Community Corner

Is Speaker Madigan Spiffing Up His Legacy? Rich Miller Looks

Plus, some of the best Blago cartoons. And Andy Shaw takes aim at public pension abuse.

LEGACY INSURANCE House Speaker Michael Madigan has been uncharacteristically vocal lately -- taking credit for passing pension reform and blasting corporations that demand tax breaks. At 71, is Madigan acting to protect his legacy? Capitol Fax publisher Rich Miller takes a look.

DOUBLE DIP There are still plenty of bad practices in the public pension world even after passage of a major pension reform bill. Are you familiar with tacking, sweetening and spiking? You will be after reading Andy Shaw's column this week.

HUMAN CARTOON On the fifth anniversary of their client's infamous arrest, Rod Blagojevich's lawyers were back in federal court seeking to have his conviction overturned. In Blago's case, truth generally was stranger than cartoon. But that did not stop cartoonists from trying. We've collected some of the best in this gallery.

Find out what's happening in Evanstonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

BAD RAP It's been 26 years since Ronald Reagan's education secretary, William Bennett, declared Chicago schools the worst in the nation. Does CPS still deserve that label? More here.

TOP 5 Here's a look at headlines from around Illinois today:

Find out what's happening in Evanstonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

  • 5. No bids for vendors at O’Hare Airport will be awarded until after the next Chicago mayoral election in 2015. (Crain’s Chicago Business)
    4. Pat Quinn dropped his appeal in the lawsuit over the suspension of lawmakers’ paychecks, clearing the way for Quinn to collect his own paychecks. (Chicago Tribune)
    3. Moody’s reports Chicago’s pension outlook is both positive and negative. (Reuters)
    2. The Chicago Tribune editorial board continues their “New Plan for Chicago” by looking at ways to empower the city’s youth. (Chicago Tribune)
    1. Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Chicago Public Schools CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett challenge the outdated perceptions of CPS. (Chicago Tribune)
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