* State says Cellini figured in casino rejection

Illinois gambling regulators Thursday elaborated in writing on their decision to pick Des Plaines as the location for the state’s 10th casino license, noting that indicted businessman William Cellini still had indirect ties to the rival Waukegan proposal.

“The Cellini Group, however, continues to hold an interest in a casino awarded to the Waukegan applicant,” wrote Illinois Gaming Board Chairman Aaron Jaffe. “Indeed, if Waukegan is ever selected, Michael Pizzuto, a longtime associate of Mr. Cellini who purchased the collective Cellini interests for $32,450, must pay the Cellini interests the balance of their prior costs in the Waukegan project, an amount in excess of $600,000. The fact that the Cellini-Pizzuto agreement provides that the payment of prior costs may be disallowed does not abate our concern.”

* Cellini taint killed Waukegan casino bid

* Illinois is among states suing over health worker rule

* CPS Will Announce School Closings Today

Schools will be shut down for two main reasons—underenrollment or poor performance. At schools closed due to low test scores, all staff will be let go. New staff will be put in place by September, and at least some of the schools will be handed over to outside management firms to run.

* City Outlines $55M to Fight Foreclosures

Chicago now has millions of new dollars from the federal government to help it deal with housing foreclosures. City officials yesterday talked about how they’ll spend the money.

Twenty-five neighborhoods are targeted for the $55 million that the federal housing department has given the city of Chicago.

* Attorneys criticize new DUI law

But many attorneys don’t think it’s going to be easy to implement and wonder when — not if — the first court challenge to the law will be filed.

“It’s the modern-day version of the public stockades. The person, when they wanted to publicly humiliate someone, they would lock you in that for a couple of days. It has that sort of taste to it,” said Donald Ramsell, a noted DuPage County DUI defense lawyer who has handled about 13,000 DUI cases since 1986. “It’s a real overkill.”

* Pace audit doesn’t come cheap

Regional Transportation Authority directors agreed Thursday to spend up to $129,000 for an audit of Pace’s handling of paratransit in Chicago.

The review follows complaints by riders about changes instituted by Pace in March 2008 that include dividing the city into three zones and glitches with Trapeze, the computer dispatch system.

* RTA looks to brave new world of paying fares

* Juvenile justice too slow in Southland

* Fee dispute puts Cook County Commissioner Tony Peraica at odds with some Lyons Township Republicans

Known for constantly ruffling the feathers of his Democratic counterparts on the Cook County Board, Commissioner Tony Peraica (R-Riverside) now finds himself in a tussle with fellow west suburban Republicans.

Earlier this week, the Peraica-led Lyons Township Republican Organization refused to let his one-time political foe, La Grange businessman Michael LaPidus, into a caucus meeting to pick GOP candidates for April township elections.

LaPidus and about a dozen other Republicans, including two mayors and a former state legislator, were locked out Tuesday because they had not paid the local GOP’s annual $25 membership fee.

After some debate, LaPidus called police and filed complaints with state elections officials, but his only recourse may be in civil court.

* Newspapers jump through hoops to stay alive

* Wisconsin governor to discuss Chicago Olympic bid

* Daley: Too cold to fill potholes

* More frigid conditions, then snow

* Extreme cold to let up after today

* Hundreds of schools remain closed

* For Chicago residents without heat, staying warm means opening ovens and huddling near space heaters

* Ghastly, beastly, dreadful weather hits the area

* Weather causes crashes, stalls on area expressways

* Police departments look for more fuel-cutting cars

* Art Deco darlings; Survey aims to find and preserve city’s gems

* Celebrations abound for King holiday