* Complaint names McHenry Co. state’s attorney
Bianchi said accusations that he was improperly reimbursed for office expenses were politically motivated.
“Anyone can write a letter to complain,” said Bianchi, who faces opposition in the GOP primary in February. “This is strictly a political move.”
Bianchi said he was outraged.
* Knox Co. board members not surprised Madigan won’t file charges against state’s attorney
* Clout Street: Hynes swipe at governor launches website on pay to play
* Website links campaign donations to contractors
* Contributions, contracts are traced by Comptroller’s website
* Comptroller’s new website highlights contracts, donors
* Bethany Jaeger: Comptroller to follow the money
* Opinion: Personal injury lawyer adopts stealth campaign
* First hearing on Cook Co. tax hikes tonight
* Downtown peak parking rate may increase to $1 an hour
* Chicago Public Radio: Cook Co. health officials talk money
* Daley defends decision to not name accused cops
* Daley rips aldermen who demand names of police
* Kadner: 28 year old woman to run for Cook Co. state’s attorney
* Cook Co. health chief wins praise for progress
Commissioner Joan Murphy even suggested the county spend more for an effective PR effort to spread the word about changes in the system — though the county repeatedly has been ripped for spending too much on PR.
Simon laid out ways he has cracked the whip on what was “the worst situation I personally have ever seen.” Employee overtime is down, he said, and so are waiting times for patients at clinics.
It’s not all rosy, of course. Hospital staff and contractors still aren’t collecting bills at nearly the rate they should. Hospital hires continue to draw scrutiny as being tinged by patronage, while Board President Todd Stroger wants to add hundreds of new jobs.
* Cook Co. weighs co-pay for jails, clinics
He said officials are concerned about a potential public relations backlash.
“It’s a tough one,” Simon said. “If you guys stand in our shoes and in the board’s shoes, the moment we do, say, $20 for a clinic visit … what will end up happening is you’re going to get patients that will say … ‘I can’t afford it,’ and then it will become a newspaper article.”
* Tribune Editorial: Fair trade, work for housing; more here
It has been more than a decade since federal welfare reform pushed the idea that citizens who receive the government’s help should be expected to help themselves through work or education requirements. There were predictions of dire consequences. But welfare reform proved to be a smashing success.
So, we think, will the CHA’s plans for tenants.
* Cabbies beg city to raise fares
* Chicago cabdrivers denied 24% fair hike
During a City Council hearing that dragged on for hours and adjourned without action, Consumer Services Commissioner Norma Reyes slammed the door on the increase on grounds it “does not correspond with the increase in driver expenses.”
“Their lease expenses have remained static. And gas prices have gone up and down, up and down, up and down. Now there’s a downward trend since it increased last summer. Based on that, I’m not supporting a fare increase,” Reyes said.
Reyes said she remains “sympathetic” to the plight of cabbies and vowed to consider innovative “formulas” to address fuel prices.
* Americorps volunteers to march on state capitol in annual parade
* Possible Silver Cross move puts Joliet, county at odds
In July, Silver Cross announced that it planned to build a $400 million, 289-bed hospital on 70 acres along Interstate 355 in New Lenox, about three miles east of the existing hospital.
Officials said the new hospital would be more modern and would better meet the region’s health care needs of the future.
Joliet officials argue the change would hurt the city and the county economies, citing several examples.
* Opinion: FOID rules are way around safety regulation
* Illinois to get high-tech driver’s licenses
* Chicago Public Radio: Sec. of State unveils new ID cards
* New driver’s licenses to have deliberate errors
* Illinois to issue new licenses
* State unveils new card aimed at combating fraud, ID theft
* State unveils new driver’s license and ID cards
“These changes in Illinois’ driver’s licenses and ID cards represent a very important and positive step on the path to improved card security for everyone,” Secretary of State Jesse White said during a Tuesday news conference. “I am confident that the new driver’s license and ID will work to prevent and detect attempts at fraud, protect ID information.”
Despite safeguards against fraud, counterfeiters have been able to reproduce current licenses and ID cards, White said.
* Child support bill becomes law
* Hospital planning board’s fate depends on task force
* Hospital Board review off to slow start
