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CHICAGOLAND 4 CHICAGO Your site for breaking news important to Chicago, from the Chicago Tribune, WGN TV and radio and CLTV. Headlines you could have read 12:36 p.m. City gets more time to privatize Midway 2:07 p.m. Ricketts defends Toyota sign at Wrigley 7:34 p.m. Two arrested in beating death of 5-year-old CHICAGOBREAKINGNEWS.COM Defense lawyers for former Gov.

Rod Blagojevich who hoped to drag President Barack Obama into their corruption trial this summer were rejected Friday by the judge overseeing the case. U.S. District Judge James Zagel said the defense motion seeking to subpoena the president fell of demonstrating the need to have him testify or submit to attorney questions regarding charges that Blagojevich sought to sell the U.S. Senate seat left once held by Obama. Zagel did not completely shut the door on Obama testimony, however, telling the lawyers in the case he would see how the trial unfolds and could reconsider if something specific arises that the president can address.

The defense contended that Obama could shed light on any role his emissaries played as Blagojevich sought to fill the seat. Blagojevich allegedly met with a union official about getting something from the Obama administration in exchange for nominating Obama friend Valerie Jarrett to the seat. The union leader, previously identified as Tom Balanoff, head of the Service Employees International Unionin Illinois, appar- ently was to act as a messenger between Blagojevich and Obama, and the defense had sought to explore that idea with Obama. But Zagel ruled it matter what role Balanoff did or play for the White House. only material aspect is what the defendant Zagel said, not what the role was in reality.

After court, defense attorney Sheldon Soroskysaid Obama still could be called to answer allegations leveled by one-time Blagojevich fundraiser and adviser Antoin Rezko, who was convicted in his own corruption case in 2008 and has been providing information to the government. The defense motion seeking testimony got widespread attention last week when a computer glitch caused sensitive, blacked-out portions of it to be revealed publicly. The filing stated Rezko had told authorities he once acted as a go-between for Obama and a lobbyist who offered to hold a fundraiser in exchange for support of gambling legislation. Sorosky saidObama would have nothing to lose by testifying. would help his The White House will not to deputy press secretary Bill Burtonsaid.

Also Friday, a former chief of staff for Blagojevich who is expected to be a key witness at the trial entered a new guilty plea in the case. Alonzo Monk, 51, who originally pleaded guilty in October 2009, pleaded guilty to a February supersedingindict- ment designed to head off any issues if the Supreme Court limits the fraud law prosecutors have relied on. renewed plea and agreement to testify were necessary before the trial. Monk is expected to testify he was part of a scheme with Blagojevich and other close allies to make money by leveraging the powers. Judge: No Obama testimony Blagojevich team failed to show need, court says By Jeff Coen TRIBUNE REPORTER only material aspect is what the defendant U.S.

District Judge James Zagel Wrestling with the issue of how to celebrate cultural pride during atime of sorrow, organizers of Polish Constitution Day Parade found the appropriate answer in music. times of trouble, Polish people turn to said Anna organizer of the event. After president, Lech Kaczynski, their intended guest of honor, was killed in an airplane crash, Sobor and colleagues sent participants an SOS: encourage all marching units, musical groups and floats to utilize music when Afloat sponsored by the Polish Museum of Americawill have a piano symbolizing the accomplishments of Frederic Chopin, the celebrated 19th century composer. A papier-mache piano, it can only be mimed, not played. The music will come from a boom box.

But it will bathe the myriad parade watchers expected to gather along Columbus Driveat 11:30 a.m. with haunting melodies from which Poles traditionally have drawn comfort. The float will play a recording of the Chicago president, Maria Hitler invaded Poland in 1939, Warsaw radio played that piece over and over, until the city Ciesla said. The constitution celebrated by parade, the 119th to be mounted in Chicago, was written in 1791.Poland’s neighbors, fearing a demand for constitutional rights could spread to their subjects, shortly afterward divided Poland between them. Poles have often found themselves exiles in their own homeland, Ciesla said.

Germany, one of the nations to divide Poland, was determined to wipe out Polish culture. Otto von Bismarck, the German chancellor, intended to wean Polish subjects from their beloved Catholic Church. Chopin, who lived as an expatriate in France, captured that sense of cultural loss, Ciesla said. expressed the Slavic soul in everything he she said. longing for a homeland, there in every Many Poles chose physical exile as a way to preserve their heritage, Ciesla said.

Besides poverty, the desire for cultural freedom brought tens of thousands of Poles to Chicago. Sobor said that listening to float after float playing bittersweet tunes will remind her that tragedies have eventually been followed by joy. Art Institute Buckingham Fountain GRANT PARK BALBO JACKSON LAKESHORE DRIVE Start of parade COLUMBUS DRIVE CONGRESS Saturday on Chicago streets 1 119th Chicago Polish Constitution Day Parade When: 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Details: About 150,000 participants and 119 parade units expected for the acelebration.

2 May Day rally and march for immigration reform When: Union Park rally begins at 1 p.m., with march to Daley Plaza at 3 p.m. and program at 4 p.m. Details: Thousands expected to march for immigration reform. 1 MILE WASHINGTON ST. 3 p.m.: March starts 94 290 41 4 p.m.: March ends at Daley Plaza MILE TRIBUNE SOURCES: Tribune reporting, ESRI, TeleAtlas 2 Poles to celebrate, mourn in parade By Ron Grossman TRIBUNE REPORTER board of directors put the longtime chief executive on administrative leave with full payon Friday and named a special counsel to investigate allegations of official against him.

Meeting in emergency session, the directors hired prominent DuPage Countyattorney James Sotosto conduct an inquiry into Executive Director Phil actions. The probe was prompted by an allegation that Pagano received an unapproved on top of his salary. But Sotos and Metra Chairwoman Carole Dorisindicated that the investigation would run deeper. received additional information which raised the possibility of more serious official misconduct and the possibility of violations of the public Sotos said. Sotos and Doris said the inquiry would be the first step in determining if any impropriety occurred and whether the mat- ter should be turned over to authorities for possible prosecution.

Doris said unspecified agency procedures and policies might have been violated. Doris called the turn of events occasion for Pagano, 60, has run the agency for 20years. He left offices without comment after attending a closed meeting with the directors. Pagano has not been allowed in his office since Tuesday. Metra also named the longtime director of operations, Bill Tupper, as acting executive director.

Metra boss suspended during inquiry By Richard Wronski TRIBUNE REPORTER Pagano On the last day she was seen alive, Lisa RuttenbergStebic mailed a birthday card to her grandfather, who was about to turn 93, her cousin said. The gesture showed just how attentive the mother of two was to her family, how much she loved her grandparents and why after three years with no word from her, her friends and family believe she is no longer alive. only conclusion that we can come to is that Lisa was the victim of foul said Melanie Greenberg, cousin. person who wanted Lisa to go missing wanted to erase Stebic was last seen on April 30, 2007, at her house in Plainfield, Greenberg said. Hoping to bring some closure to her case, the Crimes Task Force will join the investigation into her disappearance, authorities announced Friday.

The case will be examined by more than 80 new detectives who can bring a fresh perspective to the evidence, said Plainfield Police Chief William Doster. Doster said he decided to ask for the task help about three months ago, shortly after he took over the force. investigation was very well done by my he said. never hurts to have fresh The day she disappeared, Stebic mailed a card to her grandfather. She also mailed eviction papers so the courts would prompt her husband, CraigStebic, to move out of their home, Greenberg said.

That night, Craig Stebic said he was working in the yard, their two children had gone to the store for candy, and Lisa Stebic vanished. Craig Stebic remains a of said Will County Attorney James Glasgow, but the task force may find leads that point in different directions. been quiet. been told the case is said Laurrie Bingenheimer, Lisa neighbor and friend. more hopeful now that get some Melanie Greenbergholds a photo of her missing cousin, Lisa Stebic, on Friday.

Stebic vanished in 2007. DAVID PHOTO 3years later, task force to join Stebic probe By Lolly Bowean TRIBUNE REPORTER Relatives and priests gathered Friday night around the hospital bed of Natasha McShane, who lay unconscious after being struck by a robber with a baseball bat last week, a family lawyer said. Astudent from Northern Ireland who was finishing her degree at the University of Illinois at Chicago, McShane remained in a drug-induced coma at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, said attorney John Colbert. Her parents, Liam and Sheila McShane, and an aunt prayed with clergy from local churches, he said. are cautiously optimistic, however nothing concrete and it can be two steps forward and one step back at the Colbert said.

McShane, 23, and her friend Stacy Starl Jurich, 24, were attacked in the Bucktown neighborhood on April 23. Speaking from her home in Northern Ireland, grandmother Bernidette McShane said family has been a constant presence at her bedsidesince they arrived a week ago. been very stressful for them; very heartbreaking for McShane said. Aman and a woman have been charged. Sadovi Bedside vigil for bat attack victim Chicago police officers greet Officer Pedro Medinaas he returns home Friday from a deployment to Afghanistan.

Medina, who is in the Illinois National Guard and was injured while serving in southeastern Afghanistan, will lead the Police Memorial Run to Remember on Saturday. ABEL PHOTO Homecoming, a long time coming Product: CTBroadsheet PubDate: 05-01-2010 Zone: ALL Edition: HD Page: MAINCHILAND1-4 User: jcrutchmer Time: Color:.