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Shortly before she vanished in October 2007, Stacy Peterson told a divorce attorney that she thought her husband was mad at her because he believed she told his son he had killed his ex-wife, the attorney testified Monday.

She also wondered if she'd be able to extort money from Drew Peterson if she threatened to go to police, the attorney said.

Harry C. Smith, who had represented Drew Peterson's ex-wife, Kathleen Savio, in their divorce, said Stacy did not seem afraid of the former Bolingbrook police sergeant during their two conversations, saying she told him she had "so much (expletive) on him at the police department, he couldn't do anything to her."

Smith's testimony came on the 14th day of a pretrial hearing to determine whether 15 hearsay statements will be admitted into trial against Peterson, who has been charged with Savio's 2004 drowning death.

Smith said Stacy Peterson had called him because she was seeking a divorce from Drew Peterson.

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By Alex Daley and Doug Hornig, Casey Research When the folks at a private equity firm gather at the holiday party refreshment table to talk about “vintage,” they aren’t commenting on the Château Pétrus. The world of private equity financing doesn’t have high visibility, but it is big business behind the scenes. Unlike venture capital outfits – which provide startup money to very early-stage companies – those who play this game grab existing private companies, often through leveraged buyouts (LBOs). Each year’s investments are referred to as vintages, with some being more highly drinkable than… Source: Jutia Group | Published: 8 Feb 2010, 11:30 pm

An employee at a Joliet cell phone store was shot and wounded Monday night during an armed robbery by three masked men, authorities said.

The employee, described as a man in his 20s, wasn't seriously injured at the shooting that occurred at about 9 p.m. in the 2500 block of West Jefferson Street, Joliet police said. The victim was taken to an area hospital and treated for his wound, police said.

At about the time the business was supposed to close, the three masked gunmen entered and demanded merchandise, Joliet police Lt. Dennis McWherter said. The robbers were able to flee with some merchandise and money, though police weren't sure exactly how much.

Joliet police detectives remained on the scene late Monday, McWherter said. Police didn't immediately have a description of the robbers.

--William Lee

Source: Chicago Breaking News | Published: 8 Feb 2010, 11:04 pm

As yet another Chicago alderman admitted to being a crook, Mayor Richard Daley dusted off a 20-year-old idea on Monday and proposed giving the city's inspector general the power to investigate City Council members.

When Daley created the inspector general's office in 1989, aldermen overwhelmingly voted to exclude themselves from being investigated by the new office. The inspector general can investigate any part of city government, aldermen said, except aldermen.

Daley said Monday he decided to act now after his council ally, Ald. Isaac "Ike" Carothers, pleaded guilty in federal court last week to accepting bribes for aiding a developer, becoming the 29th alderman convicted of crimes since 1972.

"I think after the Carothers issue, people are losing confidence in government," Daley said. "It broke the camel's back."

Daley's proposed ordinance is sure to rankle many aldermen -- concerned over an incursion by an already powerful mayor and worried about politi...

An area winter storm warning has been issued for late Monday through early Wednesday with up to 10 inches of snow expected to blanket the area by late Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service.

WGN-TV's Tom Skilling thinks there's a possibility the final totals could be closer to 14 inches, making this storm the worst of the winter for Chicago. According to the WGN Severe Weather Blog, the storm could last 35-40 hours, affect three rush hours, and generally make life unpleasant until at least Wednesday.

The warning takes effect at 9 p.m. and will continue until 4 a.m. Wednesday.

Snow will continue across the region overnight and increase in intensity. The snow will continue through Tuesday night. Blowing and drifting snow with near blizzard conditions in open areas can be expected Tuesday night into early Wednesday, the weather service said..

Snowfall rates will generally be light to moderate. However, the very long period that the snow will be...

Democratic Party leaders began the delicate dance of picking a new running mate for Gov. Pat Quinn today, while emphasizing there was no horse-trading involved to get a scandal-ridden Chicago pawnbroker to abandon the primary nomination for lieutenant governor.

Quinn said Scott Lee Cohen should not be reimbursed for the roughly $2 million in personal funds he poured into his campaign. A spokesman for Michael Madigan, the House speaker and state Democratic chairman, agreed and said the topic of raising money for Cohen never surfaced in Madigan's two conversations with the beleaguered nominee leading up to his teary-eyed withdrawal Sunday night.

Already, all five of the rivals whom Cohen bested in the primary election a week ago said they want to be considered to fill the vacancy and would present their credentials to Democratic Party leaders from around the state who will make the decision.

But sources said Quinn has discussed with top Democrats the possibility o...

Zion police announced today that a local woman was arrested last week after authorities said they found "evidence of a marijuana grow operation" in her basement.

The woman, Candace Blanton, 38, is a dean at Zion-Benton Township High School, three school employees confirmed today.

Zion police said Blanton, 38, of the 2700 block of Emmaus Avenue, was charged Feb. 1 with unlawful possession of a marijuana plant, unlawful possession of cannabis and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, along with felony obstruction of justice.

A woman by the same name is listed on the Zion school's staff directory as a dean, and three employees of the high school said school officials informed them of Blanton's arrest at a staff meeting Monday.

Reached late Monday, Loren Karner, a Zion-Benton High School District 126 school board member, declined comment and referred questions to district administrators, who could not be reached.

In a statement, Zion police said th...

Bus and train riders who encountered the CTA at far less than its best on the first weekday of major service cuts should prepare themselves to slog through snow during Tuesday's commute.

The CTA implemented a winter action plan Monday to ensure that bus motors start in the morning and that the fleet -- downsized by almost 290 buses because of the service cuts -- can get out of garages and storage yards and onto streets.

Snow-sweeper trains were to have operated through the night to make sure tracks are plowed for the approximately 130,000 CTA passengers who travel by train from 6 to 9 each morning, officials said.

Riders voiced frustration after putting up today with longer waits at bus stops and at rail station platforms, as well as enduring crowded conditions and longer travel times.

Carolyn Ephraim, who is financially supporting five grandchildren, said she worries that the CTA cuts will make her late for work at the Daley Center downtown.

"That...