Free Republic

On Bloomington's AM1230 Rush was pre-empted by Blago's State-of-the-State address. While waiting for Blago to enter the radio announcer, speaking in the hushed voice of a golf or bowling program, said "And on the Democrat left side of the platform we have the Superintendant of Schools and State Treasurer Judy Barr-Topinka" Then in a parenthetical voice he said. "Ron Gidwitz, Jim Oberweis and other detractors of the governor are not in attendance in the chamber." Eisendrath and Brady not mentioned by name. Of course, Brady, a St Sen, was there. Blago proposes a capital construction program. His KeenOH gambling expansion...

More than $60,000 in child welfare funds landed in a bank account controlled by a former state official and community activist with long-standing ties to Gov. Rod Blagojevich, according to a state investigative report reviewed by the Tribune. Bamani Obadele, a well-known South Side minister who campaigned for Blagojevich in 2002, resigned in August from the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, where he oversaw adoption and foster family programs. Obadele, who said he left the $65,000-a-year job for personal reasons, has not been charged with any wrongdoing and denied in an interview Friday that he has done anything...