Mark Brown's column today takes an interesting look at some of the machinations behind the upcoming remap of Cook County's commission districts.
As always, the focus is on race, with commissioners in two majority black districts centered in Chicago's West Side jockeying to redraw them so that changing demographics don't dilute the black vote.
Cook County's pension fund will go broke in 26 years without changes that could include an increase in employee contributions and later retirement ages, according to a new analysis. The report, done under the direction of county Commissioner Bridget Gainer in her role as chairwoman of the board's pension-oversight panel, shows that it's not just state and city pension funds that have perilous futures.
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and Sheriff Tom Dart say they're reviewing a controversial phone contract at the jail that charges inmates inflated phone rates.
The first round of voting in the Current's Sweet 16 of Clout has wrapped up, and there were a couple of big surprises on the winners list.
Michael Madigan walloped Ed Burke 24-6, and Lisa Madigan trounced Dorothy Brown by a similar margin. That sets up a battle royale in the round of eight between the two Madigans. Read more...
