Posted by Barton Lorimor (@bartonlorimor)

Fair warning: two more work days before the bearded one returns. I’ll let you decide in comments if that is a promise or a threat or a promising threat.

* No charges coming against creator of fake Mayor Ardis Twitter account: A review of state law indicates the account holders of now-shuttered Twitter account @peoriamayor didn’t break the law because the actual crime alleged, “false personation of a public official,” has to be done in person, not over the Internet or other electronic media, said State’s Attorney Jerry Brady…He wouldn’t comment on whether felony marijuana possession charges would remain in place against Jacob Elliott, 36, 1222 N. University St., after police found the drug inside the house last week. A search warrant had been issued for the crime of false personation and given that the Brady believes that section of state law didn’t apply, it could mean any evidence found at the home could be suppressed as there was no legal basis for the warrant. At issue is whether the drugs still can be used against Elliott if the warrant that allowed officers inside the house wasn’t firmly legally grounded. A quick read of the warrant gives no underlying evidence for the seizure of drugs, other than the mention of a tweet regarding a crack pipe.

* Ex-top aide to Stroger gets 6 1/2 years for theft, money laundering: Carla Oglesby, 44, who was convicted last summer of theft and money laundering charges, had nothing to say before Judge James Linn handed down the sentence that was just 6 months above the minimum punishment. Oglesby becomes the second former high-level Stroger aide to be sentenced to prison since last month. Eugene Mullins, Stroger’s friend since boyhood, was sentenced to 4 years and 3 months in prison for steering county contracts to cronies in return for $35,000 in kickbacks.

* Stroger associate sentenced in corruption case

* Prosecutors cleared to use Rep. Smith’s admissions at bribery trial: Smith’s lawyers had tried to block his admissions from his corruption trial scheduled for late next month, arguing the statements were made during plea negotiations and off limits. Prosecutors said Smith spoke freely after waiving his right to remain silent.

* Judge OKs use of lawmaker’s post-arrest statement

* Thomson prison could open in 2016: The full activation of Thomson prison is expected to take two years at a cost of $25 million for upgrades and renovations and $170 million for equipment and staffing.

* Bathon co-conspirators begin serving prison terms

* Northwestern football players to vote on union Friday

* Obama Library-Gate: 5 Developments in Debate Over $100 Million Grant Proposal: Illinois Senate President John Cullerton will do whatever it takes — even if that means offering more cash. In an interview with Crain’s, Cullerton says: “I don’t know if they need money. We will work to provide them with whatever incentive they need. It might be less [than $100 million]. It might be more. … We need to make sure they come and they stay here.”

* STATE REP. SULLIVAN SAYS DEMOCRATS INTEND TO USE OBAMA LIBRARY AS WEDGE ISSUE

* Rahm’s brother’s stake in ride-share firm raises uber questions: Back at Chicago’s City Hall, mayoral spokeswoman Sarah Hamilton said there’s no connection between Rahm’s reaction to the company’s arrival here and his brother’s financial ties to Uber. “Chicago is proposing the most comprehensive ride-share regulations in the country,” Hamilton said. “Safety and customer service are the No. 1 priorities and to suggest otherwise is absurd.”

* Bill would get Illinois police cruisers on road

* Rep. Brady: Police and coroner training audit shows shortcomings

* It’s Mayor Rahm’s game, so he makes the rules

* CPS puts $100 million price tag on mayor’s AC-in-schools edict

* Sneed: A/C in schools could help cool summer violence

* 3 city schools handed to private group for ‘turnaround’: AUSL, which runs 29 other schools in the district, will then hire new staff for the schools and train them before reopening in the fall for the same group of students. AUSL is not a charter school, but is similar in that it is given autonomy by CPS over how to run its schools. AUSL schools hire teachers who are members of the Chicago Teachers Union.

* Despite pleas, CPS hands three schools to private operator: Their mantra was the same: If we had the same extra money CPS is about to give to the Academy for Urban School Leadership — an extra $300,000 in startup money plus $420 per student, per year for five years — you’d see results from us too.

* Chicago aldermen back 8 a.m. grocery store liquor sales

* Chicago headed toward partial plastic bag ban

* Chicagoans who register cars in suburbs could face stiffer fines: The proposal would raise the cost of tickets for vehicles kept in Chicago but registered outside the city from between $200 and $500 to between $300 and $1,000. City Clerk Susana Mendoza said the ordinance is used more frequently against businesses that keep fleets of trucks in Chicago while registering them in less expensive nearby municipalities than it is against individual residents. But she said the city also gets plenty of calls from people complaining about neighbors.

* City Council Committee Approves Higher Fines For Residents Using Suburban Parking Stickers

* Aldermen back crackdown on valet parking

* City: Cubs need special permit for remote parking lot

* Free Sunday parking could soon go away in parts of Chicago: The switch is being delivered by Mayor Rahm Emanuel in response to requests from four aldermen who called for the restoration of paid parking in areas where merchants have said free parking on Sundays makes it tougher for customers to find a space when visiting their stores and restaurants.

* Watchdog questions free parking for city workers: Nineteen of the employees get free parking at 366 W. Superior St. in a warehouse the city also uses to store two city vehicles, according to a report by Inspector General Joseph Ferguson. It’s a perk valued at $45,600 a year, based on an estimated cost of $200 a month per space, the report states. But the value of the property “may exceed $1 million, based on a recently sold property . . . one block away,” the report adds.

* Free city employee parking costing Chicago money

* Report Shows City Could Generate Revenue Instead Of Doling Out Free Parking

* City inspector re-evaluating properties after FOX 32 investigation

* Aurora City Council approves outlet mall development deal

* Yorkville OKs increase in water, sewer rates

* Lake Forest votes 5-1 to join consolidated dispatch

* Oak Park Village Board berated for choice of non-green electricity

* Despite cuts, Park Ridge City Council passes budget with $6.1 million deficit

* Report: Growing number of homeless kids in DuPage: Meanwhile, the number of homeless students attending DuPage schools has climbed from 269 in 2006 to 1,287 last year, according to the Illinois State Board of Education.

* (Quincy) Aldermen will have to re-vote on firefighter contract

* Quincy receives ‘Most Progressive City’ award

* (Knox County Board) Member per diems postponed

* (Peoria) City Council saves best for last

* Unit 5 projects $3.5 million budget gap

* Flanagan pleads not guilty to disorderly conduct

* Workshop touts economic development through inland port

* Pana city attorney recommends firm as replacement

* ‘No Child Left Behind’ waiver could mean windfall for some District 186 schools

* Belleville named one of top 5 runner-friendly cities in country

* Survey: Residents generally OK with quality of life

* Herrin asks water customers to conserve