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February and
winter 2002-2003
just plain cold
[MARCH 8, 2003]
"February
2003 was the 28th coldest February in Illinois since 1895, with
temperatures of 25.7 degrees (4.5 degrees below average), and
December-February was the 29th coldest winter on record. Quite a
plunge from last year when December-February ranked as the second
warmest winter on record in Illinois," says Jim Angel, state
climatologist with the Illinois
State Water Survey, a division of the Illinois Department of
Natural Resources.
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Precipitation across Illinois
in February was 1.95 inches (101 percent of average), continuing the
pattern of the last six months: dry in northern Illinois but near
average in southern Illinois. February snowfall ranges were 1-8
inches (north), 8-12 inches (central) and 10-15 inches (south),
compared with what usually occurs: 6-10 inches (north), 4-6 inches
(central) and 3-4 inches (south). Statewide, precipitation this
winter was 4.89 inches (75 percent of average).
February temperatures ranged
from a high of 67 degrees at Grand Tower on Feb. 3 to a low of minus
10 degrees at Mundelein on Feb. 25. December-February temperatures
averaged 26.6 degrees (1.6 degrees below average), compared with an
average of 19.6 degrees during 1977-1978, the coldest winter on
record.
[to top of second column in
this article] |
"Historically, a colder than
average winter does not necessarily lead to a cold spring or even a
dry spring, but there is an increased chance of a cooler than
average summer," says Angel.
The National Weather Service is
calling for slightly cooler and drier than average conditions in
March and a drier than average March-May. The current El Nino event,
never strong, has weakened further, so its influence on Illinois
weather also should fade.
"You've probably already noticed the extra daylight. Be patient.
Spring is just around the corner," advises Angel.
[Illinois
State Water Survey press release] |
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Blagojevich says top-level term positions were improperly secured
A 'blatant fraud on the citizens of this state'
[MARCH 8, 2003]
SPRINGFIELD -- Continuing
his efforts to root out fraud and fight for reform of state
government, Gov. Rod Blagojevich announced Thursday that
disciplinary proceedings have begun against top-level state
employees who last year improperly sought to lock in their state
employment.
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These employees left their positions
for as little as four days and assumed a new role, only to return to
their original position in a move designed to extend their protected
status.
"I will not allow this blatant fraud on
the citizens of this state to stand," Blagojevich said. "These
individuals have manipulated and circumvented the state's personnel
system and in many, if not all, cases with the express approval and
direction of the previous administration."
Letters notifying 38 of the employees
identified so far by the administration's investigation are to be
hand-delivered by the close of business Friday, and the workers are
to be immediately placed on administrative leave pending possible
discharge. They have five working days to respond to the charges to
personnel staff at the agency where they are employed, and the
agency, in turn, has five days to consider a response.
The administration's investigation is
continuing, and further disciplinary actions will follow.
The governor's staff began an
investigation of these employees shortly after taking office in
January, and they are among a couple hundred state workers who have
been identified as taking a variety of maneuvers to inappropriately
protect their jobs.
Blagojevich said that beginning last
summer and lasting into the fall these employees filed false
statements that suggested they were resigning their jobs and taking
a new position. In most cases, the employee purportedly was in the
"new" job for only four days, resigned that position without
performing any different duties and then was reinstalled in the old
job with a new four-year term appointment.
[to top of second column in
this article] |
"It's understandable why the taxpayers
and hardworking people of this state have become cynical about how
government conducts its business," Blagojevich said. "While various
attempts have been made to burrow politically-connected people in
high-paying jobs, … longtime insiders were surprised at the audacity
of the action. As I discover ways state workers attempted to
manipulate the system to protect their job, I will take swift action
to protect the integrity of state government."
Published reports indicate that members
of Gov. George Ryan's administration instructed the workers on how
to scam the system and fully participated in the attempt to secure
their long-term employment with the state so that the new
administration would not be able to undo the action. The employees
were in term positions that would have expired after Ryan left
office in January.
The names of
the employees targeted for disciplinary action will not be released
until they have had the opportunity to respond to the charges and
had their appeals heard by the various agencies involved.
[Illinois
Government News Network
press release] |
