State needs a pension czar

As the state of Illinois prepares to deal with its daunting pension problem, here's a suggestion for our legislators: Establish someone to mind the store when it comes to state pensions?

In December, the Chicago Tribune reported about Illinois State University and the State Universities Retirement System. That's the state law that allows universities to determine just who its school employees are.

It turns out that ISU designated 40 people who work on the Special Olympics held on campus as university employees, according to the study.

Under the state's liberal retirement system, college and university employees in Illinois can receive up to 80 percent of their final four-year average salary after they retire, plus a 3 percent increase each year.

Sen. Ed Maloney, D-Chicago, told the Tribune that he doesn't understand how private groups could be included for public benefits. "The spirit of the law is being violated. I've never heard of anything like this," he said.

If ever a state needed a pension czar, it's this one.

The automobile and radio is a partnership that spans more than 80 years. Ever since Paul Galvin, the founder of Motorola, hooked up a radio to his Studebaker in 1930, the radio - of all the media - has claimed those on the road as a captive audience.

Tape decks, cassette units and MP3 players have taken turns luring away automotive listeners over the years, but radio has always prevailed, remaining in control of the commuter market.

Whether it's news, talk, sports or music, radio has persevered, providing companionship to the man or woman behind the wheel.

But that connection may be in jeopardy. "This year, automakers are accelerating a drive to link your next car's dashboard to all the music and data stored in the Internet cloud," noted the Wall Street Journal's Joseph White.

"In the not-too-distant future, a car with a radio that receives only AM or FM will qualify as an antique," said White.

A recent survey by Deloitte found that almost 60 percent of young car buyers (ages 19 to 31) looked at in-car connectivity as the most important aspect of a car's interior, he noted. Yes, that's right - ahead of cup holders.

You need a scorecard to keep up with all the names that car companies use for the high-tech links now offered in new models. While Ford goes with Applink, GM has Mylink. "Hyundai is going with Blue Link while Kia has Uvo," said Mike Miller, owner of the Hyundai-Kia-Mitsubishi dealership in Peoria, referring to the service that provides "hands-free access to music and texting."