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* Probe: Why are road salt prices up 300%?

Attorney general spokeswoman Natalie Bauer said Monday it’s too early to determine why salt prices have spiked for some counties and not others. Bauer also wouldn’t speculate on whether the investigation could lead to legal action.

Emergency salt supplies were depleted by last winter’s storms, causing high demand in the Chicago region this season. Salt suppliers say the increased size of orders is behind the price increases.

* Finding work is tough work

Many students about to graduate are finding fewer jobs and fewer companies even willing to offer interviews. A survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers found that about half of all companies were cutting back on the number of 2009 graduates they plan to hire. While many companies surveyed in August planned to increase hiring substantially, the new poll showed things had changed and the new number of expected hires would essentially equal the number hired last year.

Companies in fields including agriculture, construction, utilities, trade, finance, insurance and business services all said they planned to cut back from their August projections, said Marilyn Mackes, executive director of the association.

* Economy has upside for fast-food diners

* Waterview Tower goes deeper into the deep freeze

* A historic victory for Alvarez

“Ladies and gentlemen, there’s a new state’s attorney in town, and she’s ready to roll up her sleeves of her power-red suits and get down to business,” Alvarez declared in a victory speech just after Peraica conceded. “I gotta tell you, it feels good to break that so-called glass ceiling here in Cook County.”

Peraica, amid a throng of downcast Republican backers on a strikingly strong night for Democrats, struck a defiant tone.

“We fought hard, and we’re going to continue to fight hard,” he said. “Apparently one-party rule is what this city and county wants.”

* Alvarez wins Cook County’s top prosecutor job

* Walsh, Glasgow, O’Neil well ahead

* Kane County incumbents leading in early results

* Democratic student wins DuPage board seat

* Big Dem wins in Lake County board races… Stories here, here and here

* GOP losses in Kane County… Stories here, here, here and here

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Nov 5, 08 @ 9:16 am

Comments

===“Apparently one-party rule is what this city and county wants.”===

Call it defiant if you want. That’s what the election results showed.

Comment by The 'Broken Heart' of Rogers Park Wednesday, Nov 5, 08 @ 9:25 am
Why are road salt prices up 300%?
The Illinois Tolway saw this coming since last spring and did nothing.
Another excuse to raise tolls in the very near future!

Comment by Blago's Tollway Wednesday, Nov 5, 08 @ 9:29 am
Hope everyone is happy. Our country is now controlled by one party and a Chicago politician is going to be the President. Has no one noticed what 1 party in control and a Chicago politician as Governor has done to the state of Illinois? Oh well we survived the last 8 years and the sun will still rise in the east tomorrow.

Comment by Dan S, a Voter and Cubs Fan Wednesday, Nov 5, 08 @ 9:36 am
Peraica is such a classless chump. Don’t worry, Tony. If you are stupid enough to run again we’ll be there beat you again even worse than this time.

Comment by Bill Wednesday, Nov 5, 08 @ 9:36 am
Call it defiant if you want. That’s what the election results showed.

To paraphrase from a similarly gloom moment….

“Well, Pat, we’ve had the devil’s own day, haven’t we?”

“Yes, lick ‘em in 2010, though”

Comment by Pat Collins Wednesday, Nov 5, 08 @ 9:39 am
Hey Rich,
Where’s today’s ConCon post? Oh wait… Never mind.

Comment by Bill Wednesday, Nov 5, 08 @ 9:42 am
It’s coming, dingleberry.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Nov 5, 08 @ 9:47 am
Blago never learned, or never bothered to learn, the difference between campaigning and actually governing. If Obama knows the difference — which only time will tell — then I would not expect him to be Rod gone national.

Comment by Secret Square Wednesday, Nov 5, 08 @ 9:49 am
Rep Hassert’s loss is a shame and unfortunate. He is a great leader with unquestionable integrity. The voters dropped the ball on this one.

Comment by Ashamed of 85th District Wednesday, Nov 5, 08 @ 9:50 am
Like Mr. President elect Obama said yesterday the future is in everyone hands. We make this country what it is. Whether than complain about the results, why not be responsible for what goes on and step up to the plate to particpate assist in the changes that people are demanding. Looks like things are going to chnage in Springfield perhaps the house will follow with new leadership and change. You never know. Why, because the future starts today!

As a person of color and a women there couldn’t be a better time for all of us to work together to make it happen!

Comment by The Future Wednesday, Nov 5, 08 @ 9:53 am
Every person is a person of color. My color is white.

Comment by Phil Collins Wednesday, Nov 5, 08 @ 10:33 am
OK, PC, that’s enough with the trolling.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Nov 5, 08 @ 10:34 am
congratulations Anita Alvarez, first woman elected Cook County State’s Attorney, first Hispanic elected to County wide government office. her numbers were very impressive.

Comment by Amy Wednesday, Nov 5, 08 @ 12:03 pm
Is there no expected announcement about Blago discussing the open Senate seat? Wasn’t it supposed to happen today?

Comment by tubbfan Wednesday, Nov 5, 08 @ 12:50 pm
Does Tony really think he lost due solely to Barack Obama? He lost by close to a Keyes-like rout. I never saw much campaigning by him and it was hard for him to argue he had more relevant experience than Alvarez. I think he had his best shot against Todd Stroger.

Comment by cermak_rd Wednesday, Nov 5, 08 @ 2:41 pm
Poor Tony - he just can’t fathom why the Cook County electorate can’t stand him. Maybe he’s end up like Oberweiss or Spanky the Clown, running over and over again. I’d rather see him sink into a quiet political oblivion.

Comment by Captain America Wednesday, Nov 5, 08 @ 2:50 pm
CA,

Even Oberweiss breaks 40% every so often.

Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Wednesday, Nov 5, 08 @ 4:20 pm