Monday media round up

Journal Star: Cat sets out vision for growth

Caterpillar Inc. plans to reach $50 billion in sales by the end of 2010 and is putting a strategy in place that could double that figure - and nearly double employment - by 2020.

And for some reason no one can explain, their stock price will be even lower than it is now.

Journal Star: Study: Edison results mixed

An independent study of Edison Schools Inc. shows lukewarm results in the area of academic achievement.

The recent study shows that on average, schools converted to the Edison model don’t do better than comparable schools.

District 150’s four schools run by the private, for-profit company were part of the study, although data from individual schools wasn’t provided. Nearly all the schools Edison has run were studied, making it the most comprehensive effort yet.

Ohmygod, I just realized: Edison Schools are a placebo.

All kidding aside, if Edison can’t show that its students do better, then it’s time to dump Edison.

Journal Star: Hard to ’sell’ Peoria from Chicago

Craig Hullinger was hired by the city Aug. 29 as the new economic development director, a position that took almost a year and a half to fill. But that’s a whole different story that we’ve gone into several times before.

The problem now is that some City Council members aren’t sure that the man paid $108,000 a year plus benefits to “sell” Peoria is really living here. Some think he only hangs his hat here during the week, but treks back on the weekends to his former home in Tinley Park, where his wife still lives.

I’ve given up hope that the City will ever manage to force it’s police officers to live within city limits. The courts have issued their stupid opinions and we now are being policed by people so disgusted at the prospect of living next door to us, that they had their union fight for the right to not be forced to live in our neighborhoods. It’s an insulting policy that hurts the city, but I give up. Fine. Whatever. Another addition to the list of why Peoria’s neighborhoods are in decay.

But the city’s economic development director? Good Lord! Hullinger needs to be taken aside and told that he has six weeks to find permanent housing for his entire family, or he can return to Tinley Park and look for work there. Once that’s accomplished, he should be given a list of civil and cultural events — scheduled for the weekend — where he is required to put in an appearance.

And if he fails to do so, he should be shown the door. But I’m sure he knows the way.

In fact, the council might want to consider telling Hullinger that because he took so long, they will find a place for him. I’m sure the fine folks in the code enforcement department can come up with a few neighborhoods in need of the stabilizing influence that can only come from having a high ranking member of the city staff move in next door.

Journal Star: Core losing shopping anchor, more

Perceptions - or misperceptions - of crime, inadequate parking and what’s trendy seem to be fueling the decay of the old neighborhood. Second District Councilwoman Barbara Van Auken says North Peorians ask her how she can live in such a “bad” neighborhood, a label she disputes. Indeed, many homes and businesses are well-kept. But a few bad apples can spoil the bunch. A neighborhood liquor store and gas station have attracted unsavory activity, and businesses find drug paraphernalia in their lots. Statistically, the area ranks fifth this year in drug offenses and sixth in property crimes among the city’s 19 police districts. Not the worst, not the best.

Hrumph! Try living in a neighborhood where the corner gas station sells the drug paraphernalia.

Folks, we can bitch about crime all we want, but there isn’t anything we can do until we replace the prosecutors and judges who turn criminals loose at every opportunity. Of course, it would help that our 20-year-old county jail was built to contain too few inmates.

WEEK: Laura is Remembered

I absolutely head covering stories about dead teenagers. I’ve done my quota for a lifetime.

WEEK: Local Soldier Dies In Kuwait

The Department of Defense announced today 1st Lieutenant, Debra Banaszak of Bloomington died at Camp Victory in Kuwait. The 35-year-old woman died from noncombat related injuries.

Banaszak was assigned to the Army National Guard’s 1035th Maintenance Company out of Jefferson Barracks, Missouri.

I don’t usually cover stories about Bloomington residents, but I make exceptions.

My condolences to Lt. Banaszak’s family and friends.

WEEK: Standoff-A Misunderstanding?

The cops got a report that a drunk was waving a gun around and they responded in force, and now the wife who called cops says they overreacted and that he wasn’t endangering anyone. I’m sorry. I don’t buy it. I’ve covered too many cases where hubby or boyfriend of baby’s daddy made threats or committed violence, and then the victim refused to testify. Myself, I don’t blame the police one bit.

WMBD 1470: WEEK HD, Weather Plus on Insight cable

More advances in the world of local television. Insight Communications is placing Peoria’s NBC affiliate on HD channel 761. And WEEK’s Weather Plus is available on digital channel 137. Weather Plus is a network that gives local conditions and forecasts 24 hours a day.

And this affects my life how … ?

WHOI: Decoding Internet Lingo

This is a decent, but not spectacular, report by Jennifer Speiser. I just wish that every article about the Internet and children didn’t approach it from the standpoint that the Internet is something inherently more dangerous than other activities.

A child is in more danger walking to the corner store than when on the Internet. The “lingo” discussed here is kind of old hat, i.e. “soooooo ten minutes ago.” Blogging on LiveJournal or Xanga is how many kids are communicating these days. Mom and dad discovered IM a long time ago. Or is blogging approaching the ten minute mark? My niece does a lot of “texting” on her cell phone these days.