Sen. Kirk’s brain swelling subsides; doctors reattach skull section

Doctors on Tuesday reattached a 4-inch by 8-inch piece of U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk’s skull that was removed to ease swelling in his brain following his Jan. 21 stroke.

Sen. Kirk upgraded to ‘good’ condition, watched Super Bowl

Sen. Mark Kirk’s condition has been upgraded from “fair” to “good.”

Doctors hope to be able to re-attach the 8-inch-by-4-inch section of his skull that had to be removed after he suffered a stroke two weeks ago.

Then the Highland Park Republican can begin physical …

Gov. Quinn signs bill to allow speed cameras near schools, parks

Gov. Pat Quinn on Monday ended months of deliberation and signed into law a measure allowing Chicago to install speed-enforcement cameras near schools and parks.

Write-in hopeful switches districts, twice in one week

One of Joe Walsh’s former foes in this spring’s Republican primary is plotting what his next move will be, if any.

The other is operating a write-in campaign — but has changed districts, twice, since being officially removed from the primary ballot.

Walsh, congressman for …

Petition challenges leave Biggert alone on GOP primary ballot

Longtime U.S. Rep. Judy Biggert will be the lone Republican in the 11th Congressional District primary, after the State Board of Elections removed her two opponents from the ballot. The Board of Elections last week upheld challenges to the candidacies of Kane County Clerk Jack …

County Board member Sheahan goes to Navistar

The latest DuPage County Board member to step down has a new connection to the workings of local taxing bodies. Elmhurst attorney Brien Sheahan, who on Tuesday officially wrapped up a decade representing District 2 on the board, is now a director of government affairs …

Lawmakers react to governor’s speech

State Rep. Jim Durkin, R-82nd of Western Springs, noted the tax increase the governor signed last year as suppose to fix the state’s budget problem. “A year later the state is no better off than we were, not a penny of it went to pay …

Biggert: ‘Reversing Illinois waterways not called for’

U.S. Rep. Judy Biggert (R-13th) issued the following reaction in response to the release of a study by the Great Lakes Commission examining the feasibility of severing water channels that have connected the Mississippi River to the Great Lakes for over a century: “Unfortunately, this …

Quinn’s State of State address gets cool reception from legislators

Touting a jobs platform, Gov. Pat Quinn pushed modest tax relief for families and businesses that hire veterans, Medicaid and pension reforms, and more spending on college grants in a spartan State of the State speech Wednesday overshadowed by the gloom and doom of Illinois’ crushing financial condition.

Former Survivor member sues Gingrich for using ‘Eye of Tiger’

A founding member of the rock band Survivor says Newt Gingrich is using the band’s biggest hit — “Eye of the Tiger” — without permission at campaign appearances, according to a federal copyright infringement lawsuit filed Monday.

Preckwinkle to meet with worried ministers about morgue mess

Chicago-area ministers want a voice in the planned overhaul of the troubled Cook County morgue and are asking to meet with board President Toni Preckwinkle. “If you don’t hold people’s feet to the fire, the problems don’t go away,” the Rev. Ira Acree said on …

Sen. Mark Kirk upgraded to fair condition

Sen. Mark Kirk has been upgraded to “fair” condition at Northwestern Memorial Hospital a week after undergoing surgery for a stroke. “Senator Kirk’s recovery is continuing,” his neurosurgeon, Richard Fessler, said in a written statement. “He is alert, talking and responding well to questions.” Fessler …

Kirk undergoes more surgery to relieve brain swelling

U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk has undergone more surgery to relieve swelling in his brain following the stroke he suffered over the weekend.

Preckwinkle on county morgue mess: People will ‘lose their jobs’

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle said Thursday that the management of the county morgue will be overhauled and said some staffers will lose their jobs. The move comes in the wake of Chicago Sun-Times reports about bodies piling up at the West Side facility and workers complaining about unhealthy working conditions.

Voter registration assistance for elderly, handicapped

The DuPage County Election Commission has announced that special assistance in voter registration is available to the elderly and handicapped through the commission’s office. The commission can assist in the arrangement of “in-home” registration appointments with deputy registrars for the upcoming election. In addition, arrangements …