Chicago Sun-Times

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

Fri, 17 May 2013 02:23:29 -0500

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

Thu, 16 May 2013 13:36:42 -0500

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

Wed, 15 May 2013 11:48:17 -0500

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 the New York Times by actress Angelina Jolie about her own double mastectomy.

Sneed: Authorities learn of deadly gang mission

Sun, 12 May 2013 02:37:00 -0500

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

Fri, 10 May 2013 02:24:04 -0500

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. ◆ Translation: The constant press scrutiny is gone. “The dogs have basically been called off,” said a Sneed source familiar with the couple. “The story is over except for the ending.” Meanwhile, the Rev. Jesse Jackson — who just returned from South Africa, where he received the nation’s Order of the Companions of Oliver Tambo …

Supt. Garry McCarthy shakes up top ranks of CPD

Thu, 09 May 2013 02:20:32 -0500

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.

Kerry’s advice south on whether Russia might accept Boston bomber’s body

Wed, 08 May 2013 02:26:18 -0500

The Boston Strangler. . . It’s grisly. Finding somewhere to bury the body of alleged Boston Marathon bomber Tamerlan Tsarnaev has taken an unusual turn. Translation: Sneed hears rumbles that Secretary of State John Kerry’s office is being asked to assist and/or give advice on the possibility of Russia accepting the body of Tsarnaev, who was killed in a shootout with the Boston police.

Behind the scenes of Hillary Clinton’s surprise Chicago visit

Tue, 07 May 2013 06:58:08 -0500

The Hillary file . . . She sat in a corner. Translation: Hillary Clinton, one of the world’s most powerful women, chose to sit in a quiet, corner table with her Park Ridge school buddies Saturday night — rather than at a head table with her husband, former President Bill Clinton, who was receiving the prestigious Lincoln Leadership Prize at the Hilton Hotel. Instead, Hillary, a hush-hush surprise guest, chatted with her old Park Ridge chums Betsy Ebeling, Ernie Ricketts and Kevin O’Keefe to catch up on their lives and new grandchildren.

Anita Alvarez eyeing attorney general seat; Madigan set sights on governor

Sun, 05 May 2013 02:34:48 -0500

Sneed exclusives. . . The women’s room. . . The ladies are lining up! Sneed hears Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez is talking with pollsters about exploring a run for Illinois attorney general in the 2014 primary election. . . . if Attorney General Lisa Madigan decides to run for governor. ◆ The bankshot: Sneed is told Madigan is already lining up bigbucks Dem fundraisers — a k a high-priced legal eagles — to back her bid for governor in the Dem primary. “She’s running,” said a top Sneed source. ◆ The sureshot: Word is Alvarez, who was a …

The Pritzker prize

Fri, 03 May 2013 02:20:35 -0500

The Pritzker prize. . . It finally happened. Billionairess Penny Pritzker finally got a birthday present she really wanted: the job of U.S. Commerce Secretary -- an appointment Sneed first tipped in January. So what was the hold-up? “Nothing really,” said a top Dem White House source. “They just didn’t want to do her alone. Her vetting was done a month ago, but the White House likes to do such announcements in pairs -- and they were waiting for the vetting to be completed on Michael Froman as the new U.S. Trade Representative.” ◆ The stunner: The absence at Pritzker’s …

Sheriff Tom Dart vs. Chief Judge Timothy Evans in courthouse security dustup

Wed, 01 May 2013 23:08:26 -0500

It’s chuckles & knuckles time at the Leighton Criminal Courts Building, where the latest dustup between Cook County Circuit Court Chief Judge Timothy Evans and Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart is now at hand. Dart’s dander rose recently after Evans, who banned cellphones in the courtrooms, blasted Dart’s courthouse security for not tackling the electronic device misuse.

A sign for Rosie

Sun, 19 May 2013 07:46:06 -0500

A beacon of hope. . . It’s riveting for Rosie! †Translation: Rosie Colucci, an eight-year-old who has been battling inoperable brain cancer for the past five years, now has her own star in the twinkling firmament atop the Novak Construction Company, which looks over the Kennedy Expressway near Addison Street. †Heart shot: A new sign emblazoned with two hearts and Rosie’s name was a love letter to her from the firm’s owner, John Novak -- when he learned she used his holiday lights as a switch to turn off the pain while traveling to the hospital. “A scary emergency trip …

Sneed: Paralympic marathoner pushes forward in face of ‘evil’

Sat, 18 May 2013 06:48:36 -0500

The marathon nightmare. . . After two shrapnel-spreading bombs exploded at the Boston Marathon, hundreds of people selflessly rushed to help the wounded athletes and their families. But not everyone at the scene was noble. Deborah McFadden ran into one guy who should be ashamed of himself. “The trucker I hailed who extorted $400 from us — all the cash I had — to transport 18 [handicapped] kids out of danger and to the airport,” said McFadden, mother of University of Illinois Paralympic team senior Tatyana McFadden , 24, who had just won the Boston Marathon’s wheelchair race shortly before …

Quinn takes poignant letter from Chicago student to Mexico City

Wed, 08 May 2013 06:51:46 -0500

Crime time. . . Thirteen words tell it all. ◆ To wit: One of the letters sent by a student at Chicago’s Benito Juarez Community Academy to its sister school (Benito Juarez High School) in Mexico City recently read: “I like to go downtown because my neighborhood is too violent. Is yours?” ◆ Backshot: It was one of 200 student letters that accompanied Gov. Pat Quinn on his trade mission to Mexico last week. A child’s plea. . . In the midst of the same-sex marriage muddle comes an appeal from a 10-year-old girl, Braiden Neubecker, who lives in River …

In the early days, it was clear Roger Ebert was going to make it big

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 16:27:52 -0500

Roger Ebert was a pudgy, nerdy kind of guy when I met him back in the late 1960s; probably going horizontal on a bar stool at O’Rourke’s Pub in Old Town — backdropped by a life-size poster of Brendan Behan spitting in your face. But even back then, Ebert, the rumpled, intellectual, bespectacled doughboy, stood out. He had it. You sensed he was going to make it. Many of us were still slogging it out at the legendary City News Bureau before the era of uberjournalism, but he was on his way.

Cook County Sheriff to patrol expressways while troopers attend colleague’s funeral

Wed, 01 May 2013 15:46:52 -0500

Sneed exclusive Scoopsville. . . In a move to honor late Illinois State Trooper James Sauter, 28, who was killed Thursday when his emergency vehicle was struck by a truck, Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart’s police officers will patrol the county expressways during his funeral, Illinois State Police Director Hiram Grau tells Sneed. Sauter’s funeral is 11 a.m. Tuesday at Morraine Valley Church, 6300 W. 127th in Palos Heights. Grau also plans to call a security summit to protect Illinois State Troopers from being killed during roadside emergencies — a tragedy that has claimed the lives of two troopers in …

HOLDING THEIR FIRE

Wed, 01 May 2013 14:52:42 -0500

Bang! Bang! Here’s a shocker: The Northern District of Illinois has a lousy record for federal gun law prosecutions, according to a study tracking federal data done by Syracuse University. In fact, the districts that contain Chicago, Los Angeles and New York City ranked last in terms of federal gun law enforcement in 2012, according to the study. ◆ The flip side: U.S. attorney’s office spokesman Randall Samborn tells Sneed fewer federal gun prosecutions reflect a decision by federal prosecutors to weigh whether their case should be pursued in a state court — rather than a federal court — which …

Sneed: Are Chicago cops protecting Chicago cops at O’Hare?

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 12:10:08 -0500

The gravy train. . . Memo to Police Supt. Garry McCarthy, who istrying to keep the murder rate down: How about eliminating the use of Chicago cops at O’Hare airport in order to put them back on the street? ◆ The buckshot: Sneed is told the Aviation Security officers at O’Hare International Airport, a state-certified police agency qualified each year to carry guns, are not allowed to carry their weapons while working — and are required to call Chicago police officers assigned to O’Hare if they need backup. ◆ The upshot: “It’s a shocking and unnecessary display of overlapping — …