Morning Watch - September 24
Sep 24, 2012
Wi-fi wishes: The mayor wants to put wi-fi in all Chicago parks and public places, in addition to expanding broadband in underserved areas NBC Chicago reports.
Safer city? The Sun-Times' editorial board doesn't think a $5 tax applied to city electricity bills for more cops is the right way to make the city safer.
Ethics edicts: An ethics reform panel has a lengthy list of proposed changes, and now the ball is in Rahm's court, the Tribune's editorial board writes.
Lobbyist living: By taking advantage of a six-month window to rejoin the state retirement plan, a former teachers' union lobbyist receives a $100,000 per year state pension for long-ago government jobs she held, even though she was not there long enough to be vested, the Tribune reports.
Stipend slash? The Daily Herald's editorial board can't see justifying the stipends county workers receive on top of their salaries, boosting their pensions.
Contract conclusions: A Tribune analysis finds Chicago teachers with five to ten years experience will reap the most from the new teachers' contract.
Charting course for charters: Now that the teachers' strike is over, Rahm makes his push for more charter schools, the Tribune reports.
Budget breaking: The state is on the line for $670 million more in teachers' pensions next budget after the pension system lowered expectations for its investments, the Tribune reports.
Police property: The Sun-Times' editorial board says police need to stay on top of evidence to assure it's accounted for.
Madam's materials: A sitting judge and police officers were named on the VIP list of a west suburban brothel, the Sun-Times reports.
Deaths and DCFS: The Tribune finds in child death cases where there was Department of Children and Family Services involvement, workers made serious errors and falsified records.
Dwindling deficit: Rahm announces the city budget gap shrunk by $71 million, the Sun-Times reports.
Now recording: DuPage County courts will be the first in the Chicago area to allow cameras and recording devices during trials, the Daily Herald reports.
Another strike out? If an agreement isn't reached soon, teachers in Evergreen Park could strike Friday, ABC7 reports.
Toll troubles: The Daily Herald's editorial board is concerned the Illinois Tollway hired a company to conduct a $1 million analysis of a project it previously had a hand in.
High-speed hub: Gov. Quinn breaks ground on a transportation hub in Joliet that will create 400 construction jobs and be a key stop on the high speed rail line between Chicago and St. Louis, FOX Chicago reports.
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