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* Rostenkowski ‘walked in the shoes of the common man’

* Rostenkowski remembered as generous, if flawed

* Dan Rostenkowski’s legacy will cast a long shadow

* Rostenkowski’s final farewell

* Walter’s Perspective: Saying Bye To Rostenkowski

* Trend in ACT scores shows growing racial gap

While white Illinois seniors saw their average ACT scores rise from 22.0 five years ago to 22.4 in both 2009 and 2010, the state’s African-American students saw their scores go in the opposite direction.

The average African-American Illinois senior scored 16.9 in 2006, compared to 16.8 in 2009 and 16.7 in 2010, new data released today showed.

Illinois’ Hispanic scores dipped from 18.2 last year to 18.0 this year, but were up slightly from five years ago, when Illinois Hispanics averaged a score of 17.9.

The state’s highest-achieving ethnic group — Asians — saw the biggest gains on a test used by many Illinois colleges as one measurement of college readiness. Their scores rose from 22.6 five years ago, to 23.7 last year and 23.8 this year.

* Illinois moves toward tightening high school testing loophole

* Average ACT scores dip, but more students ready for college

* Bankruptcy judge gives Tribune more time

* Daley suspends revenue director over memo saying police not writing enough tickets

Revenue Director Bea Reyna-Hickey was suspended for a day over the Aug. 10 memo that told police the city “will witness a dramatic decrease in annual revenues and not meet 2010 targets” if a slump in parking tickets and vehicle-compliance tickets continues.

“Stupidity. It was stupid. Just stupid. Some bureaucrat sent that out,” Daley said at an unrelated news conference. “The revenue department has nothing to do with the police department, period. They [officers] will determine whether you violated a law. No one else can. Especially revenue can’t.”

* Daley suspends aide over ticket-writing e-mail

The mayor reacted after several critics, including Fraternal Order of Police President Mark Donahue, said it’s improper to emphasize ticket writing at a time of high-profile crimes, including the murders of police officers and children. The critics also noted that the Police Department is short of personnel because of budget constraints.

* Police struggle to enforce rule of thumbs

“This law is very difficult to enforce,” said Kristiansen, supervisor of the traffic unit for the Buffalo Grove police. “They will usually have their phone down low, where it’s hard to see.”

* Mayor Daley unveils city’s $1.8 billion spending plan for 2010

As always, the plan includes everything from airport, water and sewer improvements, street resurfacing, sidewalk, curb and gutter repairs to construction of new libraries, police and fire stations.

“Capital improvements are absolutely essential to keep a city moving forward if we want to be a global city,” Daley told a news conference at the Lawrence Avenue viaduct being rebuilt by the city over the Kennedy Expy.

* Chicago climbs global cities list

* Metra adds train stops for New Trier

* CPS unveils push for healthier school meals

* NU Plans More Aid For Evanston, Chicago Students

* IT funding dominates DuPage borrowing talks

* Carpentersville set to start on public works facility

* Surgery still up in the air for Elk Grove Village mayor

* Country Club Hills man guilty of standing

Gregory Gordon Jr. committed the crime of standing. He has the ticket from Country Club Hills police, accusing him of unlawfully obstructing the roadway with his person, to prove it. […]

On Aug. 3, at 5:47 p.m., Gordon was on the street outside of the house where he lives with his parents in the 3600 block of 175th Place - less than a block from the County Club Hills police station. According to Gordon, 25, he was saying goodbye to his cousin, his cousin’s girlfriend and his cousin’s children as they were filing in to their car to head home.

A squad car drove by once.

The officer driving the vehicle circled the block and came back with some instructions for Gordon.
“He said, ‘Get the ‘F’ off the street!’ ” Gordon recalled.

* Homer Glen mayor disappointed in SD 205 board

* Quad City International Airport posts third busiest month ever

* Quad-Cities ACLU chapter protests suspension

* Coles County Crop Survey shows corn clearly ahead of last year’s pace

* Former Shelbyville mayor Bill Shoaff appointed to fill council vacancy

* Suspect in mayor’s shooting withdraws request for a new judge

* SIUC intends to hire new provost

* Journal Star to adopt new format

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Aug 18, 10 @ 9:38 am

Comments

I’ll consider Gregory Gordon Jr armed and extremely dangerous.

Comment by Davey Boy Smithe Wednesday, Aug 18, 10 @ 9:52 am
The underlying problem with schools today is that achievement is no longer an ideal in schools pushed by educators, meeting basic standards has become the goal. - http://disenchantedjourno.blogspot.com/2010/08/thought-of-day-shocked-to-find-american.html

Comment by Disenchanted Journo Wednesday, Aug 18, 10 @ 3:29 pm
trend in ACT scores shows growing racial gap. there’s a racial
gap in murders too, both victims and shooters. we gotta
talk about the whole picture, even if it is very uncomfortable.

Comment by Amalia Wednesday, Aug 18, 10 @ 4:30 pm