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Illinois

* Disabled protest again, Gov OKs some demands

* Second blockade protest shuts down Thompson Center

* Illinoize: During the 2002 campaign, candidate Rod Blagojevich made all sorts of promises to state employees to re-open state facilities that Governor George Ryan closed

* Peraica staffer charged with making tough calls to Gorman - Fred Ichniowski, a campaign staffer for Tony Peraica, is charged with making harassing phone calls to Commissioner Liz Gorman

* Sneed tidbit on Commissioner Claypool

Cook County President Todd Stroger’s people continue to snicker at Commissioner Forrest Claypool’s two faces.

To wit: On one side, Claypool is quick to point out that the public will not accept higher taxes until the county has reformed itself, and there is no waste or fat.

The flipside: Claypool has the second-highest-paid assistant among all the commissioners: $90,000 plus per annum.

* IRS: Stroger campaign didn’t pay taxes

* Olympic Village could shift west to cut costs and aid neighborhood

Chicago 2016 spokesman Patrick Sandusky acknowledged that “there could be changes to the village” as Olympic planners seek to “make it better and the best long-term legacy for the city.” But he said, “No final decisions have been made.”

At a City Hall news conference last week, U.S. Olympic Committee chief executive Jim Scherr also opened the door to changes in what he called Chicago’s “very, very developed” Olympic bid.

* Chicago teachers approve contract: allow panel to ‘mull’ longer school day; more here and here

* Mayor pedals hybrid fleet, bike program; more here

* Optimistic outlook for I-294/57 plan, but work remains

* ISU student to challenge Rep. Weller on Green Party ticket; more here

* WurfWhile: Another candidate enters 14th Congressional Dem primary

* U.S. prosecutors argue Ryan trial errors were minor

Now that the prosecution brief has been filed, the full court could vote in the next few weeks on whether to grant Ryan a full, or en banc, hearing.

If a majority of the judges vote to hear the case, they would likely take several months to read briefs, hold an oral argument and render a decision.

If the full court declines to review the case, Ryan would have to report to prison within four business days after the appellate court issues its order.

* New laws in Illinois target rapists, underage drinkers

* Chicago Public Radio: James Brown Law

* Blagojevich signs bill to honor fallen soldiers

* Illinois moves to regulate ultimate fighting

* UFC gets state approval for 2008

posted by Paul Richardson
Wednesday, Sep 12, 07 @ 7:12 am

Comments

En banc hearing to start soon, current gov. starts another lawsuit, and Illinois approves and regulates ultimate fighting… perhaps there’s a creative way this can all work itself out?

Comment by two men enter, one man leaves Wednesday, Sep 12, 07 @ 7:18 am
Ah, another worthless tidbit from Sneed…she’s so cutting edge.

Comment by Jay Wednesday, Sep 12, 07 @ 8:20 am
The boxing/MMA law is available here and from the looks of it, the original boxing law needed some attention anyway. For example, the original law did not require an ambulance to be present and now it does. The original insurance requirement was a mere $10,000 per boxer, now it is $50k per fighter.

Oddly — and maybe someone can explain this to me — the original law required promoters to pay to the state a tax of 10% of the first half-million dollars of gross receipts from the sale of admission tickets into the General Revenue Fund. The state’s cut has now been reduced to just three percent.

I am glad that the Act is giving the UFC a green light, but I think it is queer that, while Illinois is staggering financially, that same Act reduces the state’s cut of the gate.

– SCAM

Comment by so-called "Austin Mayor" Wednesday, Sep 12, 07 @ 8:55 am
Peraica isn’t going to move up until he hires professional people.

Ichniowski “told police he was drunk when he made the calls around 9 a.m.”

Sheesh.

Comment by Super Mega Wednesday, Sep 12, 07 @ 8:58 am
Regarding the salary of Comm. Claypool’s aide, I can only surmise that given the level of service Comm. Claypool provides to the people of CookCounty vs. that provided by his colleagues, his aide might easily be doing the second greatest amount of work of any aide to a Cook County Commissioner.

Comment by fedup dem Wednesday, Sep 12, 07 @ 9:01 am
It’s hard to believe that “Cook County President Todd Stroger’s people” would dare to snicker at anything while the Toddler’s sister, Yonnie Clark, still gets paid $99k per year by the county.

– SCAM

Comment by so-called "Austin Mayor" Wednesday, Sep 12, 07 @ 9:03 am
“Peraica said they met after he represented Ichniowski on a criminal charge in 2002 of slashing the tires of several cars belonging to nuns. Records show Ichniowski also has a previous conviction for telephone harassment.”

Slashing the tires of cars belonging to NUNS? And drunk-dialing at 9 a.m.?

Nice people you associate with, Tony.

Comment by Ron Burgundy Wednesday, Sep 12, 07 @ 9:30 am
Only in Cook County….you can’t make this stuff up!

Comment by anon Wednesday, Sep 12, 07 @ 10:06 am
Jason Wallace for Congress eh? Looks like them Greens are sprouting up everywhere in the state! Good luck to him!

Comment by GreenCutip Wednesday, Sep 12, 07 @ 11:03 am
here’s a strange one — the Governor signed a bill divesting Iranian oil development companies from our state pension funds (SB 1621), and he did it on 9/11 when the “drop date” was Sept. 13th. But there was no fanfare, no using the 9/11 commemoration as backdrop to this anti-terrorism action.

He must have been too busy filing lawsuits against the House Clerk for him to care about patriotism, Iran as the leading terrorist nation against the West, and/or governing in general.

Not like our guv to waste a PR opportunity. Perhaps because the bill did not originate in his office, there was no signing ceremony or publicity about it. Other states are taking similar action - a similar bill just passed in California. Watch “Ahnold” have a lot more fun with that bill’s signing.

Comment by capitol view Wednesday, Sep 12, 07 @ 11:45 am
Lou Lang is the House sponsor, which may have had something to do with that.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Sep 12, 07 @ 11:49 am
Did these 200 people from ADAPT ever think about FIRE HAZARD or safety of the people who are just making “a paycheck?”

Guess not, huh?

Comment by YouNeverSawMe Wednesday, Sep 12, 07 @ 12:13 pm
The teachers contract was narrowly approved (around 57% said yes). It’s a real coup for the mayor to have 5 years of labor peace with the CTU. I suspect the longer school day was simply a bargaining tactic so that when the Board gave up on it, they could get something in return.

Comment by cermak_rd Wednesday, Sep 12, 07 @ 12:38 pm
Paul

That short regarding the interchange — It is going to cost in the multibillions to connect I295 with I57.

The first is the local feeder(s) into I95 which runs from Boston to Miami. But then I95 is already connected to I-57 through the the interstate system. :–)]

I know, I know, you meant I294.

Comment by Truthful James Wednesday, Sep 12, 07 @ 1:44 pm
So ADAPT blockaded the JRTC until 5:00pm. How did all of those hacks handle having to spend so much time in the building?

Or did they sneak out the fire exits?

Comment by Papa Legba Wednesday, Sep 12, 07 @ 3:49 pm
lol TJ…That was a quiz. And you passed.

Thanks for catching the error.

Comment by Paul Richardson Wednesday, Sep 12, 07 @ 6:18 pm