News Coverage: Samuel V.P. Banks

The county jail's downsizing doesn't guarantee that taxpayers will save money. (ABC7)

As Stroger quits his committeeman post, his future in politics is in doubt (CNC) — though he said recently that he'd like to stay in the game. (FOX News Chicago)

Samuel V.P. Banks, the powerful and savvy Chicago criminal lawyer, dies. (Sun-Times) Read more...

The typical career path of a politician starts at the local level, which then perhaps leads to a spot in the state legislature. If all goes well, as it has for a recent alumnus of Illinois politics, it leads to the White House.

But state Rep. John Fritchey (D-Chicago) seeks to leave Springfield for a seat on the Cook County Board.

It may seem like a step in the wrong direction for Fritchey, who lost to former Commissioner Mike Quigley in the race for Rahm Emmanuel’s seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. But he says he is motivated by the potential to work for the citizens of Cook County. Read more...