WBEZ 91.5 Chicago

This is a tough read. The story crossed the wire today that Lura Lynn Ryan has been admitted to the hospital for complications from lung cancer. Here's the latest from AP: 

Former Gov. George Ryan's wife is expected to be released from a Kankakee hospital today. Lura Lynn Ryan has lung disease and attorneys say she only has a year or two to live. They're citing her illness in trying to have parts of the ex-governor's 2006 conviction thrown out so he can be released early from prison.

The story of the former Illinois' first lady's health is front page news because George Ryan is asking to be released early from federal prison.  The item above mentions that attorneys for George Ryan say she only has a year or two to live. But according to her doctor, that timeline is off. She has three to six months. Also, the doctor says "terminal lung cancer," which is different than "lung disease" mentioned in the AP report.

The letter from her doctor at Rush Riverside Cancer Institute was filed this afternoon in the federal court. It's a very chilling read.

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We bring you another installment of "The Table," my talk-show filmed at a small table inside my cubicle before a live office audience. Today's guest is WBEZ Political Reporter Sam Hudzik. Sam spent 12 hours at the Rahm Emanuel residency hearing yesterday and due to the angles of the television cameras, was in just about every shot that made it to the newscasts. We talk to him about his take on the hearing.

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My friend Robert Buscemi is a local stand-up, now living between here and Los Angeles. He has always had a great sense of humor...at least to some. He just put out a CD called "Palpable." Robert Buscemi is a class act and always cracks me up. 

My friend and Schadenfreude editor Adam Witt is also a fan. Unfortunately, Adam had his car broken into this week. Crooks broke a window and stole his CD player. In the CD player, Adam was listening to Buscemi's album. The crook ejected the CD, leaving it behind.

Adam put the photo on his Facebook page and received the requisite Lebowski references, but the irony here is delicious. Did crooks purposely decide to pop out Buscemi's CD? Was it a message or just easier to steal without it in the player? In my head, they hotwired the car, listened to a joke or two, decided it wasn't up to snuff and just stole the CD player, leaving the car behind.

Oh, the rejection. Oh, the humanity. Oh, a caption contest!!!! Winner gets a Car Talk mug.

I think this should be Buscemi's new album cover. Help him name the album?

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We've won several awards for our outstanding news and web operations. But we've always lost out on the coveted 'Missed Connection' on Craigs List. That is, until now.

WBEZ's Hunter Clauss was

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Fox Chicago Reporter Mark Saxenmeyer has won a ton of awards. He's the investigative reporter who brought us the expose on freakdancing, as well as countless other must-see "special reports" for the past decade. The Tribune reported last week that his contract will not be renewed at Fox Chicago. Boo.

But my favorite part about the Saxenmeyer experience was his tweets. I've been following him for years and he really uses Twitter to mine for stories. Every Tweet includes what he is working on and then a question on how you can help him. It's an artform of cheesy brilliance. It's almost like he was social media's investigative reporter. Almost. We'll miss you buddy.

Here are my top 10 favorite tweets from @Saxenmeyer: 

10) Wishing I could win the lottery!! Working on a story about IL lottery winners!

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The Chicago Bears aren't going to give you anything for attending yesterday's miserable game (both weather-wise and performance-wise), so we here at the Vocalo blogs have taken it upon ourselves to pay you back.

It's the least we could do for you, the real victims.

Bring your ticket stub to the nearest Arby's and redeem. Now, it probably won't work because this is all un-licensed, but it's worth a shot right? Go ahead and take your flip camera to the Arby's and get the exchange on video. I'll post it here.

And you are welcome Chicago. I have your back.

(Special thanks to Anthony Abraham for his Photoshop magic)

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There was a lot of news this week coming out of Cook County government. Preckwinkle accepted Stroger aides' resignations, outlined budget needs and we saw County hospital officials are getting big raises. But past those stories, I noticed something from the press conference with new President Toni Preckwinkle. No longer did she have her patented royal blue suit, but she had upgraded to a more polished, more stylish black pin-stripe suit.

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