Mayor Daley has a little more than two weeks left in office. While he does have some post-mayoral irons in the fire, His Elective Majesty is wasting no time in collecting his pension. Daley decided to start collecting his pension under the Illinois Retirement Systems Reciprocal Act, effective May 17. That's the day after he leaves office, y'all. more ›

"The Lord's Senator" seems content with his giant tombstone resume staying the way it is, for now. Roland Burris said that he isn't interested in running for mayor. more ›

The saying goes, "Variety is the spice of life." But in the race to replace Richard Daley as Mayor, the list of candidates is just slightly to the left of overkill. more ›

Roland Burris, in a 25-minute goodbye speech on the Senate floor, today lamented that there would be no African-American senators in the chamber once his term ends at the end of the month. more ›

As Roland Burris prepares for the end of his term in the Senate, he sat down with Sun-Times Washington correspondent Lynn Sweet for an interview in which he indicates that the inauspicious start to his term is now water under the bridge, as Mark Kirk prepares to take his place. more ›

The Supreme Court of the United States has shot down a request by Sen. Roland Burris to put a stop to the special election that will happen November 2 in conjunction with the general election happening that same day. [Confused? Refresh your memory here.] Burris wanted inclusion in the special election since he's the current Senator; he is not, however, running in the general election. This all means that Roland will cease to be our Senator by Thanksgiving meaning we can bid adieu to The Lord's Senator™. more ›

With all the political handwringing and wannabe king-making happening in the still-brand-new Mayoral race, perhaps we've all forgotten that - oh yeah! - we're electing a Governor and a Senator first, amongst other things. Beyond even that, we have to pick an interim senator to fill the seat for a couple months (despite the pleading of one Mr. Roland Burris) as well. No one ever said that the Democratic process would be easy. more ›

And here we thought everything was all wrapped up in a nice, neat little package for that chaotic vote for U.S. Senate in this November's general election. To review: a high court ruled that Sen. Burris should never have been appointed in the first place but rather that position - vacated by Barack Obama when he won the 2008 Presidential election - should have been filled by special election. So that's what we'll have ... two years late. You'll vote twice for Senator on November 2: once for a temporary senator who will serve until the new Congress is sworn in in January and once for, well, the permanent senator. So it's very likely that Mark Kirk or Alexi Giannoulias will become senator on November 3. Unless something crazy happens and they split the vote. Point is, poor ol' Roland was left off the ballot altogether meaning he'd be done as senator come Election Day. But Roland - who chose not to run - is none too pleased about this and is now appealing to the Supreme Court to let him serve those remaining weeks between Election Day and the new Congress. more ›

Everything is set for a confusing Senatorial election on November 2. Two years after then-governor Blagojevich eschewed the need for a special election and appointed Roland Burris to the "fuckin' golden" seat, the people of Illinois will finally get a chance to properly select the replacement for Barack Obama. Yesterday U.S. District Judge John Grady ruled that the candidates in the general election for the U.S. Senate seat will also be the candidates for the special election and current Sen. Roland Burris will not be allowed on the ballot for the special election. Whoever wins the special election will serve as Senator until January 3, 2011 when the winner of the general election will be sworn in. Judge Grady said the State Board of Elections must have a winner in the special election certified no later than November 24 though it could be done prior to that date, meaning we'll be bidding Burris adieu by Thanksgiving. more ›

The controversy over the U.S. Senate seat once filled by Barack Obama continues. We explored the possibility that we'd have two elections for Senate on November 2 - one to select a temporary Senator since that procedure was bypassed by Blago when he appointed Burris, and the already-scheduled election. It looks like we're one step closer to that being the case. On Thursday the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected an appeal from state officials who saw no need for the special election. The procedural outcome will be announced at a July 28 hearing by Judge John Grady, the Tribune reported. The candidates for the six year term are Republican Mark Kirk, Democrat Alexi Giannoulias and Green Party candidate LeAlan Jones. Officials are hoping to avoid a costly special primary for the short-term Senate spot. They’re hoping the political parties can nominate the candidates or the easier solution that the current slate of nominees double for the special election. more ›

Sure, Alexi Giannoulias and Mark Kirk are duking it out for that Senate seat, but might another person take the seat before them, ousting Roland Burris early? That seems a possibility based on a recent decision by a federal judge. Garrett Epps takes a closer look at the 17th Amendment over at The Atlantic and explores how the Blago/Burris appointment fits into the scheme of things. more ›

The U.S. Senate today passed a package of changes to the health care reform bill passed earlier this week (and signed into law by President Obama on Tuesday). After a series of procedural maneuvers brought by the GOP, the bill passed by a final tally of 56-43. Illinois Senators Dick Durbin and Roland Burris (who at one point last year threatened to vote 'no' on the bill), both Democrats, each voted in favor of the bill. Just as with the main bill's passage in the House, Republicans voted unanimously against the bill. They were joined by three Democrats: Senators Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor of Arkansas and Ben Nelson of Nebraska. There was one no-vote by Senator Johnny Isakson (R-GA) who was sick. Minor tweaks of the bill - necessary after Republicans pointed out two provisions violated congressional budget rules - mean that the bill must once again pass the House before it goes to President Obama to sign into law. The House first approved the Reconciliation bill on Sunday night by a vote of 220-211. more ›

U.S. Sen. Roland Burris announced Friday Illinois is slated to receive more than $8 million in federal grants for job training, Chicago Breaking News reports. Illinois will receive two grants from the Department of Labor; the money will be used for training in health care and "emerging industries," the report said. Governor State University in University Park will receive a grant for $4.9 million and the National Council of La Raza in Chicago will receive $3.4 million. more ›

Even as Illinois voters set out today to begin the process of electing his replacement, U.S. Senator Roland Burris is in trouble. It seems his growing legal debt has grown by well over a half a million dollars since last spring. Yesterday, Politico reported that filings released this week show that Burris' legal debt now tops a whopping $600,000 while money raised was around $6,000 for third quarter 2009 and nothing for the fourth quarter. Burris was scrutinized for perjury during 2009, relating to his appointment to the the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Barack Obama when he won the presidential election in the fall of 2010. Last summer, he got off the hook for perjury from the state of Illinois and was ultimately cleared of wrong-doing by the Senate Ethics Committee, even as the issued a letter of admonition against Burris. Burris announced last summer he wouldn't be seeking to keep his seat. more ›

With the Obama Administration and Senate Democrats courting Sen. Joe Leiberman for his support of the current health care bill before the Senate, Obama's replacement, our own (lame duck) Sen. Roland Burris is stomping his feet to get some attention is well. Burris was seeking to remind party leadership his vote is still important and the he won't vote for a bill that doesn't have a public option. According to the NY Times, Burris took to the Senate floor yesterday and said: more ›

Happy Halloween! Have you been wondering how your favorite politicians, Chicagoist editors and, um, Richard Marxes are going to dress this year? Eyewitness News Chicagoist has the scoop! more ›

Remember U.S. Sen. Roland Burris? He was all the talk here, there, and everywhere in the first half of 2009 for all the wrong reasons. But now he finds himself in the Capitol Hill spotlight once more but this time for reasons actually pertaining to legislation. Burris is now making waves for his refusal to support any health care reform plan that doesn't include a public option. Why does this matter? Because if Burris sticks to his gun - and why not? He's not running for re-election and has nothing to lose - that could mean Senate Democrats won't have the 60 votes necessary (there are 58 Dems and two independents in the U.S. Senate, currently) to stop a Republican filibuster. The Associated Press says this in a profile (via Crain's): more ›

• Chicago Now's one story up has the story of a family who is facing eviction from Section 8 housing after the death of their mother.
• The Clout College hearings continued today with a pair of admissions experts expressing surprise at the elaborate nature of the system in place at the University of Illinois.
• If you haven't heard it yet, please, go listen to Sen. Roland Burris's interview this morning on WBEZ's 848. While nothing new is revealed, Burris's reactions to questions like what he thinks the impact of his not seeking the seat in 2010 on his staff will be straddle the line between hilarious and horrifying.

After a flurry of "He's Out" and "He's In" releases, scoops, and stories, it seems we're heading for a final "He's In!" for U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk and the upcoming U.S. Senate race. Crain's Greg Hinz is reporting that state GOP chief Andy McKenna, the man most saw as Kirk's primary obstacle in securing the Republican nomination for next year's senate contest, will defer to Kirk's wishes. It's been a bit of a confusing affair, especially with two big names - State Attorney General Lisa Madigan and the seat's current holder, Roland Burris - dropping out of next year's race. Luckily, Hinz breaks it down pretty succinctly. more ›

With the announcement that Roland Burris will not seek re-election and Lisa Madigan staying put in the AG's seat, Illinois's Junior Senatorial seat has become somewhat of a political hot potato. And amid the shuffling of names and personalities in potential statewide races that have been subject to speculation for months, the Washington Post reported, incorrectly, that Mark Kirk wouldn't run for the GOP slot in the general. In fact, Kirk has been in a bit of a political standoff with Illinois GOP chair Andy McKenna over who would run for an elected office in Illinois that could actually go to a Republican. more ›

Well, shit just got interesting. After yesterday's announcement by Attorney General Lisa Madigan that she won't be running for his office, U.S. Senator Roland Burris has had enough and will not be seeking to keep his seat in 2010, according to a report from the Sun-Times. Burris is expected to detail his decision in a press statement tomorrow. more ›

• The B.F. Shaw Printing Co., parent company of the McHenry County-based newspaper Northwest Herald, has sued Cal Skinner Jr. of the McHenry County Blog for damages based on a post Skinner made regarding an alleged loan to the paper, claiming such a loan never happened.
• The City has filed applications for grants that would provide upwards of $106 million meant to hire 400 new police officers. But the grants, good for three years, contain the provision that the officers have to remain on the city payroll for at least one additional year after.
• At yesterday's Pride Parade, Sen. Roland Burris supported civil unions but stopped short of endorsing gay marriage - a view shared by Pres. Barack Obama.

The Lord's Senator has become The Absent-Minded Senator. Senator Burris is backpedaling to fix another "oops," this time amending a financial statement involving stock options. According to the Tribune, Burris forgot to mention his option to buy 8,000 shares of stock in Inland Real Estate Corp. on a Senate financial disclosure statement. Burris served on the board of the company between 1996 and January of this year when he was sworn in as the junior U.S. Senator from Illinois. Burris' communications director Jim O'Connor told the Trib, "You are absolutely right. His unexercised options were not disclosed," and that Burris will amend the statement to include the options. more ›

While the Republicans are beginning to sort out their candidates for the 2010 governor's race, the nation's top Democrat is starting to help state Dems sort out who's running for what, including Attorney General Lisa Madigan. Though Madigan has long been rumored as a serious candidate for governor, it seems President Obama is trying to push Madigan into next year's senate race - for the seat Obama once occupied and is now occupied by embattled Sen. Roland Burris - in an attempt to take on Republican U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk. The Sun-Times' Laura Washington has more. more ›

• Metra found out today they're the recipient of $46 million in federal cash.
• The Parking Ticket Geek has shots of today's Parking Meter protest.
• Cook County Commissioner Willaim Beavers took a cheap shot at departing commissioner Forrest Claypool, calling him a, "born loser."

It looks like at least one chapter in the saga of The Lord's Senator has been closed. The Tribune reports that Sangamon County State's Attorney John Schmidt has said there isn't enough evidence to bring perjury charges against U.S. Senator Roland Burris. The perjury issue came up a few months ago when Burris sent an affidavit to the state House committee before whom Burris testified that had information that contradicted his testimony. more ›

• The father of the Arlington Heights family that died in a fire apparently left behind a suicide note.
• R.I.P. Koko Taylor.
• Bond was denied for the two suspects in the shooting death of Chicago Police officer Alejandro Valadez.

We know he continues to find himself in deep trouble and that no one wants to see him elected in 2010, but we didn't know things were so lonely for U.S. Senator Roland Burris. The man infamously appointed by now-ex-governor Rod Blagojevich to replace President Barack Obama as the junior senator from Illinois is finding himself the Solitary Senator these days, according to a story from the Associated Press' Laurie Kellman. more ›

While it remains to be seen if Sen. Roland Burris joins his pal, former governor Rod Blagojevich, as an out-of-work politician, it seems he will be joining Blago in another group: politician-turned-author. more ›

• Amid the latest controversy for Sen. Roland Burris comes word his counterpart, Sen. Dick Durbin, will not support Burris in the 2010 election.
• A judge ruled that residents near Grant Park who oppose the new Children's Museum were given proper notice of the new plans.
• Strange story out of Gary where four bodies were found in a vacant funeral home that was recently sold at a tax sale.