Tuesday night's last minute win sent the Chicago White Sox on to the playoffs. And while no Sox fan is complaining about that, the timing didn't allow for a pre-game sendoff rally like the Cubs received yesterday. But in the interest of fairness, here are some clips from the South Sider's 2005 Championship celebration.

Have you heard gazillionaire Oprah Winfrey's mother (Vernita Lee, lives in Milwaukee) apparently can't cover her high-fashion addiction??!!

A high-end Milwaukee store called Valentina claims Ms. Lee owes nearly $156,000! But Lee contends she shouldn't have to pay, because the store shouldn't have extended credit to her. Lee says the store took advantage of her quote - "lack of of knowledge, ability, and-or capacity" when creating her credit account.

Lee is currently embroiled in a court case with Valentina (they sued her, she's counter-sued).

SO.. THE QUESTION IS:
Should Oprah step in and wipe out her mom's debt (for the sake of stopping silly court cases and also preserving family ties, not to mention limiting personal embarassment)?
--OR--
Is it time for 'Tough Love?'

PS Oprah's mom's apparently been down this road before with Valentina.
Court papers show Lee resolved a 2002 case with the company over another huge bill-- one for 175-thousand dollars! Part of the deal prohibited Valentina from extending further credit to Lee.

Tonight is definitely a "must watch" night of television, especially for people living in Chicago and Los Angeles. At 8pm, the Vice Presidential candidates will be debating. Then you have the Cubs and Dodgers at 8:30pm for Game 2 of the Division series.

Given Sarah Palin's poor performance during interviews in which she seems uniformed and Joe Biden's propensity for saying stuff "that's kind of stupid," (according to his friend Sen. Claire McCaskill of Missouri) it should make for good TV.

They've lost their chance at the World Series, as well as nine playoff games in a row.
Have they lost your support?

Sunday night's shooting death of 17-year-old of Kiyanna Salter has sparked an online discussion on the site of CLTV's Garrard McClendon Live. Below is the news video with the latest updates concerning the search for a suspect and then a clip from Tuesday night's Garrard McClendon Live in which his featured guest Father Pfleger spoke via phone about gun violence in Chicago.

Underage drinking appears to be going the way of pre-marital sex; it’s okay as long as you’re responsible. That’s not my argument, but it’s pretty much the argument of some Highland Park parents and their children.

Today, Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart ordered his deputies to stop taking part in evictions of properties that have been foreclosed upon starting tomorrow.

Dart says he made the move because of the skyrocketing number of foreclosures in the Chicagoland area.

This story took on significant meaning to me recently. For nearly a year, I've battled with a law firm in Wisconsin to try and save the home my mom was so proud of buying in early 2004. It was the first house she was able to buy on her own.

Chicago may soon become a new model for tolerance in high school.

Today, Chicago Public Schools CEO Arne Duncan recommended that the school board approve plans for 20 new schools, including the first high school for gay, lesbian, transgendered teens and allies.

Does it really teach tolerance? I don't think so.

What it does is send a message--a wrong message--that Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered people are different and need to be separate.

The latest issue of Newsweek Magazine features what is becoming a controversial cover. The cover, shown here, is a close up of Republican Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin. Republican media consultants tell Fox News the photo is a "clear slap in the face" because it wasn't retouched. They say its highlighting imperfections like unwanted facial hair and wrinkles.
But the magazine says it cropped Gov. Palin to accentuate her smile and eyes.
What do you think? Is this a harmless cover or are the objections justified?

Daniel Calderon and Ernest Williams are the latest teens to die in the incessant war on Chicago's streets.

Police believe both shootings may be gang-related.

There are a lot of issues to be decided on the November ballot beside the presidential race. Illinois voters for example are being asked whether they support an Illinois constitutional convention.

What is that, you may ask.

Early voting in Illinois begins today, the first for a presidential election. From the Chicago Tribune:

Through Oct. 30, voters can cast a ballot without having to give reason why they are not able to vote on Nov. 4, Election Day, as they would to cast an absentee ballot. A government-issued photo ID is required for early voting.

Through their people, the music-industry-maven and her filmmaker husband have confirmed that they -are- going splitsville!
(That, despite their denials of divorce rumors over the summer.)
My questions: Do we care? Should we care?

Just a week ago, a longtime, loyal Tribune newspaper reader expressed to me her dismay that the paper recently had a similar star-type report on the third page of the paper. Her point: that with all the tough times hitting our world right now, such Hollywood gossip-type stuff shouldn't be given serious news space.

Well, we (CLTV) predominantly featured today's Madonna story in our newscasts (though not in the first segment). Should we have? Or are such stories better left to the Entertainment Tonight's and Enquirer's of the media world?

These days, good news seems to be hard to come by. Which makes this story worth celebrating. Pershing West Elementary Magnet School principal Cheryl Watkins was one of two local educators awarded the $25,000 Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award today. Watch her reaction to the news.

Well President Bush managed to get us into a second war with Iraq so I guess it’s only fair that he helped steer us into what could be the country’s second Great Depression.
When I woke up from my afternoon nap today (yes, I maybe 25, but I take naps like an 80 year old) I was sweating. And at first I thought it was because I was wrapped in two down comforters; then I realized I had actually been listening to Charles Gibson give a special report on the Dow Jones which has fallen 733 points, their second largest drop ever.Ever?

A man robs a Waukegan store at gunpoint, and tries to get away on a bicycle.
The store clerk follows him outside and fires 7 gunshots.

The robber is killed by a bullet that entered through his back, while he was trying to get away.

Was the shooting self defense, or vigilante justice?

A medical helicopter crashed in Aurora Wednesday late. The chopper was transporting a 1-year-old patient to Children's Memorial Hospital. The child and the other three people on board were killed. Below is video coverage from CLTV and WGN of the crash. Stay tuned to CLTV and the Breaking News Center for continuous coverage on this story.

Elmhurst Police say the college student who claimed she was the victim of a hate crime, made it all up.

Earlier this month, a Palos Heights teen admitted to lying about being abducted and sexually assaulted.

What is going on here?

I'll admit it. I'm a nerd. 100% purebred All-American nerd.

This claim is backed up by the hours I've spent watching networks like History Channel and Discovery.

I was guilty of it this weekend, in fact.

The show "Secrets of Body Language" on History Channel grabbed my attention.

Sure, I know what you do and how you say something is as important (if not more) as what you say.

That's how JFK "won" the debate against Nixon in 1960, right?

Former Chicago police commander John Burge has been arrested at his Florida home by the FBI on obstruction of justice and perjury charges. They stem from his time with the Chicago police department, where he led a group of officers accused of gross mishandling of suspects.

It's long been believed that Burge and his men used beatings, electric shock, whatever it took, to get confessions out of some suspects. In 1993, Burge was fired from the Chicago police department. But, until now, he's never been charged with a crime. Adding insult to alleged injury, he's also continued to receive a city of Chicago pension.

Below are video clips from CLTV's past coverage on the Burge torture case. For more archive coverage, log on to chicagotribune.com's section on Jon Burge's legacy.

Stay tuned to CLTV and the Breaking News Center for developments.

Barack Obama's people may be engaging in 'Pay to Play' politics, according to at least one Chicago media columnist. The view comes in response to the Obama Campaign's plans to charge big bucks to press members planning to cover his big election night rally in Grant Park. The 'Pay' required from media types who want to 'Play' (ie --cover his big party) reportedly ranges from 700 to 1800 dollars. That could greatly limit the press presence of some media outlets - like those currently dealing with layoffs and other cost-cutting measures. In other words, pretty much all of us -except, possibly, the 'national' press corps.

Granted, having the big event in Grant Park will not be an inexpensive endeavor (expect high costs for everything from security to clean-up). The City of Chicago, now facing a major budget crunch, can't be expected to foot the bill, can it? Though, so far no word from the Obama camp on what if anything it's going to be paying toward all of it (or whether that's partly what the big media fees are for).

Okay, but beyond all that, there is also something else to consider.

What about that whole first amendment 'Freedom of the Press' business? Generally, when we (the press) cover things, it is free. We do not pay to be there. We are there to represent the people who cannot be there; to document events. After all, we offer a public service that is constitutionally guaranteed under our democracy. Or in tough economic times, does everything go out the window?

The news isn't good for Democratic Governor Rod Blagojevich.

A new Chicago Tribune poll of 500 likely voters in the state show the second term governor is sitting in the popularity cellar.

In it, just 13 percent of voters (65 out of 500) said they approve of the job Blagojevich is doing while 71 percent (355 of 500) disapprove.

That is the lowest approval rating of an elected official in the 30-year history of the Tribune doing such polls.

In his first public appearance since a new Tribune voter poll gave him a measly 13-percent approval rating, Governor Rod Blagojevich isn't mincing words!

First of all, he thinks the numbers are off.

But then again, he blames his low approval rating on the 'nation's' slumping ecomony.

But despite that, he says if he were running for governor in the upcoming election, he'd easily win!
(He says it will be a banner year for Democrats riding Barack Obama's coattails.)

And by the way, he does not believe his alleged low voter approval is connected to the current federal investigation into possible corruption in his own administration.

Could "Going Blago" could soon take on a very special meaning, similar to "Fruit-loopey" or "Reality Disconnect?" Nah, ya gotta hand it to the gov. Even in trying times, he's still trying to 'spin' - positive.

One of the closely watched local races is the battle for Cook County State's Attorney.

The contenders are Cook County Commissioner Tony Peraica, and career prosecutors, Anita Alvarez and Thomas O'Brien.

A closer look at the candidates and the issues, after the jump.

One of the closely watched local races is the battle for Cook County State's Attorney.

The contenders are Cook County Commissioner Tony Peraica, and career prosecutors, Anita Alvarez and Thomas O'Brien.

A closer look at the candidates and the issues, after the jump.

Police Supt. Jody Weis confirmed on Monday afternoon that the body found on Chicago's West Side is that of 7-year-old Julian King, the missing nephew of Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Hudson. This is just days after the mother and brother of the actress/singer were found shot to death in their South Side home.
Below is video coverage of the events from CLTV, WGN and the AP. Stay tuned to CLTV and The Breaking News Center for developments on the story.

On Sunday, I was outside the Hudson home gathering information for a report that night.

Dozens of people milled around outside there. Journalists, community members, and those who'd come to show their respects.

A man came up to me and asked me what the newest information was. I told him what I knew.

He told me that he knew the Hudson family. He knew Jennifer Hudson. They went to the same church.

"She was an Englewood Idol long before she was an American Idol," he said.

Then, he challenged me. "Would you even be here if it weren't dealing with Jennifer Hudson's family," he asked?

She says her son is innocent. That he never hurt anyone. That he and his estranged wife, Julia Hudson (sister of actress Jennifer Hudson), love each other.

Michele Davis Balfour blames The Media, for putting his face out there like he's, "Attila the Hun... the worst scum of the earth."

It truly is sad, if he's innocent (and by law, he is, until proven otherwise).

But then again, 27 year old William Balfour's estranged wife (who lost not only her mother and brother, but also her 7 year old son last week) did reportedly say something eerily accusatory on her MySpace page:

"Now because I chose to do what was natural to me and love someone, it cost me my beautiful family. It cost me my beautiful, loving, supporting mother Darnell, my true blue baby brother Jason - I love you baby - and last but never least, my only son Julian, my innocent baby one that was sheltered from all the evil in the world because we loved him so much."

…Cause at least I know I can vote. Well, okay that's not the way the song goes. But it's definitely the way I feel right about now. For the last couple weeks we've watched our country's economy spiral down. It's scary to see what is happening to our country. There were so many opportunities for us to have been told the truth and yet all we received were lies. That is very unnerving.