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* Former state lawmaker Maureen Murphy dies

A private burial will be held this week. A memorial Mass will be said at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Queen of Martyrs Catholic Church at 103rd Street and Central Park Avenue. For an hour before the Mass, there will be a visitation with family members.

* Meeks solicits support for school boycott plan

* A school boycott, or not?

* Evanston amends its gun-ban law

Following on the heels of a Supreme Court decision that held that a blanket ban on handguns violated 2nd Amendment rights, Evanston’s City Council voted 7-1 Monday night to amend the North Shore suburb’s weapons ordinance to conform to the landmark court ruling.

* Feds kick in $2M to fight gangs

Assistant U.S. Attorney David Weisman, who heads Projects Safe Neighborhoods program in Chicago, said the $2 million pledge will go a long way in building on an already successful program.

* Chevy Tahoes to give police fleet a new look

* Chicago’s top cop to rank and file: you’d better measure up

* Police Remember ‘68 Convention

* Thanks, CTA…No Really, Thanks

* Monster trains coming down the tracks?

* Republican Day at the State Fair

* Constitutional Convention Divides Like-Minded Allies

* Why write-in candidate will challenge Phil Hare

posted by Kevin Fanning
Tuesday, Aug 12, 08 @ 8:17 am

Comments

SJ-R has a blurb about Jones reversing himself and agreeing to call the pay raise issue up for a vote in the Senate

Comment by Ghost Tuesday, Aug 12, 08 @ 8:31 am
With regards to the story about the feds kicking in $2 million to fight gangs, according to your logic, wouldnt it make more sense for the fed to focus on finishing the post Katrina work in New Orleans before redirecting money elsewhere?

How bout some consistency?

Comment by anon Tuesday, Aug 12, 08 @ 8:38 am
anon, if the US Attorney was slashing programs, I’d point that out. He isn’t, so I didn’t.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Aug 12, 08 @ 8:47 am
The Project Safe Neighborhoods Program is unconstitutional. The 10th Amendment states that all powers that aren’t reserved, for the federal government, in the Constitution, are reserved for the states or the people. I read every word of the Constitution, and I didn’t see a section about gangs or helping local police departments. If the Chicago Police Dept. needs help, the money should come from the county or state government, but it shouldn’t come from the federal government.

Comment by PhilCollins Tuesday, Aug 12, 08 @ 9:10 am
PC, that’s a pretty darned radical idea. And not only sophomoric, but completely wrong.

Preamble to the Constitution you’ve read every word of: We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Aug 12, 08 @ 9:17 am
PC you must have skipped over the commerce clause.

Comment by Ghost Tuesday, Aug 12, 08 @ 9:20 am
Also, anon, if I were y’all, I wouldn’t be hating on Fitzerald.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Aug 12, 08 @ 10:28 am
I don’t know if it’s constitutional or not but Project Safe Neighborhoods is hardly successful.
I live across the border from the crime and drug ridden Austin neighborhood where in the last couple of weeks alone there have been several murders. Mr. Weis, he of the astronomical paycheck, doesn’t seem to be having much of an effect. He’s been in office six months, I believe.
We should be seeing some results soon, if not already.

It’s hard to believe that $2 million is going to
do much against a multibillion dollar Chicago drug market. In fact, the dealers probably welcome these little initiatives, which lead hapless citizens to believe that something productive and intelligent is actually being done about the illegal drug trade in Austin and in Chicago as a whole.

It isn’t.

Comment by Cassandra Tuesday, Aug 12, 08 @ 11:16 am
PC, I refuse to get in a debate with someone who has such a warped view of government. My advice, move to the wilderness.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Aug 12, 08 @ 11:44 am
If Chicago is serious about fighting gangs, why not make local gun laws match that of the 2nd Amdendment? I can guarantee you that a well-armed law abiding citenzry would put a big dent in the activities of gangs once those punks realize that they could easily get shot and killed while committing atrocities(and I do mean actrocities and not crimes).

Comment by Gary Tuesday, Aug 12, 08 @ 12:50 pm
pst, Kevin, is the governor going to respond soon on the 12-0 vote on the TS move? Or will he just ignore the vote, not mention it and begin his merry way?

Comment by Princeville Tuesday, Aug 12, 08 @ 3:09 pm
I met Maureen a few times. She was a great woman who worked hard to make a difference. Prayers for her family and friends. I hope they soon find comfort in their warm memories of their times together.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Aug 12, 08 @ 6:58 pm
Assuming that when we discuss the “fed” here, we are discussing Mr. Fitzgerald, what was said that “hates” on Fitzgerald. I was referring to money going to FEMA to finish the job in NEw ORleans.

Comment by anon Tuesday, Aug 12, 08 @ 7:14 pm