CHICAGO – Illinois Governor Pat Quinn and Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick today announced the wager they have made on the outcome of the series between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Boston Bruins for professional hockey’s top prize. Under the terms of the wager, the governor of the losing team’s state will volunteer at the food bank of the winning governor’s choice. If the Blackhawks win, Governor Patrick will volunteer at the Greater Chicago Food Depository. If the Bruins win, Governor Quinn will volunteer at the Greater Boston Food Bank.
SPRINGFIELD – Illinois Conservation Police (CPOs) are gearing up to help ensure the public’s safety on Illinois waterways. As in year’s past, CPOs are asking boaters to ‘Wear It!’ while boating this season.
The ‘Wear It!’ message is a simple, straightforward and easy message to understand. Everyone on board a boat should wear a life jacket from the time they get on until the time they get off the vessel. It could literally save their life.
Illinois Department of Natural Resources - Boating Safety Education
National Safe Boating Campaign
CHICAGO - The Illinois Department of Transportation today kicked off the “Gear Up-Ride Smart” motorcycle safety campaign in partnership with the Illinois State Police, Gold Wing Road Riders Association and A Brotherhood Aimed Towards Education. The campaign promotes safe motorcycle riding through continued training and use of proper gear and reminds all motorcyclists to get licensed, get proper training, and keep motorcycle equipment well maintained. “Gear Up – Ride Smart” also warns against riding after drinking.
For more information on IDOT’s motorcycle safety program and additional educational materials, or to see a sponsor list for literature distribution locations, visit www.startseeingmotorcycles.org
SPRINGFIELD - The Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) is taking the lead in educating Illinois residents to practice safe cooking habits to prevent home fire tragedies. Unattended cooking continues to be a top cause of home fires and injuries since 1990. Since 2011, cooking fires have ranked second as the cause of home fires, according to the National Fire Protection Association.
For more information about cooking safety tips please visit www.sfm.illinois.gov or www.nfpa.org.
CHICAGO – Governor Pat Quinn unveiled a website highlighting the Illinois Sister Rivers/Lakes Initiative today in honor of United Nations World Water Day 2013, whose theme is “International Year of Water Cooperation.” This is the 20th Anniversary of World Water Day, which highlights sustainable management of freshwater resources. Illinois has built partnerships with officials in six nations to share creative solutions to common problems, such as run-off, silt and invasive species.
Illinois Sister Rivers/Lakes website
Illinois tourism information
For information about fishing, boating, paddling and birding