Looks like former alderman Edward R. Vrdolyak, also known as “Fast Eddie,” will be serving jail time.‚ The San Francisco Chronicle’s reports Vrdolyak’s re-sentencing has landed him a 10 month prison sentence. The ex-alderman was involved in a $1.5 million kickback real-estate scam involving a Chicago medical school. Vrodlyak, who plead guilty to the charges in 2008, told the judge , “I made a stupid mistake. I couldn’t be more sorry.”
Conductor Muti’s abrupt departure from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra after a stellar debut has people wondering how old is too old to conduct.‚ The 69-year-old conductor recently took leave of his post at the Orchestra until February due to intestinal problems.‚ Doctors later diagnosed him with exhaustion. Since senior conductors for other orchestras like the Boston Symphony, the Detroit Symphony, and the Rotterdam Philharmonic have suffered health issues that affected their positions, many wonder if Muti’s age will prevent him from leading the Chicago Symphony for the long term.‚ The Wall Street Journal adds that the president of the symphony defended Muti, saying “What happened to Maestro Muti has nothing to do with his age; it has to do with his regimen of work." Forbes tells the tale of Forrest David Laidley who was convicted of defrauding 100 victims of more than $9 million dollars.‚ Prosecutors say Laidley fraudulently offered and sold commercial properties and high interest promissory notes.‚ Laidley pleaded guilty to bank fraud and other charges in February.‚ The 66-year-old owned and operated Forest Properties, Inc. The first lady made her vote at a polling station close to the Obama’s former Chicago residence. Mrs. Obama posed for pictures and encouraged early voters to “make sure you get everybody out there voting” says the LA Times. The first lady will continue campaigning this weekend with President Obama. It will be the first time they’ve campaigned together since 2008. Rich Whitney is running for governor of Illinois as a green party candidate, but he’s worried that the misspelling will cost him votes with black voters, reports The New York Post.‚ “I don’t want to be identified as ‘Whitey,’" the candidate said, calling the misspelling a “concern" in primary African-American wards.‚ A spokesperson for the Chicago Board Elections said it was too late to reprogram the machines to put in corrections, but that voters will see the correct name “where it counts." Luis Gutierrez’s name had been floated as a possible mayoral candidate ever since Richard M. Daley announced he would not be seeking reelection next term.‚ Thursday Gutierrez publicly announced he wouldn’t be entering the race. Gutierrez said his time would be best spent working for immigration rights in congress. The Seattle Times notes that he is a supporter of the Dream Act, which would help grant citizenship to immigrant children brought to America illegally.‚ He has also been arrested for civil disobedience for protesting Arizona’s immigration law.
