sneed

Michael Sneed biography

Michael Sneed has been a Chicago journalist for nearly four decades covering everything short of war.

Among the stories Sneed has reported on in her …

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  • Bill Daley may be close to announcing gubernatorial bid, source says

    A top Daley source tells Sneed: “He seemed to be heading off the campaign trail but is now in a furor over the state’s latest pension debacle.”

  • Hillary’s new ‘do a signal she’s hitting the campaign trail?

    The press may have focused on former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s jokes about her penchant for pantsuits at the trendy Council of Fashion Designers of America gala honoring fashion designer Oscar de la Renta Monday night, but Hillary’s hairdo is the story.

  • Ex-Streets and San czar Al Sanchez out of prison, in halfway house in Chicago

    The pen set. . . Pssst! He’s out! Well, almost: ◆ Translation: Here’s an update on prisoner No. 19378-424. Former Chicago Streets and San czar Al Sanchez, who was convicted as part of the Hired Truck probe and sentenced to 2 1/2 years in a …Read More

    • Forgiveness for a killer

    The Langert murders . . . How long does it take to forgive; to absolve the man who slaughtered your pregnant sister and her husband? How do you touch the hand of the man who pulled the trigger of a .357 Magnum; press the flesh …

    Fed grand jury looking at prison guards in December MCC jailbreak

    Cop shop . . . Psst! Sneed hears federal indictments may be forthcoming stemming from the dramatic jailbreak at the Metropolitan Correctional Center six months ago. ◆ The big question: Could the escapees, Kenneth Conley and Joseph Banks — who stunned the city last December …

    Sneed: State’s attorney investigator target of child porn probe

    Sneed has learned a 20-year investigator for the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office has been stripped of his duties pending a FBI child pornography probe. Sneed is told a cadre of feds showed up at the southwest suburban home of the Cook County investigator on Tuesday morning, armed with a search warrant to seize computer files.

    On this Memorial Day, a journalist wishes she’d asked her father, a war vet, more questions

    I know what my father did after the war; he married my mother, raised four daughters and a dog named Daisy and had a distinguished career with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Dad may never have talked about the war, but for a woman who would become a journalist — how strange it was I asked him so few questions.

    Sneed: Column item, Sun-Times report prompted Metra shake-up

    The Metra mess. . . Finally! Metra seems to be on track. Sneed hears Sharon Austin, a former Metra ticket agent manager who Sneed claimed drew the ire of Metra police when she became their overseer, is out. ◆ Translation: Austin, who was Metra’s senior …

    Metra mess update: things aren’t completely cleaned up

    Sneed is told little has changed at Metra since Sneed’s March story exposing ill-equipped Metra police officers. Sneed blasted Metra passenger safety based on complaints by Metra police that their cars were junk,their radios unusable, and officers were not qualified to use their weapons for three years due to a lack of ammunition for their new guns.

    Topinka: Comptroller’s job like being ‘skunk at picnic’

    Our irrepressible State Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka broke out her irrepressible black and white faux skunk slippers Wednesday while passing out 1,120 slices of Eli’s cheesecake to lawmakers, staffers, lobbyists, media mavens, and Springfield Capitol visitors. Topinka says she wears them because “being the state’s fiscal officer is like being a skunk at the picnic.”

  • Ex-Gov. Ryan writing book that might worry ‘former top state leaders’

    By George! Former Gov. George Ryan, who has been on his best behavior since he was released from a six-year federal prison term in January, is doing it by the book — he’s penning his memoirs. “It’s going to be a no holds barred book …Read More

  • SNEED: Rosemont mayor wants a piece of the McCormick Place arena

    The loss of the DePaul University Blue Demons basketball team at Rosemont’s Allstate Arena now that plans are to build a $173 million basketball arena at McCormick Place “did not shatter me,” said Stephens. “But new legislation dealing with expansion of convention business at McCormick Place will impact us and something should be provided to benefit our convention center in Rosemont,” he told Sneed.

  • Obama eyes Gov. Deval Patrick to replace Eric Holder at Justice

    Sneed is told that Attorney General Eric “Fast and Furious” Holder’s days are numbered. Sneed hears President Barack Obama, who is this/close to Holder, has set his sights on Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick as a possible replacement “when the heat dies down on the latest hot-button scandals to hit the U.S. Justice Department,” said a top White House source.

    • Sox boss Kenny Williams calls fiance, CNN anchor Sambolin “brave” in breast cancer fight

    White Sox Executive Veep Kenny Williams is covering all bases in his fiancee’s battle against breast cancer. “I am proud to be engaged to one strong and brave woman and my intention is to be with her any way she needs me to be,” said Williams, whose fiancee, CNN’s “Early Start” anchor Zoraida Sambolin, announced Tuesday she has breast cancer and is planning to have a double mastectomy later this month. Williams, who helped steer the Sox into a World Series win, tells Sneed the disclosure of Sambolin’s cancer on CNN Tuesday morning was prompted by an op-ed piece in

    Sneed: Authorities learn of deadly gang mission

    Michael Sneed has learned a street gang directive ordering a hit squad to kill law enforcement officers was intercepted by the Cook County Sheriff’s Intelligence unit. The deadly order, which came via the Cook County Jail grapevine, claims the leadership of the Satan Disciples street gang has called for the formation of an assassination unit that would be assigned the deadly mission.

    Jesse Jr. and Sandi Jackson feeling relieved as sentencing day nears

    The Jackson file . . . Father & son: As the July 1 sentencing date approaches for corruption and tax-evasion convictions against former Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. and his wife, former Ald. Sandi Jackson, Sneed is told the couple are feeling at least some relief. …

    Supt. Garry McCarthy shakes up top ranks of CPD

    Sneed is told Chicago Police Supt. Garry McCarthy is shaking up the police department by getting rid of “legacy” top brass. ◆ Translation: Top cop holdovers from Mayor Richard Daley’s regime are retiring — through decision or force— and going bye bye. ◆ Job changes: Although Chief of Patrol Joe Patterson, whom McCarthy appointed, has opted to retire — Sneed is told Chief of the Bureau of Detectives Tom Byrne is leaving as well as Tina Skahill, chief of special functions.

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