News in Chicago and Illinois

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Late Edition
Ex-ConsCollect on Overdue Chicago Parking Tickets
TheNewspaper- Released criminals will call and collect money from those the city of Chicago, Illinois believes have not paid their parking tickets.The city of Chicago, Illinois is tapping the persuasive ability of former criminals to collect money from individuals who have not paid a parking ticket. The Department of Revenue project involves handing over the personal information of individuals with unpaid parking tickets to the Collectors Training Institute and North Lawndale Employment Network, a non-profit organization which provides jobs for former offenders.
Ex-cons will make repeated call to alleged offenders, but when an individual decides to pay up, the former criminals are instructed to transfer the call to a payment specialist and not write down the credit card information for their own use. More....

Topinka, Blagojevich trade barbs in first debate
Associated Press-Gov. Rod Blagojevich and State Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka traded barbs today over ethics, campaign finance and a host of other issues in a contentious debate, the first of the campaign for governor. Topinka, a Republican, accused the Democratic governor of breaking promises and proposing empty programs. More...

Bike the Drive
Chicagoist- LSD will be blocked off from the Museum of Science & Industry to Foster, which will allow for a nice 15 mile course from the starting point to one end poing and back, or 30 miles for the whole course. While Bike the Drive is on pace to sell out, you can still register online -- for now. So sign up soon if you want to ride! More....
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