Briefs: 'Green' home for museum
A three-story, fully functioning "green" home is going to be built on the campus of Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry. Museum officials say the house will showcase the latest innovations in renewable resources and smart energy consumption. For instance, guests will be able to see how wastewater from the shower and bath can then be used for toilets. The 2,500-square-foot home is expected to be open to the public from May 8 through Jan. 4, 2009. It will be the basis for an exhibit called "Smart Home: Green Plus Wired." The modular home is being built on an assembly line in Decatur, Ind. It's expected to arrive at the museum in late February for final interior work, furnishing and landscaping.
Zero tolerance pledged
Chicago's new police superintendent vowed to strengthen training and punish police misconduct in an effort to restore public confidence shaken by allegations of excessive force, barroom brawls involving off-duty officers and a scandal in a disbanded gang and drug unit. Jody Weis told the city council during a five-hour confirmation hearing Monday that he would overhaul the department's Internal Affairs Division, remove any officer charged criminally and punish even minor infractions. "All too often, a sergeant or lieutenant may say, 'That's not a big deal. We'll let that go.' It may be a very minor violation," Weis said. "But that does sometimes set the tone that ... misconduct is gonna be condoned or accepted. ... People will then feel free to ... keep getting a little more bold and a little more bold." Weis vowed to assemble a diverse command staff comprised of police insiders, but made no promise to appoint a black person as his first deputy. He also said he would deploy officers "where the crime is" and reassign to street-duty officers "hiding out" at police headquarters and on medical rolls.
City official accused
An investigator who works for a Chicago department that looks into misconduct by city workers has been charged with shoplifting. Tracy Buckley is an assistant chief investigator for Inspector General David Hoffman. Chicago police say Buckley was charged with misdemeanor theft after trying to steal about $100 worth of merchandise Saturday from a Whole Foods Market on the city's North Side. Hoffman said Monday his department has begun an inquiry into the matter. Buckley, who has been working for the inspector general's office since 1994, has been placed on paid administrative leave.
Ex-inmate sues lawyers
A former death row inmate has filed a lawsuit that seeks to bar his former attorneys from sharing in a proposed $5 million settlement in his police torture case. The current lawyers for Aaron Patterson filed the lawsuit Monday in Cook County circuit court. It is part of an ongoing fee fight with The People's Law Office, which represented Patterson until January 2006. Frank Avila Jr., one of Patterson's current attorneys, claims the People's Law Office abandoned Patterson two years ago and now claims he owes them more than $1 million. However, Flint Taylor, an attorney with The People's Law Office, said his firm represented Patterson tirelessly from 1994 to 2006. He said Patterson's current lawyers were using "unscrupulous" tactics to obtain undeserved fees.
Fraud trial will proceed
A federal judge refused Tuesday to delay the fraud trial of businessman Antoin "Tony" Rezko, a key fundraiser for Gov. Rod Blagojevich and other Illinois politicians. U.S. District Judge Amy J. St. Eve told defense attorneys that they have enough time to prepare for the trial scheduled to start Feb. 25 even though they are still sorting through 1.5 million documents in the case. Rezko has pleaded not guilty to charges that he joined with another major political fundraiser, businessman-attorney Stuart Levine, to shake down money management companies wanting to invest state pension funds.
State's bills at all-time high
The state of Illinois ended 2007 with the bills it owed reaching a record amount, according to the comptroller's office. A report released by Comptroller Dan Hynes' office indicates the backlog of outstanding bills stood at more than $1.7 billion. That compares to the $1.33 billion the state owed at the same time in 2006. In addition, it is now taking Illinois 34 business days to pay bills once they land in the comptroller's office, up from the 22 days it took a year ago.