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* Hundreds gather to mourn former attorney general’s son

* Senate backs watchdog group

The Senate moved unanimously to preserve the mission of the state Procurement Policy Board on a busy legislative day that also included a Senate vote to restore $8 million that the governor cut from the budget.

The 56-0 vote in support of the lease-monitoring agency came the same day the Chicago Sun-Times disclosed Blagojevich’s veto, as well as concerns from a key member of the panel about at least $1.1 million the administration has spent to lease 225 parking spaces near the James R. Thompson Center.

* University chief says Poshard can stay, but must correct ‘84 paper; more here and here and here

* Daley ‘insulted’ at being blasted by press about tax hikes

* Daley fights back against budget critics

* Mayor fires back at tax hike foes

* Tribune Editorial: Scale back the tax hike mayor

* Sun-Times Editorial: Sensible tax policy is no insult

* Editorial: Daley’s tax attack would put too much burden on citizens

* Sneed: Fuel the fire tipsville

* Midway privatization ‘going to happen’ says Daley

Southwest alone can stop the deal because, under federal law, it must be approved by airlines making up 65% of the combined weight of the planes that land at Midway. Southwest, Midway’s largest tenant, accounts for more than 65% of the landing weight all by itself.

* New law protects college journalists

* Chicago Public Radio: Deal made over morning after pill

* Moment of silence mandated in IL schools

* Moment of silence starts today

* Quiet please, moment of silence now mandatory

* Moment of silence or school prayer

If the silence is “truly neutral and there’s no religious coercion'’ during it, then the law probably could survive a court challenge, said Rob Boston, a spokesman for Americans United for Separation of Church and State.

Children even now are allowed to cross themselves or fold their hands in school, as long as their acts are voluntary and not disruptive, Boston said. But a second grader from a non-Christian family may be confused if he sees classmates crossing themselves, and his teacher may have a tough time explaining to him what his rights are during his new moment of silence, Boston said.

“Unfortunately lawmakers continue to meddle in this area, so we end up with laws like this that are either difficult to interpret or end up not having much practical effect, except to add another burden to the teachers’ day.”

* Opinions divided on school silence law

* Editorial: Are standardized tests doing the job?

* Madigan won’t appeal overturned murder conviction

* Scouts help lawmakers unveil new scouting license plates

* Friday Beer Blogging: MillerCoors Edition

posted by Paul Richardson
Friday, Oct 12, 07 @ 8:46 am

Comments

Correct me if I’m wrong…

… but I heard that there is already guidelines in place that allow for teachers or schools to allow a “moment of silence” at their discretion?

What’s so hard to understand about the seperation of church and state?

Better question…

What’s so hard in allowing parents to be “parents??”

Comment by YouNeverSawMe Friday, Oct 12, 07 @ 8:57 am
We need a moment of silence to mourn the Senates execution of democracy by refusing to allow a full veto vote.

Comment by Ghost Friday, Oct 12, 07 @ 9:01 am
What happen with the tax cap in cook county?, Did the senate go along with the house version, or did they pass some other version?

Comment by MOON Friday, Oct 12, 07 @ 9:15 am
The Mayor is insulted???!!!!

I am insulted by all the Mayor’s corruption and higher taxes.

Comment by Michael Friday, Oct 12, 07 @ 9:17 am
The Pantagraph has a story this morning about how our Governor is going to lay off 1,800 of the 2,000 State Troppers unless the General Assembly passes the budget bills he wants. Somebody really ought to stand up and call his bluff on this one. No more mamby pamby statements about scare tactics. Just stand up and say, “OK, Governor, we dare you - lay those troopers off!” He would melt down into a little puddle of goo in his shoes. What a disgrace that man is.

Comment by Sarge Friday, Oct 12, 07 @ 9:20 am
Why not require Daley to take the funds from leasing out Midway and use them for the CTA?

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Oct 12, 07 @ 9:40 am
Anon beat me too it here. If Daley is going to privatize Midway Airport, the funds should go to transit capital projects — but I want to be more specific than Anon; they should not go towards plugging the operations gap that legislators and Blago have shirked. Rather, they should pay for the local share of city-based expansion projects such as the Red Line extension, Orange Line extension and Mid-City Transitway (and, I suppose, if the mayor really really insists, the Circle Line).

Comment by Angry Chicagoan Friday, Oct 12, 07 @ 9:43 am
I’ll add one more thought. Instead of blowing money on the Circle Line, how about a serious effort to make the ‘el faster than it ever has been? And how about bus rapid transit on Lake Shore Drive? Now, those, in conjunction with the transitway, would be truly innovative and make public transit useful for many more people.

Comment by Angry Chicagoan Friday, Oct 12, 07 @ 9:45 am
Midway privatization ‘going to happen’ says Daley

You bet your sweet bippy it is going to happen. Da Mare needs someone to bail him out of his Block 37 CTA station debacle, and our Aussie friends probably won’t bail him out unless Daley throws in Midway to the deal for a song.

Watch carefully…you will see the foreign private sector totally pull one over on the Chicago taxpayers here.

Comment by Leroy Friday, Oct 12, 07 @ 10:12 am
This so-called moment of silence is NOT religiously neutral, because it does not accommodate those Christians than engage in a form of prayer known as blasting prayer. In order to be truly religiously neutral, there must also be a moment of noise.

Absolutely ridiculous. Richard Dawkins is right–reason is under attack throughout the world.

Comment by Squideshi Friday, Oct 12, 07 @ 11:56 am
Midway privatization should be blocked except on two conditions — that the proceeds be used to upgrade and/or create more capital assets, and that the price be fair. I won’t even accept a rainy day fund on this one. No way.

I also don’t expect to get a fair price. It will be some firesale thing like the Indiana Toll Road. The Chicago Skyway was strictly a one-off in my view.

Comment by Angry Chicagoan Friday, Oct 12, 07 @ 12:53 pm
How long is a moment, anyway?

Comment by NoGiftsPlease Friday, Oct 12, 07 @ 7:02 pm