The [Friday] Papers

"In coming to a constitutionally valid plan to appoint a new state comptroller to replace Judy Baar Topinka, who died Tuesday, what matters most is to respect the likely preferences of the state's voters - back in November and in a future election," the Sun-Times editorializes.

Do voters care who the comptroller is? Should they?

Better: Do voters know what the comptroller does? Should they?

I'm not even sure most reporters inside the Sun-Times newsroom know. Let's start acting like humans and talk straight. The position of state comptroller is an administrative job that is only filled by election to give political parties a prize - and a test of electoral viability. Let's hire a head-hunting firm to find the best comptroller in the state - private sector or public - and give the job to that person and be done with it. Can we vote on that?

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"As state officials contemplate replacing late Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka, the clock is running down for those dependent on the checks the office issues," AP reports.

"There are a limited number of checks she approved before her death, raising the specter of a possible funding gap for schools and social service agencies should a successor not be chosen quickly."

And those checks all have 2014 on it, so we better hurry.

Sweet Home
"A Chicago police officer has been disciplined after he admitted playing a song some consider racially offensive during a protest against police violence last weekend, the department announced in a statement Thursday," the Tribune reports.

"The action was taken after a video surfaced apparently showing a Chicago police car blasting the song 'Sweet Home Alabama' by the band Lynyrd Skynyrd during the Saturday protest."

There's no "apparently" about it - the Trib provides the video!

Also, it's a racially offensive song. Why hedge?

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"In the statement, the officer said he was playing the music as a 'fan of the University of Alabama,' which was playing the University of Missouri for the SEC championship and a shot at the NCAA playoffs."

We ran that one by our chief correspondent:

See also:
* Sweet Home Alabama vs. Sweet Home Chicago.

* Existential Rock No. 15.

* Southern Crock & Top Of The Pops.

* Item: Drive-By Trucker.

Bonus:

I've been to Alabama, people, ain't a whole lot to see;
Skynyrd says it's a real sweet home, but it ain't nothing to me.

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That cop knew exactly what he was doing - and so did Skynyrd.

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Beachwood Photo Booth: Holiday Art Sale!
Buy your favorites this weekend at the Holstein Park fieldhouse.

The White Sox Report: South Side Hope
Had the White Sox bullpen performed at David Robertson's statistical level last year, they would have finished 87-75 instead of a disappointing 73-89. Our very own Roger Wallenstein takes a look.

Fear Of Occupy Wall Street Undermined The Red Cross's Sandy Relief Effort
Too bad; Occupy did a much better job than the Red Cross.

The Week In Chicago Rock
Featuring Cat Stevens.

Oh, and Hang Union, Rich Robinson, Bob Seger, Snot, Skinny Puppy, Sandra Antongiorgi, and Atilla.

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BeachBook
* Joliet Residents Seething Over Plan To Replace Classic Theater's Marquee.

* Behold The Glamorous Shitboxes Of The 1987 Chicago Auto Show.

* U Of C Poaches Two Top Brain Scientists From Oregon.

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TweetWood

This is a full education platform? Run, Toni, Run! http://t.co/3PinioGc3Q | #cocktailnapkinpolitics #wishlistforsanta #askkarenforhelp

— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) December 12, 2014

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LOL | 'Liberal Termites Eat Away At American History' http://t.co/itUtgrxDmC By a former Nancy Reagan speechwriter

— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) December 12, 2014

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