Ewwww

First the good news:
A controversial Springfield hotel now under state control is getting new bedding in response to frequent guest complaints.

The bad news: A spokeswoman for Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, whose office took control of the hotel away from embattled, politically connected investors who'd financed the hotel with state loans, said many of the mattresses were original to the more than 20-year-old hotel.

With Springfield's reputation for sleaze, that's not a pretty thing to think about.

The rest of the story:
Improvements will cost roughly $270,000 of which $170,000 will go to replace all box springs, mattresses and pillows in the 282-room hotel. (If you're thinking of staying there, the new stuff arrives in July)

The remaining $100,000 will be used on replacing an air conditioning unit, security cameras, computer upgrades and other repairs.

Who's paying? The state is using part of the $1.2 million profit the hotel has made since the state installed a new management team.

The quote: "Hotels need to provide guests with a good night's sleep, so having decent mattresses is an essential improvement." -- Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias.