Police probe Vatican bank officials for money laundering; Vatican "perplexed and surprised" - chicagotribune.com

Italian authorities have seized €23 million ($30.18 million) from a Vatican bank account and begun investigating top officials of the Vatican bank in connection with a money laundering probe.

Tuesday's case, police seized the money from a Vatican bank account being held at the Rome branch of Credito Artigiano Spa, according to news agencies ANSA and Apcom. The bulk of the money, €20 million, was destined for JP Morgan in Frankfurt, with the remainder going to Banca del Fucino.
According to the reports, the Vatican bank had neglected to communicate to financial authorities where the money had come from. The reports stressed that Gotti Tedeschi wasn't being investigated for laundering money himself but for a series of omissions in financial transactions.

Click on the following for more details:  Police probe Vatican bank officials for money laundering; Vatican "perplexed and surprised" - chicagotribune.com

McHenry County Board: States Attorney Bianchi has right to remain in office

Others in Blagojevich probe await fate ::

The Others:  Antoin "Tony" Rezko, Stuart Levine, William Cellini, Alonzo "Lon" Monk, John Harris, Ali Ata, Joseph Cari

Click on the following for an update on their fate:                     Star :: News

Samsung, LCD-Panel Makers Sued by Illinois's Madigan

Illinois joins California and Florida

-- Samsung Electronics Co., Toshiba Corp., Sharp Corp. and five other liquid-crystal display makers were sued by Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan over claims they conspired to fix prices.
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2010/08/10/bloomberg1376-L6YFUF6LUTXD01-14KLIQ9IP29EGJFJ91D02VTSCM.DTL#ixzz0wGIf04SE

 

Click on the following for more details:  Samsung, LCD-Panel Makers Sued by Illinois's Madigan

Blagojevich could lose home if jury convicts him

 

if the jurors at his corruption trial who ended a sixth day of deliberation Wednesday convict him, authorities could end up seizing his home - valued by the county assessor at around $700,000.

property would be in jeopardy only if Blagojevich is convicted of racketeering - one of 24 counts jurors are considering,

Click on the following for more details:  Pantagraph.com | News from Associated Press

City leaders praise Mexican general - SignOnSanDiego.com

Read the article there are positives and negatives to the Mexican Army’s involvement. 

ROSARITO BEACH, Mexico — Saying the Mexican military’s battle against drug gangs has led to a decrease in crime in their communities, civilian authorities paid homage Tuesday to a military general leading the fight in Baja California.

Click on the following for more details:  City leaders praise Mexican general - SignOnSanDiego.com

DeKalb Park board president charged with shoplifting | Daily Chronicle

 

Police said the man had bagged $22 worth of groceries in the middle of the store and attempted to leave without paying.
James M. Volk, 44, of the 1500 block of Pickwick Lane in DeKalb, was charged with retail theft under a local ordinance, according to a police report.
In his position on the park board, Volk uses the name J. Matt Volk

For up to 7 days you may click on the following and read  for free the rest of the story:  Park board president charged with shoplifting | Daily Chronicle

Clout St: State Supreme Court rules no pension for jailed George Ryan

Illinois Supreme Court today ruled that imprisoned ex-Gov. George Ryan should not get get any of his state pension because of his federal conviction on political corruption charges.

The 6-1 decision means Ryan, who turns 76 next week, won't be able to start collecting about $5,900 a month, or around $71,000 a year.

Ryan retired with a $150,691 salary as governor, but his 36 years climbing the ladder of local and state politics allowed him to collect about $200,000 a year until he was convicted

Madigan's argument was simple. Ryan should lose the whole pension because he was a member of the same state pension system before and after his crimes. He had shifted his pension credits from the nearly six years in county government to the state pension after joining the legislature in 1972.

pension payments had stopped in September 2006…Ryan received $235,500 from the pension system when his pension was voided, representing personal contributions he made to the retirement fund over the years

Click on the following for more details and references for the legal briefs on the subject:  Clout St: State Supreme Court rules no pension for jailed George Ryan

Sycamore District 427 reimbursed for cybertheft

 

District 427 has been reimbursed by its insurance company after officials discovered about $300,000 missing from district coffers following unauthorized wire transfers earlier this year.

This summer, District 47 officials reported about $425,000 missing. However, some of the money was recovered and the unauthorized transfers were halted.

Click on the following for more details:  Sycamore District 427 reimbursed for cybertheft | Daily Chronicle

Illinois Fair Map Initiative - Press Conference 12-3-2009

League of Women Voters of Illinois

A nonpartisan political organization, dedicated to Making Democracy Work, through voter education, issue advocacy, and citizen participation.

Statement by Nancy Marcus
President, League of Women Voters of Illinois

The League of Women Voters has historically promoted the idea that citizen participation is key to maintaining and strengthening democracy. We are pleased to join with the Better
Government Association, the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform and members of the Illinois Reform Commission to launch a citizens’ initiative and the “Take Back Illinois” campaign, the goal of which is to garner petition signatures to place the Illinois Fair Map Amendment on the November 2010 general election ballot.

The principles embodied in the Fair Map Amendment correspond well with the elements LWVIL believes are essential: a redistricting process that is timely and transparent, includes a formal announced timetable, makes information and related data available to all who wish to participate in the process, offers ample opportunity for public reaction to any proposed maps, maximizes diversity, and results in maps which offer voters a choice of candidates for election.

Illinois has serious challenges ahead. As you may know, a report released by the Pew Center on the States last month reported that Illinois is among ten states where the consequences of the current economic downturn is wreaking havoc, in part because Illinois’ leaders have been putting off making tough decisions and where the political resolve to enact long-term fixes to its fiscal problems is lacking.

The League of Women Voters of Illinois believes that underlying this analysis as well as a myriad of other issues is a lack of accountability on the part of those who’ve been elected to the Illinois General Assembly. Sadly, this includes a seeming indifference to the culture of corruption that has for too long been a hallmark of politics as usual in this state.

The League believes that redistricting is the next item on the reform agenda in Illinois. A citizen initiative involves the public in a significant way both by collecting signatures and also because of the amendment itself which allows for public participation. This proposed amendment makes the process more transparent and creates an independent commission all of which will result in legislative districts that will elect legislators who understand the enormous challenges and respond with laws that reflect the public interest.

To view other political stands of the League go to:  http://www.lwvil.org/

The League is seeking 500,000 signatures  for the redistricting referendum.

Corrupt government: Letter to Editor of Northwest Herald

Read the letter and the seventy-plus comments.

To the Editor:

So the Senate Ethics Committee cited Roland Burris with providing “incorrect, misleading, and incomplete information” on his appointment to the Senate.

Sen. Dick Durbin says the statement “speaks for itself.”  I think it says he fits in with all the other members of Congress, the president, his Cabinet, and members of his administration.  At least he didn’t cheat on his taxes, as far as we know. …..

To read more go to:  Northwest Herald | Corrupt government

Scrutinized Cook Co. Regional Office of Education closed

A Regional Superintendent may lose his  credentials.The office is responsible for services to 143 school districts and 400,000 students in suburban Cook County. One of its larger roles is to oversee teacher certifications and licensing.The office is so useless, it was eliminated altogether back in 1994 until a political deal was hatched in Springfield to bring it back to life. Now, the [Cook]County Board is calling on the state to eliminate the post again, while calling on investigators to look into possible criminal charges against Charles Flowers.

A few months after its Westchester office was raided by authorities, the new Broadview location of the Suburban Cook County Regional Office of Education has been closed until further notice.

The closure was initiated by the village of Broadview, said Illinois State Board of Education spokeswoman Mary Fergus, who said she believed there was a problem with the office's business license. Broadview officials couldn't be reached for comment.

The new location opened on Nov. 2. According to the Nov. 10 posting on the office's Web site, the office was experiencing technical difficulties due to the relocation. The indefinite closing occurred three days later.

The office, which has racked up $1 million in debt according to a state audit, helps teachers and bus drivers get required certificates.

In July, the Cook County State's Attorney's office filed suit against the office and its head, Superintendent Charles Flowers, to get back a $190,000 loan from the county to the office. Authorities said Flowers defrauded the county because he knew the office couldn't repay the loan and that he spent the agency funds for personal use.

State's Attorney's spokesman Andy Conklin said the lawsuit is still pending. While no criminal charges have been filed, an investigation is ongoing, he said. The State Teacher Certification Board is also seeking to revoke Flowers' teaching and administrative certificates

Click on the following for more details:  Daily Herald | Scrutinized Cook Co. Regional Office of Education closed

State’s top court to hear case about George Ryan's pension

 

an appeals court ruled that Ryan could keep part of his state pension — as much as $65,000 a year — even though he was convicted of federal corruption charges from his time holding state office.

Previously, the state had ruled to deny Ryan his entire state pension.

Lisa Madigan’s office will oppose Ryan, arguing the decision of the state pension board that Ryan shouldn’t get any of his pension is correct.

Click on the following for more details:  State’s top court to hear case about George Ryan's pension

Ill. gov. candidate Jim Ryan’s kickoff shadowed by Rezko figure

 

the issue of Ryan’s long friendship with, and financial connections to, GOP insider Stuart Levine, who was convicted of federal money laundering charges for his ties to Blagojevich fixer Antoin “Tony” Rezko.

Levine has testified that he and Rezko worked together to fleece investment firms that wanted to do business with the state, using their Blago connections as leverage. Levine also admitted to leading a double life steeped in drugs.

Levine was close friends with Ryan since law school, had Ryan stand up at his wedding, and would go on to become Ryan’s biggest political contributor, giving him more than $700,000 over the years.

Ill. gov. candidate Jim Ryan’s kickoff shadowed by Rezko figure | Political Fix | STLtoday

Chronicle’s View: The appearance of impropriety

That's why it's not enough for public officials to simply avoid improper conduct, but also its very appearance.

Perhaps really interesting is some of the comments on this DeKalb Chronicle’s Opinion regarding the city granting a $52,000 contract to  Alderman Wogen:

Thank you for reinforcing the notion most in the community already hold, which is that governing only by what is legal is a very low standard indeed."

Fair citizens, this is just the tip of the iceberg. One might become familiar with our local[DeKalb County] circuit clerk's office, judiciary, and county board to discern that many powerful folks in our county expressly ignore the appearance of impropriety in their hiring and spending decisions. They take your ignorance to the bank. When these facts are finally laid out before the public, it will make this Wogen controversy seem like Nero fiddling while Rome burned."

Illinois pay(s) what is being called a corruption tax, approximately 15% of local, county, state, and federal taxes go toward waste, fraud, nepotism, cronyism, etc. Just think how many taxes would not have to be raised if the corruption tax could be lowered. I do not expect all government to get cleaned up in this state but it is time to start putting holes into it

"The more things change. The more things stay the same. What do you think you really accomplished? This will be forgotten in less than seven days."

Our View: The appearance of impropriety | Daily Chronicle

Dozens in Congress under ethics inquiry

AN ACCIDENTAL DISCLOSURE
Document was found on file-sharing network

The 22-page "Committee on Standards Weekly Summary Report" gives brief summaries of ethics panel investigations of the conduct of 19 lawmakers and a few staff members. It also outlines the work of the new Office of Congressional Ethics, a quasi-independent body that initiates investigations and provides recommendations to the ethics committee. The document indicated that the office was reviewing the activities of 14 other lawmakers. ….

The investigations by two separate ethics offices include an examination of the chairman of the Appropriations subcommittee on defense, John P. Murtha (D-Pa.), as well as others who helped steer federal funds to clients of the PMA Group. The lawmakers received campaign contributions from the firm and its clients. A document obtained by The Washington Post shows that the subcommittee members under scrutiny also include Peter J. Visclosky (D-Ind.), James P. Moran Jr. (D-Va.), Norm Dicks (D-Wash.), Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio) , C.W. Bill Young (R-Fla.) and Todd Tiahrt (R-Kan.).

The document also indicates that the House ethics committee's staff recently interviewed the staff of Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) about his allegation that a PMA lobbyist threatened him in 2007 when he resisted steering federal funds to a PMA client. The lobbyist told a Nunes staffer that if the lawmaker didn't help, the defense contractor would move out of Nunes's district and take dozens of jobs with him.

Together, … seven legislators have personally steered more than $200 million in earmarks to clients of the PMA Group in the past two years, and received more than $6.2 million in campaign contributions from PMA and its clients in the past decade, according to an analysis by Congressional Quarterly and Taxpayers for Common Sense.

Click on the following for more details: Dozens in Congress under ethics inquiry - washingtonpost.com

Children rescued in prostitution sting | Seattle Times Newspaper

initiative has rescued nearly 900 children, led to the conviction of 510 pimps, madams and their associates, and seized $3.1 million in assets, according to the FBI. 

Most of the children recovered through the project have been girls, who usually become victims of traffickers around the age of 12, Allen said. He estimated that 100,000 children are still involved in sex trafficking in the U.S., adding that the problem is growing partly because of the recession

Within 48 hours of hitting the streets, one-third of runaways are lured into prostitution or pornography, according to research by the Klaas Kids Foundation, a nonprofit established to help find and rescue missing children..

Click on the following for more of this story and its particular’s for Seattle:  Local News | Children rescued in prostitution sting | Seattle Times Newspaper

DeKalb contracts for alderman prompt policy talk

Mayor  Povlsen said Thursday that, when he learned a few months ago about the work performed by Masonry Works, he asked that the purchasing policy be reviewed by the city council.
“I don’t like to give the appearance of anything that might be construed as inappropriate,” Povlsen said.
The city council on Monday is scheduled to consider prohibiting or limiting work that aldermen can do for the city. Povlsen said that he would like to see an ordinance created that, at minimum, requires disclosure of funds paid to an alderman or to his or her employer for work on city projects

Click on the following for more details:  DeKalb contracts for alderman prompt policy talk | Daily Chronicle

Illinois treasurer sets date to auction hotel

Dec. 14-- offer of the state-run facility could end nearly 30 years of notoriety as a hotel built with a state loan to politically connected investors who had fallen $30 million behind in paying the debt.

Click on the following for more details:  Illinois treasurer sets date to auction hotel - Kansas City Star

Logan County restricts access to search warrants

central Illinois county where five family members were found slain in their home last month hasn't made any search warrants accessible to the public in at least a year, violating state law, officials say.

"What you've been exposed to (in Logan County) is what I call county search warrant voodoo," said Steven Beckett, a University of Illinois law professor. "The practice you're describing, that's from another land, not Illinois."

Click on the following to read this interesting story:  The Hawk Eye