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 …

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.

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.

Deer Park starts discussion of building finances

Deer Park’s end-of-year budget surplus has sparked officials to begin strategizing their spending for the next 10 years. At Monday’s Board of Trustees meeting, Trustee James Denny expressed interest in spending what he presumes will be a continued budgetary surplus on a decade’s worth of …

Lake Zurich resident announces candidacy for 6th Congressional District

Geoffrey Petzel, 28, recently announced his candidacy for the Democratic Party’s nomination in the 6th Congressional District with hopes of challenging incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam in the November 2012 general election. “I’m running because we need somebody in the 6th District who will …

Report: College Illinois! could need $1.6 billion bailout

Illinois’ financially tanking prepaid college tuition program could require a $1.6 billion bailout from the state to remain solvent during the next 25 years, a new study shows.

Berrios denies election ‘payback’ after judge rules against daughter

Appellate Justice Rodolfo “Rudy” Garcia accuses Cook County Democratic Party Chairman Joe Berrios of stacking the deck against him in next year’s election for appellate court. Garcia said Berrios sent a message through an intermediary seven years ago that he wanted Garcia to rule a certain way in a case involving Berrios’ daughter.

Coolidge announces candidacy for Congress

Leslie Coolidge, an accountant and former partner at KPMG, has announced her candidacy for Congress in the new Sixth District. A Democrat, she said she is running for Congress because America’s economy is in trouble. “Like many of us, I have become increasingly dismayed by …

7 state senators to call it quits

Big turnover in the House and Senate usally happens with the redrawing of legislative boundaries that often puts incumbents in the minority party in areas with which they are not familiar or that may be unfriendly politically. But this go-around, there is a sizeable contingent of Democrats who have decided to call it quits.

Schoenberg won’t seek re-election

Senator Jeff Schoenberg, D-9th, of Evanston, announced Tuesday that, at the end of his term, he will end his 22-year career in the Illinois General Assembly. During a Springfield press conference, the veteran legislator and assistant Senate majority leader explained he is not seeking re-election …