. He says that’s why he’s considering running for State Treasurer. Schillerstrom announced the creation of an exploratory committee yesterday. The Naperville Republican says he understands Democrats control state government and acknowledges the poor condition of Illinois’ finances. But Schillerstom tells WDCB News he wants to be part of the solution. Current Treasurer Dan Rutherford has decided to enter the gubernatorial race in 2014.
Hands-Free Doesn't Mean It's Safer
posted June 13th, 2013
Even cell-phone companies say drivers shouldn't use their wireless devices
to text or e-mail while they're behind the wheel. New cars have given people an option with in-dash, talk to text systems that are supposed to be safer than a handheld device. AAA Chicago Motor Club researchers looked
at the effect the "info-tainment" systems have on drivers. The group's Beth
Mosher tells WDCB News the research findings run counter to conventional
wisdom about hands-free devices. She says drivers have heard for a long time that hands-free systems will be more convenient and make driving safer. In reality, Mosher says the research shows it's incredibly dangerous to use these technologies, especially because they give drivers a false sense of security. Some groups want a total ban of wireless technologies while a vehicle is moving, but Mosher says the AAA isn't taking that position, yet. She says the group is working with car makers to use the research to make driving safer.
Talks Begin On Passenger Rail Funding
posted June 12th, 2013
A regional rail advocate says building the Illinois high speed rail network needs to become a priority for federal funding. The Midwest High Speed Rail Association's Rick Harnish wants to see the travel time between Chicago and St. Louis cut to two hours. The Senate Commerce, Science and
Transportation Committee is in preliminary talks on the Amtrak and Rail
Safety Re-authorization bill. Harnish tells WDCB News a recent trip to South Korea shows it is possible to incrementally develop high speed rail. He says that country has high speed passenger rail service that shares tracks with freight trains while it builds a separate system for passenger trains. Harnish says if Turkey, Iran and other countries can commit to developing high speed rail why has the United States done so little. He says it's time to really step up the effort. Senator Dick Durbin is urging the committee to include Illinois projects in the rail plan. He says the state has the nation's second largest passenger rail network and should be near the top of the funding list as well.
BBB Urges Caution When It Comes to Buying Tickets on Secondary Market
posted June 12th, 2013
The Chicago Better Business Bureau is preaching “buyer beware” as Blackhawk-mania sweeps the area. The organization wants fans to do their
homework if they’re considering purchasing Stanley Cup tickets on the secondary market. Blackhawks tickets are being currently being sold for between $250 for standing-room only tickets to over $5,000 for center ice seats. The Better Business Bureau’s Tom Joyce says those high dollar amounts tend to attract scam artists. But he tells WDCB News there are things consumers can do to protect themselves. He says consumers should always use a credit card when purchasing tickets on the secondary market. Joyce says one of the main issues is the secondary ticket market is largely unregulated, which means it’s up to consumers to do their research.
Local Governments Will Get Flood Relief
posted June 11th, 2013
Local governments in DuPage County spent more than six million dollars on the response and recovery to April flooding. Late last week, the Federal
Emergency Management Agency announced it will provide up to $4.5 million in reimbursement. DuPage office of Emergency Management's David Gervino says the reimbursement is great news for municipalities already struggling to balance a budget. He tells WDCB News the widespread nature of the April flooding made FEMA relief possible. Gervino says the April flood affected 50 Illinois counties, which meant not only did the county reach a threshold of spending, but the state also exceeded a more than $17 million dollar hurdle.
Gervino says, by contrast, the July 2012 storms didn't qualify for FEMA
assistance because they didn't have a regional impact. He says local leaders
should see the reimbursement from the federal agency within a matter of
weeks.
Advocacy Group Focuses on Manufacturing Jobs
posted June 11th, 2013
DuPage United wants to draw attention to the county’s manufacturing industry. The advocacy group will host an event tomorrow night in Lombard that will focus on the growing number of manufacturing jobs opening up in the county. DuPage United lead organizer Amy Lawless Ayala there’s a popular misconception that there aren’t any well-paying jobs in the area. She tells WDCB News the county’s nearly 1,700 manufacturing companies currently employ 52,000workers. Ayala says unfortunately there’s a disconnect between those area residents who are unemployed and the companies in need of qualified applicants. DuPage United is attempting to bring together some of the county’s most influential stakeholders to work on a program that would recruit and train manufacturing workers.
DuPage Habitat For Humanity Starts New Chapter
posted June 11th, 2013
DuPage Habitat For Humanity is preparing to start a new chapter. The Wheaton-based non-profit is saying “good-bye” to long-time executive director Sarah Brachle Wagner, and “hello” to its new leader Dave Neary. The change comes in the middle of the non-profit’s construction of the $2.8 million, 12-unit Glen Ellyn sub-division known as Prairie Green. Wagner tells WDCB News she’s proud of all the good the organization was able to do over the past six and a half years. Neary says he’s looking forward to building on the foundation his predecessor created. The Chicago-native has spent the past several years working with Habitat For Humanity in Los Angeles. He says each affiliate operates a little differently. Neary says his first priority will be finishing Prairie Green, it’s scheduled to be complete by the end of the year.
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