* Former Senate hopeful reflects on a career of firsts

* Meet State Sen. Bill Brady

* Brady Wants to Ban Same-Sex Marriages

* You read it here first: `Bill Brady, too extreme for Illinois’

* On second thought, a political career might be a be bad move

* An Election Sets a Record, and Not a Good One

There are nearly 1,444,000 registered voters in Chicago. Turnout for the Feb. 2 primary was 27.2 percent, the worst for a non-presidential primary, but apparently better than the still-unofficial statewide figure.

* Low voter turnout a blessing?

* Friends and family say goodbye to John Gianulis

* Senate prepares for confirmation vote on Illinois State Police director

* Quinn approves budget delay bill

Without the extension, Quinn would have had to deliver his budget speech Wednesday. Now, he does not have to address lawmakers about his spending plan until March 10.

* Quinn budget speech now set for March

* Lawmakers allow Quinn to delay budget address

* Ill. lawmakers OK delaying budget speech

* How you could get a say in fixing state budget

The Web site - www.budget.illinois.gov - will post on Feb. 24 the tax revenues for the current budget year and how they’ve been spent so far. Also posted will be projected revenues for the next budget year, which begins July 1, and all the projected program costs, debt payments, pension liabilities and other spending pressures.

* A legislative gamble that must lose

Some pro-gambling legislators are pushing a plan to either charge a fee or withhold construction from communities that reject video gambling for bars and restaurants.

* Pork barrel perks ripe for the plucking

* Agencies fear state cuts will be setback for Illinois Q-C kids

* State libraries may be the next victim of state’s financial woes

* Fiscal Sustainability: Our State and Its Flagship University

Next year is even more worrisome. The $2 billion in federal stimulus funds will be gone. The false comfort of this year’s $3.5 billion in pension obligation notes may not return but the obligation to fund pensions will remain. Interest payments on borrowing will go up. This year’s FY ‘10 deficit will carry forward.
In short, as serious as things are now, FY ‘11 will be much worse. Our University of Illinois economists estimate we could be looking at a nearly $13 billion hole going into FY ‘11, a gap almost half of the entire State general fund budget.

* Groups pitch furlough days with a purpose

The Campus Faculty Association has scheduled a “teach-in” Monday afternoon on the UI’s budget crisis, demanding that budget decisions “be motivated by the core values of teaching, research and public engagement” and be “open, transparent and collaborative.”

* [SIU] expects cuts next fiscal year

* SIU board approves wind turbine

* Borrowing plan no solution

Desperate times produce desperate measures, and this request to borrow based on the unreliable promises from a near-bankrupt state has to be among the most desperate of all.

* Illinois to receive increase in specialty crop grant funds

The department intends to use the funds to award “mini-grants” that expand markets for fresh produce grown in Illinois and is encouraging specialty crop growers to submit a proposal before the April 30 application deadline.

* House Democrats block Republican attempt to get vote on campaign finance reform

Madigan argued that last year’s campaign finance bill was a compromise. It applied the limits on how much leaders and parties could give to candidates to only the primary campaign, and takes effect next year.

* Madigan blocks hearing on GOP ethics proposal

* Front license plate bill dies in committee

* Ill. senator wants change for Chicago Public Schools

* Supporters Vow a Fight to Keep Local School Councils

* Stripping LSCs’ power won’t help city schools

* Lawmaker wants state cash for early kindergarten

* Koehler pitches development plan

The plan creates an income tax credit of 25 percent on “qualified expenditures” incurred by a developer who restores or preserves a historic structure.

If approved by the legislature, the Peoria Democrat’s plan would become the first state income tax credit applied toward historical structures in Illinois.

* Free Rides for Seniors May Be Hitting Last Stop

* Lawmakers considering income limits on free rides for seniors

A one-person household with an income of $27,610 would be eligible under the guidelines. A two-person household could have a maximum income of $34,635. The circuit breaker program is used to set income guidelines to give seniors property tax relief and aid to buy prescription drugs.

* Free transit rides in Illinois come under fire

* Senior perk cutback advances on free transit rides

* Teen ’sexting’ ban not ready to hit send

Lawmakers want more input before making decision on bill governing racy text messages

* Proposals seek ’sensitive balance’ in teen sexting

As proposed, sending a “sext” could bring a $1,500 fine and six months in jail. Asking someone to send you a “sext” could bring a $2,500 fine and a year in jail.

* Senate Committe OKs DCFS Child Death Investigation Task Force

* Michigan Reps Blame Illinois For Asian Carp Threat

* Feds pass on surest solution to Asian carp advance

The surest way to prevent the huge, hungry carp from gaining a foothold in the lakes and threatening their $7 billion fishing industry is to sever the link between Lake Michigan and the Mississippi River basin, created by engineers in Chicago more than a century ago.

* Illinois lawmakers upset over call to close locks in Asian carp fight

* Illinois Congressmen, Business Leaders Lobby Before EPA Asian Carp Hearing

* Madigan Sues “Storm Chasers”

In the complaints, Madigan alleges the companies defrauded Illinois residents of more than $243,000 by performing substandard or incomplete work.

* Customer, attorney general sue local contractor

* Local reps criticize malpractice ruling

* Police warn of ATM scam operating in suburbs

* Illinois Foreclosures Climb, Bucking the National Trend

* Initial jobless claims fell more than expected last week

The Labor Department said that first-time claims for unemployment insurance dropped by 43,000 to a seasonally adjusted 440,000. Wall Street economists expected a smaller decline of 15,000, according to a survey by Thomson Reuters.

* Downtown condo sales up in 4th quarter

* Condo market shrinks again

But other numbers in the report point to a stabilizing market. Buildings that are geared to first-time buyers and quote prices at about $290 a square foot are drawing the greatest interest and will lead a market recovery, said Gail Lissner, vice president at Appraisal Research.

* CTA Springs for New Trains

* CTA Purchases New Train Cars, Unions Reject Concessions

* The Pulse: Mayor’s Furlough to Grow to 29 Days

* Daley orders new city budget cuts

Mr. Daley said he’s also ordered a management study designed to move more police from desk jobs to street duty, and said he is continuing the city’s hiring freeze.

* Daley orders police management review to put more officers on street

* Mayor Daley orders budget cuts

Mayor Daley on Thursday tightened the bureaucratic belt another notch by ordering a 6 percent cut in non-personnel spending in all city departments except police, fire and emergency services.

* Daley orders city departments to reduce spending

* Mayor Daley orders police budget review

* Daley suspends top ethics aide for 30 days

Anthony Boswell’s 30-day suspension without pay comes as Daley this week moved to weaken the Office of Compliance by shifting its oversight duties for city hiring to the inspector general’s office.

* Daley accused of retaliation in Boswell suspension

Boswell’s attorney Jamie Wareham offered no specific examples of the clout hiring. He simply said there was more at work in Boswell’s suspension than an attempt by Inspector General Joe Ferguson to snatch control of city hiring away from the Office of Compliance.

* Rugai proposes photo with every parking ticket

Only 12 percent of all parking tickets end up being challenged. That’s even though 56 percent of all tickets challenged last year ended up being tossed out, according to Administrative Hearings director Scott Bruner.

* Ald. Ed Burke Fights The War On Foam

* Foam Container Ban Not Appetizing To Food Vendors

* With county’s financial disclosures online, a win for open government

* Brother of ex-Ill. governor pleads not guilty

He said he was prepared for a tough fight at his trial, which is set to get under way June 3 before U.S. District Judge James B. Zagel.

“This is the battle of my life and I’m prepared to confront it,” the Nashville, Tenn., businessman said.

His attorney, Michael Ettinger, told reporters he is thinking of filing a motion to have his client tried separately from the impeached former governor.

* Blago brother pleads not guilty

* Robert Blagojevich Speaks of ‘Strained’ Relationship with Brother

* Robert Blagojevich: “I want my name back.”

* Blago Dances in “No Spin Zone”

O’Reilly asked only three questions of Blagojevich and had difficulty getting a straight answer.

* Record number of Ill. students take AP exams

Officials with the College Board says the decline in pass rates is due to more diverse populations taking the exams.

* Report says state’s children in crisis

* CPS Fears $267 Million Shortage In State Funds

* CPS won’t move Keller School

* District 21, teachers reach new contract deal

* Old Town School plans $18 million expansion

* Mokena SD 159 could use a strong foundation

* Facing $5.5 million deficit, Oswego schools plan to cut 87 jobs

* Probable cuts unveiled at U-46 budget forum

* No explanations for Dist. 158 parents

* Union representing Woodland teachers file complaint with state

* Rockford schools paraprofessionals agree to one-year wage freeze

* Rockford beats Chicago for highest child poverty rate

Statistics released today in the 2010 Illinois Kids Count Report show that 34 percent of Rockford’s children live in poverty. That’s 3 percentage points higher than second-ranked Chicago.

* Depth of Quad-Cities children in poverty ‘alarming’

* Kids Count report shows how kids are affected during difficult economic times

* Cicero ex-president ready to leave jail

Loren-Maltese was convicted in 2002 on racketeering charges for siphoning millions of taxpayer dollars.

* Convicted Loren-Maltese keeps Cicero insurance benefits

According to Hanania, former Town President Henry Klosak and the board passed an ordinance in 1992 that made elected officials over 60 eligible for town health insurance. In 1997, after Loren-Maltese was elected, the board expanded the ordinance, taking out the age requirement and amending it to cover elected officials and spouses for life. Children can receive the insurance up to age 19].

* Mayor: Belvidere has spent $95K fighting gangs

* Chatham home sales hit record

In fact, Pat McCarthy can rattle off a list of subdivisions in the works or expanding in Chatham — Foxx Creek, Manor Hill II, Glendale, The Willows, Oakbrook, North Pointe Commons and Avenal to name a few.

* Freeport holds public hearing on city’s future

* Libertyville wind turbine ban continued

* East St. Louis names new fire chief

* [Springfield]’s fourth union local votes against furloughs

Members of AFSCME Local 3738, which represents clerical, technical and professional employees throughout city and City Water, Light and Power departments, on Thursday voted 89-34 against the mayor’s proposed contractual concessions, according to Roger Griffith, staff representative for AFSCME Council 31.

* Yorkville aldermen OK old Kendall jail deal

* Lake County Jail cutbacks include Netflix account for inmates

But the curtain has been dropped on the perk now that the jail’s $35 monthly Netflix subscription has been canceled — a tiny portion of the $2 million in budget cuts that Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran disclosed Thursday.

* Tinley considers ways to ease higher parking fees

* Residents say Grayslake violating its own snow ordinance

* [Winnebago] County Board OKs bond sale for Bachman settlement

* [Peoria] County’s asphalt quality control requirement set to begin May 1

* Livingston Co. about to exit nursing home business

The Livingston County Board learned Thursday that the Illinois Department of Public Health has granted a probationary permit to allow Flanagan-based Good Samaritan Home to own and operate the county-owned, 122-bed Livingston Manor. A final permit cannot be granted until the state inspects Livingston Manor.

The probationary permit is good until March 31. Livingston County Board Chairman Bill Fairfield said the state will renew the probationary permit if the inspection isn’t done in time.

* Coles County delays repairs to courthouse bell tower

* Facing reality so hard to do in Belleville