Top Stories Chicago http://www.topstorieschicago.com What is happening in Chicago Tue, 17 Nov 2009 20:28:29 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 en hourly 1 Starbucks raises prices in Chicago area http://www.topstorieschicago.com/uncategorized/starbucks-raises-prices-in-chicago-area/ http://www.topstorieschicago.com/uncategorized/starbucks-raises-prices-in-chicago-area/#comments Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:23:42 +0000 Chicago Breaking News http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/11/starbucks-raises-prices-in-chicago-area.html Chicago area, 10 to 15 cents. That large coffee is now $2.10 (before tax). That medium is now $1.95.

Don't say they didn't warn you.

The change was coming -- in August, the Seattle-based coffee chain announced it would be raising prices nationwide, though it would happen slowly and deliberately.

It did not say when this would happen or where, only that it would happen eventually. It also said it would be lowering the price on many smaller drinks. This happened in Chicago, as well. Your small coffee? It's 15 cents cheaper. Or $1.50 (before tax).

Read more on The Stew.


]]> Starbucks has raised the price on a number of its drinks in the Chicago area, 10 to 15 cents. That large coffee is now $2.10 (before tax). That medium is now $1.95.

Don’t say they didn’t warn you.

The change was coming — in August, the Seattle-based coffee chain announced it would be raising prices nationwide, though it would happen slowly and deliberately.

It did not say when this would happen or where, only that it would happen eventually. It also said it would be lowering the price on many smaller drinks. This happened in Chicago, as well. Your small coffee? It’s 15 cents cheaper. Or $1.50 (before tax).

Read more on The Stew.



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Share/Save/Bookmark]]> http://www.topstorieschicago.com/uncategorized/starbucks-raises-prices-in-chicago-area/feed/ 0 Poshard taps new chancellor at SIU http://www.topstorieschicago.com/updated/poshard-taps-new-chancellor-at-siu/ http://www.topstorieschicago.com/updated/poshard-taps-new-chancellor-at-siu/#comments Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:21:59 +0000 Chicago Breaking News http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/11/poshard-taps-new-chancellor-at-siu.html CARBONDALE -- The president of Southern Illinois University has picked a University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee administrator to be the next chancellor of SIU's flagship Carbondale campus.

ritacheng.jpgGlenn Poshard today announced he'll recommend Rita Cheng to succeed former university trustee Samuel Goldman, who's been serving as Carbondale's interim chancellor since spring 2008.

Cheng has served as provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs at UWM since May 2005. She's a licensed certified public accountant who holds a doctorate in management from Temple University and an MBA from Rhode Island.

The other finalist was University of Nebraska senior vice chancellor Barbara Couture.

Poshard will recommend Cheng to the SIU board on Dec. 10.

The official SIU release | Cheng's biography from Wisconsin-Milwaukee

-- Associated Press


]]> CARBONDALE — The president of Southern Illinois University has picked a University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee administrator to be the next chancellor of SIU’s flagship Carbondale campus.

ritacheng.jpgGlenn Poshard today announced he’ll recommend Rita Cheng to succeed former university trustee Samuel Goldman, who’s been serving as Carbondale’s interim chancellor since spring 2008.

Cheng has served as provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs at UWM since May 2005. She’s a licensed certified public accountant who holds a doctorate in management from Temple University and an MBA from Rhode Island.

The other finalist was University of Nebraska senior vice chancellor Barbara Couture.

Poshard will recommend Cheng to the SIU board on Dec. 10.

The official SIU release | Cheng’s biography from Wisconsin-Milwaukee

– Associated Press



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Share/Save/Bookmark]]> http://www.topstorieschicago.com/updated/poshard-taps-new-chancellor-at-siu/feed/ 0 Prosecutors admit error, turn over notes to Peterson lawyers http://www.topstorieschicago.com/uncategorized/prosecutors-admit-error-turn-over-notes-to-peterson-lawyers/ http://www.topstorieschicago.com/uncategorized/prosecutors-admit-error-turn-over-notes-to-peterson-lawyers/#comments Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:14:30 +0000 Chicago Breaking News http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/11/prosecutors-admit-error-turn-over-notes-to-peterson-lawyers.html
In January, a judge will determine whether comments typically considered hearsay can be used at a trial for Peterson, who is accused of slaying his third wife, Kathleen Savio. On Monday, Peterson's defense attorneys filed a motion seeking sanctions against prosecutors for failing to turn over the handwritten notes.

Joel Brodsky said they noticed the notes were missing about a month ago. Prosecutors previously turned over typewritten police reports.

The handwritten notes are being scanned and will be turned over to defense attorneys by Wednesday, said Charles Pelkie, a Will county state's attorney's spokesman.

"This was an oversight," he said.

-- Steve Schmadeke


]]> Acknowledging an “oversight” was made, prosecutors in the Drew Peterson murder case are handing over to defense attorneys handwritten field notes made by police during their investigation.

In January, a judge will determine whether comments typically considered hearsay can be used at a trial for Peterson, who is accused of slaying his third wife, Kathleen Savio. On Monday, Peterson’s defense attorneys filed a motion seeking sanctions against prosecutors for failing to turn over the handwritten notes.

Joel Brodsky said they noticed the notes were missing about a month ago. Prosecutors previously turned over typewritten police reports.

The handwritten notes are being scanned and will be turned over to defense attorneys by Wednesday, said Charles Pelkie, a Will county state’s attorney’s spokesman.

“This was an oversight,” he said.

– Steve Schmadeke



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Share/Save/Bookmark]]> http://www.topstorieschicago.com/uncategorized/prosecutors-admit-error-turn-over-notes-to-peterson-lawyers/feed/ 0 Steelers fan says he was poisoned, left blind in Chicago bar http://www.topstorieschicago.com/updated/steelers-fan-says-he-was-poisoned-left-blind-in-chicago-bar/ http://www.topstorieschicago.com/updated/steelers-fan-says-he-was-poisoned-left-blind-in-chicago-bar/#comments Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:54:00 +0000 Chicago Breaking News http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/11/steelers-fan-says-he-was-poisoned-left-blind-in-chicago-bar.html heddinger400.jpg

A Pittsburgh Steelers fan says he was left blind and is living with brain damage after he was apparently poisoned at a Chicago bar following a game in September.

The Steelers had lost to the Bears at Soldier Field, and some trash-talking was going on between Zack Heddinger's group of Pittsburgh fans and a group of Bears fans. Afterward, Heddinger, 46, was offered a drink by one of the Chicago fans, a gesture he thought was a peace offering, his older sister Linda Heddinger said this morning in an interview.

It still isn't clear what substance was in the drink, but doctors believe, based on the effects, that it was grain alcohol, antifreeze or some kind of pesticide, Linda Heddinger said.

What is clear, she said, is that her brother is having memory difficulties and is nearly blind.

"It seems like a bad connection you have with television," Linda Heddinger said. "He has glimpses, but just because he can see you today doesn't mean he will see you tomorrow."

Based on conversations with those with Heddinger, he and his family have "narrowed down" the instances in which he could have been poisoned to the incident at Kitty O'Sheas after they left the Sept. 20 game, his sister said.

Linda Heddinger said the game was part of an annual trip her brother takes with childhood  friends to see sporting events in various cities.

According to a Chicago police report, at around 6 p.m. Heddinger, his sister Lisa and their friends were at the bar at 720 S. Michigan Ave. There was an "altercation between Bears and Pittsburgh fans," said Chicago Police Officer Laura Kubiak.

"My brother, trying to be a peacemaker, drank it," Linda Heddinger said. "No one else did."

The police report also mentions Heddinger took the drink and notes his group left the bar a short time later. At about 11 p.m. a call was made from their hotel for an ambulance.

Linda Heddinger said another sister received a call at about 2:30 a.m. from Rush University Medical Center that their brother's heart had stopped and he wasn't expected to survive. Doctors told the family, who later traveled to Chicago to be with Heddinger, that his reaction was much more severe than if he had just been drinking alcohol.

By Thursday, Heddinger was still hospitalized; he was getting headaches and starting to lose his vision, his sister said.

Heddinger later returned to the Pittsburgh area, where he is staying with one of his sisters and his account was first reported by WTAE-TV Ch. 4.

The last two months have been "very, very difficult," Linda Heddinger said, as the family has tried various treatments for their brother's ailments and made arrangements for his rehabilitation.Heddinger is the 7th of nine siblings, most of whom live in the Pittsburgh area.

A regional sales manager for a jewelry company, Zack Heddinger hasn't been working and he doesn't have health insurance, his sister said. "We're emotionally drained, financially drained," she said."I don't understand the mentality where you would do this to someone."

Police said Belmont Area detectives are still investigating the incident.

-- Andrew L. Wang


]]> heddinger400.jpg

A Pittsburgh Steelers fan says he was left blind and is living with brain damage after he was apparently poisoned at a Chicago bar following a game in September.

The Steelers had lost to the Bears at Soldier Field, and some trash-talking was going on between Zack Heddinger’s group of Pittsburgh fans and a group of Bears fans. Afterward, Heddinger, 46, was offered a drink by one of the Chicago fans, a gesture he thought was a peace offering, his older sister Linda Heddinger said this morning in an interview.

It still isn’t clear what substance was in the drink, but doctors believe, based on the effects, that it was grain alcohol, antifreeze or some kind of pesticide, Linda Heddinger said.

What is clear, she said, is that her brother is having memory difficulties and is nearly blind.

“It seems like a bad connection you have with television,” Linda Heddinger said. “He has glimpses, but just because he can see you today doesn’t mean he will see you tomorrow.”

Based on conversations with those with Heddinger, he and his family
have “narrowed down” the instances in which he could have been poisoned
to the incident at Kitty O’Sheas after they left the Sept. 20 game, his
sister said.

Linda Heddinger said the game was part of an
annual trip her brother takes with childhood  friends to see sporting
events in various cities.

According to a Chicago police
report, at around 6 p.m. Heddinger, his sister Lisa and their friends
were at the bar at 720 S. Michigan Ave. There was an “altercation
between Bears and Pittsburgh fans,” said Chicago Police Officer Laura
Kubiak.

“My brother, trying to be a peacemaker, drank it,” Linda Heddinger said. “No one else did.”

The
police report also mentions Heddinger took the drink and notes his
group left the bar a short time later. At about 11 p.m. a call was made
from their hotel for an ambulance.

Linda Heddinger said another
sister received a call at about 2:30 a.m. from Rush University Medical
Center that their brother’s heart had stopped and he wasn’t expected to
survive. Doctors told the family, who later traveled to Chicago to be
with Heddinger, that his reaction was much more severe than if he had
just been drinking alcohol.

By Thursday, Heddinger was still hospitalized; he was getting headaches and starting to lose his vision, his sister said.

Heddinger later returned to the Pittsburgh area, where he is staying with one of his sisters and his account was first reported by WTAE-TV Ch. 4.

The
last two months have been “very, very difficult,” Linda Heddinger said,
as the family has tried various treatments for their brother’s ailments
and made arrangements for his rehabilitation.Heddinger is the 7th of nine siblings, most of whom live in the Pittsburgh area.

A regional sales manager for a jewelry company, Zack Heddinger
hasn’t been working and he doesn’t have health insurance, his sister
said. “We’re emotionally drained, financially drained,” she said.”I don’t understand the mentality where you would do this to someone.”

Police said Belmont Area detectives are still investigating the incident.

– Andrew L. Wang



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Share/Save/Bookmark]]> http://www.topstorieschicago.com/updated/steelers-fan-says-he-was-poisoned-left-blind-in-chicago-bar/feed/ 0 Orland Park will likely ban video gambling http://www.topstorieschicago.com/orland-park/orland-park-will-likely-ban-video-gambling/ http://www.topstorieschicago.com/orland-park/orland-park-will-likely-ban-video-gambling/#comments Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:37:17 +0000 Chicago Breaking News http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/11/orland-park-will-likely-ban-video-gambling.html The tide appears to be turning against video gambling in Orland Park as village board members indicated Monday they will likely vote to ban it in the village.

"I've been pretty vocal against video poker," Mayor Daniel McLaughlin said at Monday's village board meeting. "We just haven't taken a vote to ban it. At some point, the board will take a vote to that effect."

Last spring, state lawmakers approved allowing video poker machines in bars, restaurants and other venues in Illinois to help fund a capital road program, but also gave counties and municipalities the choice to opt out of it.

Village officials in Orland Park delayed a vote on it a few months ago, saying they wanted to wait for the Illinois Gaming Board to finish writing rules and regulations for the video poker machines.

But public opposition has been mounting, even though the village could directly receive five percent of any revenue generated from the machines at a time when the village could be facing a period of budget shortfalls.

"Gambling is not an answer to financial difficulties," said resident Wendie Benton, who joined about 50 other residents at Monday's meeting to oppose video poker. "There are good ways and not good ways to deal with money problems."

Officials have scheduled a vote at the Dec. 7 village board meeting.

-- Carmen Greco Jr.


]]> The tide appears to be turning against video gambling in Orland Park as village board members indicated Monday they will likely vote to ban it in the village.

“I’ve been pretty vocal against video poker,” Mayor Daniel McLaughlin said at Monday’s village board meeting. “We just haven’t taken a vote to ban it. At some point, the board will take a vote to that effect.”

Last spring, state lawmakers approved allowing video poker machines in bars, restaurants and other venues in Illinois to help fund a capital road program, but also gave counties and municipalities the choice to opt out of it.

Village officials in Orland Park delayed a vote on it a few months ago, saying they wanted to wait for the Illinois Gaming Board to finish writing rules and regulations for the video poker machines.

But public opposition has been mounting, even though the village could directly receive five percent of any revenue generated from the machines at a time when the village could be facing a period of budget shortfalls.

“Gambling is not an answer to financial difficulties,” said resident Wendie Benton, who joined about 50 other residents at Monday’s meeting to oppose video poker. “There are good ways and not good ways to deal with money problems.”

Officials have scheduled a vote at the Dec. 7 village board meeting.

– Carmen Greco Jr.



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Share/Save/Bookmark]]> http://www.topstorieschicago.com/orland-park/orland-park-will-likely-ban-video-gambling/feed/ 0 Suspended motorists could have cars impounded http://www.topstorieschicago.com/uncategorized/suspended-motorists-could-have-cars-impounded/ http://www.topstorieschicago.com/uncategorized/suspended-motorists-could-have-cars-impounded/#comments Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:03:25 +0000 Chicago Breaking News http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/11/suspended-motorists-could-have-cars-impounded.html Drivers caught behind the wheel with a suspended or revoked license would have their cars impounded under a proposed ordinance the City Council's Police and Fire Committee approved today.

More from John Byrne in Clout Street on chicagotribune.com


]]> Drivers caught behind the wheel with a suspended or revoked license would have their cars impounded under a proposed ordinance the City Council’s Police and Fire Committee approved today.

More from John Byrne in Clout Street on chicagotribune.com



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Share/Save/Bookmark]]> http://www.topstorieschicago.com/uncategorized/suspended-motorists-could-have-cars-impounded/feed/ 0 Plastics industry trade show says no to Chicago http://www.topstorieschicago.com/uncategorized/plastics-industry-trade-show-says-no-to-chicago/ http://www.topstorieschicago.com/uncategorized/plastics-industry-trade-show-says-no-to-chicago/#comments Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:59:45 +0000 Chicago Breaking News http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/11/plastic-industry-trade-show-says-no-to-chicago.html McCormick Place is losing a second key piece of its convention business within a week, as the plastics industry trade show has decided to move to Orlando for 2012 and 2015 after nearly four decades in Chicago, sources tell the Tribune.

The formal announcement, expected to be made at a 10 a.m. press conference today, comes on the heels of a decision by the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society last week to move its 2012 annual meeting to Las Vegas.

The losses to the city's chief rivals occur as the deep recession is cutting into the tourism and convention business, leading the agency that runs McCormick Place and Navy Pier to decide Monday to trim its work force by 20 percent, or about 100 positions, as part of a larger cost-cutting program aimed at trimming a projected $28.8 million deficit this fiscal year. The expected shortfall is more than triple what had been anticipated.

The plastics show, produced by SPI: The Plastics Industry Trade Association, is triennial.  The trade group's 2009 show held in June at McCormick Place saw a 28 percent drop in attendance, to 44,000. And exhibitors complained to the trade association about the costs of exhibiting at McCormick Place.

The show is expected to be the 9th largest for the convention hall this year, generating an estimated $95.3 million in spending locally. That economic impact is down from $154.7 million for the 2006 show.

-- Kathy Bergen


]]> McCormick Place is losing a second key piece of its convention business within a week, as the plastics industry trade show has decided to move to Orlando for 2012 and 2015 after nearly four decades in Chicago Piano movers, sources tell the Tribune.

The formal announcement, expected to be made at a 10 a.m. press conference today, comes on the heels of a decision by the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society last week to move its 2012 annual meeting to Las Vegas.

The losses to the city’s chief rivals occur as the deep recession is cutting into the tourism and convention business, leading the agency that runs McCormick Place and Navy Pier to decide Monday to trim its work force by 20 percent, or about 100 positions, as part of a larger cost-cutting program aimed at trimming a projected $28.8 million deficit this fiscal year. The expected shortfall is more than triple what had been anticipated.

The plastics show, produced by SPI: The Plastics Industry Trade Association, is triennial.  The trade group’s 2009 show held in June at McCormick Place saw a 28 percent drop in attendance, to 44,000. And exhibitors complained to the trade association about the costs of exhibiting at McCormick Place.

The show is expected to be the 9th largest for the convention hall this year, generating an estimated $95.3 million in spending locally. That economic impact is down from $154.7 million for the 2006 show.

– Kathy Bergen


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Share/Save/Bookmark]]> http://www.topstorieschicago.com/uncategorized/plastics-industry-trade-show-says-no-to-chicago/feed/ 0 Threats prompt closure of Downstate school district http://www.topstorieschicago.com/girard-illinois/threats-prompt-closure-of-downstate-school-district/ http://www.topstorieschicago.com/girard-illinois/threats-prompt-closure-of-downstate-school-district/#comments Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:56:18 +0000 Chicago Breaking News http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/11/threats-prompt-closure-of-downstate-school-district.html GIRARD -- Classes at a southwestern Illinois school district are closed for a second day after vandals left messages threatening to blow up some of the buildings.

Girard School Superintendent Marlene Brady says the nearly 700-student Macoupin County district is taking every precaution since the vandalism was found before school Monday.

Employees found 32 windows and three glass doors broken in the district's attendance center, which houses all grades from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. Brady says most of the damage was done to the high school building.

She says two windows also were broken on the school's driver education car.

Brady says she hopes classes will resume Wednesday.

Girard is about 30 miles southwest of Springfield.

-- Associated Press


]]> GIRARD — Classes at a southwestern Illinois school district are closed for a second day after vandals left messages threatening to blow up some of the buildings.

Girard School Superintendent Marlene Brady says the nearly 700-student Macoupin County district is taking every precaution since the vandalism was found before school Monday.

Employees found 32 windows and three glass doors broken in the district’s attendance center, which houses all grades from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. Brady says most of the damage was done to the high school building.

She says two windows also were broken on the school’s driver education car.

Brady says she hopes classes will resume Wednesday.

Girard is about 30 miles southwest of Springfield.

– Associated Press



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Share/Save/Bookmark]]> http://www.topstorieschicago.com/girard-illinois/threats-prompt-closure-of-downstate-school-district/feed/ 0 Trump’s tower in Chicago now world’s sixth tallest http://www.topstorieschicago.com/uncategorized/trumps-tower-in-chicago-now-worlds-sixth-tallest/ http://www.topstorieschicago.com/uncategorized/trumps-tower-in-chicago-now-worlds-sixth-tallest/#comments Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:52:52 +0000 Chicago Breaking News http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/11/trumps-tower-in-chicago-now-worlds-sixth-tallest.html Chicago tower.

The reason for the shift: The Chicago-based Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, the global arbiter of height standards, has changed its criteria for measuring skyscrapers.

Read more on Blair Kamin's Cityscapes.


]]> Donald Trump’s just-completed Trump International Hotel & Tower
just leaped from the world’s seventh tallest building to the world’s
sixth tallest. And the New York developer hasn’t done a thing to change
the Chicago tower.

The reason for the shift: The Chicago-based
Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, the global arbiter of
height standards, has changed its criteria for measuring skyscrapers.

Read more on Blair Kamin’s Cityscapes.


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Share/Save/Bookmark]]> http://www.topstorieschicago.com/uncategorized/trumps-tower-in-chicago-now-worlds-sixth-tallest/feed/ 0 Cook County board will try again today to repeal tax http://www.topstorieschicago.com/uncategorized/cook-county-board-will-try-again-today-to-repeal-tax/ http://www.topstorieschicago.com/uncategorized/cook-county-board-will-try-again-today-to-repeal-tax/#comments Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:37:02 +0000 Chicago Breaking News http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/11/cook-county-board-will-try-again-today-to-repeal-tax.html
Stroger has repeatedly rebuffed efforts to eliminate or reduce the 2008 tax hike, saying it is crucial to the county's huge hospital system.

State lawmakers from the suburbs pushed for the new state law signed last week by Gov. Pat Quinn, but Stroger has hinted he may challenge the board's actions in court.

So it's anybody's guess whether the issue will be resolved by the Feb. 2 primary election, when Stroger faces significant opposition to a second term.

Read more on Clout Street.


]]> Cook County commissioners plan to try again today to roll back the controversial penny-on-a-dollar sales tax championed by Board President Todd Stroger — but this time they are emboldened by a new law that reduces the president’s veto power.

Stroger has repeatedly rebuffed efforts to eliminate or reduce the 2008 tax hike, saying it is crucial to the county’s huge hospital system.

State lawmakers from the suburbs pushed for the new state law signed last week by Gov. Pat Quinn, but Stroger has hinted he may challenge the board’s actions in court.

So it’s anybody’s guess whether the issue will be resolved by the Feb. 2 primary election, when Stroger faces significant opposition to a second term.

Read more on Clout Street.



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Share/Save/Bookmark]]> http://www.topstorieschicago.com/uncategorized/cook-county-board-will-try-again-today-to-repeal-tax/feed/ 0