Though Judge Vincent Gaughan's eleven-page decorum order details dozens of don'ts for we the mischievous media, I can't find anything in there about donuts. But that didn"t stop one sheriff's deputy from threatening WJMK's Brendan Greeley with the revocation of his court credentials, after what was intended as only a "kind gesture" by the young reporter early this morning.

Here's how it all went down.

This sad saga started yesterday when one deputy was kind enough to alert Greeley of R Kelly's imminent arrival. Greeley, who works for the Steve Dahl show, told his boss how nice everyone here at "two six" was treating the press.

Dahl suggested that, as a thank you, he should bring Dunkin' Donuts to the deputies today.

"So we sent over a cute intern," Greeley recounted, "with about two dozen....glazed, chocolate, powdered, and peanut."

Sounds like a nice mix, right?

Not so fast.

When Greeley offered them to those working outside of this jailhouse of a courtroom, only one employee took him up on the breakfast treat.

Another responded with this: "You're distracting the officers. This is your warning. Next time you'll get your credentials taken away."

Word in the courthouse corridors is that someone in the higher-ups (Sheriff Tom Dart perhaps?) heard the banter during the morning drive over the airwaves, and wanted to squash the possibility of any stunts.

Looks like there could be a "hole" in the reasoning.

Randi Belisomo, CLTV reporter at the R. Kelly Trial

Add shoes to the list of things that will soon cost more.

The Wall Street Journal reports the combination of higher production costs in China (85% of shoes sold in the U.S. come from there), higher gas prices and the weak U.S. dollar are to blame.

One analyst estimates we will be paying 10% to 15% more for shoes in the coming year.

This hurts! Buying shoes are my escape. There’s nothing like a nice pair of leather pumps or strappy sandals or 3” heels to make you feel better. Buying shoes is one of my few stress relievers that doesn’t make me feel guilty afterwards, like eating and drinking.

By my count, we are now paying more for gas, food, airline tickets, prescription drugs and property & sales taxes. Not to mention most people can’t get mortgages because of the credit crunch created by the housing mess.

Hopefully the old adage of “what goes up must come down” applies here. If not, what’s next?

No one believed it would be easy, but the logistics of covering this trial are sending some reporters over the edge.

"It's simply maddening," said ABC 7's Sarah Schulte of Judge Vincent Gaughan's eleven page court order, one we the media signed off on - promising to behave. He's long known this trial could spiral into a media circus, and he's determined to control the chaos.

What does that mean for me? Lots.

Let's start from the beginning.

Walking into the courtroom after two rounds of security checks, I carry only four pens and two pads of paper. Where you ask, is the TV reporter's requisite kit of blackberry, brush, lipstick and liner? Packed by the pound in my oversized purse, stuffed as discreetly as possible under the passenger seat of my car.

Nothing- not even a jacket is allowed into the iceberg that is Courtroom 500, a manifestation of Cook County's storied waste in its overpowering use of air conditioning on a morning where temperatures hovered in the 40s.

"Sit up straight! No leaning!" admonishes a sheriff's deputy to a colleague slouched in our church-like bench. I've been more comfortable in a pew while attending High Mass in Vatican City. At least at St. Peter's, you're allowed a trip to the restroom. No such luxury here, where those visits are confined to our lunchbreak, 20 minutes in all.

That leaves little time to sprint to my sport utility vehicle, in which I rise to Olympic status with my speed in scarfing down a turkey sandwich.

Back to court, back to the rules

Randi Belisomo, CLTV reporter at the R. Kelly trial

Get a dose of Chicago MMA on CLTV. Combatwire launched last week to rave reviews. Don't miss any of the action as Felice and Jim take you through the world of MMA in Chicagoland. Watch the show every Tuesday and Friday nights at 10pm and midnight ONLY on CLTV.

Want to learn more about Jim, Felice, or any of the stories you see in the show? Go to combatwire.com for news, behind the scenes photos, and video clips.

As always, if you have something to say about the show, we want to hear it! Just make sure you keep it clean or you won't see your opinions in print.

Now, for the good stuff! Watch the video below and see Felice Herrig challenge Gideon Ray to a dance-off.

Defense attorney Eddie Genson may be crying foul over the loss of potential African-American jurors in this child pornography trial, but two of the three still standing after Monday's questioning are black.

When Judge Vincent Gaughan failed to complete the questioning of all 20 potential jurors called in today, he dismissed the four who remained....two of whom were African-American. He promised to call them back only if the remainder of the 150- person pool was exhausted.

Being cooped up in a courtroom can offer the best opportunity for people-watching. Here's who was seated at the end of the day:

1) A 30ish white male and father of two, who holds an office job in the executive ranks. He listens to NPR and reads the Chicago Tribune, while his wife enjoys US Weekly. He says he believes the justice system can be biased against minorities, but looked Kelly in the eye to promise he could give him a fair trial. He told Judge Gaughan he believes child pornography is "as low as it can get," to which Gaughan replied that no one here condones such action.

2) A 50ish black female who hails from Olympia Fields, Kelly's hometown. She says she hasn't heard much about the case, but has seen it in the newspapers. She's married to a pastor, who is also the president of a national Baptist organization. Though one member of her congregation has been convicted of murder, she says the judicial system is "fair in most instances." She promised Gaughan she would judge by the laws of man, not by the laws of God.

3) A 50ish black male, who works in telecommunications and reads the Chicago Tribune and CNN online daily. He describes himself as religious and attends the Christian Life Center. His opinion on porn he summed up with the following: "I'm a Christian. I don't like going into 7-11 and seeing it." He has heard of Barry Hankerson, Kelly's former manager, but says he knows little of the R & B singer's reputation. He does say he has heard of his 1996 hit, "I Believe I Can Fly."

Now they just need to decide on nine more plus four alternates. Watch here for more updates.

Randi Belisomo, CLTV reporter

Potential jurors in the R Kelly kiddie porn trial should prepare for some uncomfortable questions today, as the first round of jury selection begins.

They'll likely be prodded about their views on pornography, and whether they've been or if they know victims of a sex crime.

Judge Vincent Gaughan hopes to get through the 150 possibles at a rate of 20 per day until 12 are seated and four are picked as alternates.

Simply put, this may take awhile........as has seemingly every aspect of the six-year old case.

Experts say prosecutors are looking for "law and order" types, those who believe in the rules and that everyone should follow them. As for the defense, they may be seeking a diverse bunch, folks of various personalities who can't agree enough to render a guilty verdict.

During this part of the proceedings, Judge Gaughan is keeping the media as minimal a presence as possible. Two pool reporters are allowed to observe- one local, one national. Yours truly will be alternating with others, sharing notes and observations.

Randi Belisomo, CLTV reporter

Finally, after six years, Robert Kelly gets his day in court. Here's video of him walking into the Criminal Courts building at 26th and California about 9:45am this morning:

Check back at cltv.com throughout the day for updated video of his trial. We'll be covering all the twists and turns now that the way has been cleared for jury selection to begin.

Cook County Circuit Court Judge Vincent Gaughan today denied a defense motion to again delay the trial in which the R&B superstar is accused of having sex with a girl as young as 13 on videotape.

Here are two stories on R. Kelly by CLTV's Randi Belisomo. The first one is on the legal challenges facing the prosecution and defense, the second is on his career since his indictment:

For an updated photo gallery, check out http://chicagotribune.com/rkelly

If you haven't heard the news yet, today is my last broadcast. I'm leaving the windy city for the Queen of the Orient.. The Paris of the East.. Better known as Shanghai China.

My husband has been offered a huge opportunity within his company so we (including Jack!) are relocating to China at the end of this month. There are lots of exciting and slightly scary adventures ahead of us but I will truely miss Chicagoland.

I came to CLTV about 3 and a half years ago and it has been a fantastic journey. Between this station and our sister station WGN, I have been privileged to cover some major Chicago news events and it has been a difficult decision for me to leave it.

I want to thank all of our viewers for tuning in to watch over the years, and hope you continue to do so. CLTV is a great place for news whenever you need it and I think great things are on the horizon.
I will miss everyone, but I hope you see me.. and I see you again in the not so distant future.

Good luck to all.. and stay safe.

Amy Rutledge

It’s the story that won’t go away. Everyday the Barack Obama/Rev. Jeremiah Wright story “grows new legs.” And today is no different.

One lingering and largely unanswered question that looms seems to have finally been answered. Why did Oprah Winfrey leave Trinity United Church of Christ? It’s been widely reported that Oprah was uncomfortable with Rev. Wright’s “hate-filled” message.

Newsweek Magazine reports it’s not that simple.

According to two sources, Winfrey was never comfortable with the tone of Wright's more incendiary sermons, which she knew had the power to damage her standing as America's favorite daytime talk-show host. "Oprah is a businesswoman, first and foremost," said one longtime friend, who requested anonymity when discussing Winfrey's personal sentiments. "She's always been aware that her audience is very mainstream, and doing anything to offend them just wouldn't be smart. She's been around black churches all her life, so Reverend Wright's anger-filled message didn't surprise her. But it just wasn't what she was looking for in a church." Oprah's decision to distance herself came as a surprise to Wright, who told Christianity Today in 2002 that when he would "run into her socially … she would say, 'Here's my pastor!' " (Winfrey declined to comment. A Harpo Productions spokesperson would not confirm her reasons for leaving the church.)

The other reason for her leaving should come as no surprise to Oprah fans.

But Winfrey also had spiritual reasons for the parting. In conversations at the time with a former business associate, who also asked for anonymity, Winfrey cited her fatigue with organized religion and a desire to be involved with a more inclusive ministry. In time, she found one: her own. "There is the Church of Oprah now," said her longtime friend, with a laugh. "She has her own following."

Of course it’s important to point out this is not coming directly from Ms. Winfrey. But if the “sources” are to be believed, political correctness played the biggest role in her leaving Trinity, not Rev. Wright’s preaching.

Information is powerful but only when it’s put into context.

It’s been said a picture is worth a thousands words. If that’s the case, then these two photos of Disney starlet Miley Cyrus are worth at least a million.

Innocent is NOT the word that comes to mind when I look at this picture. This is not how a 15-year old should be portrayed. Save the sex-kitten image for when she’s legal.

Disturbing is the first word that comes to my mind when I look at this picture. It looks more like a sick “older man-under-aged girl” relationship rather than a father and daughter chillin’ out.

The photos have caused quite a stir. Part of the outrage has to do with the squeaky clean image Miley has tried to project. Not to mention, “Hannah Montana” has brought her legions of fans as young as preschool.

Fortunately, Miley has recognized how inappropriate the one is with her and the blanket. She’s apologized, saying she thought it was going to be artistic but now that she’s seen it she’s embarrassed.

Continue reading "Growing Up Too Fast!" »