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The Daily Illini
Thursday September 27, 2012
www.DailyIllini.com
The independent student newspaper at the University of Illinois since 1871
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Vol. 142 Issue 24
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Rodney Davis endorsed by ex-Gov. Edgar for District 13 Davis opposes Obamacare, supports simpler tax code
NO AP PLES HERE
BY MATT RICE STAFF WRITER
Rodney Davis, Republican nominee for the 13th Congressional District, discussed his plan for the district’s job growth while speaking at a locally owned business Wednesday. Former Gov. Jim Edgar spoke at the press conference held at HL Precision Machining in Champaign and gave Davis his endorsement, citing his support for Davis’ fiscal policies. “Rodney understands the importance of keeping spending under control and will support policies to grow the economy and create jobs,” Edgar said. “He is the right guy for the job because he knows how to make Washington work better.” After accepting the endorsement, Davis announced his plan for job growth, which he said he bases off the idea that “any economic recovery will come on the backs of businesses like this (HL Precision Machining).” Davis said the major obstacle to job creation is that the government places too much of a burden on business owners. Unemployment in Illinois is at 9.1 percent, according to August 2012 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
CHONG JIANG THE DAILY ILLINI
Containers filled with squash and pumpkins are seen in front of rows of apple trees, sans apples, at Curtis Orchards on Wednesday.
Dismal weather conditions cause shortage at Curtis Orchard BY MADDIE REHAYEM
T
See DAVIS, Page 3A
STAFF WRITER
hose looking to apple pick this season in Champaign are out of luck. Because of the drought, employees at Curtis Apple Orchard say there are no apples left to pick. “We’ve had a few sororities that have wanted to come out (and pick apples) as a group activity,” said Chris Curtis, office manager and son of Paul Curtis, who opened the orchard in 1977. “We’ve had to tell them, ‘Sorry, we just don’t have any apples.’” Because of the shortage, the orchard was only able to offer apple picking the first weekend in September. “We probably had less than 20 percent of our crop make it,” Curtis said. “We had a killer freeze in mid-April, and it was like a one-two punch. Whatever wasn’t affected by the frost, the
CHONG JIANG THE DAILY ILLINI
Rodney Davis, the Republican candidate for Illinois' 13th Congressional District, left, speaks during a news conference in Champaign on Wednesday. Former Gov. Jim Edgar, right, endorsed Davis at the event.
drought affected. It’s like a double whammy.” Curtis said this year’s poor weather conditions have contributed to the most challenging apple crop season of its 30 years of business. Some apple varieties fared better than others. Curtis said Pink Lady and Red Delicious apples did not do well, but Jonathan apples, a traditional, tart variety, did. “It was kind of hit or miss,” he said. Apple picking at Curtis Apple Orchard is usually on the agenda for October Lovers, a registered student organization dedicated to embracing autumn activities. October Lovers’ philanthropy chair Kristen Danowski, senior in Education, said it was a bummer not to be able to go apple picking. “We were questioning whether or not we should even go (to the orchard) at all,” Danowski said. “We
Illinois obesity rate to reach 53.7% by 2030, according to recent study BY EMMA WEISSMANN STAFF WRITER
More than half of Illinois could be classified as obese by 2030, but University health advocates believe students can stay fit despite the state’s heavy problem. Obesity rates across the U.S. are predicted to increase over the next 20 years, according to a new report. The report “F as in Fat: How Obesity Threatens Ameri-
ca’s Future 2012” was released this month by Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. According to the report, 39 states will reach adult obesity rates exceeding 50 percent by 2030. Thirteen states are predicted to exceed 60 percent, and all states are expected to exceed 44 percent. The Illinois adult obesity rate as
agreed that going in itself is still a fun experience.” Curtis Apple Orchard also offers other activities, such as pumpkin picking and shopping at its cafe, bakery and country store. “They still have the shop where they have the donuts and the apple cider, and they also have pumpkins.” said Darragh McDermott, president of October Lovers and senior in LAS. Curtis said the pumpkin patch is thriving despite the weather. Pumpkins are planted later in the year, and because the orchard staff saw the drought coming, Curtis said they installed a temporary irrigation system, which helped yield, “a bigger than normal pumpkin harvest this year.” “It’s kind of a blessing in disguise,” he said.
Maddie can be reached at rehayem2@ dailyillini.com.
“We probably had less than 20 percent of our crop make it. We had a killer freeze in mid-April, and it was like a onetwo punch.” CHRIS CURTIS, office manager and son of orchard founder Paul Curtis
A smashing good time
of 2011 was 27.1 percent, ranking No. 29 in the country. That rate is predicted to climb to 53.7 percent by 2030, which would make it the 34th fattest state, according to a Trust for America’s Health press release. The state with the highest current obesity rate is Mississippi, with 34.9 percent of adults being obese, and the report proj-
See OBESITY, Page 3A
National, Illinois obesity trends on rise According to a new study from Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, more than half of Illinois residents could be classified as obese by 2030. Currently, 27.1 percent of Illinoisans are obese, according to the study, which makes it the 29th fatest state.
2011
2030
Illinois: 27.1%
Illinois: 53.7%
20.7%
34.9%
3 LEAST 20.7%
21.8%
3 MOST 32.4%
33.4%
OBESE STATES
OBESE STATES
Colo.
W.Va.
(PREDICTED)
Hawaii La.
22.7% Mass.
34.9% Miss.
32.6%
66.7%
32.6%
44.8%
45.6%
Colo.
Alaska
64.7%
66.4%
66.7%
D.C. Del.
Okla.
Miss.
*Percentage is percentage of state obese. Source: Trust for America’s Health Press Release
INSIDE
SHANNON LANCOR Managing Editor of Visuals
ZOE GRANT THE DAILY ILLINI
Members of the University of Illinois Horticulture Club stomp grapes outside the Plant Science Laboratory. This event was held Wednesday evening and included grape sampling and expert information provided by professor Robert Skirvin of the department of crop sciences.
Po l i c e 2 A | C o r r e c t i o n s 2 A | O p i n i o n s 4 A | C r o s s w o r d 5 A | C o m i c s 5 A | G r e e k s & C a m p u s 6 A | S p o r t s 1 B | C l a s s i f i e d s 3 B - 4 B | S u d o k u 3 B