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* Community groups near 2016 Olympic deal: sources

If an agreement is not reached, Communities for an Equitable Olympics, an umbrella group of neighborhood organizations, has threatened to protest during the International Olympic Committee’s visit to Chicago beginning April 2. The IOC evaluation team will be in town to review Chicago’s bid and tour proposed venues, such as the Olympic Stadium in Washington Park and Olympic Village on the former site of Michael Reese Hospital.

If a set-aside deal is worked out, it will be taken up at a City Council Finance Committee meeting set for Friday.

* Fire-damaged casino hopes to open within 90 days

* Empress to pay staffers, encourage volunteering

* Hospira cutting 10 percent of work force

Lake Forest-based Hospira plans to eliminate 10 percent of its work force as part of a cost-cutting restructuring plan.

The reduction of about 1,450 jobs over the next 24 months is expected to save the company between $110 million and $140 million annually.

* Rolling layoffs at Cat mean long lines at unemployment offices

Buildings SS, NN and LL of the East Peoria Caterpillar complex that employs about 2,800 tractor and transmission workers is shut down for the week, which may explain the long lines at local unemployment offices, said Rick Doty, president of United Auto Workers Local 974 in East Peoria.

“Rolling layoffs have been going on since mid-December, but this is one of the first times a complete division has been shut down,” he said.

* Stockton wants to delay city layoffs to consider other options first

* Ill. VA facilities land $79M in stimulus money

* U.S. gives two Chicago-area labs $48 million

* Fermilab and Argonne Receive New Federal Funding

* Fermi to get $34.9 million in fed recovery cash

* Arsenal gets $19.95M from stimulus

* SJ-R Opinion: Take the next step toward high-speed rail

* Federal dollars may help rebuild 80-year-old bridges in Livingston Co.

* Alderman’s push for 2nd Wal-Mart could renew big box fight

Ald. Howard Brookins (21st) said Monday he plans to introduce an amended redevelopment agreement at the April 22 Council meeting that would allow Wal-Mart to build its second Chicago store at a former Chatham industrial site.

“There’s no other way to get this moving. The [Daley] administration is not willing to do it themselves. The only way is to force their hand is by spelling out that Wal-Mart shall be permitted to come,” Brookins said.

* Alderman hospitalized after fall

Ald. Brian Doherty (41st) was hospitalized with a “nasty head wound” on Monday — and the paramedic who treated the “combative” alderman was slightly injured — after Doherty fell down a flight of stairs at his Far Northwest Side home.

Doherty, 51, is the City Council’s lone Republican. He was listed in stable condition in the intensive care unit of Resurrection Hospital. Barring further complications, he is expected to be released Tuesday.

* O’Connor faces write-in Garcia for at-large post

* Parking meters great — if you’re gone in eight

* Fewer Neighborhood Schools Exist in CPS

Throughout the city, many Chicago Public Schools are getting education makeovers. Failing or under-enrolled schools are being closed and new ones opened, sometimes even within the same building. The Chicago Board of Education is scheduled to vote tomorrow on where next fall’s new schools will open up. But the whole process leaves some parents and education activists questioning the correlation between urban planning and school planning.

* State seeks ways to prevent child suicide

* Illinois among top with dating-violence laws

posted by Mike Murray
Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 9:08 am

Comments

I’m sorry about the layoffs at Caterpillar but this story reminds me again of the inefficiency and bloat of state government. Why does the state continue to maintain expensive physical plants–via pricey rental or purchase- for individuals to go to in order to apply for unemployment benefits. Does the unemployment office have to physically see the person applying before they approve the application. I don’t think so. The decision is based on wage information that is already available to the agency on the computer.

For those few who are computer-phobic, alternative arrangements could be made, but these few do not justify the maintenance of expensive, high-rent physical plants whose rent no doubt benefits some connected landlords but not taxpayers.

There are all kinds of ways in which the state could use computer technology to reduce costs to taxpayers….but these would likely also reduce the number of plush lifetime state jobs, including many Dem patronage jobs, as well as cut back on rents to lucky landlords, hotel revenues to hotels which cater to ever-peripatetic state employees, and so on.

Another reason why this middle class taxpayer doesn’t believe her taxes will be well-used by this Democratic administration.

Comment by Cassandra Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 9:25 am
So you are expecting me to believe the city’s lone Republican alderman ‘fell’ down those stairs, huh?

Comment by Leroy Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 9:35 am
Paramedic also injured while responding…..hmmm

Comment by Hank Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 10:11 am
“combative” is the new code that anyone may use when they are in another condition.

Comment by Amy Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 11:13 am
Someone close to Doherty ought to talk to him about taking this opportunity to rest and reassess. He’s been awfully lucky up to now.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 11:39 am
Pat Quinn was on Chicago tonight last night and there was a great story in Roll Call about successors to Mark Kirk worth reading today. Rollcall.com

Comment by Shore Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 1:05 pm
So is everyone now going to get away with attacking cops and paramedics by blaming it on being disoriented after falling down? Imagine all the intoxicated folks who will try that.

Comment by Anon Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 1:16 pm