Clout St

Lawmaker says Alsip cemetery scandal shows need for stronger regulations

Newsdesk — 2009-07-09T20:04:22-05:00

Posted by Ray Long at 8:01 p.m. SPRINGFIELD---Angered by accusations that hundreds of graves were defiled, Rep. Dan Brady (R-Bloomington) said today the Alsip cemetery scandal illustrates why the state needs stricter regulations over individuals who sell "the pre-need burial...

U.S. Sen. Roland Burris won't seek election next year

Newsdesk — 2009-07-09T16:58:57-05:00

Posted by John Chase, Rick Pearson, Mike Dorning and Monique Garcia at 4:46 p.m.; last updated at 5:32 p.m. Embattled Democratic U.S. Sen. Roland Burris is expected to announce tomorrow that he will not seek election next year to the...

Ex-Daley aide pushes back against inspector general

Newsdesk — 2009-07-09T15:26:39-05:00

Posted by Todd Lighty and Dan Mihalopoulos at 3:25 p.m. Mayor Richard Daley’s former personnel chief and other city workers who were the focus of an inspector general report into City Hall hiring abuses are upset the findings were made...

Quinn changes mind yet again, says he'll sign construction bill

Newsdesk — 2009-07-09T14:10:56-05:00

Posted by Ray Long at 2:10 p.m.; last updated at 6:12 p.m. SPRINGFIELD—Gov. Pat Quinn said Thursday he will sign a long-awaited $29 billion statewide construction measure that would create jobs during a recession while resulting in rebuilt roads, schools...

Assessor out of county board president race

Newsdesk — 2009-07-09T13:55:06-05:00

Posted by Hal Dardick at 1:50 p.m. Cook County Assessor James Houlihan said today he won’t run for County Board president, a decision that trimmed down a large field of potential and announced candidates for the office now held by...

Keeping tabs on Daley: Spends lunch hour promoting gourmet fest

Newsdesk — 2009-07-09T13:03:19-05:00

Posted by Dan P. Blake at 12:55 p.m. Keeping tabs on Mayor Richard Daley: Today the mayor got to spend his lunch hour chatting up some two dozen of Chicago's most popular chefs as the city announced the September return...

Illinois political floodgates open after Madigan passes on governor, Senate bids

Newsdesk — 2009-07-08T21:11:19-05:00

Posted by Rick Pearson, Mike Dorning, Monique Garcia and John Chase at 9:12 p.m. The floodgates in Illinois politics opened Wednesday after Atty. Gen. Lisa Madigan passed on running for governor or U.S. Senate, a decision that also improves the...

Unions meet with Daley but no deal on layoffs

Newsdesk — 2009-07-08T16:23:43-05:00

Posted by Dan Mihalopoulos and Dan P. Blake at 4:23 p.m.; updated at 5:16 p.m. Leaders of three city employee unions resisting Mayor Richard Daley’s contract demands met with the mayor today but no deal was reached. “No progress whatsoever,”...

Ex-Blagojevich chief of staff pleads guilty

Newsdesk — 2009-07-08T14:18:15-05:00

From the Breaking News Center: John Harris, the last chief of staff to former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, pleaded guilty today to a single count of wire fraud in federal court -- and agreed to cooperate in the federal probe against...

Kirk says he's 'more likely' to run for Senate but source says he's in

Newsdesk — 2009-07-08T13:17:01-05:00

Posted by Rick Pearson at 1:15 p.m.; updated at 4:30 p.m. North Shore Republican U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk today said he's edging toward a run for U.S. Senate now that Democrat Lisa Madigan opted not to run. "It's obviously more...

Audit says state likely to recover 'very little' of $1 million Blagojevich grant to school

Newsdesk — 2009-07-08T13:08:05-05:00

Posted by Todd Lighty at 12:50 p.m. An audit released today says the state likely will “recover very little” of a $1 million grant then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s administration wrongly gave to a politically connected private school that was damaged in...

Daley defends his embattled ex-personnel chief

Newsdesk — 2009-07-08T12:40:29-05:00

Posted by Dan P. Blake at 12:40 p.m. Mayor Richard Daley today tried to downplay the departure of his personnel chief, who resigned Tuesday after facing allegations he lied to city investigators. "He said he didn't want to be a...

Madigan: Decision to pass on Senate, governor 'agonizing' but best for family

Newsdesk — 2009-07-08T10:09:04-05:00

Posted by John Chase, Mike Dorning and Rick Pearson at 10:07 a.m.; last updated at 4:55 p.m. Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan said today that family considerations caused her to pass on a run for U.S. Senate or governor and...

Daley: We're using bill collectors because some are 'just refusing to pay'

Newsdesk — 2009-07-08T01:00:00-05:00

From today's print edition, updated at 12:29 p.m. with Mayor Daley's comments. By Dan Mihalopoulos and Dan P. Blake Tribune Reporters The same bill collectors who pester debtors on behalf of credit-card companies are being recruited by Chicago City Hall...

Daley's personnel chief resigns amid lying accusations

Newsdesk — 2009-07-07T16:34:53-05:00

Posted by Dan Mihalopoulos at 4:35 p.m. Mayor Richard Daley's personnel chief told the Tribune this afternoon that he has turned in his resignation---less than two weeks after the city's independent inspector general called for his removal. Homero Tristan, a...

Quinn changes mind on cuts, vetoes state budget instead

Newsdesk — 2009-07-07T14:28:53-05:00

Posted by Monique Garcia at 2:25 p.m.; last updated at 3:17 p.m. A day after he said he'd take responsibility for $1 billion in budget cuts, Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn today instead threw the issue back into the laps of...

Daley says he's considering several people to fill 26th Ward seat

Newsdesk — 2009-07-07T12:12:10-05:00

Posted by Dan P. Blake at 12:10 p.m. Mayor Richard Daley today said he's considering several people to become the 26th Ward's next alderman, but declined to comment on what some have characterized as anti-gay views of a leading candidate....

Kirk collects $580,000 in second quarter as he mulls U.S. Senate bid

Newsdesk — 2009-07-06T19:18:55-05:00

From the Breaking News Center: WASHINGTON -- North Shore Republican Congressman Mark Kirk, who has been contemplating a costly run for the U.S. Senate or governor, reported Monday that he has built up a campaign warchest of more than $1...

The tale of campaign finance reform in Springfield this year

Newsdesk — 2009-07-05T07:13:00-05:00

From the Sunday print edition: STATE OF CORRUPTION How reform failed in Illinois Quinn, legislative leaders and activists all played role in passing weak campaign finance bill By Ray Long and Rick Pearson Tribune reporters SPRINGFIELD---Just days before state lawmakers...

Giannoulis aide put kid on clout list for fundraising priest

Newsdesk — 2009-07-03T07:00:00-05:00

From today's print edition: CLOUT GOES TO COLLEGE Giannoulias aide put kid on clout list for priest Greek Orthodox leader who vouched for girl helped treasurer raise campaign cash By Stacy St. Clair and Sara Olkon Tribune reporters When a...