Daily Herald | Quinn campaign says it will take down ad

 

A recent Internet ad that slams GOP nominee for governor Bill Brady for missing hundreds of votes as a state senator might have crossed ethical lines by lifting footage from the General Assembly's website without permission.

Quinn campaign spokeswoman Mica Matsoff acknowledged Tuesday the group didn't seek permission, calling it "an oversight." She said the ad would be taken down and changed. However, it was still on a Democratic Governors Association website as of Tuesday afternoon.

Click on the following for more details:  Daily Herald | Quinn campaign says it will take down ad

No action on objection - Freeport, IL - The Journal-Standard

Republicans make objections to signatures and petitions of Democratic candidate.  Nothing matters as long as you win?

The Illinois State Board of Elections made no ruling on an objection filed against Democratic state representative candidate Victoria F. Grizzoffi of Galena, which means at this point her name will appear on the ballot for the Nov. 2 general election

The Illinois House Republican Organization recently filed an objection against Grizzoffi, alleging that her election petitions contained improperly gathered signatures and that she was not designated as a candidate within the proper time period.

Grizzoffi filed her petitions in Springfield in April. The minimum requirement for her to get on the ballot was 500 signatures, and Grizzoffi said she obtained nearly 900 signatures.

No action on objection - Freeport, IL - The Journal-Standard

Metra watchdog: 33 allegations are being investigated - chicagotribune.com

Metra probe possible fraud and mismanagement after disclosure that [Executive Director] Pagano improperly took $475,000 in vacation pay

Metra's newly hired internal watchdog is investigating 33 allegations of possible fraud or misconduct at the agency that tipsters have provided over the past two weeks, officials said Friday

The other 22 allegations were received via e-mail and a phone tip hot line set up on May 26.

The tips involve alleged fraud, waste, mismanagement, malfeasance and other abuses

 

Metra officials also said they are taking further steps to tighten oversight by hiring Chicago accounting firm Blackman Kallick  to assess the agency's internal controls and management.

Metra watchdog: 33 allegations are being investigated - chicagotribune.com

Daily Herald | McHenry County unseals hundreds of impounded search warrant files

I guess my question should be:  Does Boone County need to unseal any search warrants? 

While many counties unseal search warrant documents as a matter of routine once the related investigation is complete, McHenry County court officials have left them permanently impounded, even after charges have been filed or the case that sparked the search ended.

Bianchi said his office sought the attorney general's opinion on the practice last year after a judge in downstate St. Clair County, ruling in a lawsuit brought by a local newspaper, declared that search warrant documents should be open for public inspection unless doing so would irreparably harm a pending investigation

Daily Herald | McHenry County unseals hundreds of impounded search warrant files

Will Boone County open its sealed records?

 

Below is the recent news release from the State’s Attorney for McHenry County concerning his office’s compliance with a Illinois Attorney General Opinion on sealed warrant petitions and orders.  I wonder if these records have been opened for Boone County.

Click on the photocopy to enlarge.

The hired guns of Illinois' governmental bodies :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: The Watchdogs

a review by the Chicago Sun-Times and the Better Government Association of 36 Chicago area governments that collectively spent more than $7.3 million last year on lobbyists found that:

• The governments' lobbying contracts often go to former elected officials.

• Many of the governmental bodies… have increased spending on lobbyists … in the face of the recession.

• Many of the government-hired lobbyists don't even file reports to show what they've done for the taxpayers. And they're not required to.

Click on the following for more details:  The hired guns of Illinois' governmental bodies :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: The Watchdogs

New law no longer ties yard signs to election season | Daily Chronicle

A new state law aims to protect free speech by allowing political campaign signs on residential property at any time.

The legislation, which will take effect Jan. 1, 2011, passed the Illinois General Assembly almost unanimously.
The law brings Illinois into compliance with several court cases, including a 1994 U.S. Supreme Court decision that affirmed that outdoor political yard signs are protected under the First Amendment, which among other things guarantees the freedom of speech, and cannot be prohibited by municipalities.

Click on the following for more details:  New law no longer ties yard signs to election season | Daily Chronicle