Sen. Kirk’s brain swelling subsides; doctors reattach skull section

Doctors on Tuesday reattached a 4-inch by 8-inch piece of U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk’s skull that was removed to ease swelling in his brain following his Jan. 21 stroke.

Sen. Kirk upgraded to ‘good’ condition, watched Super Bowl

Sen. Mark Kirk’s condition has been upgraded from “fair” to “good.”

Doctors hope to be able to re-attach the 8-inch-by-4-inch section of his skull that had to be removed after he suffered a stroke two weeks ago.

Then the Highland Park Republican can begin physical …

Gov. Quinn signs bill to allow speed cameras near schools, parks

Gov. Pat Quinn on Monday ended months of deliberation and signed into law a measure allowing Chicago to install speed-enforcement cameras near schools and parks.

Quinn’s State of State address gets cool reception from legislators

Touting a jobs platform, Gov. Pat Quinn pushed modest tax relief for families and businesses that hire veterans, Medicaid and pension reforms, and more spending on college grants in a spartan State of the State speech Wednesday overshadowed by the gloom and doom of Illinois’ crushing financial condition.

Former Survivor member sues Gingrich for using ‘Eye of Tiger’

A founding member of the rock band Survivor says Newt Gingrich is using the band’s biggest hit — “Eye of the Tiger” — without permission at campaign appearances, according to a federal copyright infringement lawsuit filed Monday.

Preckwinkle to meet with worried ministers about morgue mess

Chicago-area ministers want a voice in the planned overhaul of the troubled Cook County morgue and are asking to meet with board President Toni Preckwinkle. “If you don’t hold people’s feet to the fire, the problems don’t go away,” the Rev. Ira Acree said on …

Sen. Mark Kirk upgraded to fair condition

Sen. Mark Kirk has been upgraded to “fair” condition at Northwestern Memorial Hospital a week after undergoing surgery for a stroke. “Senator Kirk’s recovery is continuing,” his neurosurgeon, Richard Fessler, said in a written statement. “He is alert, talking and responding well to questions.” Fessler …

Norridge placing question on ballot

Norridge will place a referendum on the upcoming March ballot to determine whether residents would like the Village to pursue municipal aggregation for their electrical power. “We currently aggregate for our street lights and pumping station,” said Douglass Strempek, Norridge’s IT/public relations person. “We’re opening …

Kirk undergoes more surgery to relieve brain swelling

U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk has undergone more surgery to relieve swelling in his brain following the stroke he suffered over the weekend.

Preckwinkle on county morgue mess: People will ‘lose their jobs’

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle said Thursday that the management of the county morgue will be overhauled and said some staffers will lose their jobs. The move comes in the wake of Chicago Sun-Times reports about bodies piling up at the West Side facility and workers complaining about unhealthy working conditions.

Harwood Heights moving ahead with TIF exploration

Harwood Heights Mayor Arlene Jezierny cast the tie-breaking vote that clears the way towards the next phase of exploring the creation of a tax increment financing district in the village. The board voted 4-3 as Jezierny cast the tie-breaking vote after trustees Larry Steiner, Michael …

No challenger for Quigley in primary

Incumbent congressman Mike Quigley, D-5th, can relax until after the March primary. No Democrat had filed to run against Quigley in the March primary by the filing deadline Tuesday evening, according to the Illinois State Board of Elections website. One Republican, Dan Schmitt of Chicago, …

Report: College Illinois! could need $1.6 billion bailout

Illinois’ financially tanking prepaid college tuition program could require a $1.6 billion bailout from the state to remain solvent during the next 25 years, a new study shows.

Toni Preckwinkle hits goals, ruffles feathers in County Board

She’s publicly criticized Gov. Pat Quinn, battled with the sheriff over budget cuts and even taken a jab at President Barack Obama’s signature health-care plan.

Berrios denies election ‘payback’ after judge rules against daughter

Appellate Justice Rodolfo “Rudy” Garcia accuses Cook County Democratic Party Chairman Joe Berrios of stacking the deck against him in next year’s election for appellate court. Garcia said Berrios sent a message through an intermediary seven years ago that he wanted Garcia to rule a certain way in a case involving Berrios’ daughter.