By Steve Rhodes
“The jury deciding the fate of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich has reached a verdict on 18 of 20 counts, Judge James Zagel just announced in court,” the Tribune (and others) reports.
“‘The jury has come to a unanimous decision on 18 of 20 counts . . . We are confident that we will not able to come to agreement on the two counts even with further deliberation,’ the note from the jury read.
“The judge said he expects the verdict to be announced in his courtroom between 1 and 2 p.m.”
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As always, the best way to follow the verdict is through the #blagojevich hashtag on Twitter. Mindless commentary will follow on TV.
The Trough
“A Chicago venture capital fund whose projects paid more than $1.2 million to former Mayor Richard M. Daley’s son has been taken over by the federal government, which says the fund owes taxpayers $21.4 million,” the Sun-Times reports.
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Also:
“[Richard M.] Daley, who left office six weeks ago, has begun collecting his pension, which, for now, comes to $183,779 a year,” the Sun-Times reports. “Next year, he’ll start getting automatic cost-of-living raises that will boost his pension by 3 percent every year.”
Maybe The Buyer Is Named Daley
“The buyer of a secluded lakefront mansion on part of an old Armour family estate in Lake Bluff appears to have paid more for it than anyone has ever spent for a private home in that North Shore town,” Dennis Rodkin reports for Chicago magazine.
Virtual Mayor
“Mayor Rahm Emanuel says he’ll hold town hall discussions with residents – and they won’t even have to leave home,” AP reports.
“Emanuel says he’ll hold a telephone town hall meeting at 6 p.m. Monday and a live online chat via Facebook at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday.”
Here’s the best part:
“Emanuel says the town halls fulfill a campaign promise to talk directly to residents.”
More Mayoral Follies
“The Country Club Hills City Council is expected to vote today to cancel Mayor Dwight Welch’s credit card,” the SouthtownStar reports.
“The council’s move to revoke Welch’s card comes after the SouthtownStar reported the mayor and former city manager Henrietta Turner charged more than $75,000 at restaurants and at least $2,000 worth of movie tickets in 2010.
“Among other expenses, the mayor spent thousands on evening wear, tickets to musicals and a trip to a water park in Gurnee, according to a SouthtownStar analysis of Welch’s and Turner’s credit card statements.”
Betting Limit
“As Chicago prepares to own its own casino, Mayor Rahm Emanuel won’t find many examples of government-run gambling halls to study in this country,” the Tribune reports.
“But there’s plenty to see in Canada, and it’s not all covered in gold.
“In Ontario, the nation’s largest province, publicly owned casinos have pumped billions of dollars into government coffers over the years. But increased competition and a poor economy have left the four biggest casinos with flat or falling revenue and operating losses in recent years that total tens of millions of dollars.”
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Neil Bluhm, chairman of the Rivers Casino soon to open in Des Plaines, is one of the developers behind the Niagra Fallsview Casino in Ontario.
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When Bluhm won the license to build a casino in Des Plaines, it was the last one allowed by state law. The prospect of a massive expansion, including a casino in Chicago, has him just a little steamed.
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“Quinn: Gambling Decision Weeks Away.”
Fail 101
“Former Goldman Sachs chief executive and U.S. Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson is joining the Harris School of Public Policy Studies at the University of Chicago,” the Tribune reports.
Perfect.
Kosmic Karma
Earth’s Date With Asteroid Delayed A Few Hours.
Waiting for Blago verdict.
Dark Satanic Mills
Descend on Boul Mich.
Saving Sears
20 ways how.
The Amazing Weekend in Chicago Rock
Truly.
Firing Blanks
“Every time a Major League Soccer game ends in a scoreless tie, someone should be fired,” our very own Jim Coffman writes in SportsMonday.
Wait ‘Til Next Year
The season is over, Cubs fans.
The Trouble With Adam Dunn
“Dave] Nicholson’s 175 whiffs have remained unmatched for the past 48 years in Sox annals,” our very own Roger Wallenstein writes in The White Sox Report. “But the mark clearly is in jeopardy now that Dunn has fanned 100 times – with seven strikeouts in eight at-bats over the weekend.”
Programming Note
The verdict is in: I’ll be back behind the bar tonight at the venerable Beachwood Inn. Celebrate or mourn with a cold Old Style or three or partake of our very special collection of Bell’s beers from Kalamazoo.
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The Beachwood Tip Line: Blankety-blank.
Posted on June 27, 2011