*** UPDATE *** * This is the announcement that I was told was coming today. Turns out, it’ll be later this week…

Gov. Pat Quinn says he’s going to appoint a new head of the Illinois Department of Corrections.

Quinn refused Tuesday to divulge who he would name, but he said an announcement was likely later this week.

[ *** End of Update *** ]

* Gov. Pat Quinn has taken some heat for hiring lots of white males to top administration and agency jobs. That begins to change today with this appointment and possibly others…

Ald. Billy Ocasio (26th) is resigning from the Chicago City Council to accept a job as a senior adviser to Gov. Quinn.

Ocasio, chairman of the council’s Human Relations Committee, is recommending that Mayor Daley appoint Rev. Jesus DeJesus to replace him.

Ocasio has been an occasional thorn in Daley’s side, so while Daley probably doesn’t relish him getting a nice job, he’s probably thankful that Ocasio is now out of the way. Progress Illinois posted this video today from Ocasio’s opposition to Daley’s last budget…

[A report in this morning’s Capitol Fax about a different minority hire was apparently premature.]

* And speaking of budgets, SEIU has a new TV ad which promises to be as ubiquitous as its last one…

Rate it?

* The Illinois Federation of Teachers is also running a radio ad calling on legislators to approve more state revenues. Audio, script and stations running the ad are at this link. Excerpt…

No one’s getting rich being a teacher. That is why we pay into the pension. We count on that just like the kids count on us. If they don’t fund schools, our children don’t have a chance. If you don’t fund our pensions, teachers don’t have a chance.

* Related…

* Present Versus Future Salaries for Teachers