Ex-anti-violence group director to testify at Illinois hearing

SPRINGFIELD - The former head of an Illinois agency in charge of a troubled anti-violence program will testify before a legislative panel next week, his lawyer said.

Attorney John Theis said Barbara Shaw, who was director of the Illinois Violence Prevention Authority, will answer questions at the Oct. 8-9 Legislative Audit Commission hearings in Chicago.

"We're prepared to respond to the questions that are asked of her," Theis told the Chicago Sun-Times.

The Neighborhood Recovery Initiative, which Gov. Pat Quinn's administration launched in 2010, was the subject of a scathing state auditor general's report for mismanagement and misspending. It has been scrutinized by federal prosecutors in Springfield, the Cook County state's attorney and a legislative commission.

Seven witnesses, including Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn's former chief of staff and deputy chief of staff, have been subpoenaed to testify at next week's hearings.

The notice follows word from the U.S. Attorney James Lewis that the Commission can proceed with hearings as scheduled without interrupting a federal probe of the $54.5 million program.

Federal authorities this summer had requested that the commission to suspend interviews of those connected to the program for 90 days.