Chicago and Cook County News

The past few weeks have been far from quiet for Chicago Public Libraries. On Wednesday, we learned that Chicago Public Library Commissioner Mary Dempsey resigned from her position as head of CPL after 18 years in the role. Mayor Rahm Emanuel tapped Brian Bannon, Chief Information Officer at the San Francisco Public Library, as Dempsey’s replacement.

The news came four days after Emanuel announced branch libraries would open for four hours on Mondays, reversing a decision to close libraries all day Monday. Five aldermen penned a letter to Emanuel lovingly praising the decision. But AFSCME, the public employees union that represents library workers is unhappy. The union and community supporters rallied Monday for a return to the 48-hour library week, adding that they'd like to see the city undo more than 100 library employee layoffs.

The Jane Addams Hull House Association closed Friday after 122 years – a move that abruptly displaced about 320 staff. Staff were first told the social service agency would close in March, and may now file a complaint with the Illinois Department of Labor.

Progress Illinois sat down with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers staff that is charged with dealing with the threat of looming Asian Carp near Lake Michigan. The Corps discussed a four-pronged strategy to keep the fish from entering Lake Michigan, including a controversial electric barrier system.

PI reported on a rally Wednesday by Stand Up! Chicago, who took their grievances with corporate welfare – specifically the state’s tax breaks to the CME Group, Inc. financial exchange – to the company's doorstep.

Rahm Emanuel and other Chicago leaders spoke glowingly at a press briefing Wednesday about the May 19-21 NATO and G8 summits as catalyzing Chicago's tourism and general visibility. PI reported Thursday that while much attention has been paid to G8-related items like anticipated protests, there’s a lack of focus about what the G8 is and what might happen at this three-day summit.

PI reported Wednesday that a federal mediator waded into the almost two-year contract dispute between the City Colleges of Chicago and AFL-CIO Local 1708. The local represents city college clerical and technical workers – a few dozen of these workers staged a protest Wednesday outside City College headquarters.

Wal-Mart opened its second Chicago "SuperCenter" in the South Side Chatham neighborhood Wednesday, a 157,000 square foot store that will sell both general merchandise and a full line of groceries and produce.

The Latino Policy Forum released an analysis critical of the City Council's redistricting of ward boundaries Wednesday. The Policy Forum recommends that the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund sue the city.

Meanwhile, Daniel Solis (25th), chairman of the Latino caucus, said Thursday that his caucus would open up its membership to non-Latino aldermen who live in majority Latino wards.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel's office announced Thursday $30 million in federal tax credits toward affordable housing projects throughout the city.

The Mayor convened a virtual town hall meeting on Facebook Monday to discuss education issues, his second such foray into a virtual town hall.

The Chicago Alliance to End Homelessness held a three-day conference exploring homelessness in Chicago this week. The conference comes nine years after then-Mayor Richard Daley announced a plan to end homelessness within 10 years, and prior to the city crafting a "Plan 2.0" this spring to address homelessness.

The Chicago Police Department announced Tuesday that they will transfer officers from specialized units to the Englewood District on the South Side and Harrison District on the West Side. Both areas are plagued with the worst gang violence in the city, according to Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy

Cook County Clerk David Orr released Tuesday lobbying activity for 2011, documents that the public enjoys total access to at "Lobbyist Online," thanks to Cook County's Lobbyist Sunshine Ordinance.

State News

Ron Kurowksi of MoveOn.org penned a guest post on a rally by Joilet residents Saturday to protest the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision, on its two-year anniversary. Kurowski writes that the decision, which undid key parts of campaign finance reform laws, equates corporations with people, and money with free speech.

Gov. Pat Quinn vowed Friday to heed President Barack Obama’s call during his State of the Union address this week to raise the high school drop out age in Illinois to 18. Illinois’ current minimum dropout age is 17.

A bipartisan legislative panel said Thursday they want to give their two cents before Gov. Pat Quinn closes the Jacksonville Developmental Center in Jacksonville, saying Quinn has moved too fast to close health facilities.

Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan filed a lawsuit Wednesday against Standard & Poors, a leading credit rating agency. Madigan claims S&P exacerbated the housing bust through their AAA credit ratings to mortgage-backed securities.

The Illinois Supreme Court announced a pilot program Tuesday that would allow cameras into trial courts. Previously, Illinois was one of 14 states that either banned cameras in trial courts or severely restricted their use.

National News

U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk is recovering at Chicago's Northwestern Memorial Hospital after he suffered a stroke over the weekend. The Illinois Republican’s office released a statement Monday stating that, “Doctors are very confident in the Senator’s recovery over the weeks ahead.”

The Labor Department released figures Friday showing that the number of jobless claims filed last week increased due to seasonal layoffs.

Progress Illinois looked Monday at the Democratic primary race for Congress between U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-2) and challenger Debbie Halvorson, a former U.S. Congresswoman. Both candidates are focused on local economic growth, particularly whether South Suburban Chicago will get a long-anticipated airport.

The Obama administration is close to a "robo-signing" settlement with five of the country's largest mortgage servicers. But Illinois community groups blasted the proposed $20 billion settlement at a rally Monday in downtown Chicago. The community groups say it lets big banks off the hook.

PI reported Tuesday on several teens that testified at a Chicago Urban League event on teen joblessness. The event coincided with a report released by the Northeastern University Center for Labor Market Studies that shows teen joblessness on the rise. The Urban League is pushing for the federal Pathways Back to Work Act, which would replenish some federal money toward youth job programs.

The U.S. General Services Administration announced Thursday a $4 million donation to the Chicago Public Schools in the form of computers and printers under a federal program "Computers for Learning."