Me again. I know. You were expecting Rich. I was, too. He’s coming in later today than I thought. Apparently production of the soon-to-be released low-budget thriller “Godzilla v. Mothra v. Oscar” took longer than anticipated. We will go ahead and get things started…
* Mitchell: Former homeless man to be freed from prison in 2002 rape case: On Tuesday, Anita Alvarez will announce that the Chatman case is one of two cases that the State’s Attorney’s Conviction Integrity Unit will be dismissing Tuesday morning. The dismissal will pave the way for the 58-year-old man to be released from Dixon Correctional Center as early as Tuesday. Alvarez’s office would not provide specific details about why the Chatman case was being dismissed, but a spokesman confirmed that Alvarez will hold a news conference at 26th and California on Tuesday morning to announce the dismissals.
* Theresa Chatman never stopped believing in her brother
* Stroger aide goes on trial over alleged contractor kickbacks: Federal prosecutors alleged that Mullins used his position as a trusted member of Stroger’s staff to help himself, pocketing nearly $35,000 in kickbacks over a two-year period in return for steering county contracts to acquaintances. The so-called “24-9″ contracts — each worth less than $25,000 so they didn’t need County Board approval — were to promote awareness of the 2010 U.S. census, help residents affected by floods in 2008 and increase energy efficiency. But little or no work was done after the contracts were awarded, prosecutors alleged.
* Stroger pal depicted as sweet 7-year-old as trial opens in kickback scheme
* Prosecutors say Crundwell’s sentence warranted
* IDOT helicopter crashes, nobody hurt: Miller said the helicopter was not operational and en route to Nevada for maintenance at the request of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency.
* IGPA Economist David Merriman appointed to Governor’s Council of Economic Advisors
* Foreign firms employ more than 350,000 in Illinois
* Topinka says Illinois’ financial situation driving business to surrounding states: “Why would any business executive seriously consider coming to Illinois, knowing that they would wind up inheriting these problems and having to help pay for them,” Topinka said. “It’s hard enough for a business to start up, and (Illinois government problems are) a lot of extra baggage for an aspiring company to take on,” she said.
* City Council Committee Approves Rewrite Of Gun Laws: The ordinance headed for a full City Council vote Wednesday brings City gun laws in line with the state’s law allowing carrying of concealed weapons.
* Ban on guns in Chicago restaurants that serve booze advances
* Chicago aldermen recommend repealing city gun registry: Although Ald. Ed Burke, 14th, the architect of many of the city’s gun control measures, and several of his colleagues accepted the changes like a dose of bad medicine, Todd Vandermyde, an Illinois lobbyist for the National Rifle Association, called them “a start.”
* Alderman complains, CTA vows to work on access to new Wal-Mart
* How to Use Ventra: A Guide for Getting a Card and Transferring Fares
* Preckwinkle won’t have Metra pick this week–but black expected to get nod
* Mayor Rahm Emanuel: Why I said ‘no’ to the Midway deal: There are five things we learned over the past six months that should guide any future public-private partnerships: first, a group of outside experts should be impaneled at the start of the process to monitor each step; second, there must be a minimum 30-day review by the City Council before the project is voted upon; third, there should be a clear set of standards so the public can judge a potential partnership when it is presented; fourth, the funds should be invested in infrastructure rather than used as a plug for short-term budget holes; fifth, a true public-private partnership requires that taxpayers maintain control of the asset and share in management decisions and financial profit.
* Tribune: Diverted from Midway
* Tollway: Get ready for widening I-90 from Elgin to the Kennedy
* CPS to count enrollment this year on 10th day, not 20th
* Brown: Senate needs to get the lead out and confirm Fardon
* (Quad City) Airport awarded $1.3 million for improvements
* Rockford aldermen debate time and transparency
* Newcomb owner says he has no insurance; (Quincy) likely to lose $1 million for unpaid loan, demolition
* Lack of rain fall could affect central Illinois corn crop
* Website accusations spur phone calls to Woodford County Jail
* FOIA hot topic at District 150 board meeting
* (McLean) County auditor, officials dispute paying bills: McLean County State’s Attorney Jason Chambers and county Emergency Management Agency Director Curt Hawk each asked the committee last week to approve bills that Auditor Michelle Anderson deemed insufficient for payment. The committee sided with Hawk and Chambers, sending the disputed bills to the full County Board for approval. In July, Hawk asked for reimbursement of $740 in travel and hotels for a conference in southern Illinois. He said the auditor objected to a hotel stay in Metropolis the night before the conference.
* Police, fire chiefs in Collinsville get new contracts
* ISU President Flanagan: No major policy changes in first 6 months
* Cheng touts reasons to have hope at SIU
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Sep 10, 13 @ 6:41 am:
Barton,
You have done Yeoman’s work, Rich’s faith in you was well-founded.
To the Post,
Preckwinkle’s choice will be interesting, given the climate and how the Metra Board finds itself, looking for credibility, while not looking like a bunch of political appointees looking for a place to land.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Sep 10, 13 @ 6:51 am:
– “Why would any business executive seriously consider coming to Illinois, knowing that they would wind up inheriting these problems and having to help pay for them,” Topinka said.–
Because if you play your cards right, you end up paying no state corporate income tax, just like two-thirds of the corporations in the state. So you’re not on the hook for the problems.
That’s much easier for those who provide goods and services for sale out of state. Your neighborhood plumber and shop owner are not so lucky.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Sep 10, 13 @ 6:53 am:
Excellent work and thanks, Barton.
Going to miss “shorts.”
- G.I. Joe - Tuesday, Sep 10, 13 @ 8:44 am:
* IDOT helicopter crashes, nobody hurt: Miller said the helicopter was not operational and en route to Nevada for maintenance at the request of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency.
Now News 4 in St. Louis is reporting the mission was for training? What kind of maintenance can’t be done closer? What are they doing flying it that far when it needs maintenance? What is an Illinois owned helicopter doing out of the state? Wow!
- Larry Mullholland - Tuesday, Sep 10, 13 @ 9:03 am:
IDOT chopper fiasco!
Why in the world is the state paying overtime, fuel, travel expenses for two pilots to fly a troubled chopper to NM? Could it not have been shipped on the back of a semi or rail car? Just more poor decisions with our tax dollars.
- Small Town Liberal - Tuesday, Sep 10, 13 @ 9:04 am:
G.I. Joe - It’s headed for maintenance because it crashed, it was out of state for a specialized training exercise not available in state. Take a breath.
- okay sure - Tuesday, Sep 10, 13 @ 9:40 am:
How does a “not operational” helicopter crash? If it was flying, then wasn’t it being operated?
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Sep 10, 13 @ 9:52 am:
“Preckwinkle won’t have Metra pick this week–but black expected to get nod”
When I saw this headline link I thought, “that cannot mean what I think it means– that’s incredibly offensive.” Foolish me– that’s exactly what it means. :/
- Just Observing - Tuesday, Sep 10, 13 @ 10:13 am:
It seems clear that the City of Chicago does not have the legal authority to “require” signs, so in an end-run the proposal seeks to inappropriately use business licenses as a means to compel business owners to fall in line with the desires of the supporters of the ordinance.
Moreover, it is insulting that retired peace officers would be exempt from this ordinance. If alcohol is truly the factor, as the supporters say, are retired police officers not susceptible bad decisions while consuming alcohol?
This is a silly ordinance that will do absolutely nothing to prevent gun crimes in Chicago.
- Rod - Tuesday, Sep 10, 13 @ 10:14 am:
In relation to the repeal of Chicago’s gun laws. First off I want to thank Todd Vandermyde and the Illinois Rifle Association for freeing Chicago gun owners from the absurd gun registration laws we have lived under since the time of Mayor Jane Byrne.
Second, while I have the most respect for Alderman Burke’s wife and her role on the Illinois Supreme Court I have nothing but distain for the Alderman. The very fact that as a former police officer and as a current Alderman he had numerous rights in relation to gun ownership that other citizens of Chicago did not have (add to that the fact he had for years his own CPD security detail) and yet he continually berates Todd along with all of us in the City that have attempted to enforce our second amendment rights.
After the horrendous murder of Judge Lefko’s family in 2005 that took place two blocks from my own home in Chicago and the threats against Judge Lefkow made in 2003 by followers of the white supremacist leader Matthew F. Hale I have little doubt Alderman Burke’s home is well armed. No one would question his right in that regard, why has he repeatedly questioned the right of private citizens in Chicago to have an equal sense of security?
- nick - Tuesday, Sep 10, 13 @ 10:15 am:
Um, JUdy, the individual income tax rates in all neighboring states with the exception of Indiana is higher than Illinois income tax rate. That is of course as long as you make more than $13,000. Also all neighboring states except Indiana have graduated income taxes. I’m not seeing a rush to neighboring states especially since Illinois is very pro business concerning corporate aid and many businesses pay lower taxes than individuals.
- Anon - Tuesday, Sep 10, 13 @ 10:32 am:
Speaking of aircraft, how’s the state plane doing these days? That was a pretty big issue back when we were hatin’ on Blago.
Did all the problems with it go away?
- Mokenavince - Tuesday, Sep 10, 13 @ 10:40 am:
Judy is right we are not business friendly on 3 big points. Our workers comp is out of whack, our legislators cave into unions on command
Our State is a deadbeat. That combination would scare anybody.
That said Barton you have done a great job in Rich’s absence. You deserve a credit in the up coming movie.
- nick - Tuesday, Sep 10, 13 @ 10:44 am:
This NYtimes article outlines the same old, same old, nonsense the GOP is spouting:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/10/us/in-missouri-governor-turns-tax-cut-debate-against-gop.html?hp&_r=0
At least the Missouri governor has some backbone.
- Ann - Tuesday, Sep 10, 13 @ 10:53 am:
They have to be kidding. To transfer the balance from my Chicago Card to a Ventra I have to show up in a Chicago park somewhere? Nothing downtown where I, you know, commute to, from, you know, the suburbs? My closest park is Columbus Park, where I could show up during a two and a half hour on a Wednesday evening September 25th. That’s it? Sounds like a good way to just scoop up everyone’s remaining Chicago Card balance.
- Huh? - Tuesday, Sep 10, 13 @ 10:59 am:
Why was a “non-operational” helicopter flying in New Mexico when it was supposed to be in Nevada getting maintained?
New Mexico is out of the way for a trip to Nevada.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Sep 10, 13 @ 11:10 am:
–When I saw this headline link I thought, “that cannot mean what I think it means– that’s incredibly offensive.” Foolish me– that’s exactly what it means. :/ –
It is, indeed. It accurately reflects what Preckwinkle intends to do, according to her flack.
–“President Preckwinkle wants to ensure that a diversity of perspectives are represented on the Metra board. She intends to appoint an African-American from the south suburbs.”
- Joan P. - Tuesday, Sep 10, 13 @ 11:42 am:
“Apparently production of the soon-to-be released low-budget thriller “Godzilla v. Mothra v. Oscar” took longer than anticipated.”
Thriller? The outcome is obvious. Oscar could take them both with all paws tied behind his back. He’d defeat them with cuteness.
- orzo - Tuesday, Sep 10, 13 @ 12:24 pm:
Preckwinkle’s will likely be African-American, but will come from Thornton township, with a large Black suburban population, but more importantly, she gets to give a Zuc organization operative a job.
- Sir Reel - Tuesday, Sep 10, 13 @ 12:25 pm:
There’s a Governor’s Council of Economic Advisors? I wonder if the Governor knows that?
- Demoralized - Tuesday, Sep 10, 13 @ 1:47 pm:
First of all, I’m glad everybody in the helicopter crash is ok. It’s nice to see the concern some of you have for that.
Second, it would be nice to have some more information on the helicopter, but I’m guessing there was a reason this helicopter needed to be taken to this maintenance facility in Nevada.
Enough with the constant hysteria people.
- Demoralized - Tuesday, Sep 10, 13 @ 2:10 pm:
==New Mexico is out of the way for a trip to Nevada. ==
Not necessarily. Last time I flew to Las Vegas we flew over parts of Texas, New Mexico and Arizona.
- Just The Way It Is One - Tuesday, Sep 10, 13 @ 7:54 pm:
Barton, THANK YOU for filling in so admirably…you did a super job and I, for One, (among MANY others I’m sure) really appreciated it! Plus, as to the “Blog Master,” we ALL deserve a good bread once in awhile…hope it was refreshing for him ‘cuz this SURE IS gonna be One BUSY Year in Illinois ahead…!!! Thanks again for keepin’ things rollin’…(kinda reminds me of the old REO Speedwagon Hit)!
- Just The Way It Is One - Tuesday, Sep 10, 13 @ 7:55 pm:
That was MEANT to read “…a good BREAK once in awhile…!”
- foster brooks - Wednesday, Sep 11, 13 @ 7:55 am:
Nobody around Illinois works on helicopters? Sheesh