* Media: ‘Mad Money’ guru says it’s time to dump GateHouse stock

Gatehouse owns the Peoria Journal Star and virtually every single daily and weekly newspaper in this part of Illinois.

* Freedom’s over: Conrad Black ordered to prison Monday

* From gov to Mr. Clean

There’s an irony in Ryan being sent to Terre Haute. The federal prison system’s only death chamber is housed at a neighboring, high-security institution. Ryan spent much of his last years as governor opposing the death penalty, emptied Illinois Death Row in 2003 and imposed a moratorium on executions in Illinois.

* States OK pact for $640 million bridge; 4-lane structure set to open by 2015

“As long as I’m the governor of Illinois, I will do everything in my power to prevent it from being a toll bridge,” Blagojevich said during a press conference held at a union hall belonging to Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 562 in North St. Louis County.

* Woodstock lawmaker wants out of transit sales tax deal

“When we passed that bill we did something unique, we increased sales taxes on local counties without local county input,” Franks said during a House Mass Transit Committee hearing. “To the best of my knowledge, that’s never been done before in the history of the state of Illinois.”

* Republicans and Dupage - “We want local control”

* Lawmakers have their own plans for state budget

* Plan to shift inmates to Thomson prison up in the air

“I’m going beyond the fact that jobs are being offered to what it means to people and families with children and having to move their families,” Sen. Wilhelmi said.

* Legislators expect hearings on partial Joliet prison closing

* National party committees stepping up push in 14th

In just the last two weeks, the Democratic National Committee and the National Republican Congressional Committee have spent nearly $127,000 in the race to replace retired Rep. Dennis Hastert.

* Elections complaint filed over Oberweis

The committee alleged that Oberweis failed to notify the FEC or Democrat Bill Foster’s campaign of the three loans within 24 hours - - a violation of the Millionaires’ Amendment contained in the most recent revamp of federal campaign law.
loans

* Filing flap in the 14th Congressional District race

* Oberweis Earns House Conservatives Fund Endorsement in IL-14

* The Choice in the 11th Could Boost
All GOP Fortunes

If Republicans are shrewd in their selection in the 11th, they could utterly reverse those odds, taking Roskam’s seat out of serious Democratic calculations altogether.

* Lawmakers blast Canadian National rail plan

* Bill would boost pensions for older retired firefighters

* Lakes report cites gap

* Amputee has harsh words for VA Medical Center

* Car show must decide soon whether to move from fairgrounds

* Men acquitted in E2 nightclub stampede sue city for $2 million

* Judge rejects initial Lakin plea deal

U.S. District Judge J. Phil Gilbert rejected the deal as it stood Thursday, listing concerns that included the proposed 6-year prison sentence. The original charges against Lakin carried a possible sentence of life in prison and a fine of more than $2 million.

* Daley names leader for panel to recommend property tax changes

In a press release, Mr. Daley said Andrew Mooney, executive director of the Local Initiative Support Corp., has agreed to chair the 22-member committee and submit a list of recommendations for long-range changes in two months.

* Businessman gets 33 months for bribing Cook County official

* ‘48 Hours’ to air show on Steidl-Whitlock case

* Friday Beer Blogging: Knitting Edition