• Another report detailing how our state lags in education.
• Speaking of education, the Reader has a look at "honorably terminated" teachers.
• Authorities are investigating a series of child abduction attempts in the north suburbs over the past two weeks.

Former Chicago Alderman Edward "Fast Eddie" Vrdolyak may be looking at three to four years in prison now that the appellate court overturned Vrdolyak's 5 year probation sentence he received last year. more ›

The controversial light sentence handed down earlier this year to former alderman Edward "Fast Eddie" Vrdolyak is now coming under scrutiny from an appeals panel. The Tribune reports that a three-member panel from the 7th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals is digging into concerns over the sentence. Vdrolyak, who pleaded guilty to playing a role in a real estate kickback scheme involving property being sold on behalf of Rosalind Franklin University, received a sentence of five years probation and a $50,000 fine from U.S. District Judge Milton Shadur, who defended the sentence by claiming the school suffered no financial loss as a result of the scheme while the school claimed they lost as much as $6 million on the sale. 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 ›

U.S. District Judge Milton Shadur has come under fire from some for his seemingly light sentence of Edward "Fast Eddie" Vrdolyak (pictured right). With a sentence of up to several years possible, Judge Shadur sentenced Vrdolyak to five years probation and a $50,000 fine, angering those who think Vrdolyak should do jail time. Today, Judge Shadur defended his sentence. more ›

It's good to be Edward "Fast Eddie" Vrdolyak. Facing a potential sentence of between three and four years in prison for his role in a kickback scheme, Fast Eddie walked out of the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse yesterday a free man, sentenced to five years probation and fined $50,000, and declaring for reporters, "God is great." In spite of calls from prosecutors to come down heavy on Vrdolyak, U.S. District Judge Milton Shadur called the prosecution's case against him "serious overkill" when announcing the sentence. Vrdolyak pleaded guilty last fall to his role in the kickback scheme, but had refused to cooperate with the feds in any of their additional investigations. Per the Trib: more ›

Just when we were gonna take a long, hard look at his case involving a kickback scheme and the sale of a medical school building, former alderman Edward "Fast Eddie" Vrdolyak will plead guilty to federal bribery and fraud charges, according to the case's judge. more ›