* Deal near on partial rollback of Cook sales tax hike

Under a proposed compromise that has been the subject of a series of closed meetings in recent days, the board would repeal half of the one-cent-on-the-dollar hike that was adopted at the request of County Board President Todd Stroger.

The move would reduce the county’s sales tax levy from 1.75% today to 1.25%, effective Jan. 1.

Aides to Mr. Stroger failed to return phone calls seeking comment. But the president, who twice has vetoed bills to repeal the entire one-percentage-point increase but has said he could live with a one-quarter-cent reduction, is said to be willing to back the half-cent cut.

“My understanding is that the president would sign it,” said Commissioner John Daley, who heads the board’s Finance Committee. He said he is inclined to support the measure.

* Chicago’s most dangerous neighborhoods

Chicago is home to four of the top 25 most dangerous “neighborhoods” in the country, including a sliver of Washington Park that ranked No. 2, a recently released study of FBI crime statistics shows.

Folks who lived near 55th and State — less than two miles from President Obama’s house and the possible site of a future Olympic stadium — had a 1-in-4 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime each year between 2005 and 2007, according to NeighborhoodScout.com.

* Cop arrested for beating Waukegan chief

A North Chicago police officer is facing battery and assault charges after he allegedly pistol-whipped Waukegan Police Chief Artis Yancey.

The Lake County State Attorney’s office has charged police officer Carl Sain, 45, with beating Yancey, after Sain found Yancey in his estranged wife’s home.

* ‘Top cop’ accused of beating up chief

North Chicago’s “Officer of the Year” allegedly pummeled and seriously injured Waukegan’s police chief after finding him in his estranged wife’s home.

* Jurors award $21 million to man framed for murder allegedly by former Chicago cop

* Record verdict: Former gang member awarded $21 million for wrongful conviction

* High court ruling has unfairness in its DNA

And yet the U.S. Supreme Court last week, in a 5-4 decision that obsessed over procedural matters at the expense of actual justice, ruled that prisoners have no constitutional right to DNA testing that might prove their innocence.

* Olympic Team Knew City Could be on the Hook for Games

The head of Chicago’s Olympic bid committee says he knew “weeks ago” the city would have to accept full fiscal responsibility for the 20-16 Games.

He says revealing that information earlier could have resulted in negative publicity for Chicago.

* Ryan defends Daley’s Olympics switch, promises disclosure

* Chicago 2016 Chairman Pat Ryan to go before City Council, lay out insurance policies to protect taxpayers

* Chicago 2016 head says taxpayer risk ‘improbable’

* Train derails: Railway warned of washout by county

* Train derails: Other cargo could have made it worse

* Trail derails: ‘Significant’ fish kill may be tied to wreck

* CN critics: Accident raises safety issues

* U.S. cars catching up with imports

Ford and Chevrolet ranked virtually even with Toyota and Mercedes-Benz in the J.D. Power & Associates initial quality survey for 2009 vehicles.

The widely followed report issued Monday showed the Detroit automakers narrowing — and in some cases eliminating — a quality gap compared with overseas manufacturers. But the report also demonstrated that the competition remains tough, with Lexus, Japan-based Toyota’s luxury brand, producing the most trouble-free lineup.

* JP Morgan sues FBOP over $246M loan

Federal banking regulators hit Oak Park-based bank holding company FBOP Corp.’s largest bank with an order requiring it to raise capital even as JPMorgan Chase & Co. sued FBOP demanding repayment of a $246-million loan.

* 6,000 pounds of local ground beef recalled

* Levi, Ray & Shoup lays off 23 workers in pension unit

* Hartmarx mulls offers from 5 bidders

* Costly 911 center remodeling called a ‘waste’

The Daley administration spent $480,000 to modify 911 center consoles to accommodate 17-inch monitors instead of the current 15-inch models, even though the consoles themselves were about to be replaced, a source said.

Jim Argiropoulos, deputy executive director of the city’s Office of Emergency Management and Communications, gave AT&T the go-ahead to modify the 107 dispatcher and call taker consoles. At about the same time, OEMC was issuing a request for proposals to furniture vendors interested in ripping them out.

* Tribune Co. could end up with bigger stake in Cubs

* Rockford seeks $2M in concessions from fire, police unions

* Even with cuts, Kane budget is still troubled

* Niles board member out because of his teen record

Today’s Niles village board meeting will be missing trustee George Alpogianis.

He resigned Monday over his teen criminal record for aggravated battery.

* Obama picks Evanston man for post of Great Lakes ‘czar’

* More uproar after DePaul picks interim law dean