New Building Will Create 260 Jobs and Provide State-of-the-Art Forensic Capability for Area Law Enforcement

BELLEVILLE - February 10, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn today was joined by state and local officials to break ground on the $37.8 million State Police Metro-East Forensic Science Laboratory in Belleville, a facility that will provide the Illinois State Police with enhanced crime-solving abilities.  As part of the Governor's ongoing commitment to improving public safety in Illinois, the facility will also give police agencies throughout the region a valuable tool for their criminal investigations. The project is creating approximately 260 construction jobs and is expected to be completed in 2013.

"Our law enforcement agencies must keep pace with scientific developments, so that they have all the tools available to investigate crimes and arrest offenders," Governor Quinn said. "This facility gives local authorities access to the very latest tools and technologies to help them conduct investigations more efficiently and put criminals behind bars."

The 64,100 square-foot forensic laboratory funded by Governor Quinn's Illinois Jobs Now! capital construction program will include state-of-the-art space and equipment for crime scene services, trace chemistry, drug chemistry, polygraph, latent prints, firearms and forensic biology/DNA testing. The facility will be located on land purchased in 2007 from Lindenwood University. The project is being administered by the Capital Development Board, which oversees all non-road state-funded construction projects.

"As forensic science technology continues to evolve and forensic scientists are able to provide investigators with more information, there is an increased demand for DNA analysis and other highly specialized testing on crime scene evidence," Illinois State Police Director Hiram Grau said. "With this expertly-designed, state-of-the-art facility, our skilled scientists will be prepared to keep up with technology and demand, enhancing our ability to provide the best possible forensic science and crime scene services on behalf of the victims of southwest Illinois."

For more than two decades, the Illinois State Police has leased 15,000 square feet of renovated office space as its laboratory in Fairview Heights. The rented space can no longer accommodate the agency's technological changes, casework growth and staffing needs. Contegra Construction Company of Edwardsville is the general contractor, and began mobilizing for work on the site in November.

Governor Quinn's $31 billion Illinois Jobs Now! program is expected to create 439,000 construction jobs while addressing the state's infrastructure and vital facility needs.

This section of the site contains orders of statewide interest recently issued by the Iowa Supreme Court. Orders will be posted in this section for one year from the date they are first posted.

Links on this page go to files that may be unusable if you do not have the proper programs installed on your computer. Visit the Site Tools and Accessibility page for any plug-ins or programs your may need.

Friday, February 10, 2012

Senator Chuck Grassley released the following statement after the President attempted to compromise on a rule issued by the Department of Health and Human Services, as part of the department's implementation of the sweeping Affordable Care Act of 2010, that mandated that religious-affiliated charities, schools and hospitals provide coverage for controversial contraceptive products.

On Tuesday, Grassley called on the Secretary of Health and Human Services to rescind the Obama Administration's health care rule that will force religious affiliated organizations to either abandon their freedom of conscience or pay a fine of up to $2,000 per employee.

Here is Grassley's statement following today's announcement.

"Adhering to one of this country's most valued principles shouldn't be an afterthought.  Unfortunately, though, disregarding the Constitution has become an all too common pattern for this administration.  Its latest questionable move challenging religious freedom raised the ire of people across the country.  The administration's attempt to reverse this outright affront to religious freedom falls short and continues to highlight the concern of many of us that the health care law overreaches into personal freedoms and liberties."

Des Moines, February 10, 2012– The Iowa Court of Appeals has elected Judge Larry J. Eisenhauer, Ankeny, as chief judge. Judge Eisenhauer has served on the court of appeals since 2001. He is the seventh chief judge since the state legislature established the court of appeals in 1976. He replaces Chief Judge Rosemary Sackett, recently retired.

"I am honored that the judges of the court of appeals elected me chief judge," Chief Judge Eisenhauer said. "Iowans are fortunate to have a court of appeals made up of thoughtful and hardworking judges supported by a dedicated staff. I am privileged to be a part of it."

Judge Eisenhauer was born in Emporia, Kansas, and received his undergraduate degree from Emporia State University in 1968. He then served in the United States Army for two years, including a tour of duty in Vietnam, before attending Drake University Law School. After graduating from Drake in 1974, he practiced law privately until 1985 and served as a juvenile referee from 1985 to 1993. He was appointed to the district court bench in 1994 and served as district court judge until his appointment to the court of appeals. Judge Eisenhauer serves on the Judicial Council Subcommittee on Court Records and Management Retention, co-chairs the Children's Justice Advisory Committee, and is a member of the Polk County, Iowa State, and American Bar Associations.

Previously, Chief Judge Eisenhauer was a faculty member of the Iowa Child Abuse Academy, chair of the Supreme Court Advisory Committee on Court Appointed Special Advocates, chair of the Supreme Court Advisory Committee on Juvenile Court Officers, and a member of the Iowa State Bar Association Family Law Committee, and the Advisory Board of the Criminal and Juvenile Justice Planning Agency.  In 2005, he served as an International Judge for the United Nations Mission in Kosovo.  He was presented the Iowa Judges Association Award of Merit in 2008. Judge Eisenhauer is married, has two children, and one grandchild.

The Iowa Court of Appeals is an intermediate appellate court. It reviews appeals from trial court decisions that the supreme court has transferred to the court of appeals . A decision of the Iowa Court of Appeals is final unless reviewed by the Iowa Supreme Court on grant of further review. The majority of appeals filed in Iowa are decided by the court of appeals. Last year, the Iowa Court of Appeals issued 1,068 opinions.

In addition to judicial duties, the Chief Judge of the Iowa Court of Appeals supervises the business of the court, presides when present at a session of the court, and serves on the judicial council. Judge Eisenhauer will also continue to write opinions.

Previous Chief Judges of the Iowa Court of Appeals

# # #