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* Illinois power co-op takes aim at Ameren customers
A downstate Illinois electricity cooperative today will announce plans to offer power statewide, with an eye toward signing up Ameren Corp.’s Illinois customers infuriated by rate hikes.
* Millions of Dollars in Stimulus Checks Go Unclaimed
* Citizens aim to keep Illinois 29 project moving
* Hearing on strip-mine near Banner resumes
After a month-long hiatus, testimony resumed Tuesday at an administrative hearing meant to resolve whether the Illinois Department of Natural Resources made a mistake when it granted a permit for a strip-mining project near Banner in Fulton County
* CPS chief refuses anti-violence award
His voice quaking with emotion, Chicago Schools CEO Arne Duncan refused Tuesday to accept an anti-gun violence award, saying “I don’t feel I’ve earned it'’ with student deaths on track to double this school year.
Duncan left the Abraham Lincoln Award from the Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence on a sidetable, but walked away from the lecturn at the Ritz Carlton to a standing ovation from an obviously moved audience.
* One-third of airport police jobs vacant
More than a third of the Chicago Police positions at the city’s two major airports are vacant, but officials say cops are helping to fill the gap by working overtime.
* DuPage deputies, prosecutors could score big raises
DuPage County Sheriff John Zaruba and State’s Attorney Joseph Birkett are pleading for double-digit percentage raises for deputies and assistant prosecutors.
* Iowa AG decision means Chicago cop will be freed
* CPS probes corporal punishment claims
Last school year, Simeon High School senior Bruce Zayas was captain of the volleyball team, a rising star recruited from Mount Carmel, and looking at a volleyball scholarship.
But a paddling by his coach last April for missing serves during a game — a “whupping” that left welts on the 17-year-old — changed that.
* U-46 plans to up high school credit requirements
* Weary flood victims hook up with FEMA center
DuPage County Board Chairman Robert Schillerstrom said the county was prepared to house the makeshift center for as long as it took for all the flood victims from Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Lake, Kane, LaSalle and Will counties to receive help. More than 700 people had registered for assistance after the center’s opening was announced last weekend. DuPage officials estimate the flooding cost the county roughly $10.5 million in personnel costs and infrastructure damage.
* Lake Co. forest preserve wants to buy more land
The district wants approval to issue $185 million in bonds to acquire land, restore habitats and improve public access throughout a system that has grown to nearly 27,000 acres.
* Illinois Voters Rush to Meet Registration Deadline
* Voters register at last minute
* Election offices cope with crowds as voter deadline looms
* Thousands register to vote
“Typically on the last day of voter registration maybe we see 1,000 voter registrations. Based on morning traffic, we’re projecting 12,000 today,” said Jim Allen, spokesman for the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners.
Last-minute registration in Cook County suburbs also increased. On Tuesday, the Cook County clerk’s office handled 13,000 voter registration forms downtown, pushing the total over 40,000 since Oct. 1. That’s already more registrations than before the 2004 election and Tuesday “was the busiest day yet,” spokeswoman Courtney Greve said
* Get political with Gen Y
Young voters are expected to have a hefty turnout this Nov. 4, several analysts have predicted. But Generation Y — those born after 1979 — is still somewhat of a political wildcard
* Renovated Morse Theatre reborn as live music venue
There’s a new player on the Chicago concert stage. The Morse Theatre, 1328 W. Morse, reopens Thursday as a resplendent music hall, restaurant and broadcast studio.
* Moolah from Lollapalooza
This year’s Lollapalooza rock ‘n’ roll festival was music to the ears of Chicago Park District officials who will accept a $1.6 million check today.
The district’s take for this summer’s Grant Park festival is about $400,000 more than last year’s revenues.
* University of Chicago physicist Yoichiro Nambu wins Nobel Prize
Nambu, 87, was woken up early Tuesday with news that he had received the Nobel Prize for physics in recognition of work from the 1960s that many peers described as decades ahead of its time. He took half of the $1.4 million award, with the rest going to Japanese researchers Makoto Kobayashi and Toshihide Maskawa for their work in predicting a third family of the subatomic particles called quarks.
* U. of C. prof shares in Nobel for physics
* Berwyn alderman in court over incident with Wal-Mart guard
Ald. Michael Phelan, 39, appeared in local ordinance court in Forest Park last week to face charges of disorderly conduct in connection with an incident in which he was detained by Wal-Mart security guards for allegedly refusing to show his store receipt.
* Ald. Munoz involved in ‘altercation’ at Southwest Side office
posted by Kevin Fanning
Wednesday, Oct 8, 08 @ 9:09 am
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Duncan did the honorable thing… but sadly he’s right.
Comment by Bill Baar Wednesday, Oct 8, 08 @ 9:13 am
Good job Duncan bringing more attention to the issue.
I am not sure what more he can do if these crimes are occurring not on school property. It is not like he is on every street or in every home.
They are not properly teaching the children either, but they still take their salaries.
Comment by Wumpus Wednesday, Oct 8, 08 @ 9:32 am
Thank God/Adam Smith/the Invisible Hand that Chicago Police officer, Michael Mette, wrongly convicted and imprisoned In Iowa, is free at last. John Kass has written about this case.
What a nightmare this poor guy had to endure!
I hope Jody Weis and Czar Daley are able to reinstate him as a Chicago police officer soon.
Comment by Captain America Wednesday, Oct 8, 08 @ 9:46 am
In terms of young voters, I’ll believe it when I see it. Pundits and others have been saying the same thing for a long time.
Comment by Anon from BB Wednesday, Oct 8, 08 @ 9:46 am
Anon- did you see the primaries? How about Iowa?
Comment by Kevin Fanning Wednesday, Oct 8, 08 @ 10:00 am
Anon from BB, I agree. In 2000, 17% of 18-30 year-old Americans voted. In 2004, Rock the Vote, founded by MTV, persuaded thousands of young people to register, and they said that many more of them would vote. In 2004, 17% of 18-30 year-old Americans voted.
Comment by Phil Collins Wednesday, Oct 8, 08 @ 10:34 am
http://www.iowapirgstudents.org/news/recent-news/you
th-turnout-in-iowa-more-than-triples-youth-decid
e-caucus-winners
Comment by Kevin Fanning Wednesday, Oct 8, 08 @ 10:50 am
Duncan did the right thing, but I think the media has gone overboard framing this somehow as a schools issue. There’s a nihilism in the ghetto that makes your blood run cold.
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Oct 8, 08 @ 11:02 am
How responsible are individuals that wait to the last day to register? They will be crying about the wait in line.
Comment by Hickory Wednesday, Oct 8, 08 @ 1:57 pm
I agree with the DuPage raises and thus, burst into song: Zaruba, Jamaica, ooh I want to take you to Bermuda, Bahama, come on pretty mama Montego…,etc.
Welcome Home Officer Mike Mette.
Comment by The Viking (Closed for Remodeling) Wednesday, Oct 8, 08 @ 9:12 pm