State Stix

Death from cancer

Cancer deaths in Illinois have risen 11 percent for white males and 25 percent for nonwhite males over the 30-year period, 1950 to 1979, according to a landmark study released May 23 by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH). Cancer death rates for white females declined 8 percent; rates for nonwhite females decreased 12 percent. These rates parallel those for the U.S. as a whole as well as for neighboring states, according to the report, the first issued by IPHA's Health and Hazardous Substances Registry.

The report also compiled county-by-county listings of deaths from 18 different types of cancers over a 10-year period, 1970 to 1979. Cancers of the esophagus, stomach, prostate, cervix and uterus and from multiple myeloma caused more deaths among nonwhites than whites; mortality for whites was higher from leukemia, lymphomas, Hodgkin's disease and cancers of the breast, ovary and brain.

22 million tons: What does it take?

For the first four months of 1986, 13,802 people produced a total of 22,473,072 tons of coal in 47 Illinois coal mines, according to the Department of Mines and Minerals, for little apparent change in a decade: In the first four months of 1976, 51 mines employing 13.472 people produced 20,431,462 tons.

General funds at the eleventh hour

At the end of May, the eleventh month of fiscal 1986, the general funds balance continued to decline, and spending continued to increase. The general funds balance at the end of May was $283 million, with an average daily balance for the month of $285 million. Total expenditures from general revenue funds for 11 months of fiscal 1986 were $9,794 billion, an increase of $699 million (7.7 percent) compared to the same point in fiscal 1985. Total revenue in the general funds for the first 11 months of fiscal 1986 was $9,598 billion, a $40 million increase (.4 percent) over fiscal 1985.

16,000 lose jobs in May

The Illinois unemployment rate in May was 8.5 percent, a .3 percent increase after two months of decline. According to figures released by the Illinois Department of Employment Security June 6, 16,000 people lost their jobs during the month; the total unemployed was 484,000. Job losses were noted in mining, manufacturing and education.

Final unemployment rates for March in the state's metro areas were: Aurora-Elgin, 8.9 percent; Bloomington-Normal, 6.9 percent; Champaign-Urbana-Rantoul, 5.3 percent; Chicago, 8.0 percent; Davenport-Rock Island-Moline (Illinois sector), 12.8 percent; Decatur, 11.6 percent; Joliet, 8.6 percent; Kankakee, 11.8 percent; Lake County, 6.0 percent; Peoria, 10.5 percent; Rockford, 9.4 percent; Springfield, 6.5 percent; and St. Louis (Illinois sector) 10.3 percent.