Aon announced on Thursday that they plan to cut 1,500 to 1,800 jobs over the next three years, news that comes just two weeks after the insurance giant merged with Hewitt Associates. The two companies are still deciding where their new headquarters will be located, but a spokesman stated to the Chicago Sun-Times that "as both companies are based in Illinois, we are very committed to Illinois." The spokesman could not say how the job cuts would affect Chicago-area employees. Before the merger, Hewitt employed 23,000 workers--5,500 throughout Illinois--and Aon employed 6,000 workers, with 400 in Chicago. Aon said it expects to save $280 million a year by cutting jobs. more ›

Facing a financial crisis that has spiraled out of control with a deficit potentially nearing $1 billion, the Chicago Public School system has announced another round of cuts. CPS chief Ron Huberman announced yesterday that there would be three more weeks of furlough days and 500 non-union job cuts in an effort to stave off a 2010-2011 deficit that is projected to reach $975 million. The projected budget shortfall for the CPS is $700 million but Gov. Quinn's new budget adds in an additional $275 million in cuts. Huberman is also asking the Chicago Teachers Union, due a four percent cost of living increase in wages next year ($169 million), for concessions as well as for pension reform and a delay in payments due to the pension. According to the Tribune: more ›

We mentioned yesterday the newest round of Transit Doom and how the RTA doesn't intend to do much about it with state funds, but instead asking the individual agencies to maneuver their way through it on their own. And because of that, the CTA may have to look to cut jobs to save money. According to the Chi-Town Daily News, the CTA's board will consider an ordinance authorizing job cuts at their meeting tomorrow. It'd be part of an effort to meet the agency's $1.3 billion operating budget for 2009. more ›

• Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of two Illinois National Guardsmen who were killed in Afghanistan by a roadside bomb this weekend.
• The saga of Daniel Fore continues in Oak Park; Fore is a homeless man attempting to get his name on the ballot for village trustee.
• More bad job news, this time from the Tribune (again).