• 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.

• A woman has filed a lawsuit against the CTA claiming she was dragged by a bus back in April.
• More trouble for Fast Eddie.
• FEMA has approved around $150 million in aid money stemming from this summer's floods.

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 ›

Photo by reillyandrew
• Former Chicago alderman Edward "Fast Eddie" Vrdolyak has been ordered by a judge to cough up the money to cover court costs for waiting until the last second to change his plea to guilty.
• In spite of threats from angry Aldermen, Mayor Daley's 2009 City Budget is one step closer to becoming a reality.
• The three-year-old girl who went missing last night was found safely but the search is now on for the woman who apparently tried to abduct her in the first place.

- "Fast Eddie's Last Race:" Vrdolyak pleads not guilty to bribery charges. - More goodness from Tony Rezko. - Rudy Giuliani's teenage daughter is an Obama girl. - The art of the deal: Mayor Daley reaches labor peace, brokering a 10-year deal with city trade unions that may help attract the 2016 Summer Olympics. - Don't get used to it: Steve Stone fills in for Darrin Jackson (who's in Arizona waiting for his wife... more ›

Chicagoist got a blast from the past yesterday when our man in Dirksen, Patrick Fitzgerald, announced the indictment of former 10th Ward Alderman Fast Eddie Vrdolyak on charges of federal fraud and bribery in connection with an alleged scheme to collect kickbacks in exchange for the sale of choice Gold Coast property. The charges allege that Vrdolyak conspired with businessman Stuart Levine to defraud the Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science of the full... more ›

Sure to please Adrian Monk, the obsessive-compulsive genius detective from the TV show Monk, drivers in Chicago will be able to clean up their cars for FREE. Compliments of USA, the network Monk is on, free car washes will be available to the first 120 customers on Friday, July 1, July 8, and July 15. Head over to one of these locations: Car WashLocationTimes White Glove Car Wash1415 W. Shakespeare Ave., Chicago Noon - 2:00... more ›