December 18, 2008

BY CAROL MARIN AND DON MOSELEY

More than 27 years after a mob-related double murder in McHenry County, a little bit of digging by a 42-year old former baby-sitter has led authorities to reopen what was a very cold case.

The information supplied by Holly Hager, who is now a mural painter, has led McHenry County sheriff's detectives to take a fresh look at the long-unsolved killings.
» Click to enlarge image
Thanks to a little bit of digging by a former babysitter, Holly Hager, authorities have reopened what was a cold double-murder case in McHenry County.
(Courtesy NBC5)

December 17, 2008

BY CAROL MARIN Sun-Times Columnist

Eddie Genson isn't speaking to me these days. Genson is the legendary Chicago defense attorney just hired by our woeful governor, Rod Blagojevich.

With a curly mane of graying red hair and the demeanor of the late British dramatic actor Charles Laughton, Genson is a performance artist. He's has been known to crack his cane across a defense table for the sheer theater of it or to bellow, "I am not your sweetie!" to a prosecution witness who dared address him as such. His presence fills up a courtroom and gives judges heartburn.

December 14, 2008

CAROL MARIN cmarin@suntimes.com

No mercy. No, I'm not talking about fast-tracking Gov. Blagojevich for immediate impeachment. That's a no-brainer.

Not talking about the Supreme Court removing him because he's a lunatic who can't govern.

BY CAROL MARIN AND CHRIS FUSCO Staff Reporters

Lady Macbeth. Carmela Soprano. Potty mouth.

Patti Blagojevich leaves her home Wednesday morning. "She is particularly protective of her family," her sister Deborah Mell says.

December 6, 2008

BY CAROL MARIN Sun-Times Columnist

'Ms. Marin, I am a reader of the paper and I have for a number of years watched you on television. . . . I am sorry to bother you but I am one of those people who -- true of the economy -- is about to find oneself homeless. In fact next Tuesday, I am going to be locked out of where I'm living. And with Type II Diabetes and neuropathy (a disorder of the nerves), I am not going to survive sleeping in my car. And I have nowhere to go, no relatives or friends. . . . I have called every agency and place I have been referred to or know of. No one has any funding or facilities. If you have any ideas, uh, places I might be able to call for some kind of help before Tuesday. Perhaps you could give me a call back. . . . My name is Jerry. Thank you."

December 3, 2008

BY CAROL MARIN Sun-Times Columnist

When it comes to union clout and political muscle, it's hard to beat the Carpenters.

But Mike Prate may have done exactly that -- to the tune of $10 million.