Briefs: Beluga calf born at Shedd

One of the beluga whales at Chicago's Shedd Aquarium has given birth, and mother and calf appear to be doing well. The 24-year-old whale called Mauyak was in labor for about 75 minutes, and the baby beluga was born about 2:42 a.m. Thursday. Shedd officials say the calf and its mother will remain under 24-hour observation for several months. The calf is more than five feet long and weighs about 100 pounds. Shedd officials haven't yet determined its gender.

Daley allies cleared

A judge has dismissed two of Mayor Richard Daley's allies as defendants in a developer's lawsuit against the city. The developer alleges the city illegally shut down his project when he wouldn't give in to demands for financial favors and kickbacks. U.S. District Judge Samuel Der-Yeghiayan found that because Timothy Degnan, a former top aide to the mayor, and developer Thomas DiPiazza aren't public officials and have no authority to make governmental decisions, they should not be defendants. The judge also dismissed Wednesday six counts of Thomas Snitzer's lawsuit against the city and former building commissioner Stan Kaderbek, including conspiracy charges and 1st Amendment violations. But he did not dismiss two civil rights counts against them. The ruling is a blow to Snitzer, who alleges he was forced out as manager of the Bridgeport Village development project because he wouldn't offer financial favors and kickbacks to political operatives.

Gutierrez running again

Veteran U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez said Thursday he changed his mind about giving up his seat in Congress after receiving an emotional letter from supporters urging him to stay, and because of the unfinished business of immigration reform that has been his cause celebre. Gutierrez also said he wants to be in Washington to help elect Sen. Barack Obama as president because Obama also is committed to comprehensive immigration reform. "President Barack Obama and I are going to work to get it done. We really feel we have a responsibility to getting this work done," Gutierrez said after announcing his decision to seek re-election at an event held by the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. The 53-year-old Chicago Democrat had said he wasn't going to run for another term, partly to spend more time with his wife, who had been having health problems. But Gutierrez said she is better and would be spending more time with him in Washington.