So, to recap: Kirk's own House colleagues, whom he has worked alongside for the better part of a decade, were unwilling to stand by him because he sided with the President ONCE. Kirk dutifully joined the party of NO on the stimulus, badmouthed the President to the Chinese, and voted against the budget.

WASHINGTON — A Democratic official says Sen. Roland Burris will not run for a full Senate term in 2010.

Illinois Sen. Roland Burris (D) will not seek a full term in 2010, according to an informed Democratic strategist, a decision that was all-but-certain given the appointed senator's ties to former governor Rod Blagojevich.

Burris had refused to make any commitment about his future plans until today although his ever-changing story regarding his relationship with the disgraced former governor and his non-existent fundraising during the first three months of the year led savvy strategists to conclude he would not (or could not) run.

The race had passed Burris by with speculation centering on whether or not Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan (D) would run. (She decided against doing so earlier this week.)

State Sen. Kirk Dillard announced his candidacy Wednesday for governor as a top Democratic contender bowed out -- a move which he believes clears the path for a Republican like him to win the post.

Dillard, 54, of Hinsdale, contended he is the best choice for the state's top post, but acknowledged that Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan's decision not to run will make it easier for any Republican to win.

Gov. Pat Quinn has fired a high-ranking employee who oversaw a state board that is the gatekeeper for hospital and other health-care construction projects throughout Illinois.

Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board Executive Secretary Jeffrey Mark was dismissed quietly Tuesday -- the same day the General Assembly and Quinn signed off on a plan to kill the five-member board and replace it with a new nine-member panel.

Mark had been under fire for being the top health-board staffer when one of its former members, Stuart Levine, used his influence to try to get kickbacks on projects the board was reviewing.

In order to address a harmful trend among teenagers, State Rep. Darlene Senger, R-Naperville, has filed legislation to prevent minors from "sexting," a term used to describe text messaging sexual pictures.

House Bill 4583 makes it illegal for a minor under the age of 17 to knowingly disseminate any material that depicts nudity or other sexual conduct. Senger worked with Richard Wistocki of the Naperville Police Department Computer Crimes Unit to craft this legislation.

"In today's technologically-savvy culture, teens are using their cell phones to send sexual pictures without realizing the dangerous consequences, not only to their reputation but also to their future. It's necessary to create legislation that keeps up with the trends of our youth and 'sexting' is one of those trends plaguing our high schools," Senger said in a news release issued this week.

As one of the eight Republicans who helped a controversial energy and climate-change bill narrowly clear the U.S. House last week, Mark Kirk continues to take heat from members of his own party for the vote.

Much of the backlash has been anonymous, coming from critics who habituate dailyherald.com, local political message boards and other Web sites. Using screen names like "Right," "Fedup57" and "Reaganlives," they've called the Highland Park lawmaker a traitor to the GOP and the nation.

Though he's spent the last several months talking about a potential run for Illinois governor, DuPage County State's Attorney Joe Birkett announced online Thursday that he will remain a prosecutor -- and run for Illinois attorney general in 2010.

The announcement marks Birkett's third attempt at statewide office, and his second for attorney general. He lost the attorney general's race in 2002 to then-state Sen. Lisa Madigan. Birkett was Judy Baar Topinka's running mate as lieutenant governor in the 2006 Republican loss to then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

A judge's signature is all that is needed for it to be over.

In a joint statement issued Wednesday afternoon, Councilman Richard Furstenau and the city announced each has signed an agreement settling a civil rights lawsuit the councilman brought against the city.

"We submitted our dismissal papers today, and we're hoping the judge will sign the order," said attorney Terrence Sheahan of the firm Freeborn & Peters, who represents the city in the case.

JOLIET -- Will County Clerk Nancy Schultz Voots announced the updated 2009 Will County Directory is available.  To get a copy, call 815-740-4625 or e-mail coclerk@will countyillinois.com.

The directory includes the names of elected and appointed officials for units of local government that serve Will County, contact information for them and other useful facts.

A hard copy of the directory is published after major elections, but an online version is regularly updated to reflect the most current and accurate information available. To view the latest version of the Will County Directory, visit www.willclrk.com or www.thewill countyclerk.com.

While folks throughout the country are waiting for federal stimulus monies to trickle down, many within Illinois and here locally in Naperville are about to get an economic boost of their own.

Beginning July 1, the minimum wage will increase to $8 an hour.

The raise is part of the Minimum Wage Increase Law which was went into effect July 1, 2007. At the time, the wage was $6.50 an hour. Anjali Julka, a spokesperson for Illinois Department of Labor, told The Sun Monday afternoon that based on studies done by the Economic Policy Institute, nearly 400,000 in Illinois would be affected by the raise, and that contrary to popular opinion, most are adults.

The sputtering drive to come up with a spending plan broke down completely Tuesday night, leaving Illinois to begin a new fiscal year without any plan for paying its employees or delivering government services.

The Legislature adjourned Tuesday night without any firm plans to return or even for the governor and legislative leaders to resume negotiations.

Government won't shut down without a budget in place, but the situation creates uncertainty for anyone who depends on state money: government workers, road crews, community agencies caring for the sick and needy, and more.

Illinois is the "laughingstock of the nation," Bob Schillerstrom says — but he isn't laughing.

Instead, Naperville resident and DuPage County board chairman Schillerstrom announced Sunday his bid for the gubernatorial candidacy in hopes that he can turn Illinois government back into an example for the nation.

State Sen. Chris Lauzen was pretty direct about last week's special session of the Illinois General Assembly: "We didn't do a damn thing," he said.

And he's not much more optimistic about this week.

Noting that it "costs the equivalent of a (teacher's salary) each time we go down there," the Aurora Republican said the Senate passed a few resolutions last week, including one that "reaffirms our ties with Taiwan." But senators did nothing to solve the budget crisis, since the ball is in the House's court.

After a quick rise from political obscurity to campaign-fundraising dynamo, Scott Harper is ready for Round 2 against six-term U.S. Rep. Judy Biggert.

Harper, a Democrat from Lockport, will officially announce today his second attempt to unseat the Hinsdale Republican. After being courted to run again by Maryland Congressman and Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Chris Van Hollen, Harper said the decision to do so was made easier.

"I'm very excited to be working with the DCCC," he said. "We're trying to get our message out and sell our vision, and hopefully they'll be with us every step of the way."

Now that he has some name recognition on the campaign trail, Naperville native Scott Harper wants to claim the 13th Congressional seat for the Democrats.

Harper officially announced Friday that he is running for the 13th Congressional District in 2010, hoping to unseat longtime Congresswoman Judy Biggert, R-Hindsdale.

"I feel like I have vision for a better tomorrow ... and the values to get us there," Harper said by phone Friday.

Cheryl Miller remembers her 5-year-old son Adam as "enthusiastic" -- he could turn heads with his exclamations of "wow!" in public places.

Her 2-year-old son Eli is just as noisy.  "Unfortunately, they got that from their mother," she said.

She has made some noise of her own to get justice for Adam, who was killed last fall in a crash caused by a distracted driver. She's also working to get Illinois to create stiffer penalties for driving while distracted.

JOLIET -- Amendments to a Will County ordinance make it easier for subdivision developers to use conservation design, which preserves an area's natural resources.

On Thursday, the county board approved the amendments, which were proposed by Tom Weigel, R-New Lenox, chairman of the board's land use and development committee.

The amendments do not mandate conservation design. However, the revised text makes conservation design a permitted, "by-right" use in certain residential zoning districts.

JOLIET -- Will County Treasurer Pat McGuire isn't fazed when angry taxpayers call him "head crook" or "parasite" when they mail in their tax payments.

Those are just a few of the missives flung his way since the first installment of property taxes were due June 1.

It's all part of the job of being treasurer, he said Wednesday at a Joliet Chamber of Commerce luncheon at Republic Banquet Hall.

One of two Naperville middle-school boys accused of sexually assaulting a classmate pleaded guilty Tuesday to aggravated battery, a Class 3 felony.

According to Charles Pelkie, the Will County state's attorney's director of public affairs, the 12-year-old boy was sentenced to four years of probation following a Nov. 11 incident in which he and another boy, 11, were accused of sexually assaulting an 11-year-old classmate in a home on Naperville's south side.

All three boys involved in the incident attended Indian Prairie School District 204's Gregory Middle School at the time.

Kathy Birkett sees "great healing times ahead" for Indian Prairie School District 204.

"I think we are just heading onto the other side of the mountain with what we've been through as a district," she said. "I know this community pretty well, and I know the quality of this community — this is a quality community, and I can't say that enough. This is a quality community that really cares about kids, and I think we can get to the other side of that mountain — and move mountains — with everybody moving in the right direction."

JOLIET — Survey says ... the union wants to know.

An attorney for the union representing the Will County police lieutenants and sergeants is suing Sheriff Paul Kaupas to turn over the full results of a survey given to department employees last year.

Between February and April 2008, employees were asked to answer 104 questions online about the sheriff's office.

"Deputies, correctional officers and civilian employees were asked to participate for 'the betterment of the department,'" Sgt. Mike Homberg, president of the Metropolitan Alliance of Police 123 said. "They were asked for an evaluation of the department's policies, supervision, discipline and training."

Residents in Naperville's southwest corner soon will be able to sleep a little easier knowing firefighters are nearby if the need arises.

The city broke ground Tuesday on its 10th fire station. Located on 95th Street just west of Route 59, the $2.4 million facility is scheduled to open in late fall.

Watch:

Paging Sean Hannity...