Brad Demuzio, Director of the Illinois Secretary of State Police, Dies at 50

We are shocked and saddend to learn of the death of Illinois Secretary of State Police Director Brad Demuzio, who was only 50 years old.  Brad died Sunday at his home in Springfield.  His father was former Senator Vince Demuzio, who passed away in April, 2004.   Brad's mother, Deanna, replaced her husband Vince in the Illinois Senate and is now the mayor of Carlinville.

Gov Quinn today said, "His dedication to duty has made the citizens of Illinois safer and his legacy is a model for all public servants."

The Illinois Channel Board of Directors extends our deepest sympathy to his family.

Gov Quinn Picks Board to Oversee Establishment and Certification of Community Health Workers

CHICAGO – Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH)
                      Director Dr. LaMar Hasbrouck announced today the
                      appointment of a 15-member Illinois Community Health
                      Worker (CHW) Advisory Board.  Recently selected by
                      Governor Pat Quinn, the board will advise the
                      Governor, IDPH and the legislature on all matters
                      impacting the effective work of Community Health Workers across the
                      state, including the training and certification
                      processes.

                      Signed into law in August of 2014, the CHW Advisory
                      Board is composed of eight CHWs from across the
                      state.  The remaining seven members consist of
                      individuals representing healthcare and social
                      services, health workforce policy and institutions of
                      higher education.  Board members include the
                      following:

                      Mary Ann Abate, MS LSW
                      Vice President Public Policy, Rosecrane Health
                      Network

                      Teresa Berumen (CHW)
                      Community Health Promoter, Enlace Chicago

                      Leticia Boughton, BA (CHW)
                      Network Coordinator, Chicago Community Health Worker
                      Local Network

                      Monica Dillon, RN
                      Community/Public Health Nurse Project Manager, Loyola
                      University School of Nursing

                      Christopher Garcia (CHW)
                      Advocate/Benefits Case Manager, Champaign County
                      Health Care Consumers

                      Melissa Gutierrez Kapheim, MS
                      Project Director/Epidemiologist 2, Sinai Urban Health
                      Institute
                           
                      IDPH Announces CHW Advisory Board/ Page 2

                      Geraldine Hardy (CHW)
                      Team Lead/Program Clerk, Southern Illinois Healthcare
                      Foundation

                      Janel Hughes-Jones (CHW)
                      Breastfeeding Peer Counselor, Will County Health
                      Department
                      Estela Lazo (CHW)
                      Outreach Specialist, Will County Health Dept

                      Hong Liu, PhD
                      Executive Director, Midwest Asian Health Coalition

                      Molly Martin, MD MAPP
                      Associate Professor, Pediatrics and the Institute for
                      Health Research and Policy,
                      University of Illinois at Chicago

                      Lizette Martinez (CHW)
                      Peers for Progress Coordinator, Alivio Medical Center

                      Tamela Milan, BA (CHW)
                      Maternal & Child Health Outreach, Access Community
                      Health

                      Amy Sagen, BA
                      Assistant Director for Health Policy & Strategy,
                      University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences
                      System

                      Jeffery Waddy, DrPHc, MsEd, MCHES
                      Dean of Allied Health and Sciences, South Suburban
                      College

                      Within a year of its first meeting, the CHW Advisory
                      Board will develop a report with its recommendations
                      regarding the certification process of community
                      health workers, best practices and reimbursement
                      options.  The report will also include proposed
                      curriculums, ensuring that the content, methodology,
                      development and delivery are appropriately based on
                      cultural and geographic needs and reflect relevant
                      responsibilities for CHWs.

                      “Illinois falls well below the national median in its
                      use of non-physician providers. If workforce
                      shortages are not addressed, it could limit access to
                      services and quality health care for all Illinoisans.
                      Community health workers can help fill this void and
                      increase the health of the state,” said Dr.
                      Hasbrouck.

Gov-Elect Rauner Names More to his Transition Team

 Below are members of the Transition Team to help Gov-Elect Rauner's team, as they move toward a new administration.   The list included notable Democrats, like Bill Daley, Glenn Poshard, and Rev James Meeks, in addition to notable Republicans, as fmr Gov Jim Edgar. 

  Governor Jim Edgar

  Bill Daley – Managing Partner and head of U.S. operations, Argentiere Capital LP, former White House Chief of   Staff

  Glenn Poshard – Former President, Southern Illinois University; former U.S. Congressman

  Rev. James Meeks – Founder and Senior Pastor, Salem Baptist Church of Chicago; former Illinois State    Senator

  Manny Sanchez – Founder and Managing Partner, Sanchez Daniels & Hoffman LLP; Co-Chair, Latinos for      Obama

 Doug Oberhelman – CEO and Chairman, Caterpillar Inc.

 State Representative Jill Tracy – 94^th District, Illinois House of Representatives

 Ron Huberman – Operating Executive, Prairie Capital; former Superintendent and CEO, Chicago Public  Schools

 Phyllis Wise – Chancellor, University of Illinois

 Jim Alexander – President, Illinois State Police Command Officer’s Association (ISPCOA)

 Congressman Aaron Schock – Representative, 18^th Congressional District of Illinois

 Arabel Alva Rosales – President, AAR & Assocs., LTD

.Ron Gidwitz – Partner, GCG Partners

 John Gates – Chairman and CEO, PortaeCo, LLC.

 Pastor Corey Brooks – Founder, New Beginnings Church of Chicago

 Rob Funderburg – Chairman and owner, Alpine Bank

 Mark Cozzi- Managing Partner, Lincoln Park Capital Group

 Tony Anderson – Retired Vice Chairman and Midwest Managing, Partner Ernst & Young

  Sarah Frey-Talley – President, CEO Frey Farms

  Gloria Cardenas Cudia – President and Founder, Salsa Business Network

Jim Schultz – Founder of Open Prairie and Managing Director of Open Prairie Ventures I and II

Dr. Willie Wilson – Chairman, Chicago Baptist Institute International (CBII)

 Eleni Bousis – Board Chair for the Greek American Rehabilitation and Care Centre, Entrepreneur of Frontida  (CARE) Institution supporting and assisting women and families in need and Board Member for Leadership 100  and the Little City Foundation.

 Ryan Ruskin- President and COO, Ruskin Group

 Beth Christie – Founder and CEO, Avent America

 Ed McMillan – Principal and CEO, McMillan L.L.C

 Andrea Brown – Member of the Illinois State Board of Education, former Regional Superintendent, teacher and  administrator

"Grow Illinois" Organization Applauds JCAR's Approval of Fracking Regulations

PRESS RELEASE FROM GROW ILLINOIS

Members of the Growing Resources and Opportunity for the Workforce in Illinois (GROW-IL) coalition are appreciative that the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR) has passed the final hydraulic fracturing rules in Illinois, providing avenues for economic growth and energy stability across the state.

"We are pleased that JCAR is implementing - not expanding or narrowing - this long overdue law as enacted by the General Assembly with strong bipartisan support. We appreciate the thorough and professional review conducted by JCAR.  Today's unanimous vote will allow Illinois to finally begin issuing permits and developing an innovative energy sector. This exciting development will create much needed jobs and significant revenue for our state economy. Industry, labor and environmental groups worked together to include the strongest safeguards that will protect the environment while stimulating the economy," said Mark Denzler of the Illinois Manufacturers' Association and GROW-IL co/chair. 

The new rules are equally beneficial for the job creators, working men and women, the energy industry, and Illinois citizens alike. Illinois will be able to capitalize on an already fast growing sector and produce more jobs for Illinois citizens, and the innovative access to new sources of energy will provide energy stability to ease the minds of Illinois residents. 

"Southern Illinois - an area struggling with unemployment - will benefit most from these good-paying hydraulic fracturing jobs," Michael Carrigan, president of the AFL-CIO. "There are many men and women all over the state who are excited to get to work and will profit tremendously from the passage of the rules." 

"We applaud JCAR for producing carefully crafted rules that resemble the legislation that was signed into law. We believe the extra time it took for the negotiation process will maintain the practical sensibilities that will allow hydraulic fracturing to create jobs and stimulate the Illinois economy. The labor, environmental and industry groups that worked together for three years to draft this legislation are excited to finally see the implementation of these rules and get the skilled workforce of Illinois working again," Brad Richards, executive vice president of the Illinois Oil and Gas Association.

Gov-Elect Rauner Starts Transition to Office

A day after he won election as the next governor of Illinois, Bruce Rauner selected his Lt Gov, Evelyn Sanguinetti as the chair of his transition team.

 Rauner also named some to the transition team that had served on his campaign.  Also mentioned is long-time aide to Judy Topinka, Nancy Kimme, and Chip Englander who was his campaign manager. 

• Mike Zolnierowicz, Transition Director

• Chip Englander, Senior Advisor

• Nancy Kimme, Transition Advisor

• Mike Schrimpf, Communications Director