The Department of Central Management Services has received notice from Governor Blagojevich's Office to fly the United States and Illinois flags at State occupied buildings at half-staff from Sunrise, Saturday, July 5, 2008 until Sunset, Monday, July 7, 2008.

SPRINGFIELD – Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich today expressed his gratitude to 1,400 soldiers and airmen from the Illinois Army and Air National Guard who supported efforts to protect several levees along the Mississippi River against floodwaters. The Governor also said he was pleased that President Bush on Monday approved a request from Illinois and three other Midwestern states to raise the federal share of disaster assistance to local governments for flooding from 75 percent to 90 percent.

SPRINGFIELD – Governor Rod R. Blagojevich today launched the fourth annual statewide “Break the Silence” campaign and proclaimed July as Elder Abuse Awareness Month in Illinois. The Governor and the Illinois Department on Aging (IDoA) are encouraging those who are victims or suspect abuse to call the state’s 24-hour Elder Abuse Hotline at (866) 800-1409, where trained professionals are on call prepared to assist. More than 10,000 reports of elder abuse were made during FY 08, which reflects a 16 percent increase in reporting since the campaign was initiated.

CHICAGO -- Governor Rod R. Blagojevich today reminded Illinois workers that the state’s minimum wage will increase to $7.75 an hour starting Tuesday, July 1. The increase will help nearly 650,000 workers cope with the rising cost of living and pay for basic necessities like groceries, gas, rent, childcare and medicine.

SPRINGFIELD – Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich today announced that the Illinois State Police (ISP) and Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) are teaming up with local law enforcement across the state to conduct a $1.4 million enforcement and education campaign to save lives during the July 4th holiday period.

DuQUOIN – Governor Rod R. Blagojevich today announced that the grandstand concert lineup for the 86th annual DuQuoin State Fair will feature Sawyer Brown, a country music band founded in the 1980s, that has become one of the most popular and consistent award-winning groups in the recording industry. 2006 American Idol finalist Kellie Pickler, P.O.D. and Corbin Bleu will be headliners on three other nights of main grandstand entertainment, while being backed by strong young artists Bucky Covington, Sevendust and Justin Stein, respectively.

CHICAGO – Surrounded by families, early childhood education advocates, elected officials and preschool students today at Reba Early Learning Center in Evanston, Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich signed legislation that continues the state’s historic early childhood program. House Bill 4705 immediately extends the nationally recognized initiative, Preschool for All, for two more years.

SPRINGFIELD – As part of Governor Rod R. Blagojevich’s Keep Cool Illinois campaign, established to help keep Illinois families cool and safe this summer, the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Office of the State Fire Marshal remind you of some steps you can take to ensure a safe and healthy 4th of July holiday.

The Department of Central Management Services has received notice from Governor Blagojevich’s Office to fly the United States and Illinois flags at State occupied buildings at half-staff from Sunrise, Monday, June 30, 2008 until Sunset, Wednesday, July 2, 2008.

CHICAGO – Governor Rod R. Blagojevich today called upon the House of Representatives to pass revenues already approved by the Illinois Senate, warning that funding will be unavailable for $1.5 billion in spending if the Senate’s revenue package is not passed. Reductions as well as additional reserves would be required to close a $2 billion dollar shortfall in the Fiscal Year 2009 budget passed by the General Assembly in May.

SPRINGFIELD – Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich today joined with the governors of Indiana, Iowa, and Wisconsin in a letter urging President Bush to increase to 90 percent the federal government’s share of federal disaster assistance for flooding in the five Midwestern states. If approved, the action would significantly ease the burden of recovery for state and local governments. A similar request was made and approved after the floods in 1993.

SPRINGFIELD – Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich today announced that the state is setting up a toll-free hotline to provide flood victims with easy access to information and assistance that can help them begin the recovery process. The Governor said the hotline will link people with state assistance while the state awaits President Bush’s decision on his request for expedited federal disaster assistance. If granted, federal assistance would offer help with temporary housing and grants or loans to help with flood losses.

ALTON – In a push to provide immediate assistance to three Metro-East counties affected by recent flooding in Illinois, Governor Rod R. Blagojevich today signed legislation that provides additional tools to Madison, Monroe and St. Clair Counties. SB 836, sponsored by State Senator William Haine (D-Alton) and State Representative Dan Beiser (D-Alton), allows these three counties to pay for projects to be reimbursed when the newly authorized Flood Prevention Districts have been established. These districts were authorized last month when the Governor signed SB 2052. This move comes during a period of intense flooding throughout much of the Midwest. The Governor has declared 24 counties in Illinois disaster areas, due to massive rain and levee breakings – including Madison, Monroe and St. Clair counties.

CHICAGO – Governor Rod R. Blagojevich today congratulated Illinois junior and senior high school students from Chicago who won awards during the National History Day competition held June 15 – 19 in College Park, Maryland. The contest is an annual event that features the best history students from across the country.

SPRINGFIELD – Traffic safety leaders from the Blagojevich administration and the Office of Secretary of State Jesse White today joined federal and local advocates in Springfield at a town hall meeting, designed to keep impaired drivers off the roads in Illinois. The highlight of the event was a preview of a high-tech tool that will be deployed in Illinois to curb impaired driving. Beginning in January 2009, first-time DUI offenders will be required to install a Breath Alcohol Ignition Interlock Device (BAIID) in their car, in order to retain driving privileges.

SPRINGFIELD – Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich today added Monroe, Randolph and Whiteside counties to a state disaster declaration that will help those areas respond to and recover from flooding along the Mississippi River. To date, 24 Illinois counties have been declared state disaster areas in the western, southeastern and northern parts of the state due to flooding and severe storms.

CHICAGO -- Governor Rod R. Blagojevich today reminded Illinois workers that the state’s minimum wage will increase to $7.75 an hour starting Tuesday, July 1. The increase will help nearly 650,000 workers cope with the rising cost of living and pay for basic necessities like groceries, gas, rent, childcare and medicine.

SPRINGFIELD – While touring flooded areas in Adams County today, Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich announced that he has directed the Illinois Emergency Management Agency to establish an additional Unified Area Command in the Metro East St. Louis area as the Mississippi River flood waters move south. The Unified Area Command in Quincy will also remain active.

CHICAGO – “We are pleased that the Government Accountability Office has announced that it supports Boeing's protest over the Air Force's decision to award its KC-X Aerial Refueling Tanker Aircraft to Northrop Grumman. As a company headquartered in Illinois, I have been actively supporting Boeing's protest since the Air Force's decision was made. In fact, just this week, I joined four other Governors in writing to the GAO to encourage a thorough review of the contract-awarding process. I am glad that our concerns were heard and acted upon quickly. I hope that as the Air Force reopens discussions on this contract, they will thoroughly re-examine their decision-making process. GAO's announcement is good news for Illinois, our economy and our workers.”

SPRINGFIELD – Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich today will visit the Quincy area to tour flooding along the Mississippi River, after two additional levees broke early this morning. The Lima Lake levee in Adams County broke around 1:30 this morning, followed by the Indian Grave levee at approximately 6:30. People in the City of Warsaw have been evacuated; at this time there are no reports of injury or loss of life, as most of this area is farm land.