Clout St

State gets $500,000 to help connect military veterans with jobs

Newsdesk — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:30:50 -0600

Posted by John Byrne and Monique Garcia at 5:30 p.m. The state will use a $500,000 federal grant to expand a program aimed at linking veterans with jobs when they return home from deployment. The grant is part of the...

Quinn signs bill to get more federal money for health care

Newsdesk — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:15:27 -0600

Posted by Monique Garcia at 1:15 p.m. Gov. Pat Quinn signed a measure into law today to capture additional federal money to pay down the state's massive backlog of health care bills. The legislation is one piece of a larger...

Ethics panel admonishes Burris over Senate appointment

Newsdesk — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:09:34 -0600

From the Breaking News Center: WASHINGTON -- Sen. Roland Burris was rebuked today by the Senate Ethics Committee, which issued him a "public letter of qualified admonition" for his actions in connection with his appointment by disgraced former Gov. Rod...

Friday Illinois political docket: Quinn to sign Medicaid legislation

Newsdesk — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:00:00 -0600

Posted by Tribune staff at 5 a.m. A look at what's going on Friday in Illinois politics: *Gov. Pat Quinn will pick up endorsements from Latino leaders at a morning news conference. *From there, Quinn plans to sign a measure...

Cook County Board passes budget with no tax increases

Newsdesk — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:32:56 -0600

Posted by Hal Dardick at 10:32 p.m. The Cook County Board tonight passed a $3 billion budget for next year that holds the line on taxes.The spending plan commissioners signed off on at a special meeting includes a recently-approved cut...

Chicago City Council uses stealth payroll for family, operatives, those with heat

Newsdesk — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:50:22 -0600

From today's print edition: Friends & family fund for Chicago aldermen Shadowy $1.3 million payroll helps them get around ban on patronage hiring By Hal Dardick and Ellen Gabler TRIBUNE REPORTERS As City Hall struggles to pay for basic services,...

Thursday Illinois political docket: Daley at domestic violence summit, Quinn picks up endorsements

Newsdesk — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:00:00 -0600

Posted by Tribune staff at 5 a.m. A look at the Illinois political scene on Thursday: *Mayor Richard Daley is scheduled to attend a morning domestic violence summit at a downtown hotel and an evening reception for the United Negro...

Caught driving without a license in Chicago? Get ready to pay $665

Newsdesk — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:19:54 -0600

Posted by John Byrne at 3:19 p.m. Billing it as a public safety issue, Chicago aldermen today approved a measure requiring the impounding of cars where the driver was found to have a suspended or revoked license. But there's also...

Chicago aldermen approve resolution aimed at helping student avoid deportation

Newsdesk — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:14:43 -0600

Posted by John Byrne at 2:15 p.m. The Chicago City Council today approved a resolution urging passage of federal legislation that would allow some undocumented immigrant students to earn conditional residency. The local tie to the issue is the case...

Daley defends Scott's credit card use, blasts medical examiner

Newsdesk — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:36:54 -0600

Posted by Hal Dardick and Azam Ahmed at 1:35 p.m.; last updated at 4:27 p.m. with medical examiner response Mayor Richard Daley today defended Chicago Board of Education President Michael Scott's use of a school district credit card to pay...

Democratic governor debate: Gov. Pat Quinn says 'missions accomplished' as Hynes rips 'flip flops'

Newsdesk — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:11:56 -0600

Posted by Rick Pearson and David Heinzmann at 10:10 a.m.; updated at 12:19 p.m. Gov. Pat Quinn declared his days are filled with “missions accomplished” on issues such as ethics reform and job creation at a debate today, but rival...

Wednesday Illinois political docket: Daley budget hearing, Democratic governor forums

Newsdesk — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 05:00:00 -0600

Posted by Tribune staff at 5 a.m. A look at what's going on in Illinois politics Wednesday: *If you want to sound off on Mayor Richard Daley's proposed budget for next year, today's your chance. The Chicago City Council meets...

New state law requires bus drivers to check for children at end of trip

Newsdesk — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:39:34 -0600

Posted by Monique Garcia at 3:40 p.m. Illinois school bus drivers are now required to conduct inspections of their vehicles at the end of each trip to make sure children aren't left on board after Gov. Pat Quinn signed a...

How Cook County Board voted on sales tax cut

Newsdesk — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:01:39 -0600

Posted by Hal Dardick at 3:01 p.m. Cook County commissioners voted yet again today to roll back part of the sales tax increase that Board President Todd Stroger pushed through in February 2008. Here's how the 17 commissioners voted: Yes...

Cook County commissioners vote to cut in half Stroger sales tax increase

Newsdesk — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:45:57 -0600

Posted by Hal Dardick at 12:45 p.m. Emboldened by a new state law, the Cook County Board today voted 12-5 to reduce the county sales tax by a half-cent. Today's vote is the latest development in a political struggle between...

Mayor Richard Daley mourns loss of trusted ally Michael Scott

Newsdesk — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:13:19 -0600

Posted by John Byrne at 11:10 a.m. The apparent suicide of Chicago Board of Education President Michael Scott deserves a thorough investigation, Mayor Richard Daley said today, adding that it would do his longtime friend a disservice to imply he...

Suspended motorists caught driving in Chicago could have cars impounded

Newsdesk — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:54:03 -0600

Posted by John Byrne at 9:53 a.m. Drivers caught behind the wheel with a suspended or revoked license would have their cars impounded under a proposed ordinance the City Council's Police and Traffic Committee approved today. "We have people whose...

Tuesday's Illinois political docket

Newsdesk — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 07:30:57 -0600

Posted by Tribune staff at 7:30 a.m. Here’s a look at what’s on Illinois’ political docket for Tuesday. * Cook County commissioners plan to try again today to rollback the controversial penny-on-a-dollar sales tax championed by Board President Todd Stroger,...

Robert Blagojevich to seek separate trial from brother

Newsdesk — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:56:00 -0600

From today's print edition: Former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, indicted with five others on sweeping corruption charges in April, could be going to trial next year by himself. An attorney for Blagojevich's brother, Robert, said Monday that he would seek a...

Prison debate plays straight into 2010 Illinois election

Newsdesk — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:53:45 -0600

Posted by Monique Garcia and Kristen Schorsch at 5:52 p.m. While federal officials today toured a near-vacant state prison in northwest Illinois that could be used to house suspected terrorists, Democrats and Republicans waged a fierce public relations battle pitting...