One-time media magnate - and former Sun-Times owner - Conrad Black appeared in Chicago once more yesterday as he attended a hearing that set the terms of his bail. Business man and fancy pants Roger Hertog shelled out the $2 million to spring Conrad from jail after a U.S. Appeals court ruled Black could go free thanks to a ruling earlier this summer by the Supreme Court that limited the honest services law that had previously been used to convict Black. more ›

Yesterday the Illinois Supreme Court heard arguments regarding former governor George Ryan's pension as Ryan attempts to reclaim part of his pension. Representing Ryan was another former governor, Jim Thompson. Thompson argued that though Ryan was stripped of his entire pension - a mind-boggling $197,037 per year, according to the Sun-Times - by the General Assembly upon his conviction in 2006, Ryan should still be entitled to the pension for offices he held before he became secretary of state in 1991; he had been a member of the Kankakee County Board, a State House Rep., and Lieutenant Governor (under Thompson). Why those offices? Because he served those offices "honestly"; in other words, he wasn't charged with anything while serving those offices. The pension he'd collect for those jobs would total around $60,000. Earlier this year, a state appeals court reversed the complete stripping of his pension. Reps for the retirement system, though, are none-too-amused. The Sun-Times continues: more ›

Documents released this week show some prominent Bears players among those showing love for Edward "Fast Eddie" Vrdolyak, the former aldermen convicted of real estate shenanigans and given a sentence that was, essentially, a slap on the wrist. Over 50 letters in support of Vrodlyak were sent to U.S. District Judge Milton Shadur, asking for a lenient sentence. Among those letters, according to the Tribune, were one former and one current Chicago Bear: Tank Johnson and Brian Urlacher, respectively. The documents were made public even as government prosecutors have appealed the light sentence ($50,000 fine, 5 years probation, 2,500 hours of community service). more ›

The Supreme Court of the United States today upheld an appeals court ruling that the state of Illinois was not required to offer motorists the option to buy "Choose Life" license plates offered by the organization Choose Life Illinois, which is pro-adoption and anti-abortion. Choose Illinois - which counts Chicago Bears owner Virginia McCaskey as a board member - had amassed over 25,000 signatures on a petition for the plates but the state turned it down claiming it didn't want to appear to take sides on the issue of abortion. more ›

While the U.S. Supreme Court has previously ruled they will review the conviction of former news mogul/Sun-Times head Conrad Black, Justice John Paul Stevens rejected Black's appeal for release from prison while he awaits the appeal. Black was convicted two years ago on fraud charges and has served 17 months of a six-and-a-half year sentence. The Supreme Court review of his conviction will get underway sometime in October. more ›

In the sex abuse headlines this weekend are two stories: one overturning a sentence and the other a sentencing of four years in prison. more ›