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Â· The governor seems to take a step further in saying he won’t lease or sell the tollway, but he hasn’t explicitly ruled it out yet, despite the Trib’s headline (”Sell or lease tollway? Blagojevich says no”). Here’s the latest statement: “I have no interest in giving up the tollway when we’re doing so many good things,” he said. “I have no interest in turning it over to private investors.”

Â· “An obscure but powerfully influential state panel that regulates hospitals in Illinois is coming under scrutiny just two years after Gov. Rod Blagojevich said he had fixed its problems.”

Â· Everybody calm down a little: “The men were all Muslims who thought they were plotting “in conjunction with Al Qaeda” but they really were dealing with law-enforcement undercover agents, one law-enforcement official told The Miami Herald.”

Â· “Sounding a lot like a mayoral challenger, state Sen. James Meeks (I-Chicago) demanded Thursday that Mayor Daley fix a problem with a “strong hint of racism”: poorly qualified teachers concentrated in black and Hispanic schools.”

Â· Supremes help lawyers, reporters.

Â· Editorial: Deals replace fiscal restraint

Â· State officials Thursday trumpeted significant improvement in Illinois’ unemployment picture.

Â· Illinois casinos to check IDs for addicts

Â· Study: Without a federal government willing to enforce federal No Child Left Behind laws, the Illinois State Board of Education sees no reason to follow them.

Â· Green Party expects to be on state ballot

Â· Fran makes a good funny

Â· A Rockford friend says he thinks the last paragraph of this story shows a Chicago-centric attitude at DHS.

Â· Editorial: THUMBS UP! To the Macon County Board’s Environmental, Education, Health and Welfare Committee for dismissing a proposal to make English the official language of Macon County. The committee correctly determined that the county has no power to create an official language and also pointed out that the state legislature has already declared English the official language of Illinois. The committee made a wise decision.

Â· Krol: A bad month in more ways than one for Hastert

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Jun 23, 06 @ 7:31 am

Comments

Study: Without a federal government willing to enforce federal No Child Left Behind laws, the Illinois State Board of Education sees no reason to follow them.

This is the same logic I use to drive 85mph+ when I see no cops or radar. If the state troopers aren’t going to enforce the law, I feel perfectly justified at putting us all at risk.

Comment by Leroy Friday, Jun 23, 06 @ 7:50 am
Well, the Rev, whatever his political aspirations, must be giving the teachers’ unions the heebie jeebies with his talk about tests and getting rid of poorly performing teachers. And since teachers unions are one of the main, if not the main, obstacles to high quality education in Illinois, that’s a good thing.

Comment by Cassandra Friday, Jun 23, 06 @ 8:39 am
Rev. Meeks is correct — the least qualified teachers do get sent to the weakest schools. But don’t blame the State — or in Chicago, the Mayor or Arne Duncan.

It’s the union contract, stupid. More money would only send underqualified, “tenured” teachers elsewhere.

If the Rev wants to improve education, he would pull out all stops for full Competitive Choice, and use San Francisco as the example.

If the Senator in him wants to reform education, he should look at the ISBE which should be setting standards instead of lowering them. But then even the safe seats get Teachers Union campaign largesse.

Comment by Truthful James Friday, Jun 23, 06 @ 9:18 am
The malpractice thing is interesting because it shows that that court has some concept of “punitive damages.”

Of course, the Court also ruled this week that Burger King could be held liable where a car ran into a store, injuring customers.

According to the Court, cars running into building is a recognized hazard. Apparently we are now going to have to build a fortress around every building. Now, when a car slams into one of those walls, the owner is going to sue for neligence in putting up a hard wall to prevent cars from running into buildings. Maybe if we put all buildings in nice soft car-repelling bubbles . . .

Comment by Skeeter Friday, Jun 23, 06 @ 10:10 am
Robert Sorich was a stand up guy.
His loyalty could bring a tear to your eye.
Counting on clout
He refused to sell out
Like Daley’s dirty laundry he’ll be hung out to dry.

Comment by Merlin Friday, Jun 23, 06 @ 10:24 am
Four men went to trial for committing no crime.
In Chicago fixing jobs is as old as time.
See the alderman to get a job it was always said.
Without clout the prospect might as well be dead.
Things are now different which for many is fine.
They still take applications but you have to get in line.

Comment by Merlin Friday, Jun 23, 06 @ 1:35 pm
Cassandra,

Before you start to rip on “poorly performing teachers” in Chicago, ask yourself a question. Would I be willing to spend a day in some of the neighborhoods these schools are in? I doubt it. I bet you wouldn’t even drive near some of those areas in Chi town.

Comment by Papa Legba Friday, Jun 23, 06 @ 7:44 pm
If newsrooms publish/broadcast what turn out to be false court accusations, they should be held responsible for putting out a retraction of the false accusations that is equally prominent.

Waiting till the trial is over would be a far better newsroom policy, especially for private citizens. Public personalities like politicians and entertainers are more justifiable.

Comment by Anonymous Sunday, Jun 25, 06 @ 9:26 am