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* Investigators raid home, office of Cook County regional schools superintendent

Investigators raided the home and office of the Cook County regional schools superintendent Wednesday, carting out laptop computers, cell phones and boxes of files, sources said.

* Offices raided of Cook schools superintendent

Law enforcement officials seized computers, hard drives and documents from the agency’s Westchester office, ABC 7 reported.

Cook County Commissioners were due to consider resolutions calling on Flowers to resign and asking the state to abolish the office altogether.

Cook County prosecutors confirm Flowers is under investigation, but said he has not been charged.

* Bank forecloses on home of indicted Blagojevich pal

The man unlucky enough to get indicted three times because of his dealings with Rod Blagojevich just got unluckier.

A bank on Tuesday moved to foreclose on the home of Christopher G. Kelly, a longtime Blagojevich buddy, adviser and fund-raiser.

Old Second National Bank filed a $2.1 million foreclosure notice on Kelly’s Burr Ridge home.

* ‘Runaway greed’ gets doc 18 months

Dr. Robert Weinstein was sentenced Wednesday to 18 months in prison. The name means nothing to most of you, I realize, which is a shame, because you sure know a lot about his longtime partner, Stuart Levine, the crook who brought down the Blagojevich administration.

Weinstein was Levine’s partner in business and partner in crime, although there’s nothing to indicate they made a distinction between the two.

At the Tony Rezko trial, Levine testified that he and Weinstein shared the proceeds from everything they did, including his shady deals, and unlike Rezko, there was plenty of tape-recorded evidence with Weinstein’s own voice to prove that was the case.

The wiretapped phone conversations between Levine and Weinstein provided some of the most eye-opening moments of the Rezko trial as Levine bragged about his schemes to arrange secret kickbacks from companies seeking to do business with state boards on which he sat — and secretly controlled.

* ‘Illegal’ high-rise hotels targeted

At this week’s City Council meeting, Reilly introduced an ordinance that would rein in so-called “nightly vacation rentals.”

It would allow condos to be turned into hotel suites only if owners get prior approval from the condo association, secure at least $1 million in liability insurance and obtain a two-year “vacation rental license” for a $500 fee.

The city’s 3.5 percent hotel tax would have to be tacked on to the nightly rental fee. No unit could be rented for fewer than 10 straight hours.

* CPS axes 557, with more layoffs ahead

* 3 city unions holding out on deal to avert layoffs

Three hold-out unions with 650 layoffs hanging in the balance —Teamster 726, Laborers 1001 and AFSMCE Council 31—are standing in the way of a two-year deal on cost-cutting concessions to save the jobs of 1,504 city of Chicago employees targeted for layoffs.

Mayor Daley refused today to say what he would do if the unions don’t get on board by the July 15 deadline.

“The city must take the appropriate action on the 15th,” Daley said at a City Hall news conference. “We think, in the long run, on the 15th, all of ‘em will be there. I firmly believe that. I pray for it. I hope they are…because this will not be good for their membership.”

* Some Chicago Unions Say No More Talk of Furloughs

The deal would require union workers to take unpaid days off. But a few of the unions working with the city say they won’t accept the plan. Ken Brantley is the vice president of Teamsters Local 726. He says his members are done negotiating.

BRANTLEY: Over the years they’ve gave up enough. They’re tired of giving back and nothing is being given to us. The mayor wants everything, it’s not just the furlough days.

Laborers’ Local 1001 and AFSCME are the other two unions that won’t agree to the plan. In a statement, AFSCME says its members are among the lowest-paid city workers. Labor leaders say all the unions working with the city have to accept the terms before the plan is implemented. Mayor Richard Daley says unions have until July 15 to reach an agreement before more than 1500 workers are laid off.

* Chicago pays $915 per body for morgue transport; alderman says that’s too much

* Charters not only way to fix Chicago schools

* 467K jobs cut in June; jobless rate at 9.5 percent

* Recession might be bottoming out, but recovery still likely slow

* Midway sale to Warner Bros. approved by court

The $33-million deal brings to a close the recent financial woes of the Chicago-based video-game maker. Midway Games filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in February not long after media mogul Sumner Redstone sold his majority stake in the firm. Midway had warned in November that the change in control would allow bondholders of $150 million in debt the right to call their notes. The company did not have the money to pay the entire debt.

Midway Games has been saddled with annual losses since 2000 as it has been unable to develop a sought-after game following its “Mortal Kombat” blockbuster.

* Average gas price inches down to $2.84

* United computer glitch causing delays at O’Hare

* IDOT to makes holiday travel a bit easier

IDOT says it is suspending some construction-related lane closures around the state starting Thursday at 3 p.m. until midnight on Sunday July 5.

* Facing foreclosure, Curry sues ex-aide

* Mentally disabled in housing fight

* Illinois ranks 10th in nation in rate of overweight and obese children

* Ill. agency begins replenishing Rock River

An Illinois agency has begun recovery efforts at Rock River, where tens of thousands of fish suddenly died on the same weekend as an explosive train derailment in northern Illinois.

* Illinois Supreme Court adopts new rules for lawyers

And court officials say the new rules bring the regulation of lawyers into the 21st century, specifically issuing guidelines for new technology including e-mail, Web sites and cell phones.

Among other things, the new rules also make it easier for lawyers to perform pro bono legal services, and they redefine the standards for client confidentiality.

* Theft of 5,000 pounds of commercial-grade fireworks worries cops

A five-inch mortar shell — one of the most common items taken — is powerful enough to kill someone if it detonates nearby and could even destroy a car if it blows up while being transported, DuPage County Sheriff’s Department officials said Wednesday.

* Crestwood water contamination source remains a mystery

* July/August issue: The environment

Illinois Issues magazine’s annual environment issue came out today.

In it, you’ll find “Wind power,” a story about Illinois being at a turning point in its energy-producing future. It’s written by Michael Hawthorne, the Chicago Tribune reporter who broke the Crestwood water contamination story.

* ‘Ledge’ at Sears Skydeck opens Thursday

posted by Mike Murray
Thursday, Jul 2, 09 @ 9:07 am

Comments

I have said this before and I will say it again. Why don’t we get rid of all regional superintendents of School. The nepotism shown above is rampant throughout all of these offices. They are a waste of money and another layer of government that no longer serves a purpose.

Comment by WOW Thursday, Jul 2, 09 @ 9:17 am
Cook County Commissioner Peter Silvestri is introducing a resolution to abolish the regional superintendent. Even if Big Hog and the Dems agree, the General Assembly still has to approve it.

Comment by Ravenswood Right Winger Thursday, Jul 2, 09 @ 9:24 am
Mike Murray, wasn’t yesterday your last day??????

Comment by Will County Woman Thursday, Jul 2, 09 @ 9:34 am
As I wrote yesterday, he’ll still be doing Morning Shorts. But he won’t be in Springfield.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jul 2, 09 @ 9:43 am
Quite a housecleaning going on at Chicago Public Schools. You have to believe Huberman is taking some big-time heat from the ward bosses over it.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Jul 2, 09 @ 9:45 am
I saw a madigan clip this morning where he mentioned the legislature continuing to work on a tax increase after the budget has been done.

it seems he has not discraded the trax increase entirley, just the timing of it.

Comment by Ghost Thursday, Jul 2, 09 @ 9:46 am
Great article about condos/hotels.

That’s a major issue for a lot of us who live in Streeterville. When you have no idea who might be coming into and out of your building, and when you use the pool and workout room and see people who don’t live tehre, it is pretty bad. Nice to see work being done on that issue.

Comment by Skeeter Thursday, Jul 2, 09 @ 9:58 am
WOW is right. In fact, he/she is right about more than just the regional superintendents, who are locally elected public officials. I think Illinois has more units of local government than any other state. There are, I think, over 7,000, although my information could be old. These include:
Airport Authorities
Cemetery Districts
Conservation Districts
Drainage Districts
Exposition and Auditorium Authorities
Fire Protection Districts
Forest Preserve Districts
Hospital Districts
Library Districts
Mass Transit Districts
Mosquito Abatement Disticts
Multi-Township Tax Assessment Districts
Park Districts
Port Districts
Public Health Districts
Rescue Squad Districts
River Conservancy Districts
Road Districts
Sanitary Districts
Soil and Water Conservation Districts
Street Lighting Districts
Solid Waste Disposal Districts
Surface Water Protection Districts
Townships
Tuberculosis Sanitarium Districts
Water Commissions, County
Water Districts, Public
Water Service Districts
These local government units are the root system that feeds political corruption in Illinois. Aspiring political hacks and cronies with clout get their start in local government and then move up, so long as they adhere to party discipline. As long as the political parties have so many goodies to pass out, Illinois will never reform its political system. Of course, the only way to uproot the local government system would be through a constitutional convention. Fat chance!

Comment by preservationist Thursday, Jul 2, 09 @ 10:16 am
–These local government units are the root system that feeds political corruption in Illinois.–

That’s a little broad, don’t you think? I mean, Library Districts really aren’t the root cause of corruption, are they?

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Jul 2, 09 @ 10:31 am
As long as public library boards are elected governmental units, the local power brokers of a political party can influence the election by “getting out the vote” for a particular candidate. That candidate can then add membership on the library board to his/her political resume but also becomes beholden to the party, which is now able to exercise influence through the newly elected board member. It is possible to blame the voters for not paying enough attention to who is running for these offices, but there’s so many offices, it’s hard to stay informed. The number of local governmental units needs to be drastically reduced.

Comment by preservationist Thursday, Jul 2, 09 @ 10:56 am
Preservationist is right, though, about Illinois having more units of local government than any other state, and I know the number is above 6,000.

I believe this is to some extent a legacy of the 1870 Constitution which so severely limited the power of individual local governments to tax or take on debt that new governmental bodies had to be created whenever certain projects like libraries, water systems, etc. were needed.

To say that the proliferation of local governments is “the root cause” of corruption in Illinois might be stretching things a bit, but I think it IS a contributing factor. It also plays a big part in the perception of Illinois as a high-tax state with bloated public payrolls, even though the state government itself doesn’t employ that many people per capita, or tax all that much.

Comment by Secret Square Thursday, Jul 2, 09 @ 11:10 am
Preservationist, you’ve done your homework.
The constitution can be amended through a 3/5 vote of the legislature and a referendum, but the kind of changes you’re talking about are probably complex enough that a convention would be needed.
Skeeter, not sure you’ll get a lot of sympathy from the unwashed masses, but the powers that be seem to be on your side.
BTW Mike, nice job in recent weeks. However, you’ve now raised the bar, as the readers will probably continue to expect — nay, demand! — their videos.

Comment by Rambler Thursday, Jul 2, 09 @ 11:50 am
preservationist is right.

Many of these taxing bodies were created to develop ne revenue streams which feed the politically connected firms that do business and fund candidates.

Any board can be corrupt when they grow their mandate beyond their original charter while growing the size of their unit of governments.

e.g. how does providing popular music CDs to the library patrons do anything than erode the ability of artists to sell their music. Certainly opens the door to crimes and has nothing to do with reading.

Comment by Plutocrat03 Thursday, Jul 2, 09 @ 1:54 pm
–e.g. how does providing popular music CDs to the library patrons do anything than erode the ability of artists to sell their music. Certainly opens the door to crimes and has nothing to do with reading.–

LOL

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Jul 2, 09 @ 1:56 pm
Washington Post cancels lobbyist event amid uproar: “Washington Post publisher Katharine Weymouth said today she was cancelling plans for an exclusive “salon” at her home where for as much as $250,000, the Post offered lobbyists and association executives off-the-record access to “those powerful few” — Obama administration officials, members of Congress, and even the paper’s own reporters and editors.”

I’m sure our own esteemed newspapers wouldn’t sell such face-time with reporters and editors. Would they?

Comment by Cheswick Thursday, Jul 2, 09 @ 2:45 pm
Library lending “erodes” the ability of artists to sell their music? It seems to me that it would have just the opposite effect: the more people get a chance to sample an artist’s music for free, the more exposure it gets, and the more people buy the artist’s work.

I myself am more inclined to buy a book AFTER I’ve had a chance to borrow it from the library, or buy a movie/TV show/video AFTER seeing it on You Tube, so I know whether the expense is worth it. Being able to sample books, CDs, etc. for free also has exposed me to authors and artists I might otherwise never have gotten interested in, and made me more inclined to buy their stuff.

Comment by Secret Square Thursday, Jul 2, 09 @ 2:55 pm
Try and talk to the kids who get videos and music from the library. They download it and never buy a thing.

Do you thing that everyone who has 10K songs on their Ipod has paid their .99?

Comment by Plutocrat03 Thursday, Jul 2, 09 @ 4:48 pm