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Chicago Tribune: Rod Blagojevich’s rise and fall and presidential commutation, a Chicago story
Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was on the witness stand testifying in his own defense in federal court, chattering on in typical form and telling jurors about a 2002 fundraiser that was held for him at Yankee Stadium.
“First time I met Donald Trump,” Blagojevich proudly recalled of the occasion in New York City, “he walked in with Regis Philbin and made a contribution at that event.”
The Center Square: Trump commutes prison sentence of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich
President Donald Trump on Tuesday commuted the remaining years of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s 14-year prison sentence for corruption.
“He’ll be able to go home with his family after serving eight years in jail,” Trump said. “That was a tremendously powerful, ridiculous sentence, in my opinion.”
Patch: When Blago gets home let's talk about calls he got from Pritzker
Gov. J.B. Pritzker sure didn’t appreciate President Trump’s decision to grant clemency to his federal wiretap buddy, Rod Blagojevich.
“Illinoisans have endured far too much corruption, and we must send a message to politicians that corrupt practices will no longer be tolerated,” Pritzker said in a statement.
Crain's Chicago Business: Exelon, ComEd senior execs head for exits as controversy swirls
Marlow Colvin, 55, a former state representative from Chicago and a ComEd vice president in charge of lobbying in Springfield, retired from the company at the end of 2019, a spokesman said. Colvin’s departure followed by two months the exit of ComEd Senior Vice President Fidel Marquez, his boss, who headed ComEd’s overall lobbying operation.
Belleville News-Democrat: East St. Louis working with pension boards to avoid intercept, save police department
East St. Louis fire and police pension board members will give the city another chance to keep their pension funds current before deciding whether or not to pursue another revenue intercept by the Illinois Comptroller’s office.
That’s the step both of the boards took last September when audits revealed the city was behind nearly $4 million in mandated contributions to the funds that support retirement benefits for its first responders and their families.
Chicago Tribune: Illinois politicians from both parties weigh in on President Trump’s commutation of Rod Blagojevich’s prison sentence
Illinois politicians from both parties were quick to criticize President Donald Trump’s commutation of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s prison sentence. Here are some reactions to Tuesday’s news.
Chicago Sun-Times: Arroyo successor challenge moves ahead – panel formed to probe appointment process rival calls ‘rigged and corrupt’
The challenge to the appointment of criminally charged former Rep. Luis Arroyo’s successor — chosen with the help of Arroyo’s votes — picked up some steam on Tuesday with a preliminary meeting scheduled for next week and the naming of a panel chairman who vowed to help restore “trust and confidence in our General Assembly.”
State Rep. Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Hillside, will lead the qualifications challenge committee tasked with evaluating complaints related to the appointment of state Rep. Eva-Dina Delgado, whom Democratic leaders chose to replace Arroyo last fall after disregarding warnings to exclude Arroyo’s proxy votes from the selection process.
The Center Square: Illinois lawmakers eye statewide plastic bag ‘fee,’ regulations for other consumer plastics
Some state lawmakers want to further regulate products consumers use every day, including a statewide fee on plastic bags.
Several measures promoted by environmental groups and lawmakers are pending in Springfield.
Chicago Sun-Times: Lightfoot back at the table in Springfield, betting a Chicago casino is in the cards
Making another play for the elusive Chicago casino, Mayor Lori Lightfoot met with Republican and Democratic legislators on Tuesday and said she had “very good conversations” and believes she made “progress.”
The mayor last made the pitch for the long-sought revenue source during November’s veto session, but she left empty-handed.
Chicago Tribune: How Patti Blagojevich helped earn her husband’s release
For most of her time as Illinois first lady, Patti Blagojevich preferred a behind-the-scenes role, advising her husband on myriad topics while building a real estate career that leaned heavily on the couple’s clout.
But since her husband’s arrest nearly a dozen years ago, Blagojevich has commanded the spotlight as she has done almost anything — from eating bugs on reality television to courting President Donald Trump — to help win her husband’s freedom. She has made scores of public pleas on his behalf over the past decade on television and social media, usually painting her family as the victims of overzealous prosecutors and perceived political enemies.
Daily Herald: Avon Township trustees to consider censuring supervisor Wednesday
A rift in Avon Township government continues as trustees have called a special meeting to deal with several items involving Supervisor Terry Wilke, including a planned censure.
Credit cards, the budget process and appointing an independent counsel also are on the agenda for the meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the township office, 433 E. Washington St. in Round Lake Park.
Northwest Herald: McHenry County Board votes to eliminate mileage reimbursements for board members
The McHenry County Board voted Tuesday to eliminate mileage reimbursements for board members to attend regularly scheduled meetings effective in 2022.
The resolution, as initially written, would have eliminated this benefit effective immediately. However, the Administrative Services Committee voted earlier this month to delay the measure until 2022, the same time a separate proposal to eliminate health insurance benefits for County Board members could take effect.
State Journal-Register: Council approves mayor’s city budget
The Springfield City Council passed Mayor Jim Langfelder’s $130.1 million fiscal year 2021 budget proposal Tuesday evening, which holds the line on taxes and is without significant cuts to city services.
The corporate budget, which does not include the cost to run City Water, Light and Power, is about $4 million more than last year’s ask. Much of the increase comes from employee salaries and benefits along with the continued climb in required contributions to the city’s police and fire pensions.
Peoria Journal Star: Fire consultants to address council Tuesday on efficiency
Consultants hired by the City Council a few years ago to assess ways to make its fire department more efficient are expected to discuss the county’s dispatching service at a special meeting tonight.
Operatives of Fitch & Associates, a Missouri-based firm, used data from 2017 that showed 27,000 emergency calls handled by the department. Of that number, 22,700 were medical emergencies and the vast majority of those were lower priority calls.