Yesterday, aldermen heard a pitch from the president of InsureNet, the Michigan-based company that sells "instant insurance status verification." Dr. Jonathan Miller, whose company stands to reap 30 percent of whatever the city collects, told the City Council’s Transportation Committee that using his service, Chicago could collect "at least $200 million a year" in fines and fees. While the state currently levies a $500 fine for driving without insurance, the city could pass its own ordinance and keep the fines. If Chicago only charged drivers that also got tickets for running red lights, the city could net as much as $10 million. If Chicago used its existing network of red-light cameras to simply check vehicles for insurance, thereby catching drivers that may be otherwise obeying traffic laws, the city could net enough funds to clear the budget shortfall for 2009. more ›

• Terrence Ligon, the man acquitted of killing a 4-year-old in a 2001 shooting, was shot dead Monday night.
• A faked ID production ring in Chinatown was busted up by federal authorities today.
• Both the Cook County Sheriff's office and the Chicago Police Department are implementing new, more rigorous background checks for employees.