Quinn's Layoff Plan Put On Hold
A downstate circuit court judge ruled yesterday that the Quinn administration cannot proceed with a round of state employee layoffs -- which were supposed to begin on Wednesday -- until grievances raised by AFSCME Council 31 are resolved. The preliminary injunction is a blow to the governor, who will appeal the decision.

Negotiations Continue For Campaign Donation Limits
After vetoing a campaign finance bill at the end of August, Gov. Quinn has kept mum on the negotiations for a revised version. On Tuesday, staff from the governor's office and the legislature are meeting with advocates to keep working on a compromise, which Sen. Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) is confident they can produce.

White To Seek Fourth SoS Term
Secretary of State Jesse White will -- as expected -- announce today that he is seeking a fourth term. The 75-year-old was first elected in 1998.

Chicago Olympics Delegation Flies To Copenhagen
Following a farewell celebration at O'Hare International Airport last night, a second leg of Olympic boosters -- including sprinter Jackie Joyner-Kersee and gymnastic stars Nadia Comaneci and Bart Conner -- left for Copenhagen.

Union: Sun-Times May Have Second Bidder
The Chicago Newspaper Guild's Thomas Thibeault told reporters that there is one other investor considering bidding for the Sun-Times Media Group. He did not identify who the person was, except that he or she is “in the know in the financial world" and from Chicago.

Exelon Quits U.S. Chamber Over Climate Dispute
Exelon Corp., the largest nuclear power operator in the country, said it will leave the Chamber of Commerce over that group's opposition to the federal climate bill.

Image used under a Creative Commons license by Flickr user travit.