Dear EarthTalk: I understand there is an effort underway to allow all-terrain vehicles, snowmobiles, motorbikes, motorboats and other motorized vehicles into wilderness areas, which would overturn a long-standing ban. What’s behind this?

Harry Schilling, Tempe, AZ

New Jobs for the community.

Despite a struggling economy, a state that has raised the income and corporate tax rate and a real estate market that continues to skid, Romeoville has become a beacon for Will County in business development scoring several new businesses creating nearly 3,000 new jobs in the area over the past three years.

The City Council Finance Committee reported the possibility of a $2.2 million shortfall in revenue to the City of Joliet. The revenue loss will come if the State legislature decides to divert tax revenue municipalities now receive from the State in order to cover the substantial shortfall in the Teachers Retirement System.

Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow presents a signed petition to Circuit Judge Carla Alessio Policandriotes to establish a Will County Veterans and Servicemembers Court while Will County Public Defender Frank Astrella looks on.

The Lockport Chamber of Commerce held a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the Lockport Resource Center on April 20th. Pictured from the left are Mary Kay Campbell, Ginger Kelm, Charity Humm, & her son, Jerry Liston, Carol Liston, Angie Apgar, Mary Wehle, Tony Daniels, Matt Humm, Anne Magosky, Jake Weinhart, Matthew Baugh, Patrick Green, Bob Dealey, Ryan Sharp, and Denny Reiter.

Participation and fan interest in high school basketball remain strong throughout the nation, and the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Basketball Rules Committee voted to retain one aspect of the sport that makes it unique from other levels of play.