* State’s suicide rate is 6th lowest

The suicide rankings show there were 8.6 suicides per 100,000 people in Illinois in 2007, or 1,108 people total.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness notes the state-by-state data are from 2007. That’s before the economic crisis began and before cuts in services for mental illness.

* Chicago’s Traffic Third Worst in Country

* Speeding-ticket costs taking off

Bail bonds for a series of minor traffic offenses will rise by as much as 60 percent, adding $45 to the cost of a typical speeding ticket.

* Report: Transit system needs overhaul

Among those proposals are two that would hit motorists directly in the pocketbook and give legislators fits: doubling the state gasoline tax and earmarking a portion of the new revenue for transit; and expanding the use of tolling and variable pricing to better manage traffic and pay for needed improvements.

These recommendations echo key parts of the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning’s strategic plan, scheduled for final approval in October.

The transit system suffers from inefficient organization, meager financial support and feeble state policies, stifling the first-class transportation network the region needs to compete in the global economy, the report says.

* Metra: No plans for ‘quiet cars’ here

* GPS tracks city truck taken on a joyride

A night investigator for the city’s Department of Water Management is in hot water after his truck was stolen early Saturday morning from the parking lot of a Burrito King on the Far Northwest Side.

The investigator and several members of his crew had apparently stopped for tacos, even though they are paid to work eight hours straight.

Thanks to GPS, the truck was recovered a few hours later at the Renaissance Apartments on River Road.

* Weis: Union Brouhaha is a Distracting ‘’Soap Opera'’

WEIS: Morale is one of those things sometime people just say. Every townhall I’ve gone to and that question has been asked and I’ve said can anyone give me one idea what I could do to improve morale, I’ve never gotten an answer.

Union leaders say they now have an answer. They want him to resign. Weis posted a blog yesterday to quote “clarify a lot of misinformation” coming from union leaders but he says he will no longer answer questions on the topic because he doesn’t want to get side-tracked by people’s personal agendas. Weis says he has no problem with officers who are planning a march [today] to protest his leadership.

* Cops’ protest aims to pressure Weis to quit

Leaders for the Fraternal Order of Police called on officers and their families to march at 10 a.m. to police headquarters at 35th Street and Michigan Avenue to protest what they called Weis’ lack of leadership. Chief among their complaints is how manpower in Chicago’s 25 police districts has suffered from officers being detailed to other assignments.

* FOP To Call For Top Cop Weis’ Resignation

* Protest planned against CPD Supt. Jody Weis

* Police Union Calls for Weis Resignation

* Walter’s Perspective: What’s So Bad About Weis?

* President cites Chicago violence in speech

* 2 killed in separate South Side shootings

Salomon Abonce, 43, of the 8000 block of South Nottingham Avenue in Burbank, was pronounced dead at 10:32 p.m at Stroger Hospital, according to a spokesman for the Cook County medical examiner’s office. […]

Shawntell Harris, of the 0-99 block of East Garfield Boulevard, was pronounced dead at 6:31 p.m. at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, according to a spokesman for the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

* Decapitated Man, 21, Found Near Evanston School

Police say 21-year-old Colin Dalebroux, of Madison, Wisc., was killed by what appeared to be a pipe bomb. A second live bomb was located beside his body, police said at a news conference.

* Burnt copy of Quran found outside Muslim community center

* Daily Herald: It’s time for Bianchi to step aside

We don’t want to rush to judgment. And we can understand McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi’s reflexive response to stay in his job while defending himself against a 21-count felony indictment.

But, one way or another, Bianchi needs to step aside as his case plays out. One way is for him to resign outright. Another is for him to take an unpaid leave of absence. Either way, it would show that he is putting the business of the people ahead of his own personal travails.

* Sun-Times: Pass county ethics reforms

* Sun-Times: Stay alert on CTA — or lose your gadgets: Between 2006 and 2009, the number of robberies on the CTA jumped 77 percent while thefts went up 17 percent, according to Chicago Police Department data obtained by the Chicago Sun-Times and the Better Government Association and first reported in Tuesday’s paper.

* Eisner downplays reports he may run Tribune

* Tribune Co. creditors tell judge company can’t be trusted to sue over LBO

* Fox Chicago to tap Larry Yellen as weekend anchor

* CSU gets some credit

Chicago State University’s accreditation has been reaffirmed after being in limbo for more than a year due to concerns about poor retention and graduation rates.

Still, the news came too late to help the university persuade students to choose the South Side campus. First-time, full-time freshmen enrollment is down 12.9 percent from last year, to 513 students.

* Quinn Announces $2.5 Million Capital Grant for University of Illinois at Chicago

* U. of I. ranks No. 3 in big schools for campus recruiting

* U. of I. foundation stronger, but still awaiting state payments

* Veterans’ education costs SIUC millions

Chancellor Rita Cheng said SIUC would continue to support the free education veterans receive, even though a loss of state money for it will cost the university millions.[…]

The Illinois Student Assistance Commission, which controls grants and scholarship programs for college students, was required by the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget to remove $9 million given to its programs — without a reduction in the Monetary Award Program, according to the Commission’s website. It chose to remove funds from the Illinois Veterans Grant, the Illinois National Guard and Minority Teachers of Illinois programs.

But Cheng said the university would honor the veteran grant, even without state money.

* Cheng says furloughs could be coming for SIUC

* Damaged Romeoville pipeline repaired

* EPA Wants Madigan To Probe Oil Pipeline Owner

* New mayor, old divisions in Chicago Heights

* Elgin fights gangs on new turf — in court

* Elk Grove Village to Test Red-Light Cameras

* Suburban Red-Light Camera To Come Down In Test Run

* Solution to feral feline problem eludes Mt. Prospect board

* Executive session tapes dominates Buffalo Grove meeting

* Aurora votes to increase cost of building permits

* Aurora boosts planning, engineering fees

* Joliet mayor won’t seek re-election after 20 years

Arthur Schultz spent most of his 20 years as mayor of Joliet without vocal cords after having them removed due to throat cancer. Though his voice didn’t carry, his influence certainly did. […]

Schultz, 77, announced Tuesday that he will not seek re-election in 2011, after five terms in office. He will serve the rest of his term, which expires May 3.

“It’s time for me and it’s time for Joliet to move on,” he said.

* After nearly 20 years, Joliet mayor to retire

* Schillerstrom lays out final DuPage Co. budget plan

The balanced budget proposal is $5.4 million below last year’s spending plan and calls for no property tax increase or program funding cuts. Most of that reduction comes from eliminating 38 vacant full-time positions. Those savings will be utilized to help fund the new capital improvement debt.

* DuPage board makes changes to chairman’s powers

* DuPage Co. board hears budget pitch

* DuPage County OK’s $773,000 for Navistar road

* McHenry Co. panel OKs another $100,000 for special prosecutors

* Oak Forest considering adding flat fee for water

* Parking fees might rise in Oak Park

* Highland Park cuts free health care benefits for future council members

* Downers Grove South still falls short of progress

* Elmhurst College reports preliminary enrollment figures

* Kane County sues 70 reputed gang members

The suit alleges that the gang members, through their actions, have harmed the city. Although the suit seeks unspecified monetary damages, the suit’s real value is for local police, Barsanti said.

* Kane circuit clerk sues board over denial of extra funding

* Seyller files suit to get money for Kane Co. circuit court clerk’s office

* SEIU asks labor board to reopen negotiations

* Sweeny: Fire Union boss uses fire tragedy to do some politicking

* Q-C labor council names new CEO

* Police: Ex-Pontiac library director stole thousands

* Proposed Bloomington ordinance would allow recreational fires

* Rochester Village Board restricts portable buildings

* Milhiser nominated for Sangamon County state’s attorney

* Sangamon County projects 37 fewer jobs next fiscal year

* Springfield pays for 41 properties slated for demolition

* Bakke: If you want to get city hall’s attention …

* Williamsville to celebrate tornado recovery on Saturday

* Carbondale Business Boom