• Illinois lawmakers are returning to Springfield amid a stalemate over a new state budget. But neither chamber is expected to take up proposals Governor Bruce Rauner says he wants passed before he'll sign a 2016 spending plan. The Senate is scheduled to discuss college affordability Tuesday.  But the battle between Democratic lawmakers and the governor won’t just be playing out in Springfield. $1 million worth of TV ads aren’t likely to make Democratic legislators want to compromise with the governor. The ads, purchased by Gov. Bruce Rauner’s campaign committee, will begin airing today (Tuesday) across the state, specifically targeting House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago).  State Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie (D-Chicago), who is the House majority leader, doesn’t think the attacks will help Rauner’s legislative agenda or the ongoing budget talks. “It would seem to me that it doesn’t set a very pleasant table for negotiation, and it doesn’t seem to me either that this works politically when the elections come around in November 2016. So what I don’t understand what he’s thinking,” Currie said.  Currie suggests Rauner may have already soured relationships with Democratic legislators during his stops around the state last week, when he questioned whether certain lawmakers were only loyal to Madigan and his “Chicago machine.”  As Currie put it, “My mother always told me to start politely.”
  • Terrance Doddy, the Rockford man convicted of killing his friend and co-worker, Todd Hansmeir, at a city call center last June, has been sentenced to life in prison without parole.  This is Doddy’s second life sentence for murder after pleading guilty in the death of Tonya Bargman in Lee County nearly a year ago.  Doddy was on the run from police when he killed Bargman and stole her car.   Doddy did not appear in the courtroom for either of the sentences because he didn’t want to face the families of his victims.
  • Questions of leadership and management have resulted in both Beloit Police Chief Norm Jacobs and Deputy Chief Tom Dunkin being placed on administrative leave until further notice.  A preliminary report was commissioned by the Beloit City Council.  David Zibolski, a 31-year veteran of Wisconsin law enforcement, will be sworn in as interim police chief.
  • Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel is promising a "world class" celebration of the Blackhawks' Stanley Cup win. The Hawks defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-0 Monday night to win their third championship in six seasons. Emanuel called the team "hockey's new dynasty."

 

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