* Chicago home prices rise again but under cloud

While Chicago’s one-month price gain was greater than that measured in many of the 20 cities in the S&P/Case-Shiller home price index, national economic trends are likely to temper future home price appreciation, economists said.

* Local home price index rises for 3rd straight month

* Hewitt salary survey shows Chicago workers could see pay bump 2.8%

That projected average raise was determined by a recent survey from compensation consultancy Hewitt Associates Inc. The same companies gave average 2.6% raises this year, according to Hewitt.
That’s more than the national average of 2.4% — but less than what domestic companies across the nation had planned to give, the Lincolnshire-based Hewitt said. It’s a sign that U.S. employers are still keeping a tight grip on compensation because they may believe the economy has yet to turn around.

* Weis’ sit-down with gang members angers aldermen

* Alderman: Weis shouldn’t bargain with ‘urban terrorists’

* Daley defends Weis: ‘We’ll negotiate with anyone to have peace’

“If you can save one life, you’ll sit down with anyone. If it saves your child’s life, you would want me to sit down.”

Under questioning, Daley made it a point to say that Weis did not ask his permission before summoning gang leaders to the Garfield Park Conservatory for what they thought was a routine parole meeting.

“He doesn’t have to. This is not grammar school, “ the mayor said.

Daley wasn’t the only one rising to Weis’ defense. So were African-American aldermen whose wards have turned into killing fields.

* Daley Defends Gang Meeting

* Chicago Mayor Daley Defends Weis’ Meeting with Gang Members

* Sun-Times: Weis gang sit-down aims to save lives

* Mitchell: Weis is just telling gangs what’s up

* CPS student shot multiple times near Garfield Park home dies

Anthony Carter, 18, was hanging out near his home shortly after midnight in the 4000 block of West Jackson in Garfield Park. He was talking with a group of people shortly after midnight when a gunman emerged from a vacant lot and opened fire, shooting Carter multiple times, Harrison District police said.

* ‘They killed my baby’: Another CPS student dies

Carter’s family said they did not know why he was shot. They said the young man was not involved with gangs. Police said there was no evidence of drugs being involved, but that the motive remained under investigation.

* Chicago student shot, killed near West Side home

* Slain Chicago teen was caught in middle of shooting

[Darrell] McKinney, who was about to start his sophomore year at Orr Academy High School, was fatally shot at the Humboldt Park party Saturday night. He was the unintended target of gunfire.

* Tribune: Drink, drive, lose: Vasquez and DUI

* 2 Police Officers Shot On South Side

The shooting happened when Gresham District tactical officers were conducting a search warrant for weapons for a known gang member about 12:20 a.m. in the 7700 block of South Hoyne Avenue, Supt. Jody Weis said at a news conference outside Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn.

* Another Weis driver got merit promotion to sergeant last year

Patrick McKenzie is the second police officer to score a merit promotion after a stint as the superintendent’s driver. The first was Floyd Goldsmith, who spent three months driving Weis around town.

“This is a demonstration of how merit promotions are not what they should be. We have politics playing a role in the performance of promotions. There are so many flaws in that system, it has to be re-made,” said Ald. Willie Cochran (20th) a former Chicago Police officer.

* CBOE to debut all-electronic exchange this fall

The Chicago-based exchange said in a news release that it plans to charge $1,000 for a permit that allows holders to submit orders to the new exchange, called C2, and $5,000 for a permit that allows holders to both stream quotes and submit orders.

* CBOT trader banned for life, owes $4M

The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission on Monday filed and settled charges against John Lee Neuman of Naperville, a member of the CBOT from May 1993 until February 2008.

* Court rejects Peterson bid to get out of jail

* Big bite: Security at Taste costs $1.5 mil.

The policing costs are contained in an internal document prepared by the Mayor’s Office of Special Events and obtained by the Chicago Sun-Times.

It shows that as many as 293 police officers a day provided security for Taste of Chicago 2009 at a daily cost of up to $111,572. Similar costs were incurred for nine days: June 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30 and July 1, 2, 4 and 5 for a grand total of $873,533.

That was nothing compared to the cost of policing the July 3rd fireworks extravaganza that typically drew more than 1.2 million people to Grant Park before it bit the dust.

* Meter leasing metrics may give aldermen pause as Daley makes new privatization push

* Daley going to China, Korea

* Daley panel to address needs of tech firms

* Daley names panel to lure tech firms here

* Keller: Chicago River is due for a change

* ComEd to install solar panels in ‘innovation corridor’

* Tribune Co. forms panel to oversee bankruptcy reorganization

* City Colleges closing two nursing programs

* Northwestern rolls out deals for local students

* Metra’s altered schedule doesn’t fit school schedule

* Kadner: Two teachers’ jobs saved but not by legislation

District 162 Supt. Blondean Davis told me it was simply good fortune that created a job opening for Martin.

The district’s kindergarten enrollment had dropped to about 60 this fall from 144 the previous school year, which caused Davis to cut Martin’s position. But after the news conference, there was suddenly a surge to an enrollment of 90, creating the need for a new kindergarten teacher, Davis said.

The way school funding works in Illinois, school districts get reimbursed from the state for every pupil enrolled, so Davis now had money to rehire a teacher. Davis said she was happy to rehire a “remarkably talented” teacher in Martin.

As for Shannon Lewis, Supt. Robin Lewis said several teachers who were expected to return this year suddenly decided they weren’t coming back. So she was able to rehire her daughter.

* Evanston won’t press condo owner for $635 tax bill

* More mosquitoes with West Nile found in Aurora, Montgomery

* Carol Stream woman is first 2010 West Nile victim

* City To Spray For West Nile Virus on NW Side

* Kane board told pay hikes in 2011 vital

Kane County Board Chairwoman Karen McConnaughay placed the burden of balancing the 2011 budget squarely on the shoulders of board members Tuesday night.

The charge came during what was supposed to be the county board’s last of three special committee of the whole meetings, each set up to dissect elected officials’ budget proposals for the coming fiscal year.

The goal of the meetings is to make it easier for the board to pass a balanced county budget in October.

* Kendall deficit under $2M and still trimming

The bad news is the same as it has been — reduced revenue and late tax payments from the state are conspiring to put the county in a deficit that could be almost $2 million by the end of the 2011 budget year.

But there’s also good news — the projected deficit stands at $1.8 million to $1.9 million — less than the $2.6 million projected just a few months ago.

* Flood recovery center opening in Austin

* Cook, DuPage lead way in seeking federal flood help

* Unwelcome mat rolled out for some senior housing plans

* Crystal Lake Dist. 155 super to step down in 2012

* Carol Stream condo building partially collapses

* Illinois Clean Coal Project Sputters, Gets Back on Track

“The Alliance is pleased that DOE and Sen. Durbin have been able to preserve the $1 billion in funding for advancing clean coal technologies and the associated jobs,” said Steve Winberg, chairman of the FutureGen Alliance, a coalition of energy companies. “We look forward to working with them and our new partners in making FutureGen 2.0 a success.”

* FutureGen companies want to stick with project

* Tate & Lyle’s leadership, talent needed in Decatur

* Dirksen and Clear Lake to get an overhaul

* Southtown Star: Southland soldiers part of Iraq War’s long, bloody story

* Retired teacher, wife of retired news anchor Art Norman, loved travel