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* Retail sales drop in April

The Commerce Department said today that retail sales fell 0.4 percent last month, much worse than the flat reading economists expected. The April weakness followed a 1.3 percent drop in March that was worse than first estimated.

* Judge approves Tribune bonus payments

* IRS auditing Tribune Co.’s ESOP deal

* Weak Economy Allows Daley to Pass the Buck on Chicago Employee Furlough Plan

* Chicago more livable than is credited for

Chicago came in at 44th, according to the evaluation done by Mercer, a human resources consulting company.

* PJStar: The Peoria problem that keeps coming back for more

The clock is still ticking for the city of Peoria to come up with plan to stop its combined stormwater/sewer system from pumping raw sewage into the Illinois River nearly every time there’s a moderate rainstorm.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and its Illinois counterpart have demanded the costly fix to the antiquated system Downtown for decades. The unfunded mandate carries an expected price tag in excess of $105 million.

* Wet spring slowing farmers, raising corn prices

* Driving up the price of gas

Gas prices around Chicago and across the nation have risen sharply in the last few weeks, and experts say a combination of investor speculation and fair-weather driving trends are likely to keep them from retreating anytime soon.

* Trains block tracks in suburbs: CN underreported delays at rail crossing, Chicago suburbs say

* Bean sees hope in small business, stimulus bill

* Loyola University Health System cuts 443 jobs

The laid-off employees, including 35 managers and 31 nurses, represent 8 percent of the Loyola University Health System work force.

* Still no power for thousands in Illinois

About 25,000 Ameren customers remain without electricity after strong storms raked southern Illinois last week.

The utility said Tuesday evening that it had 2,100 crew members working to restore power. So far the electricity was turned back on for 44,000 customers. Ameren estimated the majority of those still without power should be restored by early Wednesday.

However, Ameren said some outages would persist until Thursday and Friday.

* Press release: More than 2,100 Field, Support Personnel Work into the Night to Turn the Lights On for Ameren Illinois Utilities Customers

* Judge to rule in museum’s move to lakefront park

* Chicago Park District superintendent asks employees to take 16 furlough days

* A vote for kid safety

The Chicago City Council is expected to vote Wednesday to ban the plastic chemical additive bisphenol A from food and drink containers that are used by children. Aldermen Edward Burke (14th) and Manny Flores (1st) initially proposed banning BPA from almost all children’s products. But they scaled back in response to concerns from the chemical industry and some aldermen about the feasibility of enforcing a wide-ranging ban.

* Chicago police: Chicago cops to be reviewed on attitude

* 7 of 10 winning Chicago-area teachers are surprised with Golden Apple Awards

* New Trier discussion to focus on future of public education

* Judge: Burge won’t testify in hearing on new trial

* Swine flu update: 555 cases in Illinois

* First-time Marine Week brings corps to Chicago area

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, May 13, 09 @ 9:10 am

Comments

The only bonus those clowns at the Tribune deserve to get is the right to get down the the ground floor at the Tribune Tower via the elevators, instead of out the window! That ought to be more than enough motivation for them.

Comment by fedup dem Wednesday, May 13, 09 @ 9:19 am
I presume Todd Stroger’s IRS issues will be a separate blog entry?

Comment by Ravenswood Right Winger Wednesday, May 13, 09 @ 9:22 am
“Judge Kevin Carey authorized the payments came after Tribune chief financial officer Chandler Bigelow III testified that the bonuses are critical to keeping key managers motivated as Tribune tries to adjust to a tough economic climate for media companies.

“We need to motivate and incentivize the key people who will implement change,” Bigelow said. “These are really good people we’re talking about. They’re the best and the brightest of the company.”……
This is a real laugh riot…two federal investigations, bankruptcy, crooked Blagoof deals and these guys talk about “best and brightest”
UFR!

Comment by 2ConfusedCrew Wednesday, May 13, 09 @ 9:26 am
Regarding Marine Week, I went to my 4th-grade daughter’s softball game at Oak Park River Forest High School last night and was shocked to find the Marines had landed at the adjoining football field.

What a delightful surprise and impressive spectacle — dozens of young men and women in their dress blues performing silent drills while a Marine band played (the girls thought it was all for them, of course).

Pretty good turnout at the old football stadium on Lake Street, too — about as many people as were there for the Illini football team’s Spring Scrimmage a few weeks ago.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, May 13, 09 @ 9:55 am
RRW, Rich/Matt would not leave that out. Mr. Miller probably had to by more tubes for his internets.

Comment by Wumpus Wednesday, May 13, 09 @ 10:13 am
It’s an ‘unfunded mandate’ to not pipe raw crap into a river?

Comment by Vote Quimby! Wednesday, May 13, 09 @ 10:46 am
Communities have bee decoupling their rainwater run off from storm sewers for decades.

Why has it taken so long to get going in Peoria?

Unfunded mandate? Sounds like deferred capital spending. Who pays to clean up the river?

Comment by Plutocrat03 Wednesday, May 13, 09 @ 11:00 am