• Mayor Daley said there's no reprieve coming for the impending CTA cuts.
• More developments in the Alexi Giannoulias/Broadway Bank matter. Meanwhile, opponent Cheryle Jackson has called for Giannoulias to bow out of the race.
• That new Blago indictment could be coming by next week.

Blackhawks star Patrick Kane and his cousin James have been indicted on a pair of misdemeanor charges in their alleged attack on a Buffalo, NY cab driver: third degree assault and theft of services. The grand jury also indicted both on the lower charge of harassment but passed on the second-degree assault charge. [Sun-Times] more ›

The four former Burr Oak Cemetery workers accused in the atrocious grave-digging scheme - Carlyn Towers, Keith Nicks, Terrence Nicks, and Maurice Dailey - were formally indicted on four additional charges today. According to Chicago Breaking News: more ›

The hammer of justice has come down on Webio co-founder David Hernandez, 48, of Downers Grove. Hernandez stands charged of four counts of mail fraud for running a Ponzi scheme that bilked people out of around $12 million. According to the Sun-Times, the feds are also trying, "to seize $3.5 million and two luxury automobiles from Hernandez, including a 2009 Audi and a 2007 Mercedes Benz ML350." more ›

As some commenters pointed out in our Burris Book post, the U.S. Atttorney's office has called a 2 p.m. press conference to announce a new indictment of a political figure. The Sun-Times is reporting it'll be against Ald. Ike Carothers (29th), who also serves as the chairman of the City Council's police and fire committee. more ›

Yesterday evening, the other shoe dropped and Rod Blagojevich and five others were indicted on a wide range of fraud and corruption charges. The indictment contains 19 charges in all against Blagojevich, his brother Robert, former Chief-of-Staff John Harris, former adviser Lon Monk, former fundraiser Christopher Kelly, and power broker William Cellini. Here are some of the highlights from the news surrounding the indictments. more ›

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] more ›

Most think the indictment of former governor Rod Blagojevich will come down today. In fact, probably within hours. Why today, when the deadline is next Tuesday? According to the Sun-Times' Natasha Korecki (who has been the go-to reporter on this), the grand jury only meets on Thursdays and today is the last Thursday before the deadline. Korecki breaks down the ins and outs of what you can expect from the Blago indictment. However, if the hammer comes down today, you likely won't hear anything from Blago himself as he has taken the family on vacation to a Disney resort in Florida. more ›

Yesterday's news regarding former governor Rod Blagojevich's contribution "hit list" served as a stark reminder that the April 7 deadline to indict the ex-gov is fast approaching. Last week, the Sun-Times' tireless federal court reporter Natasha Korecki reported last week that prosecutors were going through more rounds of questioning with witnesses, trying to iron out the details. She also suggested that the indictment may come around Thursday as prosecutors would likely be denied any extension they ask for, especially since the April 7 deadline was a result of a previous extension request. Coincidentally, the corruption watchdog group Metropolitan Crime Commission released a report last week that ranked Illinois 19th overall in terms of corruption from 1998 til 2007, well behind 3rd place Louisiana with which Illinois shares more than a few connections (including, *ahem*, this Chicagoist editor). more ›

AP Photo/Paul Beaty more ›

Former police commander Jon Burge, whose name has become synonymous in this city with police torture, was arrested this morning at his home in Tampa, Florida. He's been charged with perjury and obstruction of justice, charges which carry decades of jail time if Burge is convicted. more ›

Maybe we don't want to get our hopes up yet. Maybe we're a little too cynical. Or maybe we're just a little hesitant to put a lot of stock in one unattributed story coming out of a struggling news group, whose biggest recent story has been the moving of their own studios to Daley Plaza.* So we're not exactly rushing to judgement on this one. But if this is for real, it's a hell of a scoop for CBS-2. (You'll allow us our Feder-esque moment of speculation.) more ›

While most other Illinois pols were using the Independence Day holiday to watch fireworks with their constituents, Blagojevich had some bombs for reporters. When asked whether he was the target of a federal corruption probe, the governor responded by calling questions about the matter “ridiculous,” “absurd” and “stupid.” more ›