* Purchase tickets here for the December 16th performance of “No-El or How the Blagojegrinch Stole Christmas” - Our Capitol Fax holiday party
* Role of minority-owned firms in Dan Ryan construction project lagged state goal…
Minority- and woman-owned businesses landed 20 percent of the $933 million in construction, design and engineering contracts from the Dan Ryan reconstruction project, falling short of the state’s 22.7 percent goal.
But the shortfall could be larger if Rohar Trucking — awarded roughly $20 million in contracts on the recently completed project and identified as a black-owned company — was a front for a majority-owned business.
* Georgia ruling on sex offenders prompts other states to reexamine laws
The Georgia court struck down its residency restrictions last week, giving opponents of such buffer zones hope that other state laws will be reviewed and possibly overturned.
“It certainly sends a message that creating laws that render people homeless is not in anybody’s best interest,” said Jill Levenson, a professor at Florida’s Lynn University who has done extensive studies on the effect of residency restrictions. “In theory, I believe this could pave the way for a U.S. Supreme Court case.”
* Hilkavitch: Free or fee? Air pump tiff flares on tollway
* An explanation of the smoking ban and who it will affect
* State’s smoking ban’s effect unclear for Greek houses
* Jesse Jackson Jr: Legacy of tax-fed patronage must end
* McQueary: Nuns on the stand — that would be a challenge
Too bad a certain political challenge concluded. I would have paid to watch a high-brow election attorney quiz Maria High School nuns about whether they really signed a candidate’s petition or whether the signatures were fraudulent.
That scenario never played out, however, because Cook County state’s attorney candidate Howard Brookins dropped his challenge to opponent Anita Alvarez’s signatures.
* Jesse Jr. to Jesse Sr.: You’re wrong on Obama, dad; more here and here
* Report: IL ranks near the bottom in screening problem teachers
* Towns await word on FutureGen project
The competition has been fierce.
Illinois offered $80 million in grants, low-interest loans and tax breaks, while Texas has promised $260 million in cash and tax credits. Both have offered developers protection from liability in the event that carbon dioxide leaks from the ground.
Economists say the project is an attractive economic target for small towns, and a big improvement on the kinds of low-wage jobs they tend to chase.
“Everyone talks about kind of the big score of attracting a Honda plant,” University of Illinois economics professor Fred Giertz said in an interview earlier this year. “The way the economy actually works is hundreds of thousands of small gains and small losses.”
* Sun-Times Editorial: Chicago is No. 1 in nation in dangerous subprime loans
* Blagojevich urges mortgage help from U.S.
* Editorial: Leadership, not insults, needed at county
* Tony Peraica: Enough with politics, lets talk about talk about the taxpayers
The vitriol and personal attacks that have surrounded the Cook County budget discussions are unfortunate, and accomplish little but damage the faith of the taxpayers in our government.
The members of the Cook County board don’t have to love each other.
They don’t have to get along. But we do have to pass a sensible budget that serves the residents and taxpayers of this county.
While they hurl insults, I will continue to discuss the budget.
* Grundy Co. groups hopes to determine what needs people have