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* FEMA turns down Illinois’ plea for disaster aid…

The federal government has denied Illinois’ request for assistance for people and businesses in 15 Southern Illinois counties affected by severe flooding last month, state Emergency Management Agency Director Andrew Velasquez III said Monday.

“It’s very disappointing that FEMA failed to recognize the devastating impact this flood had on so many lives in Southern Illinois,” Velasquez said.

* Potholes are so bad that IDOT must pay for outside help with repairs

* NIU president offers 3 options for Cole Hall future

All the options would take about two years to implement. Peters said if state funding is obtained this year, reopening of a renovated Cole Hall could occur in fall 2010.

* Illinois giving colleges $3.5 million for scholarships

* Treasurer secures college funds

* With justices’ OK, voter ID moves ahead

* Neuter news

To wit: Sneed has learned Ald. Ed Burke plans to introduce a City Council ordinance demanding the mandatory sterilization of any dog or cat over 6 months old living in Chicago.

* A Wrigley still in charge– for now

* What Wrigley and Mars might accomplish together

* ‘It’s a little sad,’ but sale won’t hurt Chicago

* Buffett helps unite storied family firms

* Wrigley timeline

posted by Kevin Fanning
Tuesday, Apr 29, 08 @ 8:57 am

Comments

Another home run for Treasurer Giannoulias!

Comment by corvax Tuesday, Apr 29, 08 @ 9:00 am
Burke, what a joke…why does Sneed always promote him and his wife? Can’t he and his cohorts find real issues to tackle in the city?

Comment by Spare me Tuesday, Apr 29, 08 @ 9:02 am
Now that Natarus is gone, it looks like Burke wants to be City Hall’s clown: Ed “Chicago’s Nanny” Burke.

Comment by Skeeter Tuesday, Apr 29, 08 @ 9:10 am
Ed, the people who will abide by the law will probably A. already have this done B. be responsible with their beasts. This is similar to gun laws.

What is wrong with having a State ID to vote? Is there a program to get them free to low incomes?

Comment by Wumpus Tuesday, Apr 29, 08 @ 9:17 am
Looks like Giannoulias is posturing to run for governor. If you do “good deeds” out of sheer altruism, you don’t call a press conference to tell everyone about it. Follow your master, zombies.

Comment by Snidely Whiplash Tuesday, Apr 29, 08 @ 9:29 am
Wumpus,
The problem is that if I need an ID, I hop in my car and go get one. For other people, it isn’t that easy.
In certain areas it is nearly impossible for the poor. If you look at Georgia, you will see that there are a very limited amount of locations where the IDs are provided, and for people on low incomes, it is very difficult to get to those locations.
Also, most rational people don’t see a benefit to the rule anyway. Are you really claiming that people intent on voter fraud can’t obtain fake IDs?
It is sort of like the ID requirements that many building security companies impose in Chicago — apparently terrorists don’t have IDs must be the reasoning.
With the Indiana (and Georgia) rule, you end up with a system where legitimate voters are turned away but few bad voters are stopped.

Comment by Skeeter Tuesday, Apr 29, 08 @ 9:44 am
Burke is smart as a fox.

He gets great play for these goo-goo issues. There’s a generation that has no idea about his roles in splitting the Washington Coalition after Harold’s death by promoting Sawyer, the Vrodolyak 29, and attempting to strangle the nascent political career of Rich Daley by opposing him for Cook County State’s Attorney.

Meanwhile, while a lapdog press focuses on trans fats and other such silly issues, he uses his position to build his extremely lucrative law practice, preside over the slating of judges, engineer a Supreme Court posting for his wife, and educate himself on every nook and cranny of city, county and state government, leveraging that knowledge to his advantage. If there’s a guy who knows where the bodies are buried, it’s Burke.

He’s also written some pretty good books. I hope one day he writes a bareknuckled, truthful account of his career in politics.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Apr 29, 08 @ 9:52 am
What about purebred owners that show in kennel club competitions? Because the point of kennel clubs is to improve the breed, you don’t want your grand champion to be neutered, thus incapable of contributing his genes to the breed. Would there be reasonable exceptions to this rule for such folks? And if there are, how could they keep from being exploited by backyard breeders out to make a quick buck?

I understand where he’s coming from, Myself, I currently own 3 dogs that came from shelters, and it breaks my heart to think of the ones the city must put down because there aren’t enough homes for them. However, responsible people will already have done this and irresponsible people won’t abide by the law, so what is actually accomplished?

Comment by cermak_rd Tuesday, Apr 29, 08 @ 11:17 am