The Susan G. Komen for the Cure breast-cancer charity on Friday abandoned plans to eliminate grants to Planned Parenthood. The startling decision came after three days of virulent criticism that resounded across the Internet, jeopardizing Komen’s iconic image.

“We want to apologize to the American public for recent decisions that cast doubt upon our commitment to our mission of saving women’s lives,” a Komen statement said.

All three Democratic candidates for state representative in the 84th District say they disagree with House Speaker Michael Madigan’s recent proposal suggesting school districts should contribute to funding teacher pensions.

Where Alex Arroyo, Carole Cheney and Stephanie Kifowit differ is in their reasons for opposing the proposal and their ideas for improving the teacher pension situation.

Congresswoman Judy Biggert learned Thursday she’s the lone Republican running in the 11th Congressional District and, given campaign finance reports, that may have been the case all along.

She’ll face a stiffer challenge in November when her Democratic opponent will almost surely have shown better fundraising acumen than her one-time GOP opponents.

Biggert was the only one of three Republicans to report any money raised or spent in the most recent filing period. Both Jack Cunningham and Diane Harris — who were booted from the ballot because of flawed nominating petitions — had not reported any contributions.

Longtime U.S. Rep. Judy Biggert now faces an uncontested primary election in March after the Illinois State Board of Elections kicked both of her opponents off the ballot.

In the 11th District, where Biggert is now the lone Republican contender, the board voted unanimously today to remove Diane Harris of Joliet from the March 20 primary ballot for not having the 600 valid petition signatures she needed to be a candidate.

The case of Kane County Clerk Jack Cunningham was far more complex, requiring a lengthy argument between attorneys over whether his petitions were notarized correctly and whether a man who gathered petitions for Cunningham got his address wrong in the paperwork.

 In the Democratic primary race for the state’s new 84th House District seat, Carole Cheney has a fundraising advantage over her two opponents.

According to campaign records filed with the Illinois State Board of Elections, Cheney brought in $32,858 in the last three months of 2011. Her fundraising total leads fellow Democratic candidates Stephanie Kifowit, who collected $12,760, and Alex Arroyo, who received $2,930 in the same time span.

 No one can say that Naperville Smart Meter Awareness lacks persistence.

The group’s lawyer filed a motion Friday for an expedited appeal of DuPage Judge Bonnie Wheaton’s Jan. 24 decision that will keep a non-binding referendum on the Smart Grid project in Naperville off the spring ballot.

The question would ask Naperville residents if they favored halting the $22 million project, which involves installing smart meters in 57,000 homes and businesses around the city.

 State Sen. A.J. Wilhelmi will be stepping down from his seat in the Legislature in March to take a new job with the Naperville-based Illinois Hospital Association.

“I really enjoyed being in the Senate for seven years,” the Joliet Democrat said Saturday. “It has been just a tremendous experience.”

Wilhelmi said he wants to spend more time with his three young daughters, ages 11, 6 and 3.

 The Will County Land Use Department has been recognized nationally for its efforts in bringing government to the people and enhancing the transparency of its operations. The Department was notified it had won the American Society for Public Administration’s 2012 Public Integrity Award, which will be presented March 6 during the ASPA awards ceremony in Las Vegas. 

“This is a very important achievement,” said Will County Executive Larry Walsh. “Land Use Director Curt Paddock, and his staff have worked very hard to bring transparency, commitment and caring to all that they do for the citizens of Will County. This is something we expect of all our departments and I applaud these public servants for raising the bar of expectations of what is now the standard for WillCounty.”

The deadline to register to vote in the March 20 primary election is Feb. 21, Will County Clerk Nancy Schultz Voots said.

Two forms of identification are required – one with a current name and address and a second one that shows a name.

Currently, registered voters do not need to re-register unless they have changed their name or address. Voters who have moved can complete the back portion of the voter card and return to the Will County Clerk’s office or email the new address tovoterregistration@willcountyillinois.com.

Abortions reported in Illinois reached a 37-year low in 2010, a drop that abortion opponents attributed to more women shying away from the procedure while abortion-rights supporters pointed to an uptick in use of contraceptives.

In 2010, there were 41,859 abortions in Illinois, according to recently published data from the state Department of Public Health .

That’s the lowest total since 1973, when Illinois recorded 32,760 abortions. That’s the year the procedure was legalized in the United States in the landmark Roe vs. Wade decision by the U.S. Supreme Court.

The Illinois Supreme Court will open up trial courts to cameras, handing news broadcasters a major victory in a 29-year battle to bring high-profile trials to the masses.

“The Supreme Court plans an announcement [Tuesday] dealing with cameras in the courtroom on an experimental basis,” said Joseph Tybor, a spokesman for the state’s high court.

The matter has been a high priority for Chief Justice Thomas Kilbride, who has pushed the issue during his stint heading the seven-member court.

Will County Clerk Nancy Schultz Voots released information this week on how area voters can cast a ballot early in the upcoming March primary.

Early voting is available beginning Feb. 27 through March 15 for any registered voter in Will County.

According to the clerk's Web site, state law requires that a registered voter show valid photo identification before voting early. Voters casting an early ballot must display a current driver’s license, a state-issued ID card or another government-issued ID with a photograph.

 We may never be able to capture the sun nor harness the wind, but we’ve come lots closer to being readily able to tap some of the energy borne by both forces of nature.

DuPage County’s ninth annual environmental summit spotlighted renewable energy systems that can be put in place on a family-sized scale. The event at Benedictine University in Lisle on Wednesday drew about 250 participants interested in learning more about renewable energy writ small.

“We exceeded our expectations. It was our biggest and the best,” said Marie Piraino, a member of the county Environmental Commission, one of the summit’s co-organizers and primary sponsors.

 JOLIET, IL- Will County Auditor Duffy Blackburn, a Certified Public Accountant in his first term in office, announced today that he has been awarded County Auditor of the Year by the Illinois Association of County Auditors.

The placard hanging in the front hall of the Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans quotes Franklin D. Roosevelt:

“A man who is good enough to shed his blood for his country is good enough to be given a square deal afterwards.”

Tucked onto a quiet residential street just a block or two from Wheaton’s retail core, the house is run by people who try to provide a square deal to people who come back from military service and need help finding their way home.

 The first snowstorm of the year couldn’t stop Wheatland Township residents from attending the township’s monthly meeting.

And it couldn’t cool off the discussion once the topic turned to the budget and previous plans to build a new township building.

Resident Mike Crockett began addressing the issue during public comment, but was cut off by Supervisor Todd Morse on the grounds that the topic of the budget wasn’t on the agenda.

Feb. 21 is the last day to register if you wish to vote in the March 20 primary election, Will County Clerk Nancy Schultz Voots announced.

The clerk’s office, at 302 N. Chicago St., is open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays.

The office will remain open until 6 p.m. Feb. 21 to accommodate those who cannot come in during regular business hours. The office will be closed Jan. 16, Martin Luther King Jr. Day.