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* Soldier visiting home hit by crossfire

Sanders, 21, of Harvey, was shot and killed Thursday evening at 154th and Center Avenue in the south suburb while walking with his cousin. Sanders had been home on furlough to visit his family.

The cousins had just gotten french fries at a restaurant and heard men arguing — some on the sidewalk and some in a car, family members said. Wanting to avoid trouble, the cousins tried to cross the street, and got caught in the crossfire.

* 18-year-old critically wounded in South Side drive-by

* 12-year-old shot on South Side street

* Pregnant woman shot in head on Far South Side

* Three shot sitting on South Side porch

The three victims — ages 18, 21 and 29 — were sitting on the porch when a four-door car drove up and a passenger sitting in the driver’s side rear of the vehicle opened fire, police said. The car then fled from the scene northbound.

* Englewood violence limits summer for children

* Black Star Project teams patrol to fight violence

One hundred members of the Black Star Project took to the streets of some of Chicago’s most violent neighborhoods Saturday to help keep the peace.

* FEMA: Illinois homeland security in top 4 percent

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn says the Federal Emergency Management Agency has rated Illinois’ homeland security program among the top four percent nationwide.

Quinn says Illinois received an overall effectiveness score of 91 out of 100. He says the national average was 71.

* Gov. Quinn signs energy relief bill

Low income utility customers could benefit from a new state law that limits how much they can be charged for gas and electric.

Legislation signed Friday by Gov. Pat Quinn would create a payment program that allows power bills to be paid over time.

For certain low income customers, seniors and others on fix incomes, the program would cap gas and electric bills at six percent of a household’s income and also would establish a payment program in case someone falls behind on their bills so payments could be made over time to avoid disconnection.

* Treasurer to announce revamped farm loan program

Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias plans to announce a revamped state program that allows banks to give low-interest loans to farmers who need money for seed, fertilizer, and other expenses.

A spokesman for Giannoulias says the Democrat will make the announcement Monday in Moline. In a press release, the treasurer says a review of Cultivate Illinois, the state’s annual agriculture loan program, showed violations and abuses dating back to 2000.

* Ill. officials: Accounting error caused bad checks

Illinois officials say an accounting error caused worthless checks to be sent to several state health care providers.

Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services spokeswoman Annie Thompson says the checks that began bouncing last month are unrelated to the state budget crisis.

The checks were issued by St. Louis-based HealthLink. The health care network pays out insurance claims for state employees and their dependents.

* IL writes bouncing checks — Who’s responsible?

* Drug, Mental Health and Youth Courts Being Shortchanged $2 Million by Cook County

If you’ve pleaded guilty to something like running a stop sign or speeding in Cook County in the last year you’ve probably had to pay a hundred and 35 dollars in court fees. Some of the fees are earmarked for programs like drug court, mental health court and youth court services. The county has collected a couple million dollars for those three efforts over the past year but the money never actually gets to where it’s supposed to go…

STUTTLEY: Can’t nobody tell me where that money is. I’ve talked to the chief judge, I’ve talked to the state’s attorney, I’ve talked to the presiding judge, I’ve talked to the county board. I’ve talked to everybody and nobody seem to know where the money is. And we talking about a substantial amount of money…

FASHINA: We distribute our funds based on Illinois statute and Illinois statute says in order for a fund to receive its own money it has to be reconciled with the clerk of the court Act.

Yeah, I didn’t really get that the first time around either but Fashina explains. He says the clerk can only give out money as explicitly laid out in a state law called the clerk of court act. So while the cook county board passed a law that allows the clerk to assess and collect a 5 dollar fee for youth court services, Fashina says the legislature needs to pass a second law so the clerk can actually distribute the money. Such a law is awaiting the governor’s signature, but for the past year all the money collected to help troubled teens, Fashina says it’s gone into the county’s general revenue fund.

* Tattoo regulation starts in August

* Opponents hiss at proposed cat limit

* Hospital readmissions under the spotlight

Indeed, a recent article in the New England Journal of Medicine found that Illinois’ readmission rate for Medicare patients was the fourth highest at 21.7 percent, behind Maryland (22 percent), Louisiana (21.9 percent), and New Jersey (21.9 percent).

* Illinois hospitals’ readmission rates posted

* Alcohol may help prevent dementia

A study of more than 180,000 U.S. veterans over the age of 55 found that 10.6 percent of those who had been diagnosed with PTSD developed dementia within seven years of follow-up, compared to 6.6 percent of veterans without PTSD.

In a separate study released today, researchers from Wake Forest University found that people in their 70s and older who said they had one to two alcoholic drinks a day had a 37 percent lower risk of being diagnosed with dementia. But drinking alcohol did not slow the progression of dementia in people who already had mild cognitive impairment, researchers found.

* Proposed mines could bring 375 jobs to Hamilton County

* City Halls struggle to contain deficits

Joliet officials have projected a three-year $67 million deficit and, as a result, 90 fewer employees are working in city government today than last year.

Springfield is requiring its employees to take eight unpaid furlough days next year. Sales tax also is going up in the Capital City.

Peoria is hardly alone in battling the crippling effect the recession is having on city halls throughout the U.S. and, especially, Illinois.

* NBC sports chief believes USOC hurting Chicago’s bid for 2016 Olympics

NBC Sports Chairman Dick Ebersol, one of the most influential players in the Olympic world, blames the United States Olympic Committee for jeopardizing Chicago’s chances to win the 2016 Summer Olympics.

“The only thing that can cost Chicago the Games is continuing squabbles between the two parties,” Ebersol said Friday via telephone, referring to the latest quarrel between the USOC and the International Olympic Committee.

* NBC’s Ebersol raises concerns over Chicago 2016 bid

Now it should be pointed out that Mr. Ebersol and NBC have a vested interest in this conversation. He is disappointed that NBC will not be a partner in the new U.S. Olympic Network. Perhaps he is expressing some of that disappointment here.

* Could third airport make way for a new Windy City?

The quest to build an airport out of farmland near Peotone has been an endless source of hot air.

An idea to scrap the airport altogether and turn the proposed airfield into a wind farm, generating electricity to power a decent chunk of the Chicago area, is gaining momentum.

* O’Hare terminal offers new video on customs

* 332 area businesses join bike to work

posted by Mike Murray
Monday, Jul 13, 09 @ 9:54 am

Comments

Wonder how the energy relief bill will hold up if cap-and-trade passes.

Comment by Sewanee Monday, Jul 13, 09 @ 10:04 am
Oh stop with these fictious stories about people getting shot in Chicago. Chicago is a gun free zone, silly. No one can be shot in a gun free zone. These had to be bow and arrow incidents, or industiral accidents, or lightning strikes.

Unless, of course, the bullets were fired from other cities (ones no enlightened enough to ban gun), and are simply landing in Chicago.

Comment by doc Monday, Jul 13, 09 @ 10:07 am
MM, your construction of the shorts today is extremely powerful and thought-provoking.

The progression from a furloughed solider gunned down at home, to more violence in the streets, to kids afraid to go outside, to our governor bragging about our “homeland security” would be fodder for Dickens or Kafka.

Well done.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Jul 13, 09 @ 10:07 am
the rating for IL Homeland Security is great news and, based on my personal knowledge, is squarely the result of the leadership of Mike Chamness and the statewide collaboration he has brought to the table. I’ve been in several states and none have the level of leadership and statewide focus that Director Chamness and his team have built in Illinois. Congrats, Mike!!!

Comment by Dznuts Monday, Jul 13, 09 @ 10:09 am
In a world where everything is regulated, big brother encroaches on all fronts, activities are on video, internet use is monitored, phone conversations are listened to, fines are levied for smoking indoors and virtually all businesses are licensed, they are finally getting around to checking the health conditions of tattoo and piercing parlors.

If ever there were businesses where government monitoring was appropriate, these are them. Apparently, it didn’t generate enough revenue and merely protects the health of people which, of course, isn’t a priority.

Comment by Phineas J. Whoopee Monday, Jul 13, 09 @ 10:17 am
BTW, Wordslinger, last week you wrote something thought provoking about all the kids being murdered. You said the media needs a hook.

The soldier getting gunned down is a good example of your point. It’s a shame all the killings don’t get press like he is getting. It might make a difference.

Comment by Phineas J. Whoopee Monday, Jul 13, 09 @ 10:25 am
Has anyone considered that the residents of the Peotone area would like to be left alone to do the farming and other businesses that they have done for decades?

If the windmills could be judiciously placed on private property, the renal fees would be a welcome boost to the annual agricultural income.

Just sayin

Comment by Plutocrat03 Monday, Jul 13, 09 @ 10:26 am
Do we still fund Cease Fire?

Comment by Scooby Monday, Jul 13, 09 @ 10:38 am
Anyone know what time the Capital Bill signing is today? Anyone covering it?

Comment by siriusly Monday, Jul 13, 09 @ 10:39 am
All hands should work to latch onto Capt Fax’s account of the stalking between Commando Kirk and TugBoat Andy McKenna It is tooooooo goooooood.
Please don’t steal

Comment by CircularFiringSquad Monday, Jul 13, 09 @ 10:39 am
I don’t know what Kirk is so afraid of. He should just tell McKenna “run if you want, go ahead.” That’s what a front-runner in a position of strength would do. There’s no way that voters are going to run to McKenna, he’s an unknown. Kirk is clearly the favorite here, why’s he being such a wimp?

Comment by siriusly Monday, Jul 13, 09 @ 10:49 am
SIRIUSLY

With regards to Kirk, you answered your own question. He is a wimp!

Comment by MOON Monday, Jul 13, 09 @ 10:56 am
You know, I wonder if it’s safe to say that this is turning into a violent summer in Chicago?

Comment by Levois Monday, Jul 13, 09 @ 11:01 am
It’s not about beating McKenna - it’s about being able to use the primary to amass campaign dollars not spend them.

Comment by 10th Indy Monday, Jul 13, 09 @ 11:06 am
amazing idea for a windfarm in Peotone!

Comment by Amy Monday, Jul 13, 09 @ 11:13 am
Still can’t see why the State won’t sit down with Indiana to discuss a joint effort to greatly expand Gary. Sharing revenue has worked in other places.

All the train tracks to the north are indeed a problem, but not insurmountable. Industrial Drive can go, since most of the businesses will have to move anyway. Even landfill could be an option if they can reach the lakefront. It sits right next to the Indiana Toll Road, with both I-80 and I-90, and the adjacent rail links could be made part of the plan.

Besides, who is ever going to want that land for anything else? Crops grown there would glow in the dark!

Comment by Bubs Monday, Jul 13, 09 @ 5:16 pm
The potential developers for a wind farm on the South Suburban Airport footprint had better hurry up. Gov. Quinn today signed the capital bills which include funding of over $100 million for building an airport there. In his previous words he said he would like to build it “as fast as humanly possible”.

Maybe they could put the wind turbines at the ends of the runway, where a blast from the jet engines might make them turn faster…

Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Monday, Jul 13, 09 @ 8:53 pm
Bubs, Gary International Airport is already part of a bi-state compact with the City of Chicago comprised of O’Hare, Midway and Gary.

Back in the day when Edgar was governor, Pate ruled the Senate and Lee Daniels was speaker, there was a movement afoot to grab O’Hare from the city and create a regional airport authority comprised of O’Hare, Midway and Kane County. Yeah, you bet it was all about the contracts.

In a brilliant political stroke, Daley went over their heads to Congress and got the bi-state compact similar to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. A fed governmental authority trumps any state creation. Gary gets a share of the O’Hare and Midway PFCs out of the deal.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Jul 14, 09 @ 9:49 am