Preckwinkle launches bid for re-election as Cook County Board president

If re-elected, she’ll focus on public safety and health care, Preckwinkle, 66, said Tuesday night at a a fund-raising event at the Chicago Cultural Center. “We’re working towards the sustainability of our health-care system, and we still have some critical challenges to address in public safety, in particular in reducing the number of nonviolent offenders who are pretrial detainees in our jail,” Preckwinkle said.

Rep. Walsh rejects religious leaders’ call for apology for Muslim comments

Rep. Joe Walsh (R-Ill.) stood his ground on Friday — warning that radical Islamic terrorists pose threats to the Chicago suburbs and the rest of the U.S. — as an Illinois Muslim group demanded an apology following remarks he made at an Elk Grove Village town hall. Through his spokesman, Justin Roth, Walsh declined an apology. “The threat we are facing from homegrown jihadist terrorist is real, and Congressman Walsh will not bow down to political correctness and ignore the issue,” Roth said.

County commissioners give preliminary OK to new district map

A proposed map redrawing boundaries for the Cook County Board of Commissioners districts received overwhelming preliminary approval Friday. Fifteen of the 17 commissioners signed off on the plan, which is slated for a final vote Tuesday. The lone dissenting vote came from Commissioner Earlean Collins …

Political briefs

Early voting under way Early voting for the March 20 Presidential Primary Election started Monday at 42 locations in suburban Cook County and one in downtown Chicago. Glenview Village Hall is open for early voting from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday for …

Four Democratic contenders in 10th District spell out positions

Four Democratic contenders are on the ballot for the redrawn 10th Congressional District with hopes of defeating incumbent U.S. Rep. Robert Dold, (R-10th) of Kenilworth, who has represented the district in Washington D.C. since 2011. Campaigning heavily for months in hopes of becoming the Democratic …

10th District candidates debate college affordability, taxes

An audience jam-packed mostly with teens welcomed three of the four Democratic candidates in the 10th Congressional District race Wednesday night at Stevenson High School. Stevenson’s Political Action Club teamed up with students from the Mikva Challenge, a civics-minded group in Cook County, to organize …

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.

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.