Susan Stephens

Leaders from throughout northern Illinois pitched their most important transportation projects to two Congressmen yesterday. Republicans Don Manzullo and Bobby Schilling will recommend priorities for federal transportation funding to Governor Pat Quinn’s office. 

The city of Dixon may be out 20-million dollars more than originally thought in the case against its former comptroller. Federal prosecutors have now charged Rita Crundwell with stealing 53-million dollars over the past 22 years. In the original complaint against Crundwell, she was accused of embezzling an estimated 30-million since 2006 to “support her lavish lifestyle.”

Senator Mark Kirk is “mentally sharp” and keeping up with global issues during daily meetings with his staff. That’s according to the director of the stroke rehabilitation center where the 52-year-old Republican has been since February.

• ... plus a link on the benefits of hindsight

It’s been a week since Dixon’s comptroller was arrested and charged with misappropriating 3.2 million dollars from the city since last fall. A federal complaint also accuses Rita Crundwell of stealing more than 30-million since 2006. One Northern Illinois University accountancy professor says there’s a lot the city could have done to prevent the alleged theft. 

The City of Dixon has fired its comptroller. City Council members voted unanimously today to fire Rita Crundwell, retroactive to the day she was arrested on federal wire fraud charges.