Chicago police shot and wounded a person on the city's Far South Side early today.
The shooting occured shortly after midnight in the 11400 block of South Stewart Avenue, in the city's Roseland neighborhood, Officer Hector Alfaro said. He had no immediate details on the circumstances of the shooting or the condition of the patient.
Randall County Sheriff Joel Richardson, who watched Knight die, said the joke plan seemed to be a ploy by Knight to draw attention to himself.
"Despite all the hype about his joke, it turns out he's not much of a comedian," he said. "He's simply an executed cold-blooded killer."
In Oklahoma, authorities executed a terminally ill man who, according to his lawyer, has been told by doctors he likely would die of cancer within six months anyway. Death penalty opponents have called the execution of two-time killer Jimmy Dale Bland pointless, while prosecutors have said Bland's health was no reason to show him mercy.
Douglas County's Chief Deputy Tommy Martin was shot twice, according to Emery. Deputy Martin was shot in the face and torso and is in stable but critical condition at Carle Foundation Hospital. Douglas County Sheriff Charlie McGrew said Deputy Martin came out of his first surgery late this afternoon and a second one will follow. He is still in critial but stable condition, McGrew said.
"We believe that the red-light cameras have been very effective in changing dangerous driver behavior for the better," said Kevin Smith, a spokesman for the Office of Emergency Management and Communications. "We believe they encourage people to drive more safely."
Ald. Edward Burke (14th) announced Thursday that he will seek to ban the new technology.
And Burke threw off any pretense that the cameras' primary purpose is to reduce the number of traffic accidents at dangerous spots where motorists run reds.
On Tuesday 19 June 07 our case was before the Honorable Judge Bernetta D. Bush in Cook County Circuit Court – Chancery Division. Case NO. 07-CH-13182.
Judge Bush ruled in favor of the City. Judge Bush refused to allow our attorneys to conduct a preliminary hearing and produce evidence to support our case. The Judge basically ruled that the City could do whatever they want when it comes to the promotional and examination process.
At the time of the hearing we presented to the Court 347 Affidavits signed by our affected members.
In court the City’s Attorneys stated the following:
51 of the original tests had technical problems.
None of the tests had been scored.
The City’s Attorneys stated this is a fair process. Additionally, there is the 30% meritorious process available to every eligible candidate.
Our Attorneys are in the process of requesting an emergency hearing in the Illinois Appellate Court Division. The purpose of this is to block the scheduled re-test on 23 June 2007.
Once again, I would urge all of our members to contact their respective elected officials and express their concerns regarding the promotional and examination process. This is the only way to effect change.
I want to thank all of our members who were able to attend today’s hearing in support of our case.
Sincerely,
John Pallohusky
President
Chicago Police Sergeants’ Association
"Police are gonna enforce the curfew. ... Police are gonna start cleaning the corners. Don't complain to them because, if there's a drive-by shooting, you'll complain afterwards."
Two Deering District officers responded at about 4:45 p.m. to their home on the 4500 block of South Wood Street and saw the man holding a pipe and a cleaver, police said Deputy Chief Michael Shields. The officers told the man to drop his weapons, and when he didn't, they sprayed him with chemical spray, he said.
The man then lunged at the officers with the weapons, causing both to shoot him, Shields said.
"They didn't have to shoot him as much as they did," she said. "They could have found some other way to disarm him."
Four aldermen -- Bob Fioretti (2nd), Pat Dowell (3rd), Howard Brookins (21st) and Joe Moore (49th) -- used a parliamentary maneuver to delay consideration of the ordinance.
The new structure would take OPS out of the Police Department and make it a separate city department with subpoena power and a chief administrator who reports directly to the mayor. Fioretti questioned how independent the agency would be if it's still under the mayor's thumb.
Daley reacted angrily, "Who should it be -- the pope? I'm the mayor. . . . Schools are my responsibility. Why can't police be my responsibility?"
Clout at ground floor
Early on, the development appeared to be stalled.
The partners were no lightweights: John Kinsella, a longtime Daley supporter and former chief executive of the advertising agency Leo Burnett; Sidney Diamond, a novelty candymaker; and Snitzer, a real estate developer.
Still, they didn't have the City Hall access they needed. Ald. James Balcer (11th), whose blessing was required for the project to proceed, had refused for a year to even discuss it, according to Snitzer's suit.
Court documents now show that the project's dealings with the city began to click after Kinsella brought in as an adviser Timothy Degnan, an 11th Warder and former top aide to the mayor, to steer the project through official channels. Degnan's business associate, Thomas DiPiazza, was hired as a consultant, to be paid up to $1.3 million..........
