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* Purchase tickets here for the December 16th performance of “No-El, Or How the Blagojegrinch Stole Christmas” - Our Capitol Fax holiday party

* Abortions at Stroger up 78% since 2003

The county has more than doubled the number of abortions performed each week since the service was reinstated in 1992 — to a current average of 77 a week from a self-imposed limit of 30 a week.

County officials and abortion advocates say the need has always been there, but the county wasn’t addressing it.

* Editorial: Don’t apply smoking ban to private fraternity houses

Although interesting, it would not be worth the costs of a legal fight that likely would be doomed to failure.

Instead, the department should focus on the original intent of lawmakers who approved the law and on crucial details such as when, if ever, an outdoor “beer garden” would be included in the Clean Indoor Air Act.

Leave the regulation of private fraternity and sorority houses to the organizations themselves and - to a limited extent - to the universities that recognize those organizations.

* Clout heavy contractor got $45K for unauthorized job

* Rockford airport officials say they are sitting on a gold mine

“RFD is sitting on top of a gold mine, and we now know where that vein is,” Executive Director Bob O’Brien says. “If we pursue it with aggressiveness, Rockford, the Rock River Valley and this region is going to become very, very wealthy.”

Even if no new routes are added at Chicago Rockford International next year, the airport should still break its single-year passenger record.

But airport officials are aiming higher. They want to see 300,000 to 400,000 passengers next year. They want to see at least a million passengers within five years.

* Illinois Republicans hold Governor for a day contest

* Kirk Dillard: Legislators who are ready for reform

* Daily Herald briefs: Transit vote next week…more support for Illinois FutureGen

* Michigan/West Virginia latest to back Illinois’ FutureGen bid

* 8th and 16th Congressional incumbents not breaking bank on election

Eighth District incumbent Melissa Bean, a Barrington Democrat, held a commanding fundraising lead over her closest challenger, Long Grove businessman Steve Greenberg. Both will battle it out in primaries for the right to represent their parties in the November general election.

Similar trends held in the 16th District, where Rep. Don Manzullo, an Egan Republican, had $455,244 in his campaign coffers, while Democratic challenger and Barrington Hills Village President Robert Abboud reported $77,089.

* 18th-CD candidate Morris focusing on keeping country safe

* Vote to replace Hastert to be held on a Saturday

* Mary Mitchell: White top cop the best way to get blacks’ trust?

posted by Paul Richardson
Tuesday, Dec 4, 07 @ 9:27 am

Comments

Unfortunately, the 8th CD race seems to be over before it begins. Bean is way out in front in terms of dollars raised, that along with incumbency gets you re-elected.

Greenberg seems to be a more personable candidate than McSweeney, but doesn’t have the professional operation needed in order to win this race. If you go by his campaign HQ (actually the same location as the old McSweeney HQ) there’s no furniture, staff, signs, literature, etc. Most people in the district that I’ve talked to about the race, don’t even know who any of the Republican candidates are.

Greenberg’s poor fundraising doesn’t bode well for the GOP to recapture this seat. It’s up for debate as to how much Greenberg will put in the race and whether his main opponent, Kirk Morris, will be able to mount a serious primary campaign.

Something tells me though, if Greenberg had the money to put into the race, he would have done it already to scare off primary challengers.

While his personal financial disclosure is not available online yet, I get the feeling that he doesn’t have the liquidity to put major money in the race, at least not enough to match Bean.

Comment by Centrino Tuesday, Dec 4, 07 @ 10:10 am
What are the cost overruns at O’Hare Airport for the grand reconstruction projects thus far?

Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Tuesday, Dec 4, 07 @ 11:57 am
I don’t know that taxpayers should be paying for abortions or other such care (I’m pro choice, for what it’s worth).

Another gem by Mary Mitchell, complaining about racism out of one side of her mouth, then complaining that only a Black candidate should be chosen as commissioner of police out the other side. Uhm, Mary … isn’t that a form of racism?

Comment by Snidely Whiplash Tuesday, Dec 4, 07 @ 1:27 pm
I heard Liz Gorman trying to link increased abortions to illegal immigration.

She’s nothing but class. Why wait for facts before exploiting bigotry and socially divisive issues?

Comment by Carl Nyberg Tuesday, Dec 4, 07 @ 3:04 pm