Neuter news
The pet net: Dogfighters and owners of unneutered pets, beware!
• • To wit: Sneed has learned Ald. Ed Burke plans to introduce a City Council ordinance demanding the mandatory sterilization of any dog or cat over 6 months old living in Chicago.
(AP/Jean Lachat/Sun-Times)
• • The stats: Exceptions would be animals belonging to licensed breeders, law enforcement dogs and vet exemptions for animals due to health reasons.
• • The buckshot: Penalties would be monetary, and the ordinance would call for criminal background checks for breeders seeking a new license or license renewal.
• • The backshot: Burke wants to stem the tide of Chicagoans mauled by pit bulls and those breeding dogs to fight.
• • The upshot: Sneed hears the city's underfunded Animal Care and Control unit doesn't have enough workers to respond to dog-mauling reports and is working with Burke on new legislation.
Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Barack Obama's "former" pastor whose preaching has attracted mega-media attention, is not only fighting back, but his new "15 minutes of fame" will now net huge speaking fees, a book deal and the possibility of his own cable show. It's called, don't get back -- get even.
Is smoke wafting through the Chicago Fire Department's Fire Prevention Bureau? Is a probe afoot? Have a number of firefighters taken administrative leave? Questions. Questions.
Sneed hears victims of the Cook County Building fire had to scotch plans to visit the fire memorial near the Miro sculpture during recess breaks when the trial ended abruptly due to a settlement Monday. But plaintiffs' attorney Robert Clifford was spotted celebrating the settlement across the street from the Miro at Rosebud Prime later that evening.
Brit actor Rupert Everett told Washington newsies that the White House correspondents' dinner events in the nation's capital over the weekend were "hideous." Now, there's a quote.
Tank talk: It should come as no surprise Dem presidential candidate Hillary Clinton was greeted by women wearing "Women of Steel" T-shirts at a Gary union hall during her primary push to win Hoosier delegates over the weekend.
Dillinger data: Sneed's tip that filming of the John Dillinger-FBI shoot-out in the film "Public Enemies," starring Johnny Depp and Christian Bale, might take place on the 74th anniversary of the event (April 23, 1934) and at the original location (the Little Bohemia Lodge in Manitowish Waters, Wis.), was right on.
• • Quoth film publicist David Fulton: "It just worked out that way. We sure didn't plan it that day." Ah, the power of the press.
• • Please note: Emil Wanatka Jr., son of the original owner of the lodge, who was a youngster at the time of the shooting, stopped by the set and told stories of how he played catch with Baby Face Nelson, Fulton said.
Songstress Beyonce and beau Jay-Z spotted eating crab cake, steak Diane and Dover sole at the posh RL restaurant Saturday night . . . and hours later at Table Fifty-Two with Mary J. Blige with an entourage of 40 partying until 4 a.m. . . . Comedian/"The Price is Right" host Drew Carey eating a burger alone at the bar Thursday at Rosebud Prime.
Today's birthdays: Andre Agassi, 38; Carnie Wilson, 40; Nora Dunn, 56; Jerry Seinfeld, 54; Kate Mulgrew, 53; Daniel Day-Lewis, 51; Michelle Pfeiffer, 50; Eve Plumb, 50; Uma Thurman, 38; and Celeste Holm, 91.
