Morning shorts *** Updated x1 ***
Thursday, Aug 7, 2008 - Posted by Kevin Fanning
*** UPDATE *** Ex-CSU chief OKs $18,000 book on … self…
Before leaving Chicago State University, embattled university president Elnora Daniel signed off on spending more than $18,000 to publish a tribute book honoring herself, a glossy coffee table publication featuring pictures of Daniel posing with lawmakers, university staff and her family.
The 52-page soft-cover book looks like a personal photo album, with minimal text and no photo captions. There are pictures of Daniel at a grant ceremony with President George W. Bush, smiling at U.S. Sen. Barack Obama and accepting state checks from Illinois Senate President Emil Jones, who funneled millions of dollars to Chicago State under Daniel’s leadership.
The last page features a photo of Daniel and five family members dressed in formal dinner attire and standing next to an elaborate staircase. Daniel’s university-financed family travel was the subject of a stinging state audit that found she spent more than $15,000 to attend a leadership conference aboard a Caribbean cruise ship in August 2006, where she was accompanied by five family members.
The taxpayer-financed book, titled “A Retrospective: Ten Years of Vision and Leadership,” was mailed to about 400 people, including government officials, university presidents, business executives and donors, according to documents the Tribune obtained under the Freedom of Information Act. About a quarter of the recipients are Chicago State faculty and administrators.
* NEWS YOU MISSED: The Economy Sucks
* State loses if Pontiac Prison closes
* Panel not buying IDOT move to Harrisburg
* Union: State has poor reasons for closing Pontiac
* Murder rate in Chicago up 18 percent over 7-month period of 2007
* How we surveyed Chicago students
* Kids’ fears of violence are a call to action
* Troutman pleads guilty to bribery, tax charges
* Chicago Alderwoman Arenda Troutman, Another Corrupt Democrat
* Alderman pleads guilty to fraud charges
* State officials, safety groups want to increase penalties for distracted driving
* Illinois ponders how to treat medical errors
* State fair staples to lead Twilight Parade
* CTA spending more with aim to save
* Transit system is Daley’s first stop in Beijing
Yet Daley was treated as the star of his subway ride. Curious locals, including a few of the 100,000 volunteers blanketing the city, followed the mayor and photographed him with their cell phones as he tested out the train system. No photo opportunity was too small, from using the touch-screen ticket kiosk to boarding.
* CN railroad says it will take legal action to save controversial plan
* CN to take legal action on EJ&E deal
* CN: We’ll sue to get the ‘J’
* Labor leaders press Daley for deficit details
“It would be irrational for any labor leader to stand by and watch his people get cut. We should try to preserve as many jobs as we we can. But we’re working in the dark. How can you make a deal when you don’t know what you’re dealing with?”
* Congressional hopeful offers energy plan
* Jason Wallace Interview on WJBC
- Six Degrees of Separation - Thursday, Aug 7, 08 @ 9:15 am:
The maneuvering on both sides of the EJ&E sale is getting interesting. Since this is a private transaction between two companies, it will be interesting to see how the proposed legislation to require additional environmental impact study pans out. Not sure the result, on balance, would be too much different than it would be without this requirement, but be careful what you wish for. If CN lessens more impacts in other communities than it creates with the EJ&E purchase, does that mean they’re off the hook completely?
Of course, the slippery slope that this opens up is this - previously, federal community impact studies have only been required when federal money is being used, and not for private transactions. Once that door is open, who is to say that Wal Mart or a residential developer shouldn’t do a federal community impact study every time they open up a store or develop a housing project? On large projects, these types of studies can take 5 years or more.
- Ghost - Thursday, Aug 7, 08 @ 9:27 am:
YDD economy piece is great piece showing just how well the Gov has helped out the “people” of Illinois: “National unemployment rate: 5.7%
Illinois unemployment rate: 6.8%
Jobs Rod Blagojevich has created in his second term: - 28,218
Number of new people Rod Blagojevich has cost their jobs in his second term: 155,524″
No wonder blago is so desperate for a capital plan to create jobs, he needs to hide the mess he has created to date with his current programs and plan.
The gov wants to give more people health care, while taking their jobs and lowering their income to make sure they need to be on the State health dole.
Then pile on top of that the gov’s cutting of funding for cease fire of 9 million, and the corresponding increase in the murder rate in chicago which is up by 18%.
SO far the Gov has cost the people their jobs, made it more likely they will be murdered, and reduced theri income.
But wait, the Gov has pledged 15 million to get jobs for politicaly connected teenagers; helped a convicted felon get a pardon and a 1 million dollar grant; signed off on loan support for his kids school; fired Madigan supporters while hiring Jnes family and friends; turned over to Ricky hendon 20k checks to pass out; and shaken down contractors and those looking for work for 25k checks. Apparently somone needs to ask who the Gov means when he says he is helping “the people” of Illinois. It appears by people he does not mean the average citizen, but instead is refering to a circle of friends and family.
- Ghost - Thursday, Aug 7, 08 @ 9:47 am:
Kevin don’t forget the fluff pieces!!
http://www.sj-r.com/news/x683115115/Judgment-day-for-bunnies-at-the-fair
- Ghost - Thursday, Aug 7, 08 @ 3:33 pm:
Well you doubled the commentors from yesterday KFan. Perhaps if you use racier leads tomorrow you can double the number again
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Aug 7, 08 @ 3:35 pm:
I’ve wanted to kill off MS for years, but readers won’t let me.
- Kevin Fanning - Thursday, Aug 7, 08 @ 3:45 pm:
Yeah, and I’ve wanted to kill ms off for months, but Rich won’t let me.
- Ghost - Thursday, Aug 7, 08 @ 8:40 pm:
just start dropping in more pop culture articles about Lindsay, Paris and Brittany and you will get demands to take it down