Heads up… *** Updated x14 *** Al Sanchez indicted - Faces 25 years behind bars - Former aldermanic candidate also indicted
Thursday, Mar 22, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald has scheduled a 2 o’clock press conference for today “to announce new criminal charges in an ongoing public corruption investigation.” Participants will include: Patrick J. Fitzgerald, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Robert D. Grant, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Kenneth T. Lag, Inspector-in-Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service in Chicago; and James Vandenberg, Special Agent-in-Charge of Investigations for the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General in Chicago. Check back later for more. No comments yet. I’ll open them when we know something. While we’re waiting for Fitzmas (and the scuttlebutt right now is that it may be city related), I forgot to point out an important aspect of this story about how a federal judge had dismissed charges against Nick Hurtgen.
One of the issues addressed in George Ryan’s appeal is that no actual statutes were violated in his mail fraud convictions. *** UPDATE *** It’s Al Sanchez. *** UPDATE 2 *** Sun-Times…
They’re getting very close to the top with this one. Comments are now open. While we await the official word, here is some background on Sanchez from a Sun-Times story about last December’s indictment of John Resa, an HDO coordinator…
More background on Sanchez and HDO…
*** UPDATE 3 *** From Fitzgerald’s office…
*** UPDATE 4 *** Check out “Individual A” in this one…
*** UPDATE 5 *** *** UPDATE 6 *** More…
*** UPDATE 7 *** Still more…
*** UPDATE 8 *** Sanchez is looking at up to 25 years if convicted…
*** UPDATE 9 *** From the indictment, more on the identity of “Individual A”…
*** UPDATE 10 *** The feds are spelling it differently, but an Aaron Del Valle ran for alderman this year against Ald. Danny Solis and was backed by Sanchez and described as a former aide to Sanchez and active in the HDO. He’s described here as taking a leave of absence from the Chicago police department. *** UPDATE 11 *** A bit more background… Del Valle got trounced in that aldermanic race, but there was at least one other HDO member in there as well, Joe Acevedo, the brother of the state Rep. And one of Mike Madigan’s lieutenants, Mike Kasper, was working to keep Cuahutemoc Morfin on the ballot in that district. Morfin was endorsed by former Ald. Ambrosio Medrano, who was knocked off the ballot because he’s a convicted felon. Morfin finished second. The theory is that HDO and Co. threw a bunch of different guys at Solis to force a runoff. But Solis squeaked by with 51.39 percent of the vote. *** UPDATE 12 *** Fitzgerald’s spokesman Randall Samborn just confirmed that the “Aaron Delvalle” who was indicted for perjury today is the same HDO-backed “Aaron Del Valle” who ran for alderman this year. Also, FYI, Aaron Del Valle is not related to City Clerk Miguel del Valle. In fact, Miguel got mighty upset during the campaign that Aaron was using yard signs that looked just like his. *** UPDATE 13 *** From the AP…
*** UPDATE 14 *** From Chicago Public Radio…
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Question of the day
Thursday, Mar 22, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller First, the setup…
To the question: Is this bill necessary?
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Quinn, Hynes, Giannoulias and Meeks all upset at guv’s tax plan *** Updated x1 ***
Thursday, Mar 22, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller As I told you yesterday, Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn has come out in opposition to the governor’s gross receipts tax on business. There’s more today…
More from the AP…
The Daily Herald has a bit of history…
And then ends his column this way…
But the opposition didn’t come from just Pat Quinn. Comptroller Dan Hynes and Treasure Alexi Giannoulias both expressed strong reservations yesterday…
But, wait, there’s more. Sen. James Meeks (D-Chicago) is also not a happy man…
Meeks had a lot more to say than that. Check out this audio clip, supplied by our good friends at Metro Networks. It’s pretty harsh and is a must-listen… Comptroller Hynes’ comments can be heard here… Treasurer Giannoulias’ comments are here… More… * Blagojevich tax plan takes hits from both sides
* Governor pushes “Tax Fairness” Key Democrats oppose governor’s tax hike plan *** UPDATE *** Here’s a snip from Quinn’s press conference today, supplied by Metro Networks…
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Civil unions bill advances
Thursday, Mar 22, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller Even though I always say that a committee vote doesn’t mean much, it’s still kind of surprising that this bill passed a committee on the first try…
More…
Four other states currently recognize some form of same-sex unions. The proposal wouldn’t allow gay couples to file taxes jointly, but would give them marital state tax deductions.
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Gun stuff and poll results
Thursday, Mar 22, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller As I’ve said before, just because a bill passes a committee (particularly in the House) doesn’t mean that it will clear the full chamber or the other chamber. With that in mind…
Meanwhile, the Illinois Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence released a statewide poll yesterday of 603 Illinois registered voters. Survey method and poll results follow. Click the pics for larger images… The entire document can be downloaded here. [pdf file]
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Huge population loss for Cook County
Thursday, Mar 22, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller To put this into perspective, Cook County’s population loss is almost the size of an entire state House district…
While not all of the suburban population growth can be attributed to flight from Chicago and Cook, much of it is. Cheaper housing is one reason. Talk about others in comments…
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Morning shorts
Thursday, Mar 22, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller * Foes fight charter schools boom * ComEd may be added to proposal to freeze electric rates * Editorial: Plenty of blame to go around on electric rates * Koehler changes rate freeze stance
* Legislators urge more prison guards * Study: Illinois prison conditions deteriorating * Unanimous vote a step forward in race for experimental plant * Stew-Stas school on top of Governor’s funding list * Sun-Times Editorial: Fitzgerald much more than mediocre * New predatory lending revisions in Cook Co. ; press release * Editorial: Who would give more cash to this bunch * Editorial: Here’s your chance to change the Pace * Duckworth delivers funds, hope to vets at Wheaton shelter * City will pay for clout hiring; more here
* Tribune Editorial: Toward an honest city hall * County may close heath facilities to non-residents * Snuffing out a smoking ban plan
* McQueary: Trustee’s mom kicks off campaign in Chicago Ridge
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