Another Senate candidate?
Friday, Jun 11, 2010 - Posted by Rich Miller
* If he’s telling the whole truth about his money and his petitions, it might happen. We know almost nothing about this guy, however, so remain circumspect until he shows all his cards…
A new candidate is planning to enter the wild race for the U.S. Senate, and he might make a difference if he spends the $1 million of his own money that he’s promising.
Mike Niecestro, a west suburban mortgage broker with little political past, describes himself as “a disgusted Republican” who’s unhappy with the two major-party nominees in the contest: Democratic State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias and, in particular, North Shore congressman Mark Kirk, the GOP nominee.
M. Niecestro claims he already has roughly the 25,000 signatures he’ll need to get on the ballot as an independent, and plans to double that by the June 21 deadline.
Perhaps even more important, he says the $1 million is ready and that he’s already raised $100,000.
Subscribers know about another possible candidate as well who might balance out whatever impact Niecestro has on Kirk. Here is Niecestro’s website, so you can take a look for yourself.
* Carl Nyberg profiled Niecestro a while back…
On May 1st, Niecestro plans to inventory his signatures and then hire professional signature gatherers to complete his petitions. He expects to spend $30-40,000 on this. He has $1 million of personal wealth he has set aside for this campaign.
Niecestro says his supporters mostly come from people he’s met in his 29 year career as a mortgage banker. He says in those 29 years he’s helped 7,000 families. He has a database of 700 supporters.
Niecestro describes himself as a lifelong Republican who has become disillusioned in the last ten years.
Niecestro said NAFTA was the worst thing that has happened to the United States because of the loss of jobs.
Niecestro has set a contribution limit of $500 per individual.
…Adding… In case you’re wondering…
QUINN FOR ILLINOIS PUBLIC SCHEDULE FOR SATURDAY, JUNE 12 AND SUNDAY, JUNE 13
At 10 a.m., Saturday, June 12, Governor Quinn will speak at the Oak Park Democratic Party Membership Meeting at Unity Temple, 875 Lake St., Oak Park.
At 1:30 p.m., Saturday, June 12, Lt. Gov. Nominee Sheila Simon will attend the Metropolis Annual Superman Days Celebration, Market St., between 6th and 10th Sts., Metropolis.
At 6:30 p.m., Saturday June 12, Lt. Gov. Nominee Sheila Simon will attend the Shawneetown Bicentennial Parade, Lincoln Blvd., Shawneetown.
At 5 p.m., Governor Quinn will speak at the Democratic Party of Evanston Annual Meeting at Beth Emet Synagogue, 1224 Dempster, Evanston.
I’d like to see Brady do this, too, as well as Giannoulias and Kirk.
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* It looks like that angry mom had Gov. Quinn’s number this week…
Diane Sajdak wanted to have a discussion with Quinn about the impact of [state budget cuts on schools] but got upset when the governor prepared to leave.
“You’re going to blow us off and run to a Hawks game and not discuss the issue at hand,” Sajdak said.
Quinn seemed taken aback by the accusation. “Woah, woah, woah, woah,” he replied.
But Sajdak continued. “Really? Honestly Gov. Quinn? That’s poor. That’s poor.”
Not long after that, Quinn boarded a Southwest flight for the Hawks game.
Click here for audio of the exchange between Sajdak and Quinn.
Sajdak appeared on a radio show the next day and talked about how she and her friends had “ambushed” the governor.
* More budget fallout…
The well-regarded North Suburban Library System, which links local libraries into a large group, pretty much shut down at the end of May because the state didn’t make its payments. Now, another of Illinois’ multi-library systems has reached its last chapter.
The Metropolitan Library System, which links libraries in Chicago and suburban Cook, DuPage and Will counties, is suspending many services effective June 30. Plans call for ending consulting and continuing education and maintaining only a skeleton staff for back office operations.
The state’s regional library networks are going out of business not because the Legislature voted in favor of that but because the state just isn’t sending along the money it has appropriated.
* More…
The agriculture department sought bids starting in late April for a vendor to operate harness racing at both Springfield and DuQuoin for the 2010-12 fairs. It got no response, including from Balmoral Park and Maywood, the Chicago-area tracks that have run the races for the past several years.
Jack Kelly, a director at the tracks, said a big problem was that horse owners still hadn’t been paid their winnings from the 2009 state fair.
Oy.
* More…
Nearly a year after Gov. Pat Quinn signed the state’s capital plan, little of the local work it will pay for has started.
Agencies expecting thousands — in some cases, millions — of dollars each for building projects and other improvements are either fronting their own money to get started or, more commonly, putting off the work indefinitely.
The delay has effectively ruined what should have been a busy summer of capital projects, said Sen. Dave Syverson, R-Rockford.
“Unfortunately, we are still really awaiting the release of projects that have been approved and have been already bonded for,” he said. “We don’t need all of it done, but with the economy the way it is, we ought to be releasing money for projects that are construction-ready so people can go to work right away.”
Syverson estimates the state has already issued $2.9 billion in bonds, but has only released $600 million.
“They’re sitting on $2.3 billion in the bank that we’re paying interest on that could be released,” he said.
What the heck?
* More carnage…
* Wheaton council reads library closings as problematic
* Illinois bill could save state police but hurt city departments
* Illinois cuts computer classes for prisoners
* SJ-R: Budget problems ultimately will cost taxpayers more
* Sun-Times: More Medicaid funding critical
* Rose frustrated by Springfield mess
* High-speed rail projects suddenly on fast track
* HSR Cash Hitting Illinois In Two Weeks?
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Question of the day
Friday, Jun 11, 2010 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The setup…
Fairgoers looking for a cold Pepsi to wash down that corn dog will be out of luck at this years Illinois State Fair. Fair officials have reached an agreement with Coca-Cola Enterprises for Coke products to be the official soda of the August event in Springfield.
Coke, promising the state $10,000 up front and a percentage of all sales, beat Pepsi in the bidding. Pepsi had the fair contract last year, and Coke’s new deal could last as long as three years. […]
The deal means that even independent vendors have to sell Coke products, including the company’s bottled water, at the fair. No Pepsi products will be allowed.
* The Question: Is $10,000 and a cut of the sales enough to justify this exclusive contract for a soft drink company? Explain.
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Thanks, governor, but there’s more to do
Friday, Jun 11, 2010 - Posted by Rich Miller
* On Wednesday, I told you about the Kankakee County Board Chairman’s shameful refusal to ask the governor to put Pembroke Township and Hopkins Park on the disaster area list after the big tornadoes hit.
Well, yesterday, Gov. Quinn unilaterally declared all of Kankakee County a disaster area.
Thanks, governor. Good job.
However, it would be nice if Gov. Quinn went out there himself and saw what a mess Pembroke and Hopkins Park are. He should see the houses with dirt floors, and experience the local misery first hand. That’s the only real way to begin to understand how horrific their situation is.
* I would be remiss, however, if I didn’t point out a major bright spot…
When B.J. Howery was hired as the superintendent of Pembroke Community Consolidated School District 259 in 2002, the goal set by the Pembroke school board and the Illinois Board of Education was simple, in theory — get the district off the state watchlist.
In practice, however, that was easier said than done.
Now, eight years later, Pembroke is the little school district that could. The ISBE this year designated Lorenzo R. Smith Elementary School, the district’s single school, as one of the state’s 975 “Honor Roll” schools for maintaining academic excellence. It has also been named a “Spotlight School” for beating the odds overcoming a high-poverty rate to achieve that designation, and has been recognized for a program to foster more parent involvement.
“Now for us to be a spotlight school, and now a 2009 Honor Roll School, to see the children excel at math… It is the work of the teachers, the administrators, the parents and the students,” said Howery, sharing credit for the accomplishment.
Pembroke and Hopkins Park aren’t hopeless causes. But they do need a big hand up.
Area churches and charities are doing quite a bit, but there’s only so much they can accomplish. Legislators have tried over the years, but have often run into brick walls, particularly from county officials and (lately) the county school board, which refuses to give up control of an old, abandoned school building so it could be used as a warming/cooling/safety shelter, among other things. Blagojevich was little to no help. Quinn hasn’t really put the place on his radar.
I’m 48 years old and I’ve been hearing about the problems out there my whole life. I’m really getting tired of this. Who will finally step up?
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* The allegation yesterday at Rod Blagojevich’s trial that then-Senate President Emil Jones agreed to kill an ethics bill in exchange for an appointment to the US Senate doesn’t really surprise me. It sickens me, but it doesn’t surprise me, considering how I’ve watched both of those guys pretty closely over the years.
Blagojevich wanted the ethics bill killed because it was specifically designed to dry up his campaign cash. The bill prohibited anyone with a state contract over a certain size to contribute to the statewide official who was responsible for the contract. Blagojevich’s fundraising machine focused heavily on contractors, including (but definitely not limited to) road contractors. So, Blagojevich used his amendatory veto to rewrite the bill to include contribution bans to legislators as well. That’s when the Jones deal went down…
“Emil Jones agreed not to call a vote if Rod named him to Obama’s Senate seat,” Monk said.
The agreement fell through when Obama called Jones personally and asked him to call the bill to a vote, so it wouldn’t negatively impact Obama’s campaign in 2008, Monk said he learned.
After Obama asked, Jones decided to call a vote on the bill, which would make it illegal for individuals or companies getting state business to make donations, Monk recalled. He said the Blagojevich camp believed Jones had reneged on the deal.
The House voted to override Blagojevich’s veto of the bill 110 to 3, and the Senate eventually voted 55 to 0 to do the same.
If it hadn’t been for Barack Obama, we could’ve had Emil Jones as our Senator. You think Roland Burris’ appointment caused an explosion? If Jones got the seat, the resulting explosion would’ve been thermonuclear because the media would’ve taken it right back to the President-elect, rightly or wrongly. Jones, remember, was often described as Obama’s “political godfather.” The mess would’ve been enormous.
* Speaking of legislative leaders, I don’t think anyone else has covered this aspect of how Stu Levine got introduced to Rod Blagojevich. One of the people who recommended him was House GOP Leader Tom Cross, according to testimony yesterday…
The prosecution asked Monk about Stuart Levine. He said Rezko introduced him to Levine at Rezko’s office and recommend Levine be appointed to two boards: TRS and the Illinois Health Facility Planning Board, which decides where and when hospitals can be built.
Monk said Levine was not the only person Rezko recommended be appointed to the facilities board, and Monk passed on all the recommendations to Blagojevich. Blagojevich wanted to appoint Levine because Levine was a big Republican, and would show Blagojevich was above party politics. Levine had received an honor from a foreign country, was also recommended by State Rep. Tom Cross and Kelly and seemed smart and reputable enough that Blagojevich followed through on Rezko’s recommendation.
Monk says Rezko wanted Levine appointed to TRS quickly because of an issue that Rezko was interested in.
* Back to the fundraising. After Barack Obama called Emil Jones and the Senate overrode the governor’s amendatory veto of the ethics bill, Blagojevich had until December 31st, 2008 to raise as much money as he could from state contractors. It didn’t go well, though, and the governor started to freak out…
The voices of the Blagojevich brothers are filling the courtroom for the first time as secret FBI recordings are played with Lon Monk on the stand.
Jurors can hear an animated and irritated Rod Blagojevich who is pushing his brother hard to get to $4 million.
Rod Blagojevich is snapping at his brother, telling him to keep hitting people up.
“In terms of having money in the bank, it’s going to be close,” Rod says. “We’ve got to somehow get there…get to that $4 million.”
Rod tells Rob to keep calling people and ask: “Can you send us $5,000, can you find us whatever, follow me?”
Rod tells his brother on the recording to hit up anyone and everyone: the Pritzkers, Sam Zell, Blair Hull.
* As we know by now, Blagojevich also tried to tie a $5 billion Tollway construction program to a $500,000 campaign contribution…
Monk said in the fall of 2008, the then-governor hoped the tollway plan would “incentivize” Krozel to make a large contribution before a new ethics law banning such donations went into effect at the end of that year, Monk said.
“We need to get $500,000 from him,” Monk recalled Blagojevich saying.
Monk said Blagojevich regularly asked about the matter, and Monk checked in with Krozel but didn’t specifically ask for $500,000 because he “didn’t feel like it” and didn’t think it was reasonable in a down economy.
Blagojevich announced a $1.8 billion tollway plan that fall but held off on an even bigger expenditure because he thought Krozel should be able to bring in money from members of his group, Monk told the jury.
Here’s one reason why the contributions never arrived…
As Monk checked up on progress, [contractor Jerry Krozel] said he hit a snag.
“I’m not going to be able to raise money from my members right now because they had been served subpoenas from the U.S. Attorney’s office,” Monk said.
* Blagojevich wanted cash so much that he even believed Kurt Granberg ought to pony up for his long-promised job running DNR…
Lon Monk testified about a deal Blagojevich claimed he had made with former state Rep. Kurt Granberg to name him director of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources in exchange for the balance of the Democratic lawmaker’s campaign fund.
“If he was going to retire,” Monk said of Granberg. “We [decided we] should check on the amount of money in his campaign fund, because he doesn’t need that anymore if he is going to come for state, and we should check his cash balance and ask him for it.”
Granberg never paid Blagojevich’s campaign, even though Blagojevich held up the appointment until almost the very last minute of his governorship.
* And Kristen McQueary shows how all this proves at least one count against Blagojevich…
The tapes and another full day of admissions from Monk revealed the full extent of Blagojevich’s money-raising obsession. He knew everything - who was giving how much and when, and he would sulk and pout when donors held off.
So much for Blagojevich beating Count 24, a “making false statements” charge based on a 2005 interview Blagojevich gave to federal investigators. During it, he claimed a “firewall” existed between the campaign and government sides of his administration to ensure there was no conflict. One side had no idea what the other was doing.
But based on Monk’s testimony, the only firewall that existed apparently was lodged in Blagojevich’s brain, blocking the truth from exiting his mouth.
* Campaign money wasn’t everything. There was also the Blagojevich personal bank account to think of…
Monk said Rezko didn’t seem to be interested in what work Patti Blagojevich did for his company. All he cared about was “that he hire Patti and she do something and he be able to pay her a salary,” he told jurors.
It was preferred that Patti Blagojevich be placed on a retainer, as opposed to being paid by commission, which would require the actual sale of property for her to be compensated, Monk said.
In a conversation with a lawyer then representing Blagojevich and his wife, Monk said, it was made clear that Patti Blagojevich would actually have to at least show up at Rezko’s firm on a regular basis. That presented a dilemma, Monk said. “She was not only the governor’s wife and had certain duties there, (but) she was a stay-at-home mom for two little girls,” Monk said.
Prosecutors contend Patti Blagojevich did no work for approximately $150,000 from Rezko, while the former governor’s criminal-defense lawyers have argued she earned the money for her real-estate work.
* Roundup…
* Blagojevich trial: Talk of Jesse Jackson Jr. on tapes
* Jurors get an earful of Blago
* Monk details Blagojevich’s drive for cash
* Aide: Blagojevich said he made deal for Obama seat
* Monk: Blagojevich Had a Deal With Emil Jones
* Obama Phone Call Derailed Blagojevich Senate Deal
* Blagojevich trial: Kurt Granberg
* Blagojevich: Corrupt plotter or honest victim?
* Zorn: Blago’s best defense will be no defense
* VIDEO: Roe Conn Talks Blago
* VIDEO: Defense Atty. Steve Greenberg on the Blago Trial
* Blagojevich in Shadow of Famous Capone Trial
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* The outlook for the Illinois US Senate race by Chris Cilliza at the Washington Post…
Combine Kirk’s problems and those of Giannoulias, which are still significant and majorly problematic even though they haven’t gotten much attention of late, and you have a recipe for what we believe will be the nastiest Senate race in the country this fall.
The take by MSNBC’s First Read isn’t much different…
This does have the feel of a race to the bottom.
I have those same feelings.
* Meanwhile, Lynn Sweet followed up on Congressman Mark Kirk’s claims that the White House was involved with leaking the Department of Defense memo which raised concerns about Kirk’s “partisan political activities during his last two tours of active duty.” You’ll recall that this was the heart of the Kirk campaign’s response…
“This raises grave concerns and questions about who gained access to Kirk’s confidential records. The document in question should be viewed for what it is — a baseless political ploy by partisans bent on defending a U.S. Senate seat at any cost.”
From Sweet’s column…
With no evidence, the Illinois GOP Senate campaign of Rep. Mark Kirk accused the Obama White House of leaking information about Kirk’s military record, a charge White House senior adviser David Axelrod said Thursday is not true.
“Obviously, Congressman Kirk has some problems that are of his creation and he can’t download them on us,” Axelrod told me. “I assure you that everyone here has plenty to do. No one is trafficking in revelatory records about him.” […]
On Thursday, I asked the Kirk campaign if they had any more information to back up their leak accusation — in the wake of the White House denial and Welch saying the leak came from inside the Kirk operation.
The statement sent over from Kirk’s operation did not address the leak controversy. Here it is: Said Kukowski, “Congressman Kirk has served honorably for 21 years as a Navy Reserve intelligence officer.
“The Fitness Report from his service in Afghanistan is documented proof that the congressman not only did nothing wrong — he performed exceptionally in service to our country. In the end, Alexi Giannoulias cannot distract voters from his calls to raise taxes, increase spending and continue the failed policies that led our state into economic ruin.”
Not exactly a response.
And what about that initial claim by the Kirk campaign? First, they expressed “grave concerns” about who gained access to the congressman’s records and seemed0 to blame the White House. From Terry Welch, who broke the story…
The memo was sent to me from someone who received it from inside Kirk’s own camp. Suggesting it came from administration officials or political operatives is baseless. I have backed up every single statement I’ve made about Mark Kirk, but he has chosen to respond to substantive and substantiated claims I have made with unsupported accusations. […]
If Kirk’s campaign wants to accuse me of colluding with someone in his opponent’s campaign or in the administration, he better bring some proof. The truth is Kirk has a leaky campaign.
* It’s the Kirk campaign’s second react sentence which bothers me the most, however…
“The document in question should be viewed for what it is — a baseless political ploy by partisans bent on defending a U.S. Senate seat at any cost.”
That’s some pretty bold talk about an official memo issued by Deputy Under Secretary of Defense Gail McGinn. If you check McGinn’s bio, she started at the Department of Defense in 1988, under a GOP administration. She rose to her current position in 2002, also under a Republican administration, and has a long list of government service awards.
My own opinion is that the Kirk campaign tried to piggyback on the national kerfuffle over the White House allegedly offering jobs or slots to Democrats to keep them out of primaries. It hasn’t worked at all, and probably will only backfire, which may be why the Kirk campaign backed off when pressed by Lynn Sweet. Kirk’s initial reaction was just way too far over the top and couldn’t be sustained.
*** UPDATE *** Oops. I forgot to post this odd story…
Someone has jerked the “Kirk For Senate” sign from the window of the Lincoln Square campaign headquarters of Adam Brown. […]
Even though City Councilman Brown, who is running for state representative against incumbent Democrat Bob Flider, is the high profile candidate being promoted at the office, a few Republicans are quick to remind everyone within earshot that it is the Republican headquarters, and not just Brown’s headquarters.
Now, about that sign. Who took it out of the window is not exactly known, but the Macon County’s Republican Party head honcho, Jerry Stocks, is said to be upset with Congressman Mark Kirk’s “misstatements” about his military service. The “misstatements” have soured a lot of Republicans on Kirk’s candidacy to replace Senator Roland Burris in the November election, and left them wondering what the difference is between a “misstatement” and a “lie”.
Yikes. This scandal not only hurts Kirk with the media, but it also goes right to his base. Not good at all.
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Blagojevich is now drowning alone
Friday, Jun 11, 2010 - Posted by Rich Miller
* My Sun-Times column today is about Rod Blagojevich’s fate…
Back when I knew him, Rod Blagojevich loved to play Lifeboat.
You probably played the game when you were a kid, but Blagojevich seemed to get particular enjoyment out of it when he was governor.
In case you aren’t familiar with the rules, the game went like this: Suppose you are in a lifeboat and you have room for only one other person, but two people are in the water and almost drowning. Which one would you save?
The first time we played Lifeboat was after we talked at length one day about his long, brutal legislative war with House Speaker Michael Madigan and his disgust with Attorney General Lisa Madigan for launching a corruption probe against him. I eventually tossed a question out about which of the two Blagojevich hated more.
“Do you mean, if they were both in the water and I was on a lifeboat and only had room for one which one would I save and which would I let die?” Blagojevich asked.
I thought his question was a tad bit on the extreme side, not to mention juvenile, but I went with it.
After a long pause he said, “I’d probably save the old man,” meaning the speaker. Blagojevich explained that as much as the two had fought, he admired the way the “old man” had raised his son Andrew, who, indeed, has grown up quite well.
Another day, we were talking about the Rev. Jesse Jackson, who had just held a press conference in opposition to Blagojevich’s doomed gross receipts tax on business. Blagojevich told a reporter that Jackson was just shilling for his financial backers. I thought it was ironic at the time, and it’s even more so now.
The conversation led to a long diatribe about Jackson’s son, Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. Back when he was still a congressman, Blagojevich had gone out of his way to befriend Congressman Jackson.
The ultimate goal, Blagojevich explained, was to secure Congressman Jackson’s endorsement when he ran for governor. Blagojevich said he actually did lock down that endorsement. But then Roland Burris jumped into the race, and Jackson backed away. Jackson hemmed and hawed and hinted at a large campaign contribution, Blagojevich confided, then ultimately broke his pledge.
Blagojevich felt betrayed. And when we played Lifeboat on the two men, he couldn’t decide and joked that he’d probably let both of them drown.
And now, it’s Rod Blagojevich’s turn in the water. And nobody’s throwing him a lifeline.
One of his best friends in the world, Lon Monk, has spent the week testifying against Blagojevich during his corruption trial. The only other great friend Blagojevich had, Chris Kelly, killed himself right before his last chance to make his own choice.
Except for his wife, all of Blagojevich’s defense witnesses that we know of so far are being compelled to testify via subpoena, including Rep. Jackson. Almost everyone else who ever had any contact with him has lined up with the prosecution.
No matter how many times Blagojevich played Lifeboat, it apparently never occurred to him that he should live his life in a way that somebody would throw him a line if the going ever got rough. Rod was always about Rod. Even when he was helping somebody else, it was all about him, and he always made sure you knew it.
And now, all the lifeboats, full or not, have drifted away, while he furiously dogpaddles and ponders his end amidst the whitecaps, probably wondering why nobody feels even a little guilty for letting him drown alone.
I’ll have a full recap of the Blagojevich trial in a bit, but I wanted this one to stand alone. Thoughts?
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Morning Shorts
Friday, Jun 11, 2010 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Navistar may restart plans for Lisle HQ
Navistar International Corp. leaders will meet Monday with state and local officials to discuss options that could persuade the engine manufacturer to renew plans to move its headquarters to Lisle, officials said Thursday.
The talks will come two weeks after Warrenville-based Navistar decided to scrap plans to move to the former Alcatel-Lucent site in Lisle, saying local opposition to the project was “jeopardizing our image.”
In recent days, state officials have stepped up their efforts to prevent Navistar from moving out of Illinois and taking thousands of jobs and millions of dollars with it. Navistar officials previously said they were also exploring headquarters locations in Alabama, Texas and South Carolina.
* The hidden housing crisis
Hargrove is caught in the middle. Below her is a foreclosed property and above her is a unit whose owner has stopped paying assessments. Like a lot of condo owners in Rogers Park, she has paid her mortgage and assessments on time, but has been forced to foot the heat, water and other maintenance bills for the building….Rogers Park had nearly twice the city’s average concentration of foreclosures with 410 in 2009, according to the National People’s Action report, and is on track to surpass that number in 2010. According to RealtyTrac, there were 209 foreclosures in Rogers Park through the first four months of this year.
* Peoria County Board to allow video gaming
* Free dental clinic in B-N expected to be Illinois’ largest ever
* State sends overdue payment to RI County
* Cook County prescribes 5-year health system overhaul
* ‘He got the bag over my head:’ Witness in Burge trial
* Ex-gang member: ‘I’ll never forget’ detective who suffocated him into false confession
* Daley unveils plan for online summer school
Amid opposition from the Chicago Teachers Union, Mayor Daley today unveiled a dramatic expansion in so-called “virtual summer school,” bankrolled by $940,000 in federal stimulus funds.
It will allow the Chicago Public Schools to serve an unlimited number of students — some working from home, libraries or parent’s office — at a fraction of the cost.
* Summer school expands online for Chicago Public Schools
* New vote pushed for Route 53
* [DuPage] Water commission wonders if its rates are set high enough
* Water commission begins leader search
Some board members questioned if they should be the ones picking the new general manager since legislation awaiting Gov. Pat Quinn’s signature would force their resignation by the end of the year.
* Buffalo Grove official questions consulting fees
* Naperville Park District president re-elected
* Lolie named judge on Fourth Judicial Circuit
* Senate Judiciary Committee approves Lewis for U.S. attorney
* [Springfield] publishes private info on FOIA website
The city of Springfield put documents online that contained such sensitive information as people’s Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, home and work telephone numbers — even a bank account number and the name of someone who called the state anonymously to report suspected child abuse.
The documents were posted on the city’s website in response to Freedom of Information Act requests as part of an initiative to make public information available to anyone with a computer. But personal information, such as home phone numbers, Social Security numbers and driver’s license numbers, are exempt from disclosure under state law.
* Click It or Ticket campaign yields 362 seat belt violations in area for May
* Chicago to celebrate Blackhawks’ win Friday
* Taxpayers won’t foot bill for Blackhawks parade, Daley says
“We have sponsors. They made a commitment to do that. And that will be done,” he said.
* CTA adjusts for Blackhawks’ downtown party
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