• The Cook County state's attorney's office is doing battle with Northwestern University's Medill Innocence Project over students' work in securing a new hearing for Anthony McKinney, who the project claims was wrongfully convicted for a 1978 murder.
• After months of pressure as a result of the Clout College scandal, University of Illinois chancellor Richard Herman announced his resignation, effective Monday.
• Anger is spreading over a fundraiser being held by the Fraternal Order of Police for Chicago Police officer Joseph Frugoli, who was charged with a DUI and reckless homicide for a drunk driving accident this past spring that claimed the lives of two men. Frugoli was off-duty at the time of the accident.

Gov. Pat Quinn said he expects University of Illinois president B. Joseph White to resign today in the wake of the school's clout controversy. Quinn said, "He's let me know that something is imminent and I think that'll happen today," adding, "This is totally voluntary." The Tribune has more here. more ›

The Clout College mess at the University of Illinois is proving costly thus far. According to a report in today's Tribune, the school has already spent about $440,000 in legal bills. School spokesman Thomas Hardy told the Trib, "Nobody is staffed up for a tsunami, but once it hits, you go out and get the resources to be able to respond. I would expect that additional bills that we receive will also be significant." more ›

• Two men were charged with the murder of retired Bartlett attorney Carl Kuhn; the men allegedly suffocated Kuhn to death and stole his extensive gun collection.
• The Sun-Times has the uplifting story of 11-year-old "hero" Adonis Bell.
• A pair of University of Illinois trustees refuse to go gentle into that good night in spite of pressure from Gov. Quinn.

• 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 CTA Board approved plans to extend the Red, Orange, and Yellow Lines, but we'll believe it when we see it.
• U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky's son-in-law died while snorkeling during a family vacation in Mexico.
• Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Illinois is cutting 650 jobs.

The Clout College controversy at the University of Illinois has claimed a victim: Niranjan Shah, chairman of the school's Board of Trustees, has resigned his position. Shah's held the position for less than a year. [Tribune, Sun-Times] more ›

• 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.

• Bail was set at $1 million for the cab driver accused of sexually assaulting a passenger.
• University of Illinois Chancellor Richard Herman spoke briefly today on ending the admissions process at the school that gives favor to certain "connected" students.
• The FBI is now investigating a suspicious package found this morning at Riverside Plaza.

The Clout List scandal at the University of Illinois continues to grow beyond Ron Santo and undergrad. The Chicago Tribune reports that the law school at U of I admitted an unqualified student in return for promised jobs for outgoing graduates. more ›

As the investigation into the Clout list at the University of Illinois continues, the feds now have reason to look at former governor Rod Blagojevich. The Tribune reports that the U.S. Attorney's office subpoenaed the University of Illinois, Southern Illinois University and Northern Illinois University today in connection with the investigation, which is also looking into if any of Blago's people - including Tony Rezko and Len Monk - did the same. The University of Illinois subpoena confirms it is in connection to the criminal case against Blago. more ›