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* Some were wondering why Jimmy Breslin showed up at Rod Blagojevich’s arraignment this week. Now we know. From a press release…

Hyperion editor-in-chief Will Balliett has acquired a new book by Jimmy Breslin, to be an account of the Rod Blagojevich scandal; David Black sold North American rights. In the satirical spirit of Breslin’s 1969 The Gang That Couldn’t Shoot Straight (but nonfiction), the book will work backwards to conjure a world of Chicago politics in which being Illinois governor gives one a higher chance of going to jail than does robbing a liquor store, and will feature a cast of characters that “only Jimmy Breslin could have invented,” said Balliett.

* I have no idea who these people are, but they’ll be with Rod Blagojevich in the jungle on some goofy reality TV show if his judge is silly enough to give him back his passport and allow him to travel. More likely, the Blagojevich invite is just a clever PR ploy by NBC to keep this show in the headlines. It’s certainly working…

Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt, known affectionately to “Hills” fans as “Speidi,” have signed on to join the cast of “I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!” a rep for the reality stars confirmed to Access Hollywood on Friday.

The two will travel to the jungles of Costa Rica alongside a host of celebrities of various backgrounds to battle it out for jungle supremacy.

* Possible shenanigans in Lyons?

A special meeting called to accept the resignation of a Lyons village trustee who with the village president had been recorded using racist and sexist language—and apparently replace him with the president, who last week lost his re-election bid—was abruptly canceled Thursday.

After notice of the meeting was posted Wednesday, Trustee Richard Schuppe said he had no intention of resigning.

* Smoking ban blamed again for falling casino attendance…

“Statewide for the year, we had almost a 21 percent drop from 2008 to 2009, and in the northern area it was even high than that,” said Tom Swoik, executive director of the Illinois Casino Gaming Association. “We believe that a majority of it is because of the smoking ban.”

Gaming statewide in Indiana shows only single-digit declines according to Swoik, this despite increased competition from two new horse-racing tracks with slots. The new Horseshoe Casino in Hammond and Blue Chip Casino, Hotel & Spa in Michigan City, which recently unveiled a new hotel tower and entertainment facilities, actually show March increases year over year. Horseshoe soared from adjusted gross revenue of $40.5 million in March 2008 to $49.2 million in March of this year.

* New York’s Lincoln Memorial.

* A follow-up from earlier this week. The Obamalac is now “just” a Cadillac…

You can click on the pic for a larger image.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Apr 17, 09 @ 2:14 pm

Comments

Surprised the Obamalac was not taken for the Smithsonian.

Comment by Wumpus Friday, Apr 17, 09 @ 2:25 pm
I’m not sure the Caddy met the “green energy” requirements….

regarding the top story, I now know I am not missing much by giving up network television. I remember when networks had the quality shows and cable had re-runs and hackneyed shows…my, how the tables have turned!

Comment by Vote Quimby! Friday, Apr 17, 09 @ 2:29 pm
The Casino Queen in ESTL is just getting murdered by the river. A flashy new casino open on the other side of the Eads Bridge with no smoking limitations and - after the November elections - no loss limits in Missouri. ESTL just had to lay off twenty-some officers and firemen because of lower funds.

Comment by Peter Friday, Apr 17, 09 @ 2:32 pm
===A flashy new casino open on the other side of the Eads Bridge===

Have you been to that casino? I’ve been thinking of a weekend at the hotel. It looks swanky.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Apr 17, 09 @ 2:35 pm
The Lumiere is a bit of Vegas in the Midwest…. you won’t be disappointed! And with the loss limits gone you can be anonymous…

Comment by Vote Quimby! Friday, Apr 17, 09 @ 2:39 pm
Peter,
I thought ESTL was getting murdered by being ESTL.

Go into ESTL with gambling money?
There is no way in the world you could convince me to to that.

The problem with an ESTL casino is not smoking. It is ESTL.

Comment by Skeeter Friday, Apr 17, 09 @ 2:52 pm
The car is a beauty, but it looks so naked now.

I suppose they know what they are talking about on the attendance at casinos but around the area of Peoria there is not alot of anything going on anywhere. Eating out, the malls, movies ect all are much roomier than usual and it has little to do with non-smoking.

Comment by Princess Friday, Apr 17, 09 @ 2:57 pm
Skeeter, it’s no big deal. I’ve been in and thru East St. Louis several times. Sometimes late at night. Don’t be ruled by fears.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Apr 17, 09 @ 3:18 pm
Princess, my fourth son also said it looks naked. Maybe I need a new sign? How do you spell Giannou….

Comment by Obamalac Friday, Apr 17, 09 @ 3:24 pm
Don’t.Even.Think.About.It.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Apr 17, 09 @ 3:32 pm
I agree with Rich, “Alexi” would fit much better.

Comment by George Friday, Apr 17, 09 @ 3:35 pm
There is no issue with going to the Casino Queen in East St. Louis. The area around the casino is very safe. We often park our car there and take the Metro to Cardinals’ games.

Lumiere Place is, however, very nice.

Comment by Fan of the Game Friday, Apr 17, 09 @ 3:39 pm
And I’ll forgo Breslin’s Blagojevich book and wait for Rich’s.

Comment by Fan of the Game Friday, Apr 17, 09 @ 3:41 pm
George, let’s not go there

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Apr 17, 09 @ 3:41 pm
Princess

You are right not too many at the malls ask General Growth Properties filing chapter 11 bankruptcy yesterday. They are in the Mall real estate business. They have lost a lot of renters (long list of stores that have gone under)

Comment by Third Generation Chicago Native Friday, Apr 17, 09 @ 3:57 pm
The Illinois casinos should stop whining about the smoking ban! I hope some legislator asks them, under oath, ” Do you value your profits more than the health of your employees and customers?” Of course , their real answer would be “Yes”, but I’d like to see them squirm over it. The fact is, the odds on the rigged games are better in Indiana!

Comment by Legaleagle Friday, Apr 17, 09 @ 4:20 pm
Rich — be aware… just for naming Speidi your blog is about to get HIT HARD from the gossip blogs

Comment by love fridays! Friday, Apr 17, 09 @ 4:23 pm
just for naming Speidi your blog is about to get HIT HARD from the gossip blogs

Could a televised singing duet featuring Rod as Elvis, with new British singing sensation susan Boyle as herself, be far behind?

Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Friday, Apr 17, 09 @ 4:52 pm
Rich, the Four Seasons hotel on top of the Lumiere Palace casino is *very* nice… Outstanding views of the arch, riverfront, etc.

Comment by Anonymous Coward Saturday, Apr 18, 09 @ 7:17 am
The casino complaint about the smoking ban causing the fall off in customers ignores two important facts. The Indiana Casino’s have been advertising extensively on TV, radio and in the papers. Advertising for the Illinois casinos seems to be at its lowest point in years.

Comment by Tom Joad Saturday, Apr 18, 09 @ 11:02 am
Jimmy Breslin? Won’t work. Not his town, not his state, not his century.

I don’t know about the casino, but I do know East St. Louis last year had the best high school football team I’ve seen in many, many years. Smart, big and fast, fast, fast. Zook is wired to the program, too, for you Illini fans.

Comment by wordslinger Saturday, Apr 18, 09 @ 11:28 am
It is tough to compare Illinois casinos with other states. The casinos in Missouri are so bigger and offer significantly more entertainment options. You can genuinely has a night of entertainmnet including gambling. Most of the casinos in Illinois look like something that should be in the back of a gas station. The smoking ban has little to do with it.

Comment by ToughGuy Saturday, Apr 18, 09 @ 3:13 pm