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The state of
Illinois is dumping toxins into Lake Michigan but,
as a last resort and not as a fowl hurt the ecology
of Lake Michigan. The Asian Carp gaining in
size to 4ft and 100 lbs. are hurting the fish
industry and causing problems for boaters in Lake
Michigan. "The voracious eaters feed on the
low end of the food chain -- such as plankton. They
wind up squeezing out fish that bigger fish feed on,
potentially devastating sport and commercial
fishing." Kara Spak, December 1
Karp states that the Illinois Natural Resources
Department, who is doing the fish kill, is taking
this action as a last resort to give the Army Corps
of engineers time to complete needed maintenance on
an electric barrier installed to stop the Carp.
The Carp have been known to jump on skiers and jump
into boats. They are a real threat to Lake
Michigan for Chicago and the rest of Illinois
bordering the lake. Chris McCloud from the
Natural Resources Department was asked of the
potential threat to other fish and their hopes are
to keep the toxins contained. It appears to be
a real problem and finding sources on the subject
was like fishing with sonar. An incredible
effort has been put out for some time and Millions
of dollars spent that may not be working as well as
expected. "The Asian carp may have
slipped through a $9 million barrier designed to
protect the Great Lakes and a $7 billion sport
fishery from the voracious invader." Tom
Meersman, November 21 According to
Meersman, the commercial fishing industry in Lake
Michigan is a $7 Billion dollar crop each year.
But, that should not be the only concern for Lake
Michigan has much to do with the lifestyle of
Illinois and having 100 lb. fish smack a skier in
the face or jump in a boat does not seem like a
desired lifestyle on the lake.
Spak, Kara, December 1, 2009
Staff Reporter
Sun Times
www.suntimes.com
Meersman, Tom,
November 21, 2009
Star Tribune
www.startribune.com
http://www.suntimes.com/1913019,CST-NWS-carp01.article
It's Getting Windy in Chicago
Conquering your fears,
letting curiosity get the best of you, wondering how
your mind is over matter as for the first time in human
history get the actual and real sensation of walking in
mid-air. The Chicago Tower, now offers a different
meaning when the question is asked, "can you Bear it?"
Even looking at photographs can put chills down the
spine. But, to those who have not visited Chicago,
the Sears Tower is not the only wonder of downtown
Chicago; another downtown Chicago is alive beneath the
streets. The era is new with the name change of
the Chicago building to the Willis building, new
businesses and coming alive but yet the economy is not
any prettier than the rest of the U.S. So, is
going out on the ledge going to help you conquer the
fears? Chicago is still alive with student
populations still growing, 145,000 sq. ft. leased out of
the now Willis Tower and on. Before Chicago knows
it they will even be grinning again with a new Bear-ing
or maybe some of us just do not want to take a walk on a
glass edge suspended 1000 ft high.
All is said with what is known and hoped for in Chicago
but, what is the city government, investors, businesses
and banks doing about it? Late October brought the
banking protests as 1000s of Chicago citizens engaged
the protest at the Banker's summit. Obama slashing
executive's salaries that were on the bail out but, is
that a band-aid to solve the protest problem.
Every move seems to be a band-aid and the best example I
found is the high-rise condo management turning
residences into hotels. According to Mark
Saxenmeyer of the Fox Chicago News, "In fact, a quick
check on-line and you'll find hundreds and hundreds of
ads featuring downtown condos available for short term
rentals. We covertly checked some out ourselves and
found luxury units with all the amenities. We discovered
weekend rates as low as $250 for two-bedrooms, two
baths, a fully equipped kitchen, and stunning city
views." The management is chasing the residents
away and if that is the case, the weekend offers are not
even a band-aid. The Chicago problems continue on
as the National Restaurant Association is making waves
to leave Chicago for the 2012 convention. "If
Chicago were to lose the National Restaurant Assn. show,
it would be the third group to yank its 2012 convention
from
McCormick Place. The Society of the Plastics
Industry Inc.
announced Tuesday that it was moving its 2012
convention to Orlando. " Lorene Yue,
Nov 18 That is a lot said about the Windy
City and can Chicago keep the Detroit economy from
bleeding over to them or will the North continue to sink
until the Congress makes some good decisions?
Sources
Saxenmeyer, mark, November
10, 2009
FOX Chicago News
www.myfoxchicago.com
Yue, Lorene, November 18,
2009
Chicago Tribune
www.chicagobusiness.com
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