Posted by Barton Lorimor (@bartonlorimor)

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