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The Chicago Transit Authority and its unions agreed Monday to possibly meet later this week to try to negotiate a quick end to service cuts that are forcing riders to wait longer in freezing temperatures for packed buses and trains.

But no meeting date was set or areas of potential agreement highlighted as the winter's worst snowstorm headed toward the Chicago region, threatening to add to the slow-going during Tuesday morning's commute.

Some regular CTA riders found other ways to get to work Monday morning or altered the times they traveled as a way to avoid the large crowds that were predicted to queue up at bus stops and train platforms, CTA officials said.

Ridership was lighter than on a usual Monday, CTA president Richard Rodriguez said. A a later meeting to talk about the winter storm headed Chicago's way, Rodriguez said that this morning's commute went "very well."

Because of it, the morning rush period went well overall, he said, with no major dela...

An area winter storm warning has been issued for late Monday through early Wednesday with up to 12 inches of snow expected to blanket the area, according to the National Weather Service.

WGN-TV's Tom Skilling thinks there's a possibility the final totals could be closer to 14 inches, making this storm the worst of the winter for Chicago. According to the WGN Severe Weather Blog, the storm could last 35-40 hours, affect three rush hours, and generally make life unpleasant until at least Wednesday.

The warning takes effect at 9 p.m. and will continue until 4 a.m. Wednesday. The heaviest snowfall is expected Tuesday afternoon and early evening. Blowing and drifting snow with near blizzard conditions in open areas can be expected Tuesday night, the weather service said. Both surface and air traffic are expected to encounter severe difficulties.

By Tuesday night, snowfall will generally be in the 6- to 12-inch range, with some locally higher totals possible, especial...

No injuries were reported but there was a plenty of smoke caused by an overheated elevator motor at the Tinley Park Mental Health Center, officials said this afternoon.

Fire officials said that an overheated elevator motor that rests on the roof, also known as the "penthouse" of the hospital at 7400 W. 183rd St., sent plumes of smoke overhead, said Paul Cummins, Deputy Assistant Fire Chief for the Tinley Park fire department.

Cummins said no injuries were reported although initial reports indicated that three ambulances were responding to the hospital. Officials received a fire call at about 4:30 p.m.

A total of 71 patients and 20 staff members were evacuated to the first floor of the four-story building because of the smoke, said Cummins.

"It smoked really good to where it banked down to the fourth floor," Cummins said.

The only damage was to the elevator, he said.

--Staff report

Source: Chicago Breaking News | Published: 8 Feb 2010, 5:36 pm

The federal judge presiding over the criminal case against former Gov. Rod Blagojevich today declined to order the prosecution to give additional evidence to Blagojevich's lawyers well before the June trial, criticizing a recent defense filing as "oddly detached from the issues."

U.S. District Judge James Zagel said prosecutors already have turned over a great deal of material and have agreed to reasonable deadlines for the rest of its evidence.
The defense had sought any notes from FBI interviews with President Barack Obama, saying "a government confident enough in its own rectitude to try purported terrorist Khalid Sheikh Mohammed in a U.S. District Court in New York should likewise be secure enough" to provide Obama's statements.

Zagel said those and other remarks in the motion filed last month were "rhetorical flourishes" that were not on point.

The judge also criticized the defense for misquoting prosecutors and called the bid for early dis...

A DuPage County judge has awarded a 150-year-old cemetery that lies in the path of a future O'Hare International Airport runway to the City of Chicago, allowing the city to start moving more than a 1,000 graves by the end of the month.

Judge Hollis Webster at a hearing Monday ordered the title of the 5.3-acre St. Johannes Cemetery be transferred from St. John's Church to Chicago.

Check back for more details.

--Staff report

...

A Union Pacific freight train headed from Chicago to St. Paul derailed near the Wisconsin-Illinois border today, officials said.
There were no injuries reported in the derailment, which occurred in Pleasant Prairie, Wis.  southwest of Kenosha at about 12:35 p.m., said Mark Davis, a Union Pacific spokesman.

He said 24 cars derailed, including 20 that were empty. Two cars were carrying wheat, one plywood, and the fourth plant fertilizer.

He said crews would be working through the evening to replace about 800 feet of damaged tracks and pull up the cars, he said. About eight freight trains use the track daily, he said.

Davis said the cause of the derailment is under investigation. Commuter trains are not affected because they do not use the tracks, said Davis. Freight trains were being rerouted onto other lines, he said.

-- Staff report

Source: Chicago Breaking News | Published: 8 Feb 2010, 5:02 pm

Taking a few stabs at competitor Madden NFL, developer NaturalMotion uses this developer diary to detail how its physics-driven PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 footballer Backbreaker differs from other games. For example, a lower camera view.

"You're not this kind of, god over the football field who can see everything," explains tester Mike O'Neill. Another example? The use of pink character outlines to highlight the procedural animations--though sadly, that particular aspect seems like the sort of development tool that won't be accessible to the end users come Spring 2010. [video]17077[/video] Shackvideo users can use the HD Stream.

The state of Illinois is planning a pilot project to enroll Medicaid recipients in six counties in managed care, an effort being criticized by advocates for the developmentally disabled.

Illinois' Medicaid agency announced today that it's seeking proposals from managed care organizations to run the program. It would affect 40,000 adults with disabilities and older adults in DuPage, Kane, Kankakee, Lake, Will and suburban Cook counties.

The state expects the program to save taxpayers nearly $200 million in its first five years.
Advocates for the developmentally disabled are concerned the effort to save money may lead to rationing of health care.

Tony Paulauski is executive director of the Arc of Illinois, a group advocating for the developmentally disabled. He says managed care organizations have little experience with developmental disabilities.

-- Associated Press

Source: Chicago Breaking News | Published: 8 Feb 2010, 4:48 pm