Here's a quick update on the latest developments among the slew of mayoral candidates circling for a shot at City Hall. This thing has turned real crazy real fast. more ›

After almost a week break, the Blagojevich Trial begins anew today as the defense begins presenting its case and today should include testimony from co-defendant Robert Blagojevich and his wife Julie. And after them? The ex-gov himself as well as his wife Patti. Natasha Korecki wrote a nice breakdown of the strained relationship between the two brothers earlier this year. more ›

Yesterday was a day full of bitterness in the Blago trial as the prosecution continued its questioning of former deputy governor Doug Scofield and played several tapes, many featuring Blago expressing his bitterness for President Obama. The day started with a full playing of the infamous "fucking golden" tape and continued with more tapes as Scofield testified there was, "a level of jealousy and anger" from Blago about Obama's election. more ›

Over the weekend, Democratic U.S. Senate candidate (and state treasurer) Alexi Giannoulias said he was among the many subpoenaed for the trial of ex-governor Rod Blagojevich. But Alexi doesn't expect to have to testify in Blago's case. He told CBS2, "They subpoenaed any and everybody to try and get everyone involved from the president down to the dog catcher, so I think this shouldn't be surprising." Alexi's name came up last week as a connection between union leader Tom Balanoff and Valerie Jarrett. Giannoulias' name came up on the wiretap tapes played at Blago's trial last week but Giannoulias maintains he has done nothing wrong. Still, just the mere mention of his name was enough to rile up the Kirk campaign, who issued a statement saying: "Now we've learned Giannoulias' name has come up on federal wire taps talking about the Illinois Senate seat and he has been subpoenaed in former and disgraced Governor Rod Blagojevich's public corruption trial. This revelation raises additional questions about Alexi Giannoulias that he needs to answer." Giannoulias said he had intended to endorse Jarrett as a replacement for then-President-Elect Barack Obama in the U.S. Senate. more ›

Testimony from John Harris continued for a fourth day yesterday as talk continued about then-governor Rod Blagojevich's alleged attempt to sell the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by Barack Obama's election. According to what was caught on tape, Blago didn't think too highly of Jesse Jackson, Jr., especially in terms of the Senate seat. Jurors heard a tape during which Harris and Blago discussed a call Harris got from John Wyma, a mutual lobbyist pal between Blago and Rahm Emanuel, in which Wyma again outlined Obama's preference that Valerie Jarrett get the seat. During the call, an irritated Blago is heard saying, "They're not willing to give me anything but appreciation, fuck them." There was also a tape in which Rod discussed the idea of appointing aide Louanner Peters because if it looked like Blago was going to be impeached - it was seemingly on his mind - he could depend on Peters to step down and Blago could appoint himself to the seat. Brother Rob didn't like this idea at all. more ›

Wednesday was yet another day on the stand for Rod Blagojevich's former Chief-of-Staff John Harris, who referred to himself as Blago's "Prince of Darkness," and while Tuesday's talk centered around then-Presidential candidate Barack Obama's U.S. Senate seat, yesterday's chat continued that but took aim at Obama himself, including accusations that Obama knew Blago was trying to leverage the seat for a cabinet post. The day started off with more of the Blago Tapes, including one from the day after the election in which Blago was hoping to be appointed to the head of a charitable agency a la Elizabeth Dole (though Rod himself seemed to know little about the varying agencies). There was also more talk of Blago's pressure on the Tribune's editorial board as well as prep for a meeting with union leader Tom Balanoff; Blago believed Balanoff was a messenger that would relay Obama's preference for his replacement (Valerie Jarrett) and vice-versa. more ›

It was day two of former Blago top aide John Harris' turn on the witness stand and there was lots to sort through: a deal with Emil Jones, that "golden" senate seat, some of the Blago Tapes, and even Rod's hope to be a diplomat (you know, in case those aspirations to be President or a professor didn't pan out). The day began with talk of Blago's legal fees and how much he owed, even as far back as 2007. Talk then turned to the coveted U.S. Senate seat belonging to then-Presidential candidate Barack Obama beginning with a deal, Harris said, Blago thought he had with then-state senate president Emil Jones. Blago had amended the passed ethics bill and hoped Jones would hold up an override vote that would pass the original version of the bill because the original version would otherwise hinder. Blago's fundraising efforts. According to Harris, Blago intended to offer the seat to Jones if the bill was held up. But after some persuasion from Obama, Jones let the ethics bill vote go through, upsetting Blago who then allegedly said, "No way he's getting the seat now." more ›

Over the weekend South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, discussing the Christmas Eve health care reform deal, told CNN that President Obama's campaign slogan has become empty, replaced by the sleaze we locals call politics. “You know, change you can believe in,” Graham said on CNN's State of the Union, “after this health care bill debacle, [that] has now becoming an empty slogan. And it's really been replaced by seedy Chicago politics, when you think about it, backroom deals that amount to bribes.” It echoed accusations made by Sen. John McCain last week on the morning of the bill's passage, who called it "an exercise in sleazy Chicago-style sausage making." more ›

The Obama administration has gone into spin control in regards to Obama's trip to Copenhagen to support Chicago 2016's failed Olympic bid and is using the classic, "Well, they told us it'd be fine" method. A report in this morning's Tribune reveals behind-the-scenes details describing the way in which the Chicago 2016 bid committee persuaded Obama to make his much-talked-about whirlwind trip to Copenhagen on behalf of the city's bid. Worried that the heated health care bill would head to the floor of either the House or Senate for debate with him in Europe, Obama was still hesitant to make the trip until a few days before he took off. more ›

While President Barack Obama hasn't confirmed his presence at the closing argument for Chicago's Olympic bid, he does have his two best women on the job. Valerie Jarrett, Obama's senior adviser, explained some of the strategies being used to secure Chicago's 2016 Olympic bid with the Tribune on Friday. more ›

• First Clout College, now this: the Chicago Tribune reports that the Chicago Public School system has launched an internal investigation looking at how students are selected to admittance for some of the more elite schools after, according to CPS CEO Ron Huberman, information showed, "that existing policies may not have been followed."
• Several media outlets report today that Brian Dugan is ready to plead guilty to the 1983 murder of 10-year-old Jeanine Nicarico; Dugan is already in prison serving two life sentences for two other murders.
• A section of the outbound Bishop Ford Expressway was closed for around eight hours today after a tanker truck spilled corrosive coal tar in the road early this morning.

Over the weekend, the White House posted on its blog about a special ethics waiver that was granted so as to allow senior White House adviser Valerie Jarrett to serve as the White House's lead in supporting the Chicago 2016 bid. Per the White House: more ›

Ed Genson, attorney for embattled Governor Rod Blagojevich, has asked the State House Committee investigating Gov. Blagojevich on potential impeachment charges to issue subpoenas to several Obama staff members including Valerie Jarrett and Rahm Emanuel. State Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie, who is heading the committee, confirmed the request but it doesn't appear very likely it will happen as U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald has already turned down a similar request by the committee claiming such interviews could hamper his criminal investigation. U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. is also among those that Genson wants subpoenaed. more ›

Hey, look! A politician chooses to release a report at the exact same time everyone is leaving work for the holidays so they can't read it! How unusual! Seriously, though, this report offers nothing unexpected in detailing the Obama team's internal review of the Blagojevich affair. Check out all the dirty laundry (or lack thereof) here. [via NBC5] more ›

It's hard to believe that we're still getting a shit-ton of news out of this scandal, but nothing really surprises us anymore. more ›

Man, this thing is a mess and it's pretty tough to sort out, logistically and legally. Here's what we know: Blagojevich still has the power to appoint the seat - as he is still governor - and there may not be much legal ground for opposition, at least from the U.S. Senate. The Trib points out:

In 1969, the Supreme Court ruled the House of Representatives could not refuse to seat Rep. Adam Clayton Powell, a New York Democrat who was accused of putting his wife on the payroll and misusing travel funds to vacation in the Caribbean. Despite those charges, he was reelected by his constituents in Harlem. more ›

It's been a busy day for the President-Elect. more ›

President-Elect Barack Obama is set to announce long-time campaign adviser Valerie Jarrett as a Senior Aide in the White House. Jarrett has been associated with the Obamas for almost 17 years, going back to before Michelle and Barack got married. Her experience in the city of Chicago (for better or for worse, depending on your point of view), is extensive.

All told, Jarrett served eight years with the city of Chicago, as deputy corporation counsel for finance and development and then as deputy chief of staff. She later became commissioner of the Department of Planning and Development. more ›