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* Innocent plea to bilking the state

Blagojevich and his staff said Mahajan’s long-standing, no-bid state contract preceded the relationship with the first lady and that there was no connection between the two. Blagojevich called the Tribune inquiry “Neanderthal” and sexist.

* AG Madigan denies Pepmeyer bias

* A look at why IL gas prices are higher than anywhere else

* Senator files measure to exempt casinos from smoking ban

* Illinoize: New boats

* Lawmakers push for casino exemption on smoking ban

* Ryan says he’ll be broke without pension

* Teen driving reforms nearly law

* Tribune Editorial: Limiting the collateral damage from guns

* House panel OKs bill to reimburse service groups

* Tollway gets green light for oasis hotels

Critics said the idea would put existing hotels at tollway interchanges at a disadvantage and could enable politically connected developers to find a new way to cash in on government business.

* State recognizes acts of courage

* Illinois officials optimistic on Mississippi River bridge

But a letter last month — disclosed this week — from Pete Rahn, director of the Missouri Department of Transportation, to his Illinois counterpart, Milton Sees, shows that Missouri is willing to back down on its position on tolls.

* Election Board privacy breach: lawsuit claims controversial data can be seen by all

* Michael Sneed: Phil Cline & Horse slaughter

* Illinoize: Illinois doctors wary on Wal-Mart clinics

* Illinoize: An unnamed public official

* Blagojevich OKs horse slaughter ban; more here and here

* Sun-Times Editorial: New York has a good tax idea, lets go green with envy

* CTA giving fare warning

* CTA presents doomsday scenario

* Local leaders decry CTA proposals; more here

* CTA threatens to raise fares

* Ald. sours on Bourbon St’ spirits around Wrigley

* Business owner admits role in Cook Co. fraud

* Editorial: Deteriorating services, twisting priorities are Stroger’s problems

* Surprise inspection finds Stroger Hospital lacking

* HDO member may change plea

posted by Paul Richardson
Friday, May 25, 07 @ 8:32 am

Comments

Hotels at Illinois Tollway Oases?
Yep! Screw all the businesses along the Illinois Tollway.
I’m sure each oasis hotel lobby will have a huge picture of Blagojevich in it too.
Who’s proposing this gem? Rezko? Kelly? Or some other unnamed huge contributor to Blagojevich?
Wake up Illinois, your getting taken for an expensive joy ride.

Comment by Can See Now Friday, May 25, 07 @ 8:44 am
Either we have a smoking ban or we don’t…not maybe. Employees on these gambling barges suffer a health risk no different than those who work in bars and restaurants. Funny how the smell of money makes the concern over health risks seem less important.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, May 25, 07 @ 8:45 am
Mr. Madigan needs to start the impeachment process and get rid of Governor Blagojevich once and for all. If Governor Blagojevich does get indicted, let his defend himself on his own dime after he is impeached.
If Mr. Madigan doesn’t lead the charge on this crucial act his party in Illinois will be damaged for many years to come.
Save ILLINOIS!

Comment by Enough is Enough! Friday, May 25, 07 @ 9:00 am
If Stroger has concluded that Cook County goverment’s “core mission” is health, perhaps we need a Cook County government less even less than I thought. Yes, I know they run the jails and have sheriffs and other stuff, but there are other ways of running jails and most of the other stuff the County does could be privatized or shifted to other government entities.

This is particularly true of health care, even preventive health care. The City has a public health department and so does Illinois. So do many localities. None of these entities is all that busy, although they get lotso taxpayer money.

More importantly, Cook County is teeming with doctors, nurses, and hospitals, including several major hospitals right in Cook County Hospital’s back yard. A back yard filled with gentrification I might add. The “core mission” of county health care, preventive, acute, and chronic should be shifted to these many institutions, most of them not for profit and getting huge tax breaks.

Cook County “government” is unnecessary except to the greedy pols and public “servants” who benefit so greatly from its largesse. Understanding this is a step in the right direction. Letting it continue is a sign of stupidity. Taxpayer stupidity.

Comment by Cassandra Friday, May 25, 07 @ 10:19 am
What? No Good News proclamations today Gov.?

Comment by Northside Bunker Friday, May 25, 07 @ 10:43 am
Will Patti Blago have to return the commissions she received from the Mahajan’s real estate deal? After all, the money used to buy the buildings was essentially stolen from the state.

Comment by Papa Legba Friday, May 25, 07 @ 11:03 am
Are you kiddin’ Papa Legba, the Blagojevich’s aren’t guilty of anything. Nobody’s guilty of anything, it’s a vast right-wing conspiracy.
We are all imagining this corruption!

Comment by Northside Bunker Friday, May 25, 07 @ 11:37 am
Ray Mitchell, one of George Ryan’s attorneys, said Wednesday that unless the court steps in, “his family, his wife … will be left with nothing”.
What BALONEY!
George Ryan made millions of dollars before he even entered the political arena. You were convicted of a crime George. NO PENSION for you or your well off family. Sell your big house and move in with your kids like the rest of us.

Comment by To Bad, So Sad Friday, May 25, 07 @ 12:00 pm
Oh just go ahead and give George his $60 thou per year. My goodness, the current administration loses more than that every hour in corruption and what later turns out to be “audit findings”.

Comment by A Citizen Friday, May 25, 07 @ 3:19 pm
I’m sure that that $60 thou per year could used in a lot better places. For starters, Governor Blagojevich’s defense fund.

Comment by Poor Poor George Friday, May 25, 07 @ 4:28 pm