* Report: Toyota sought to discredit SIU professor

* CEOs of Chicago area firms had an up-and-down year

Chicago compensation expert Don Delves, head of the Delves Group, said most boards of directors of Midwestern companies have maintained their equilibrium, a characteristic typical of Midwestern companies known for conservative fiscal policies.

“We don’t have too many bad actors here,” Delves said.

* Blame recession: Gambling down 9% in Ill.

* No getting around construction season

* Metra director Pagano improperly took at least $475,000 — report

* Metra: Pagano cashed in on unchecked power

Besides outlining the “blatantly illegal” advances Pagano took on vacation pay, the investigation also showed Pagano faced serious financial concerns, borrowing $839,000 against the value of a deferred compensation account and an insurance policy. Those concerns were not spelled out in the report.

* Hinz: Pagano plundered Metra for decades, special counsel reports; feds join probe

The most major violation was the one that initiated the probe, a $57,000 payment last year for 2010 vacation time that had not yet been earned. To get the money, Mr. Pagano “forged” Metra board Chairman Carole Doris’ name on the needed voucher, Mr. Sotos reported.

* Goudie: Protectors of Pagano’s Metra: The Way to Really Hide?

* Metra begins long journey to administrative reform

* New Train Cars Debut On Green Line This Week

* Aldermen did not have to report China trip, Ethics Board says

And that illustrates the vagueness of standards for elected officials to report such activities with business leaders, one watchdog group says.

“It really begs the question, when is a gift a gift, and when is business business?” said Cynthia Canary, executive director of the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform.

Under city rules, trips paid for by private organizations like the Chinatown Chamber of Commerce — which is set to receive about $34,000 from the city this year for supporting “commercial area development” — are not gifts if costs are “reasonable,” said Steve Berlin, executive director of the city Ethics Board.

* Cook County Commissioners Could Override Stroger Veto This Week

Commissioners pushed the hiring freeze after news reports that Stroger made several hires since losing his re-election bid in the February primary. Some of those positions dish out six-figure salaries.

* State shuts down Towanda grain elevator over finances

* Journal-Star: [Peoria] deficits offer chance for fundamental change

* Southern Illinoisan: Jackson County must kill plan to give officials raises