* Market deals blow to Simon Institute

The Institute, located at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, is reporting that its main endowment has lost 40 percent of its value and that its annual payout will drop from $300,000 to about $50,000 in the next fiscal year.

* Sun-Times, shareholders settle fraud suit

A federal judge in Chicago on Thursday approved a $37.5-million settlement between Sun-Times Media Group Inc. and shareholders who brought a class-action lawsuit against the publishing company for securities fraud allegedly committed during Conrad Black’s regime.

* Former Chicago cop William Cozzi sentenced to 40 months

After his client was hit with a 3½-year sentence Thursday for the videotaped beating of a man in a wheelchair, a defense lawyer launched an explosive salvo against Chicago Police Supt. Jody Weis.

“I’ve got a message for all those fine officers in blue out there: After 15 years on the job, don’t snap. You’ll get thrown under the bus and it’ll be a federal bus and it’ll be by your own superintendent,” said a fuming Terry Gillespie, who represents former cop William Cozzi.

“This prosecution brought by Supt. Weis was misguided and vindictive,” Gillespie said.

* Chicago cop charged with sexual assualt of minor

* Kendall, Oswego cops issue 300 seatbelt tickets

* Illinois Casinos Experience a Less Severe Drop In Revenue

The Illinois Gaming Association says casino revenues are still declining but not as sharply as they were in 2008. Tom Swoik is the head of the gaming association. He says last year’s drop in revenue was nearly 21-percent.

SWOIK: We believe that the majority of the revenue drop in 2008 was because of a smoking ban and the economy had some affect on that. And what we’re seeing the second year, the lower number drop of five or six percent is probably mostly because of the economy now.

* Casino’s quick change

Joliet casino prepares to open 3 months after fire

* Asian carp could be getting weaker

* Helping hands for the legal profession

* Over 1,500 city employees to get layoff notices today

More than 1,500 city employees — 400 more than anticipated — will receive layoff notices today, one day after union leaders boycotted Mayor Daley’s 11th-hour appeal for shared sacrifice over job cuts.

Uniformed police officers and firefighters will again be exempt from the July 15 cuts, forcing the ax to fall heavily on two housekeeping departments: Streets and Sanitation (323) and Water Management (295).

* Clock Ticking on Union Showdown with Daley

* Daley renews threat of union layoffs

* Daley: City layoff notices to be sent Friday

* Chicago Teachers File Discrimination Claim

Some Chicago Public School teachers say African American teachers are being disproportionately laid off compared to non-minorities due to turnaround restaffing.

* Former Island Lake mayor and wife accused in payroll scam

* Confusion over Island Lake Mayor’s and Wife’s Bail

* Complaint Sparks Alpogianis Probe

A Cook County State’s Attorney’s (CCSA) spokesman confirmed that a complaint has been received and an investigation into newly-elected Village Trustee George Alpogianis’ past felony convictions is underway that could lead to his removal from the village board.

* Village Attorney Tries To Clarify Statement On Trustee’s Records

Niles Village Attorney Joe Annunzio is backing away from statements he made late last month claiming newly elected Village Trustee George Alpogianis is not a convicted felon.

“The information used to claim that he (Alpogianis) was a convicted felon was incomplete,” Annunzio was quoted as saying in late May. “He’s not a convicted felon.”

But last week speaking with the Journal & Topics Newspapers, Annunzio tried to clarify his statement saying, “Given the documents I looked at, it (Alpogianis’ criminal record) was inconclusive and incom plete.”

* Mayor Daley: I urged nephew Vanecko to get out of pension deal

* Daley says he’s disappointed in nephew’s city pension deals

* Late blues great Koko Taylor gets musical sendoff

* Blues artists honor Koko Taylor