Morning Watch - February 12
Feb 12, 2013
A new face: Natashia Holmes, a former IDOT official, is named to replace Sandi Jackson in Chicago's 7th Ward, WBEZ reports.
Higher stakes: The Trib's editorial board says it's time tougher gun possession laws give armed criminals more reason to fear packing heat.
Saving, striking? The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees advises members to save money for a possible strike, the State Journal-Register reports.
No news: Yesterday's pension summit in Burr Ridge proved fruitless in moving toward pension reform, the Daily Herald reports.
Reeling with real estate: Though CPS plans to close schools this year, there already are plenty of vacant school buildings throughout Chicago, which haven't been easy to sell, the Sun-Times reports.
Community calls: More community meetings on school closures begin Wednesday when the district releases a preliminary list of schools to be closed, the Trib reports.
Deputy's dollars: A DuPage sheriff's deputy receives $1 million in a case in which she alleges Sheriff John Zaruba passed her up for a promotion because of a political feud, the Trib reports.
Office operations: State Treasurer Dan Rutherford plans to cut his office's operating budget by 3 percent for the upcoming fiscal year, the State Journal-Register reports.
Water works: Gov. Quinn's new clean water project will add 2,000 jobs to the state, NBC 5 reports.
School daze: A new law would require children to start attending school at age 5 as opposed to age 7, ABC 7 reports.
General conversation: Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan is refereeing talks between big business and environmentalists on the issue of hydraulic fracking, Crain's reports.
Police pay: Rahm strikes a deal over pensions and raises with Chicago police sergeants, the Sun-Times reports.
Two-hand touch: A suburban legislator proposes a bill that would restrict high school football plays to tackling in practice only one day per week to protect them from potential brain injuries, the Trib reports.