The briefs: Two finalists for judge post

Two finalists for judge post

Two men have been selected as finalists for the open associate judge post in DuPage County. The seat was opened when Judge John Kinsella was elevated to the position of circuit judge in October 2007. Naperville resident Robert Kleeman and Glen Ellyn's Thomas Ryerson are vying for the job that will be voted on by secret ballot by the county's circuit judges. It is unclear when the vote will be taken and when results will be announced. Kleeman previously worked in the state's attorney's office and is currently a criminal defense lawyer. He received his law degree from the University of Illinois, according to a release from the circuit court. Ryerson has been in private practice since 1976 and received his law degree from Loyola University Chicago.

Film festival at NCC

Turkish films will be shown as part of North Central College's sixth annual International Film Festival beginning at 7 p.m. Tuesday in Smith Hall at Old Main, 30 N. Brainard St., Naperville. The drama "Climates" kicks off the festival Tuesday, followed by the family comedy "Hababam Sinifi" on Wednesday and "Head On" on Thursday. For details, visit www.northcentralcollege.edu/x35355.xml.

Pradel's State of City

Naperville Mayor George Pradel will present his State of the City address when the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce meets at 11:30 a.m. today at the Holiday Inn Select, 1801 N. Naper Blvd. For details, call (630) 355-4141.

More on EJ&E possible sale

Another meeting related to the possible acquisition of the EJ&E rail line by Canadian National railway will be hosted by the Illinois General Assembly on Thursday. The legislature's railroad safety committee has scheduled a public hearing for 10 a.m. Thursday in Room 16-503 of the James R. Thompson Center, at Clark and Randolph, Chicago. The committee has asked Canadian National, Metropolis 2020 and the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning to testify before the board. Interested citizens may sign up on site to testify, but there is no guarantee that everyone will get an opportunity to speak. The sale needs federal approval before it can become official. CN officials said if the sale were approved, they would use the acquired EJ&E railroad lines as a Chicago bypass route for all current and future freight traffic from its Canadian and U.S. rail network. Many local communities, especially those in the Barrington area, are protesting sale, saying it will cause numerous safety and traffic problems.