School founder contradicts governor
Associated Press
July 24, 2008
The founder of a school that got $1 million in state assistance following a fire at a historic Chicago church is contradicting claims by the Blagojevich administration that the school got the money in a bureaucratic mistake.
More concerns raised by agency move
Associated Press
July 24, 2008
A member of a state purchasing oversight panel is questioning the legality of the acquisition of a Harrisburg building by the Illinois Department of Transportation. The agency's Traffic Safety Division will be relocated to Harrisburg.
Records show Blagojevich still taking donations
Associated Press
July 24, 2008
While Illinois legislators took action against the state's "pay to play" reputation, Gov. Rod Blagojevich took donation after donation from people who stood to gain financially from his administration.
New rules target high-interest loan firms
Arlington Heights Daily Herald
July 24, 2008
The state aims to have amended rules in place later this year to further protect consumers seeking high-interest, short-term loans that use their vehicles as collateral.
Skunk population on the rise in suburbs
Arlington Heights Daily Herald
July 24, 2008
If you're smelling more skunks, get used to it.
Experts say the black-and-white-striped critters are making a comeback after the population plummeted in the late 1990s due to a rabies outbreak.
NTSB investigates near collision at O'Hare
Arlington Heights Daily Herald
July 24, 2008
National Transportation Safety Board authorities are probing how two planes narrowly missed each other at O'Hare International Airport Monday afternoon.
Boy whose skull was fractured by foul ball at Wrigley returning to throw first pitch
Associated Press
July 24, 2008
A 7-year-old suburban Chicago boy whose skull was fractured by a foul ball during his first trip to Wrigley Field a couple weeks ago is returning to celebrate his eighth birthday.
Highland police chief resigns; tells his officers in an e-mail
Belleville News-Democrat
July 24, 2008
Highland's Police Chief Terry Baney sent an e-mail to his department at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday telling his officers he resigned, effective immediately.
Will O'Fallon stadium be ready for Panthers home opener?
Belleville News-Democrat
July 24, 2008
With a little more than five weeks to go until the varsity football team's home opener, O'Fallon Township High School's stadium looks like a wreck.
IHSA approves change to reduce travel distance in postseason play
Bloomington Pantagraph
July 24, 2008
Vacation plans have been adjusted this summer because of high fuel prices. The cost at the pump will alter some destinations in the school year as well. Citing the rising fuel prices, the Illinois High School Association board of directors has approved a format change designed to reduce the distance teams and fans travel in early rounds of postseason play.
Public won't likely get a chance to see President Bush
Bloomington Pantagraph
July 24, 2008
President Bush's visit to Peoria Friday likely will be a relatively brief one, including a private lunch-time fundraiser and no scheduled public events.
Bloomington to decide which firm will help name next city manager
Bloomington Pantagraph
July 24, 2008
The Bloomington City Council will decide which of two search firms will help it make the "critical decision" of who will be the next city manager.
The council met in a special session Wednesday evening to interview the PAR Group based in Lake Bluff and the Mercer Group, which is headquartered in Atlanta, Ga.
VA promotion baffles, upsets lawmakers
Carbondale Southern Illinoisan
July 24, 2008
To the displeasure of the region's federal lawmakers, U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James Peake appointed Dr. Peter Almenoff as Assistant Deputy Under-Secretary for Health and Quality Safety in Washington, D.C.
U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin, D-Springfield, and Barack Obama, D-Chicago, along with U.S. Reps. Jerry Costello, D-Belleville, and John Shimkus, R-Collinsville, voiced their disapproval in a letter sent Wednesday to Peake.
Council won't pay mayor's legal fees
Carbondale Southern Illinoisan
July 24, 2008
The Johnston City Council this week decided not to pay Mayor Richard Carter's legal fees.
Weekend fire inspections -- free
Chicago Sun-Times
July 24, 2008
Chicago's Fire Prevention Bureau will make weekend pump inspections at high-rise buildings -- on city time -- to prevent a repeat of a scandal that's expected to cost eight inspectors their jobs, newly appointed Fire Commissioner John Brooks said Wednesday.
The list: County campaign cash
Chicago Sun-Times
July 24, 2008
Here's how much money Cook County elected officials reported this week they had in their campaign funds as of June 30, from county Assessor James Houlihan's overflowing coffers to the mere $500-plus held by county Commissioner Forrest Claypool:
County doc's private deals
Chicago Sun-Times
July 24, 2008
While on the county payroll, a top urologist at Cook County Hospital solicited nearly $1 million from drug companies over the last decade for his private foundation.
Dr. Paul S. Ray's pitch was that the money would go toward medical research and education.
Another close call at O'Hare
Chicago Tribune
July 24, 2008
When a Peoria-bound American Eagle jetliner with 43 passengers barreled down a runway at O'Hare International Airport on Monday, it nearly collided with a smaller corporate jet about to land on an intersecting runway, authorities said Wednesday.
Governor contradicted on $1 million 'mistake'
Chicago Tribune
July 24, 2008
The confusing controversy over Gov. Rod Blagojevich's decision to give $1 million in state assistance following the Pilgrim Baptist Church fire has a new twist-the founder of the private Chicago school that got the money is contradicting the governor's statement about what happened.
Annexation foes warn soil won't support development
Rockford Register Star
July 24, 2008
Land targeted for annexation and construction of an industrial park has soil that's ill-equipped to handle heavy development, but city planners say the obstacles are far from insurmountable.
Watchdog: IDOT lacks authority to buy site
Springfield State Journal-Register
July 24, 2008
A member of a state purchasing oversight panel Wednesday questioned the legality of the Illinois Department of Transportation buying half of a building in Harrisburg to relocate IDOT's Division of Traffic Safety.
Senators agree on one point: They won’t be in session soon
Springfield State Journal-Register
July 24, 2008
They disagree on the severity of Gov. Rod Blagojevich's state budget cuts, how he made them and what to do next about them.
But Democratic and Republican senators agree that the Illinois Senate won't be reconvening soon at the Capitol to try to sort out the mess left behind.
