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Morning Shorts

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[Since I had an exam during the day on Thursday, and was incapacitated on Friday morning, I have responded in the comments section to all of your kind B-day wishes from last week. Thanks a bunch everyone]

* State Rep. Annazette Collins Robbed In Woodlawn - Courtyard Where Robbery Happened Was Unsecured Due To Area Code Glitch

* Commissioners plan new attack on Cook sales tax

* Sales Tax Debate to Continue this Week

* Hospitals unhappy with proposed ‘hospital tax’

With Cook County commissioners expected to roll back the sales tax a half penny on the dollar — and make it stick this time — a simmering discussion may very well boil over about a proposed hospital tax, as one group calls it, to continue delivering health care to the poor and uninsured.

The debate pits Commissioner Joseph Mario Moreno, a Democrat whose district largely encompasses the Southwest Side, against hospitals in Chicago and the suburbs.

Under the legislation Moreno sponsored, larger nonprofit health-care facilities would be subject to what he calls a “fee,” but sounds more like a penalty, if they do not provide free care to the poor or uninsured equal to 4.5 percent of the hospital’s annual expenses.

Moreno is concerned that revenue losses from a potential sales tax rollback would hurt Cook County government, a $3.1 billion operation with roughly $850 million going to the county’s health-care system this year.

* Commissioner Steele’s brother back at work on county payroll

* Mayor Richard Daley: We’ve cleaned up city hiring and court oversight should end

* 40-year battle against Chicago Machine continues

* Leasing water system could be a risky move for Chicago

* In lean times, city scales back lawyers’ fees

Abundance of unemployed lawyers allows for lower hourly rate

* McPier may impose furlough days

The agency that runs McCormick Place and Navy Pier is likely to offer early retirement to 90 eligible employees and force 300 others to take up to 24 unpaid days off to help solve a financial crisis caused by a downturn in convention and tourism business.

Another reduction in hours worked by 200 unionized employees and renegotiation of contracts — for everything from attorneys to landscaping and janitorial services — is also on the table to erase a $34 million shortfall, sources said.

The Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority board will meet at 1 p.m. today to consider the painful remedies.

* Transit unions put foot down with CTA and its plans for layoffs, service cuts

Leaders say they are not willing to make concessions because there are other ways to cut costs without limiting service

* CTA union: Woes ‘not going to go away’

CTA workers are facing a list of concessions and layoffs, but union officials feel it’s time to take a serious look at a longterm fix.

At a Sunday morning news conference, union leaders suggested the CTA study the transportation system in Pennsylvania where a new statewide law, with money coming from an increase in highway tolls and sales taxes, provides resources to keep the transit agencies afloat for 10 years.[…]

The CTA is asking its workers for $160 million in givebacks over two years. The agency must find $95.6 million in savings to avoid service cuts and layoffs scheduled for February.

* CTA: Rides cost $7-$9.90, but agency makes about 98 cents for each

Transit agency wants cutbacks in labor costs; union official says CTA mismanaging public funds

* One-way ticket to higher fares - Metra raises price for some riders

Metra riders who buy one-way tickets or weekend tickets or who wait to pay till they’re on the train will pay more, under a budget approved Friday by the Chicago and suburban commuter-rail agency’s board.

* Rehab of 27 stations to cost Metra $136 mil.

Metra will spend $136 million on a five-year station-improvement program, using capital money from the state.

* Illinois’ 5-year tollway project under budget and ahead of schedule

* CPS beefing up force of traveling security officers

* Chicago Public Schools looks to advocacy group for curbing teen violence

* LIDAR speeder? Your free pass got revoked

City ends dismissals, goes back to prosecuting ticketed drivers

* Cook County Jail reality show premiere

* University of Illinois student instructors set to strike Monday

Administration, union fail to reach agreement after 6 hours of contract talks

* U of I graduate instructors plan to strike

* U. of I. arts program funding could be cut

Few students have participated in program expected to cost about $600,000 this year

* More and more houses in tony areas suffer from foreclosures

According to the latest figures from the Woodstock Institute, foreclosure filings were up by more than 50 percent in some well-off suburbs during the third quarter, as the mortgage crisis continued to shift to middle- and higher-income communities.

* Firms can save by going green

Getting drivers of company cars to idle less, avoid sudden starts and stops among options

* State to poison canal to fight Asian carp

* 25 to 49 Year Olds Hit Hardest by H1N1

posted by Mike Murray
Monday, Nov 16, 09 @ 7:17 am

Comments

Hey all,

Just wanted to thank everyone for the very kind words and birthday wishes. For the record, I am 23 years old. God where does the time go…

Anyway, I had a great birthday with plenty of “chocolate milk” and I can’t quite recall the ending of Thursday night -or Friday night for that matter, lol- but I am sure I did at least one thing that AG Madigan would be able to make fun of me for on camera. Although, to be fair, I am a pretty easy guy to make fun of in general.

CircularFiringSquad, one free lunch at those things is as much as my insides can bare anyway, but thx. And yes, Rich finally forked over your generous donation, but compelling him to do so was like pulling teeth. Ha. I’m just kidding Rich… kinda.

Fester, your ugly mug wins 1st place for funniest comment. For your prize I will give you a coupon for one month of free tanning so you can get a more human complexion. HA HA HA! But you are totally right, I do need a new wardrobe, especially a few new suits. I think I’ll wait till after the holidays, however, in case I gain back some of those LBs I lost. Plus you never know, I could lose more. (Fat chance - pun intended)

Fanning, you should know that there is no such thing as out to pasture when working for Rich. You pull a plow sun-up to sun-down tilling the fields until your body gives out from over use and old age. Then he ships you to the glue factory. LOLOL BTW- You are totally right… Mike Murphy… Ha! That was a shot to the ol’ ego.

Thanks again to everyone for your well wishes. You helped make my birthday great.

Cheers,
Murray

Comment by Mike Murray Monday, Nov 16, 09 @ 8:13 am
I normally wouldn’t comment on something like this, but the irony is just too rich.

In 2007, Collins was the deciding ‘no’ vote on a key handgun control measure (HB 758) backed by Mayor Daley. The ISRA even put out an alert asking its members to call and thank her for her vote in support of guns.

Comment by Don't Worry, Be Happy Monday, Nov 16, 09 @ 8:21 am
The news shows have Chicago Board of Ed Pres. Michael Scott being pulled out of the river by the Merchandise Mart.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Nov 16, 09 @ 9:48 am
I don’t get DWBH’s’ comment. Seems a tad mean spirited to me.

Handguns have been illegal in Chicago for decades. What did the vote against an extreme anti-gun measure have to do with a criminal using a gun in an assault? Do you really think that that would have made it impossible for a criminal to get a gun in Chicago?

Comment by Plutocrat03 Monday, Nov 16, 09 @ 10:35 am