* Illinois in recession? That could be just the beginning of our woes

“Both in terms of financial industries and credit downturns that impacted the economy and markets nationwide, we’re still ahead of the curve,” Rowen said. “We could even come out of this ahead of the rest of the United States and international economies.”

Other experts weren’t as positive and felt Illinois was at the edge or already in a recession and possibly headed for worse. Moody’s economy.com issued data this week that said Illinois was one of 27 states already in a recession.

* Press Release: National Legal Association Asks Illinois Banks Receiving State Investments to Consider Hiring Minority- or Women-Owned Businesses

* Durbin has big lead in campaign’s final days

The poll of 800 likely voters conducted last week by Maryland-based Research 2000 found that Durbin holds a 59 percent to 34 percent lead, with 7 percent undecided. Durbin also has a 59 percent favorable rating — the highest in two years under the poll. Sauerberg, a physician, has a favorable rating of 41 percent, and his unfavorable rating is 44 percent.

* Senate race 1 of contrasts

In an election where Democratic U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin is heavily favored, Republicans are getting what they want from their challenger, suburban family practice physician Steve Sauerberg.

* Setting up shop

Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.), another alumnus of the Clinton White House, is advising on inauguration matters, process, personnel and priorities, if indeed Obama wins. On Sunday, ABC’s George Stephanopoulos asked Emanuel whether he would be interested in serving as Obama’s chief of staff. Emanuel did not rule it out.

* Ald. Stone vows to ‘destroy’ city watchdog agency

Nine months after an inspector general’s probe led to the indictment of his ward’s Streets and Sanitation superintendent, Ald. Bernie Stone (50th) vowed to “destroy” the agency at a Friday budget hearing.

“It is my intent, Mr. Inspector General, to wipe your entire office out of the budget,” Stone told Inspector General David Hoffman. “It is my intent to submit a budget amendment which will destroy your department.”

* Cook County workers feeling heat

So far this year, former inspector general Joseph Price — a Todd Stroger appointee replaced this month by Pat Blanchard — started 91 investigations. Among the allegations Price looked into involved employees reporting to Chief Judge Tim Evans and Circuit Court Clerk Dorothy Brown.

And the number of new investigations is expected to skyrocket, the Sun-Times has learned. Since Blanchard was sworn in last week, his office has been in steady contact with sources offering up information.

* Library Fines Likely to Come Up at Budget Hearing

Budget hearings continue this morning as Chicago aldermen try to find ways to make up a $469-million deficit. One of the suggestions for bringing in more money is expected to come up at today’s hearing. That’s increasing the fines for overdue library books from ten cents a day to twenty. Alderman Ed Smith says there are better ways to raise revenue than increasing fines on overdue books.

* Wind knocks out power for more than 6,600 ComEd customers

* State’s largest indoor sports complex set to open in Lake Barrington

* Surge in Iraqi immigration expected

The Chicago area is poised to become a top destination for Iraqi war refugees, according to Illinois officials who worry about finding housing and jobs for the newcomers in a struggling economy.

In the first years of the war, fewer than 200 Iraqi refugees came to Illinois, but more than 1,000 have landed in the state in the last year, and nearly 1,400 more are expected in the next 12 months.

Efforts by U.S. officials to admit Iraqis by the thousands could lead to 20 years of Immigration on par with the area’s roughly 30,000 Vietnam War refugees, said Ed Silverman, who directs the Illinois Bureau of Refugee and Immigrant Services.

* State offers more help for winter heating bills

Illinois officials say the state will have an extra $118 million this year to help low-income families with their winter heating costs.

Gov. Rod Blagojevich said in statement Sunday that Illinois has $265 million in money from the federal government’s Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.

* State offers grants to farmers markets

Grant money to help farmers markets pay the cost of advertising will be available through the state next year, according to a news release from Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s office.

The Illinois Farmers Market Advertising Grant Program will provide up to $7,500 to qualifying farmers markets to help with advertising and promotions in 2009. The funds — $132,565 the first year — will be distributed through the Illinois Department of Agriculture, the release said.

* Ideas for airports take wing

Richard Rodriguez would like hungry passengers to have more choices of ethnic foods to buy while traveling through Chicago’s airports.

As the city’s aviation commissioner, Rodriguez wants folks to rumba with their roller bags to the sound of live bands in the concourses. He wants to see more uniquely Chicago artwork hanging on the walls.

And he envisions nail boutiques, like those located on hundreds of Chicago streets, offering manicures and fake fingernails that can be glued on while passengers are waiting between flights.

* Sun-Times circulation up

The Chicago Sun-Times, setting itself apart from most American newspapers, is reporting an increase in circulation in the latest six-month reporting period.

The paper said that from March through September, its average weekday circulation rose 0.3 percent to 313,174 copies. For the Sunday edition, the paper reported a 3.4 percent increase to 255,906 copies.

* Lawrence leaves public policy institute to go back to journalism

After 11 years administering and teaching at the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Mike Lawrence is leaving to return to his roots.

Lawrence, who has spent the last four years as the institute’s director, said recently that it’s been a rewarding experience, but Friday will be his last day at the institute.

* Media: What is going to happen to post-GateHouse-collapse Journal Star?

Wednesday was the last day GateHouse Media — the company that owns the Peoria Journal Star and most of the other daily and weekly newspapers in the area — was traded on the New York Stock exchange. It’s trading price at the exchange closed? Seven cents per share. At one point, it sold at more than $20 per share.

* Conrad Black: Con, blogger