Essex, Illinois artist Jack Barker

As soon as I saw this photo of Essex-based artist Jack Barker, my immediate thought was, the American Pickers have to stop there!  Such cool stuff!!

Here is a PBS video which includes an interview where Jack Barker discusses some of his work (Barker's is the last interview):

Watch the full episode. See more Rare Visions and Roadside Revelations.

Explosion at Kankakee water plant building, raw sewage leaking into river

Chicago Breaking News reports an explosion at the Kankakee water treatment plant.

The Daily Journal reports raw sewage is going into the Kankakee River as a result of the explosion.

Picture of Kankakee Water Treatment Facility (and the Kankakee River) from the Illinois Water Science Center.

Farm Subsidies in Kankakee County

If you are interested in researching farm subsidies in Kankakee County, this website provides a searchable database of farm subsidy payments organized by state and county.

There is a lot of data on this site.  For example, according to this site, from 1995 to 2009, farms in Kankakee County received $188, 244, 365 dollars in Corn Subsidies.

Included in this total are: deficiency payments, direct payments, production flexibility payments, and other payments.

Subsidies to grain farmers have become a controversial issue in debates over food policy.  Those who argue against corn subsidies argue that these payments flood the food market with products made from corn that they argue are largely unhealthy.

Farmers and other supporters of corn subsidies point to high input costs such as land rent, fertilizer, and weed control chemicals and argue that subsidies are critical to ensuring farmers can produce the food that consumers want.  You cannot deny that the public continues to buy meat---most corn grown in the US is used for livestock feed--and other products that rely on corn.

The New York Times recently published a debate on whether farm subsidies protect national security.

Kankakee resident involved with Warehouse Workers for Justice

Will County, Kankakee County's neighbor to the north, is home to the largest inland port in North America.

In the past decade, Will County has become dotted with distribution centers and warehouses.  The Will County Center for Economic Development recently released a Will County Inland Impact Study Summary Presentation.

The group Warehouse Workers for Justice advocates for warehouse workers, focusing much of its work in Will County.

Here is a video of a Kankakee resident involved with Warehouse Workers for Justice explaining his experiences with warehouse work in Will County: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVXZWIzLV1o

Given the tens of thousands of jobs in Will County related to warehouse work, it is likely many Kankakee County residents--like the man featured in the video--commute to Will County for work.

Kankakee County Illinois Election Results

Looking for election results for Kankakee County races such as:
Nick Been v. Lisa Dugan v. George Ochsenfeld in the 79th State House Seat
Toi Hutchinson v. Adam Baumgartner in the 40th State Senate
Adam Kinzinger v. Debbie Halvorson in the 11th Congressional

Go to the Kankakee County Clerk Site: http://www.kankakeecountyclerk.com/
Then go to the top of the page
Go to "election info"
Then go to "most current results"

Debbie Halvorson sign defaced on Route 45 near Manteno

Halvorson sign defaced on Rt. 45 near Manteno, Illinois.

This is ridiculous.  The elections are obviously very highly contested this year, but it is wrong to deface or destroy anyone else's property, period.  We have received reports from numerous other campaigns in the area that signs were stolen, knocked-down, or otherwise tampered with.

Is this the work of a few bad apples?  Teenagers having "fun"?  Maybe.

The point is regardless of how you are going to vote in the election, we are all citizens of this area and need to do our part to maintain law and order.

Nick Been--Republican Candidate for the Illinois 79th Representative District--"The Status Quo has to go"

Check out this video of Nick Been--Republican candidate for the Illinois 79th State Rep District.  Been is running against incumbent Democrat Lisa Dugan and Green Party candidate George Ochsenfeld.

Watch the video where Nick explains his position on taxes and business in Illinois: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sovMsAXoxdw