Results tagged “blago”

The field to garner the GOP nomination for next year's gubernatorial election is getting a bit more crowded as former candidate Jim Ryan is entering the contest. Ryan, who lost to former governor Rod Blagojevich in the state's 2002 general election, has spent the last several years out of public office and teaching at Benedictine University in Lisle. But as WBBM-AM explains, Ryan, a former state's attorney general, may face a few new hurdles.

• A judge ruled today that Blago can appear on the reality TV show Celebrity Apprentice though are still concerns about how is appearance could affect his upcoming trial.
• The mother of James Degorski, recently convicted for the 1993 Brown's Chicken murders, testified on his behalf today during the penalty phase of his trial.
• Still no word on why a group of federal agents, led by the Chicago FBI office, raided an area goat meat plant.

Last week, we mentioned former disgrace governor Rod Blagojevich was slated to appear on the next edition of reality show Celebrity Apprentice. The show's rolling along and photos from what looks to be the opening credits shoot have surfaced, giving us the first look of Blago alongside the likes of Cyndi Lauper and Sinbad. We don't know whether to laugh or cry.

Kudos to WGN's John Williams for getting Blago in on the auto-tune craze. We are now anxiously awaiting his guest appearance on the next Lil Wayne record. And if that's not enough Blago for you, be sure to watch him on tonight's Daily Show and play Blago Bingo. [video via, thanks to Darcy for the Blago Bingo tip]

To our friends celebrating Rosh Hashanah, L'shana tova!

Police are still investigating the death of former Blago adviser Christopher Kelly but Kelly's "girlfriend" (Kelly was married at the time of his death) is no longer talking to police and, according to Country Club Hills mayor Dwight Welch, she is "lawyered up." Which is perhaps a good thing: according to the Tribune, while the death has been investigated as a possible suicide - the Sun-Times reports that Kelly, "called a woman identified as his 'girlfriend' and told her that he took some pills and was going to kill himself" - it seems they're now treating the case as a homicide investigation due to it's high profile nature. Said Welch, "We're giving it all of the bells and whistles. Were going after every detail ... we're treating it as we would if this were a homicide. It's a high profile case, we want to do it by the books, by the numbers and do it right.''

• He's baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack.
• The Sun-Times looks into a fence that cost taxpayers over $45,000 but seems to have benefited Ald. Ed Burke (14th) the most by keeping those damn kids with their rock'n'roll music off his lawn.
• Jackie Heard, Mayor Daley's press secretary, is not amused with media reports suggesting she rented a house to drug dealers.

Former Blago adviser Chris Kelly has reached a plea deal in regards to money laundering and mail fraud for a kickback scheme involving roofing work at O'Hare. Kelly's trial was set to begin tomorrow, but a potential plea agreement had been reported earlier by both the Tribune and Sun-Times. The Trib's Jeff Coen, though, updated the situation when he tweeted from the courthouse: "Pleading to count 1 and 14." He also added, "he pleads for 57 mos." We're waiting for confirmation from Coen, but it seems that could be Kelly's sentence for this plea deal. Kelly still faces charges stemming from his involvement with Blago. But it seems Kelly is already hard at work trying to make amends. Update: the Sun-Times' Natasha Korecki confirms the 57-month sentence which will be served after he serves 37-months from a previous case.

The folks over at Gawker filed a Freedom of Information Act request to get access to media pitches for interviews with then-governor Rod Blagojevich immediately after his arrest in December 2008 on fraud charges. The results are interesting to say the least (ABC 7's Andy Shaw being our favorite). You can check out their complete findings here. [via Dan Sinker]

• Michael Jackson's death has been ruled a homicide.
• It was a clout-y first day of the Fall 2009 term at the University of Illinois today.
• Bensenville's village president has conceded the fight against O'Hare expansion but is still expressing concern for effects on the city's maintenance.

• The dispute over the Arie Crown Hebrew Day School expansion in Skokie has raised accusations of antisemitism.
• A Chicago firefighter remains in critical condition. the latest victim in the series of violent Lincoln Park attacks Updated: Police say it is not connected to the recent string of robberies in the neighborhood.
• In another case of sickening violence, a woman was bound and raped Tuesday night in the Logan Square neighborhood.

All those public appearance fees and book profits may be for naught for former governor Rod Blagojevich. A new law just signed by Gov. Pat Quinn yesterday would prevent convicted public officials from making any sort of profit from crimes. If Blago's convicted, according to the Tribune:

• Chicago-based diamond company LifeGen plans to turn locks of Michael Jackson's hair into diamonds. Company founder Dean VandenBiesen says LifeGen will "extract carbon from the King of Pop's hair and turn it into crystals, which can be refined into diamonds."
• Chicagoan Jerry Lowery has been charged with three counts of armed robbery and one count of fleeing an officer after allegedly stealing $45,000 worth of eye wear from suburban Milwaukee stores. The motivation? Prosecutors say he "really likes to be around glasses."
• Family members are checking grave sites and county sheriffs are investigating after a human bone was found in a Mount Glenwood cemetery. "I don't know whether this is a sign of a greater problem or if there is a valid reason why this bone was found where it was," said Cook County sheriff's police spokesman Steve Patterson.

• Do not be alarmed when the loud F-16s go screaming overhead tonight at 1 a.m.; there's a good reason for it.
• Looks like there will be a delay in the guilty plea of former Blago cohort Len Monk who was scheduled to do so tomorrow.
• A plant in Carol Stream was evacuated earlier today because of a chemical leak.

• Chicago Now's one story up has the story of a family who is facing eviction from Section 8 housing after the death of their mother.
• The Clout College hearings continued today with a pair of admissions experts expressing surprise at the elaborate nature of the system in place at the University of Illinois.
• If you haven't heard it yet, please, go listen to Sen. Roland Burris's interview this morning on WBEZ's 848. While nothing new is revealed, Burris's reactions to questions like what he thinks the impact of his not seeking the seat in 2010 on his staff will be straddle the line between hilarious and horrifying.

As our pal Steve Rhodes reminds us over at NBC, former Blago Chief-of-Staff John Harris served under Mayor Daley as his budget director and deputy aviation commissioner. Could the feds have an even wider net? Will Harris divulge things about Daley as well as Blago? Rhodes points out:

While it remains to be seen if Sen. Roland Burris joins his pal, former governor Rod Blagojevich, as an out-of-work politician, it seems he will be joining Blago in another group: politician-turned-author.

• While no longer the state's top DUI locale as they were in 2006, Naperville was still No. 2 in 2008.
• A Wisconsin appeals court ruled last week that police in the state can attach GPS devices to cars for the purposes of tracking without a search warrant.
• Next up in furlough days: the Chicago Park Distrtict.

It was just last week when we learned former governor Rod Blagojevich actually met a PR opportunity he could refuse: appearing on the HBO show Cathouse, which focuses on Las Vegas's famed Moonlite Bunny Ranch brothel. At the time, Blago spokesman Glenn Selig said, "They did offer it to him but we're not taking it seriously." Now, Bunny Ranch owner Dennis Hof told WBBM 780 he might set his focus on landing Drew Peterson instead. Said Hof: "You know, I think I might as well just stay in that Chicago area. I think I'm going to go after Drew Peterson. He doesn't have an old lady now; at least they can't find her. He might as well be on my show and have some fun with the girls."

While a judge said ex-governor Blagojevich can't go to Costa Rica for a reality show, he said nothing about L.A., which is where Blago filmed this promo for the show, which leads one to wonder if Blago's figured out a way to still be a part. [NBC 5 via S-T's Natasha Korecki]

Former Blagojevich chief-of-staff Len Monk pleaded not guilty to his single corruption charge in the case against the ex-governor, but it's more than likely temporary. Officials say Monk has been cooperating with prosecutors and is likely to change his plea to guilty once a deal has been worked out. For that reason, the presiding judge - U.S. District Judge James Zagel - has set a June date for a status hearing. Monk managed Blago's campaigns in both '02 and '06. [Chicago Breaking News]

• Hundreds of protesters rallied downtown today along with others across the country as part of a tax day "Tea Party" against excessive government spending. Chicagoisto Kevin was there, and will have coverage/photos tomorrow.
• Looks like the city is having a hard time finding any patsies to switch from a monthly flat fee for water service over to city water meters -- the Sun-Times reports that "only a trickle" (ha, get it?) of homeowners have signed up. A Water Management spokesman acknowledged that residents have the perception that if meters are installed, their water bills will go up. Shocking!
• Since we already used up our allotment of "Bo knows" references today, we'll skip the obvious and just say that Bo "I-Can't-Decide-On-One-Sport" Jackson has founded a bank in south suburban Burr Ridge. Well, he certainly can't make the banking system any worse.

Former governor Rod Blagojevich, brother Rob, fundraiser Christopher Kelly, lobbyist Lon Monk, former Blago Chief-of-Staff John Harris, and William Cellini have all been indicted on corruption charges this afternoon. Blago's attorney, Sheldon Sorosky, told the Sun-Times, "We’re saddened but not surprised at the indictment. Rod Blagojevich strongly asserts that he is innocent and we would ask the people of Illinois to wait and listen to all the facts of the case before they make their decision.” [CBN, S-T]

Thought yesterday's radio appearance by former governor Rod Blagojevich was bad? Wait until you see the television show. Yes, rumors are flying the governor is working on a reality TV show. Of course, given the news comes from Michael Sneed, we take it all with a big ol' grain of salt. Sneed quotes "a source familiar with Blago's inner circle" as saying, "I'm told a reality show is being discussed by his inner circle." Sneed also spoke to Blago publicist Glenn Selig, who said, We are focusing on all kinds of things. But there is nothing beyond talk. Not even a reality show." To be fair, though, we can totally see Blago being narcissistic enough to do a TV show just so he can Tivo it and watch himself in HD. Over and over.

After an investigation into the allegations that there was impropriety involved in getting Roland Burris' son, Roland W. Burris II, a job with the state, Governor Quinn's office announced Monday that Burris II received the job fair and square. Quinn's office issued a statement saying Burris II acquired his job with the Illinois Housing Development Authority, "in an appropriate manner."

• 27-year-old Terry Sedlacek has been charged in the murder of Pastor Fred Winters. Sedlacek allegedly stormed into First Baptist Church of Maryville yesterday and shot Winters multiple times. Sedlacek is also charged with injuring two worshippers with a knife when they tried to restrain him after the shooting.
• Blago can't shake U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald; a federal judge has rejected the former gov's request to bump Fitzy off the case.
• Chicago Police Superintendent Jody Weis appeared in court to day and apologized for refusing the court order to hand over a list of all police officers who have had five or more complaints filed against them since 2000.

"It's sickening. Short of Roland Burris resigning or resolving this issue — if he can, and I don't know if he can — I don't know what will stop it. I'm tired of this Blagojevich burlesque that's been going on for so long. The people of our state should be spared this." -- U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin

In a story posted on the Sun-Times site today, “Blagojevich was quite the college prankster,” the S-T has identified a number of college behaviors and misidentified them as “pranks”:

The Spot, 4437 N. Broadway, Tuesday, Feb. 3, 8 p.m., $10.

You knew it was coming. With Blago's story winding down this week, SNL had to get in one last shot. We've always enjoyed the work of one-time Chicago resident and iO member Jason Sudeikis (the Two A-Holes skits are top-notch), but we can only assume his channeling his uncle George Wendt and giving Blago a Bill Swerski-esque accent was to benefit the rest of the nation. Anyway. In this week's appearance - presumably the last for a while - Sudeikivich reads some original poetry and talks with "Brushie."