Chicago Tribune from Chicago, Illinois • Page 2-3

123456 TRIBUNE 3 METRO REGION STATE METROPOLITAN DIGEST ACook County judge is expected to start a manual recount Thursday of 650 disputed ballots in the 78th House District primary race between Democrats Deborah Graham of Chicago and Dorothy Reid of Oak Park. The March contest ended in a tie, and last month the Illinois Appellate Court stopped a previously ordered revote, ordering a circuit judge to recount the disputed ballots. Attorneys have placed those ballots in numbered envelopes for presentation to Judge Raymond Jagielski. Approximately 400 of the disputed ballots are grouped in two categories, with roughly half previously deemed spoiled and the other half with scribbled signatures by election judges, said Mathias Delort, attorney. The remaining ballots contain a variety of problems, including hanging chads, made famous in the 2000 presidential recount.

The judge set aside Thursday, Friday and Tuesday for the recount, but that necessarily resolve the dispute. Delort said he will pursue allegations of vote fraud if the decision causes his candidate to fall behind in the count. Graham, who favored a re- vote, and Reid could also appeal ruling to the Appellate Court and Illinois Supreme Court. COOK COUNTY Judge to begin recounting votes in disputed primary A Chicago-bound Metra train derailed Tuesday morning in the Harvard train yard before any passengers boarded for the 6:22 a.m. departure.

Three trains stuck behind it were canceled. Metra is investigating the derailment on the Union Pacific Northwest line. A couple of the wheels slipped off the track, a spokeswoman said. Trains set to leave Crystal Lake at 7 a.m., Harvard at 7:35 a.m. and McHenry at 7:36 a.m.

were canceled. A train set to leave Barrington at 7:47 a.m. was delayed. Metra sent two other trains to pick up passengers affected by the cancellations. HARVARD Empty Metra train derails, slows travel For the fifth year in a row, North Chicago students have improved their scores on many of the standardized achievement tests, winning praise for a district known for low scores and poverty.

In 20 of the 47 tests in math, reading and other categories administered to North Chicago School District 187 students in 3rd, 5th, 8th and 11th grades last school year, the percentage of students who met or exceeded state standards increased. In 22 of the tests, which included the elementary level Illinois Standards Achievement Test and the high school level Prairie State Achievement Examination, more than half of the students met or exceeded state standards. For a district where 66 percent of the students come from low-income households, many regard the steady academic climb as remarkable. created an atmosphere where teachers, parents and administrators all believe these kids can achieve. It sounds simplistic, but hard to said Glenn McGee, a former state education superintendent.

NORTH CHICAGO School scores up 5 years in row A federal appeals courtTues- day revived a lawsuit that challenges the right of Illinois counties to impose administrative fees onthose who post bond to get out of jail. At least 19 counties charge a bail from $1to bond is posted. The fee is in addition to whatever bond is set by a judge. In 1999, six people arrested in Kane and DuPage Counties filed suit inU.S. District Court in Chicago, arguing that the fees violated their constitutional right to due process and to be free from excessive bail.

U.S. District Judge Elaine Bucklo dismissed the lawsuit in December 2000. ButTuesday, a three-judge panel of the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reinstated the suit. Bucklo ruled that the plaintiffs suffered no specific injury that the court could compensate.

But appeals Judge Diane Wood concluded that the plaintiffs were forced to pay the fee to get out of jail and had no opportunity for a hearing to contest the fee. CHICAGO Lawsuit challenging bail fees is back on Associated Press Thirty beachgoers formed a human chain to help authorities recover two Chicago men who drowned in Lake Michigan while attending a Labor Day gathering. The Coast Guard identified the victims as Jorge Merin, 22, and Jose Rojas, 28. They were visiting Michigan Washington Park beach for a holiday gathering given by the owner of the Chicago restaurant for which they worked, authorities said. Lifeguards alerted the Coast Guard that the men were missing at about 3 p.m.

Both swimmers were recovered a short while later just off a grassy beach area about a half-mile east of the Michigan City harbor. Merin was found shortly after 3:30 p.m. and taken to St. Anthony Memorial Health Centers, where he was pronounced dead. Rojas was located shortly before 5 p.m.

and pronounced dead at the scene, according to LaPorte County authorities. The men were standing in chest-deep water when two large waves hit them and knocked them into a trough, said Indiana Department of Natural Resources spokesman Gene Davis. MICHIGAN CITY, IND. 2 men drown at holiday beach outing DES PLAINES Tribune photo by Stacey Wescott Workers walk out Carmen Mendez (left), who has worked at Juno Lighting for 23 years, is among strikers picketing Tuesday outside the company factory. The cost of health insurance is a major issue.

By John McCormick and David Mendell Tribune staff reporters The Illinois Republican Party chairman said Tuesday he will file a complaint with the State Board of Elections against Democratic attorney general candidate Lisa Madigan over $50,000 in contributions she accepted from the sons of a Cook County judge seeking campaign help from her father. is the origin of this asked Gary MacDougal, the Republican chairman. we have money laundering The Tribune reported Sunday that Lisa Madigan received a total of $50,000 last year from David and Andrew Harris, whose father, appointed Cook County Judge Sheldon Harris, was seeking nomination in the March primary to a full term on the bench. The contributions came before and after their father re- ceived the endorsement of the Cook County Democratic organization, in which Michael Madigan, the powerful House speaker and state Democratic chairman, carries considerable influence. Sheldon Harris also was one of only three judges statewide to receive staff help from the state Democratic Party.

Despite the assistance, he finished second in a four-way primary contest. Sheldon Harris has denied playing any role in his contributions. After the Tribune disclosed that heavy metal bands Andrew Harris has launched and performed with promoted hatred, Lisa campaign said Sunday it will donate the $25,000 she received from him to anti- hate organizations. State law says candidates cannot any anonymous contribution or contribution made by one person in the name of another Speaking hypothetically, Al Zimmer, the state election lawyer, explained the contribution law this way: I say to my sons that I support a candidateand I want you to support a candidate, and going to reimburse you, Zimmer said. reimburse someone for making a contribution in a Lisa campaign said it has done nothing wrong and denied it accepted political money from the judge through his sons.

Mike Noonan, Lisa campaign manager, pointed to campaign contributions Republican attorney general candidate Joe Birkett has received from attorneys who practice in DuPage County where he is the attorney. receives hundreds of thousands of dollars in cam- paign contributions and loans from defense attorneys who sit across the table from him and receive favorable plea bargains for their Noonan said. Birkett has denied any link between donations and plea agreements with his office. Meanwhile, the campaign of Republican candidate for governor Jim Ryan issued an unusual plea to media outlets after internal polling and a recent Tribune poll showed some voter confusion between Jim Ryan, the attorney general, and George Ryan, the troubled current governor. In letters to newspaper editors across the state, Jim campaign spokesman Dan Curry asked if they could use initials or full names in headlines and graphics distinguish between Gov.

Ryan and Atty. Gen. CAMPAIGN 2002 GOP seeking probe of cash for Madigan Tribune photos by Chuck Berman Gary MacDougal confers with GOP communications chief Terri Hickey after saying he will file a complaint with the state. bruises, but the carriage ran over Craig after he was thrown from his seat, according to newspaper articles. man who was killed was one of whom I was fond and whom I greatly prized for his loyalty and Roosevelt was quoted as saying.

William Craig, who stood 6 foot 4 and weighed 260 pounds, was born in November 1855 in Scotland. After 12 years in the British military and eight years operating the army gymnasium, Craig By Ofelia Casillas Tribune staff reporter William cemetery marker had stood unnoticed for years, hidden behind bushes and facing a concrete wall topped with barbed wire. His name had been blurred after a century. But anonymity ended Tuesday with a cemetery procession of bagpipes and drums, along with a crowd of police, Secret Service officials and family, who honored the first Secret Service agent to die while protecting a United States president. one of those things you prepare for your entire reflected Tim McCarthy, Orland police chief.

In 1981 McCarthy, then a Secret Service agent, was shot in the chest during an assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan. Craig was probably a humble McCarthy said. say making too much of a fuss over Atask force of Chicago-based agents and city police officers searched for months through death certificates and newspaper articles to uncover history. They then notified his family and revamped his grave- site at Oak Woods Cemetery on the South Side with a marker listing Tuesday as the 100th anniversary of his death. was a true Chicago Police Supt.

Terry Hillard said. like this be Arnette F. Heintze, special agent in charge of the Secret Chicago office, began the search when he found century- old notes that told of death, the first of 34 agents to die in the line of duty. On Sept. 3, 1902, Craig was killed near Lenox, when a speeding trolley car rammed into the open-air horse carriage in which he rode alongside President Theodore Roosevelt.

The president suffered cuts and was honorably discharged and came to South Side at age 38. He taught fencing and boxing to young people. Craig entered the Secret Service in 1900. Formed in 1865 to battle counterfeiters, the Secret Service was given the task of guarding U.S. presidents in 1901, after the assassination that year of President William McKinley.

In October 1901, Craig was asked to join the guard. At first, Roosevelt resented the idea of having the operative so close but later became accustomed to his Retired Chicago police Sgt. Frank Jasch helped compile a file three inches thick with life stories. such an said Roy Craig a Minneapolis bank worker, of the memorial to his great-uncle. He added that his great-uncle should serve as an example of an immigrant who made the ultimate sacrifice for his adopted country.

Tribune staff reporter Shia Kapos contributed to this report. Tribune photo by Charles Osgood Retired Secret Service agent William Thiel views the new marker for William Craig, an agent who died 100 years ago Tuesday in a traffic accident while guarding President Theodore Roosevelt. Forgotten hero gets due after a century Agent died while guarding Roosevelt By Matthew Walberg Tribune staff reporter Chicago Cubs slugger Sammy Sosa traded his bat for a pair of scissors Tuesday at a ceremony opening a new Little League ballpark named in his honor on the Near North Side. Sammy Inspiration Field, a miniature replica of Wrigley Field complete with red-brick walls and bright red marquee, is part of Cubs Care Park, which was funded by Cubs Care, the charitable arm of the ballclub. an honor to have a field like that in my Sosa said at the ribbon cutting.

never had opportunities like this when I was a little kid to play in a ball park like Being here today, and to see this beautiful incarnation of Sammy Field, it makes me very proud. in the future a couple of Sammy Sosas will come off this Sosa said. Cubs Care announced a $1 million commitment to the New City YMCA to build the park at 1515 N. Halsted St. in order to bolster the recreational sports programs for youth on the Near North Side.

A $75,000 donation from the Major Leaque Baseball Players Association helped pay for the lighted ballfield with permanent grandstands. want to say to Andy MacPhail, that when we make the schedule for next year, maybe we could make the schedule here in my park so we can play some more night Sosa joked. The Cubs are owned by Tribune which also owns the Chicago Tribune. Wrigley replica ready for future Sammy Sosas.