Declarations

Big Brother?

“These cameras are another important tool that motorists can use when deciding if they should head out on the road.”

—Darin Bergquiest, South Dakota Transportation secretary comments on how new cameras might save lives or prevent injuries. Motorists planning to travel on South Dakota’s interstate highways during dicey winter weather can now get a look-see before they leave the comfort and safety of their homes. The state Transportation Department has installed digital cameras at 19 locations along Interstates 29 and 90 to take snapshots of road conditions every 10 minutes, relaying that information to the agency’s Web site. People planning to travel those roads can log on their computers and get an actual look at the roads before deciding if they want to venture out.

Football Coaches Recognized

“This award stands out among the many others in sports because it not only celebrates these coaches’ 2007 seasons, but also the way they have built their football programs — with young men of character, sportsmanship and integrity. … Simply put, they not only win, but they win the right way. They symbolize what is good today in college football.”

—ESPN/ABC TV analyst Kirk Herbstreit on the Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year awards presented to four college football coaches for their leadership during the 2007 season. The awards went to Ron Zook of the University of Illinois; Jerry Kill, formerly of Southern Illinois University; Bill O’Boyle of Chadron State (Neb.) College; and John Gagliardi of Saint John’s (Minn.) University. Their teams amassed 43 wins this year against a mere eight setbacks; their student-athletes displayed exceptional discipline on the field, integrity off the field, and excellence in the classroom; and they exercised their leadership position in their communities with countless hours and considerable financial or emotional support to a variety of civic and charitable causes.

Obama Pushes Ill. Law

“Patients have the right to information about the cost and quality of hospitals so they can make informed decisions about their health. … We need to be sure we are making these report cards a reality.”

—Democratic presidential hopeful and former Illinois state Senator Barack Obama warns that a law he supported needs to be taken seriously and acted upon. The Illinois Hospital Report Card Act was signed into law in 2003. It requires hospitals to report statistics such as infections, staffing levels and the ratio of patients to nurses. At the time, it was to be the nation’s first move to document hospital-acquired infections, and health care advocates said it would allow people to choose hospitals based on how well they do. But two safety studies, an adverse events reporting project and the state office that is supposed to coordinate the efforts are overdue or have yet to get off the ground, according to a report in recent editions of the Chicago Tribune. But officials say the report card won’t be ready for public release until October. That news is riling now U.S. Sen. Obama, who as a state senator in 2003 championed the legislation and has been promoting the idea on the presidential campaign trail.