Demolition continued at the Rockford Public Library site along the Rock River last week. A new library is planned for the location along with other riverfront development. (Photo by Jack McCarthy / Chronicle Media)

ROCKFORD

NIU Engineering at RVC hosts information session

Engineers are in demand in the Rockford-area. Employers are looking for local talent to fill a growing number of jobs. NIU Engineering at RVC is a revolutionary program that lets students earn an ABET-accredited Northern Illinois University bachelor’s degree while attending Rock Valley College at a cost of less than $40,000 for both degrees.

Rock Valley College and Northern Illinois University are hosting fall information sessions for prospective students and parents who want to learn more about the NIU Engineering @ RVC.

The sessions will be held Wednesday, Oct. 17 and Wednesday, Nov. 7, from 5:30-7 p.m. each night at the Woodward Technology Center (WTC) on RVC’s main campus (3301 North Mulford Road).

Attendees at these sessions will hear from engineering professionals, students and program staff on engineering careers, courses, internships and mentors, admission requirements, and financial assistance. Admissions representatives will be on site to help students who wish to apply for the program, and students will save $40 when applying at one of these events.

To register to attend one of these events, please go to go.niu.edu/niuatrvcattend.

Contact akopecky@niu.edu or 815-753-8788 with any questions about these events.

COUNTY

Forest District hosts budget hearing Oct. 13

The Forest Preserves of Winnebago County will host a public hearing on its draft 2018-19 budget at 5:15 pm on Wednesday, Oct. 2 at Forest Preserves Headquarters, 5500 Northrock Drive in Rockford.

This hearing is an opportunity for interested citizens or organizations to speak for up to three minutes regarding the contents of the proposed budget.

The draft 2018-2019 budget is available for public inspection at the Forest Preserves Headquarters until Oct. 24. The final 2018-19 budget will be approved and adopted subsequent to the hearing on Oct. 24.

STATE

Poll: voters angry over state budget woes

Illinois registered voters are mad as hell.

Data from a recent poll show that Illinois registered voters are angry about the state’s current deficits and want their governor to make long-term fiscal health a priority for Illinois now and in 2019. The results come from a poll that AARP commissioned. Pollsters, Alan Newman Research, questioned registered voters ages 25 and older in Illinois in July 2018 on behalf of the AARP state office in Illinois. Most voters, across all political parties, say they are angry about the state’s current fiscal deficits and view this as the top most important issue in the state right now.

Key findings include:

• Two-thirds (65 percent) of Illinois registered voters ages 25 and older rate their anger about Illinois’ current fiscal situation as a ‘4’ or a ‘5’ on a scale of one to five (‘5’ meaning extremely angry).
• Most (84 percent) Illinois registered voters agree that the governor and state legislature need to make the state’s fiscal problems the top priority in 2019, with 65 percent saying they strongly agree.
• Nearly six in 10 (59 percent) Illinois registered voters support a graduated income tax structure as a way to help solve the state’s fiscal problems.
• Most (70 percent) oppose taxing retirement income as a way to help solve the state’s fiscal problems.
• Most (73 percent) Illinois registered voters know someone considering leaving Illinois to live elsewhere and half (49 percent) have considered relocating themselves.​

The research firm completed 1,202 telephone interviews, 600 via landline and 602 via cell phone. Data are weighted by age and gender according to the February 2018 Illinois state voter database statistics.

Voters will choose between incumbent Bruce Rauner and challenger J.B. Pritzker Nov. 6, to be governor for the next four years.

–Winnebago County News Briefs–