Statewide update—Feb. 14, 2011

• Daily Herald—Glenn Ellyn votes on ethics ordinance tonight, “The ordinance would establish rules to guard against gift giving, political activity on public time, conflicts of interest and undue influence by civil servants, defined as elected or appointed officials, or village employees.”

• Chicago Tribune—Pagano mismanaged Metra, reports say, “The former executive director used his authority to circumvent controls to approve certain transactions which benefitted himself and other employees…”

• State Journal Register—Editorial: First shot in benefits battle, “On Wednesday, Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago, said he believes reducing benefits to current employees would be unconstitutional. But with Madigan openly discussing the concept and, on Wednesday, saying he will appoint a group of legislators to put the issue into bill form, it’s likely we’ll see debate on this topic during the current session.”

• (Gatehouse News Service) Rockford Register Star— Illinois secretary of state clarifies lobbyist rules, “Secretary of State Jesse White’s office will send a notice this week to lobbyists that they do not, in fact, have to disclose every conversation they have with state officials.”

• Peoria Journal Star—Risinger may step down early, “Risinger, who was first elected to the 37th Senate District seat in 2002, told the Journal Star on Friday he will not seek re-election in 2012 and that he ‘does not expect’ to fill out the remainder of his term. He did not say when he might step down.”

Statewide Update—Jan. 19, 2011

• Chicago Sun-Times—Preckwinkle warns: Cut Cook County budget—or I will, “Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle issued a warning Tuesday to Sheriff Tom Dart and State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez — and anyone else balking at the looming budget cuts: help her swing the budget ax, or she’ll propose the cuts herself.”

• Daily Herald—RTA awaits word on end of free rides for seniors, “The Regional Transportation Authority has had no word on whether Gov. Pat Quinn will sign a bill to limit free rides for senior citizens, but nevertheless is trying to calculate the revenue boost the agency would get if it does become law.”

• State Journal-Register—Private managers to take over Illinois Lottery in July, state says,  “The state has rejected two protests over the awarding of a private management contract for the Illinois Lottery, opening the way for the new manager to take control of the lottery this summer.”

• Bloomington Pantagraph—Nuckolls getting paid for being in county board while in jail, “Nuckolls has not attended a county board meeting since his September arrest and has been stripped of his committee assignments. He continues to receive his board salary of $4,460 a year.”

• Daily Herald—Des Plaines may update water meters, resulting in rate hike, “Des Plaines residents may see a rise in water rates starting next year if officials decide to eventually replace the city’s roughly 13,000 analog water meters with a new digital automated meter reading system.”

• Southtown Star—Kaupas names cousin deputy police chief, “Kaupas, who is the second cousin of Sheriff Paul Kaupas, was hired as the spokesman in December at a salary of $75,000. He said he will perform the duties of both positions, replacing two people who retired, at a net savings to the sheriff’s department.”

• Daily Herald—Pension reform tops Naperville’s state agenda, “For the second consecutive year, pension reform tops the list of fights the city wants its legislative leaders to tackle.”