Park Ridge Republican lawyer Frank DiFranco has claimed Cook County Clerk Karen Yarbrough used then-novel Vote By Mail rules to cheat in counting votes to allow a Democrat and former Yarbrough staffer to eke out a win in the northwest suburban judicial race
Neither the county nor the city are being sued. The subpoenas were filed as part of Smartmatic's $2.7B suit vs Fox over news reports amplifying Trump vote fraud claims
Yarbrough says compliance administrators appointed by the court to ensure she obeys federal court decrees are trying to find reasons to keep those decrees in place to ensure they continue to get paid
Longtime Illinois government reform advocate Michael Shakman and others have asked a federal judge to tack at least another year onto federal oversight of hiring practices under Cook County Clerk Karen Yarbrough
The federal lawsuit says the plaintiff was "shut out" of the clerk's payroll system when she raised concerns, and then was blocked from reinstatement by politically influential employees within the office of Cook County Clerk Karen Yarbrough
A judge has dismissed one of two plaintiffs from a suit accusing Cook County Clerk Karen Yarbrough of laying off employees because of their political affiliations, saying the dismissed plaintiff didn't put forth enough evidence to "get out of the gate."
Judge rules Chicago law firms instrumental in appointment of compliance administrator, and the fees are needed to sanction Cook County Clerk Karen Yarbrough for fighting against the effort to tighten scrutiny on her past and current government hiring practices.
A federal judge had denied Pritzker's attempt to end court-appointed oversight of Illinois government hiring practices, saying there was still too much evidence of politically motivated hiring and promotion within agencies under the governor's supervision
7th Circuit says reform advocates have identified potentially corrupt hiring practices, but four-decades-old federal oversight of county hiring practices needs to move toward conclusion
In emergency hearing, a Cook County judge questioned the need for action to block a settlement deal that both sides considered 'binding,' though it is opposed by anti-redevelopment activists. The Homewood Village Board is expected to consider its next move at a meeting April 13
Developers have said the redevelopment of the site as a logistics hub would add millions of dollars in new tax revenue, especially for schools; reduce property taxes for homeowners; and add 1,000 new jobs to the local economy.
A developer says he can continue the $100 million plan to redevelop a struggling country club into a transportation and distribution hub that would add millions in new tax revenue and 1,000 jobs, even if Homewood village officials refuse to approve the plan.
Cook County's elected judges will ultimately select 10 people to appoint as associate judges in the county's court system. The list of candidates includes many from government agencies, and others with ties to politically powerful current and former elected officials.
The village of Homewood conceded the developers held the legal upper hand, and agreed to settle to preserve some measure of control over the project, and position themselves to reap economic benefits.
