Chicago Tribune from Chicago, Illinois • 237

DECEMBER 14, 2001 FRIDAY METRO NW, MC SECTION 2 CHICAGO TRIBUNE 3 REGION STATE 3(D)i Ml METROPOLITAN DIGEST ILLINOIS Ousted schools chief hired for state research project Jpinski seeks keep expansion measure on track By Mike Doming Washington Bureau WASHINGTON U.S. Rep. Last week Sen. Peter Fitzgerald an opponent of O'Hare expansion, blocked an effort to attach the agreement to a spending package for the Defense Department. Because Congress is rushing to pass essential legislation as its session nears an end, Fitzgerald can use procedural maneuvers to stymie an attempt to pass the deal this year.

However, backers of the agreement were confident that they can win congressional approval next year, when Fitzgerald will have less leverage to stop them. Lipinski, the top-ranking Democrat on the House Aviation Subcommittee, said he intends to hold hearings on his legislation in January and hoped for a House vote by April. Among the 80 co-sponsors of the legislation is the Republican chairman of the House Aviation Subcommittee, Rep. John Mica Illinois Republicans Mark Kirk and John Shimkus also are co-sponsors, as is Democratic gubernatorial candidate Rep. Rod Blagojevich of Chicago.

"I am totally confident that we will get it passed in the House," Lipinski said. Sen, John the top-ranking Republican on the Senate Commerce Committee, said he will insist that his committee hold hearings on the measure before the Senate votes on it. McCain, who has aggressively pressed for expansion of airport capacity in Chicago, joined Fitzgerald in objecting to at taching the measure to the defense spending package. "I'm pleased with the progress that's been made and I'm glad there is an agreement," McCain said. "But I don't know enough about it right now.

I just think we should have a hearing and examine it. That's all." On Thursday, Mayor Richard Daley, who last week came to terms with Gov. George Ryan about the specifics of the airport package, said he doesn't oppose a congressional hearing. "We could have one," he said. "I could explain it in half an hour This is very simple.

This is not for rocket scientists. This is five parallel runways. That is it. They are doing parallel runways at every airport, the same concept." Bill Lipinski (D-Ill.) on Thursday introduced legislation in the House to lock in the terms of a deal expanding O'Hare Inter Four months after it refused to renew Max McGee's contract as state superintendent, the Illinois State Board of Education announced Thursday that it will pay him $125,000 to conduct a research project The contract gives McGce six months to research why poor and minority students in Illinois perform more poorly on state tests than do white and affluent students. McGee will conduct his research Northern Illinois University's Center for Governmental Studies.

The contract was facilitated, in part, by state board member Marilyn McConachie, national Airport. The legislation is identical to measure introduced in the lion out of its $8 billion budget Gov George Ryan ordered the cuts last month. But board members said McGee's contract is a good use of money They said closing the achievement gap is a top priority and McGee is uniquely qualified to study the issue. Ron Gidwitz, chairman of the state board, said, "He is the best man for the job." McGee said he is excited about the opportunity "We have a critical gap between the haves and the have nots, which has very serious racial and ethnic implications," McGee said. "Frankly it's time we addressed it and I plan to present a detailed report that can be used for policy decisions." On July McGee will take over as superintendent of Wilmette School District 39.

He signed a five-year deal worth about $200,000 Senate last week by Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and signals that backers of the O'Hare deal intend to press forward next year with efforts to inscribe the agreement into federal law. who works in program development at the university McGee, who was forced out in August, will leave the post Dec. 3L His consulting contract begins Jan. The $125,000 agreement comes as the board struggles to slash $25 mil i ILLINOIS Requests sent for anti-terror interviews 2L U.S.

Atty Patrick Fitzgerald Fitzgerald's office decided to use letters to contact the men after meeting with Arab and Muslim community leaders Tuesday In the letters, Fitzgerald also agreed to include phone numbers for the American Civil Liberties Union and other groups that have offered free legal support The men A i ii i confirmed that his office began sending letters Thursday to scores of local men on a list of 5,000 people nationwide sought for questioning by the Justice Department. The effort is part of the unprecedented investigation into the Sept. 1 the men sought for questioning is suspected of involvement in terrorism. Fitzgerald's office did not release a copy of the letter, but the office said it encourages the men to schedule voluntary interviews between Saturday and Tuesday The Justice Department has asked U.S. attorneys nationwide to complete the interviews by Dec.

are being sought for questioning because of where and when they got temporary visas to enter the U.S. Fitzgerald's office has declined to say how many men are on the local list. A spokesman has said the number is between 100 and 500, CHICAGO 'Sis' Daley is out of hospital after stroke stroke. Tribune photo by John Kringas Mrs. Daley returned to her Bridgeport bungalow, where Lucy Garcia (left) comforts Jose" Zapata at a rally on Thursday outside the Kane County Judicial Center, near St.

Charles. she raised her family and has lived for more than 60 years. Earlier in the day, Mayor Da Eleanor "Sis" Daley, the 94-year-old widow of Mayor Richard J. Daley and mother of Mayor Richard M. Daley, was released from Northwestern I i Dad vow to keep up custody fight ley told reporters his mother was doing much better.

Mrs. Daley was taken to the hospital Monday after falling in Daley Mexican officials her home. Doctors concluded join immigrant at Memorial Hospital on Thursday after undergoing treatment for what officials called a slight she had a stroke, though offi cials said she suffered no paral ysis or speech impairment. Kane County rally HARVEY "The court is saying it doesn't matter that his rights were violated for three years," said Zapata's lawyer, Diane Redleaf. She said her client has never hit the girls and has proven he is a capable parent.

"He's done nothing wrong. He should have the same rights that every parenthas," she said. Zapata and representatives from the consulate said they are concerned that his being a Mexican has played a role in the case an accusation state offi rules designed to protect immigrants. The Mexican Consulate said that it was not initially notified of Zapata's case, despite a treaty that requires such notification, and that the girls were placed in an English-speaking home, despite rules to the contrary. In a ruling last month, Brawka said it was in the best interests of the children that they stay with their foster parents because she does not believe Zapata, a 26-year-old grocery worker, By Jon Yates Tribune staff reporter Officer facing Florida stabbing charge An emotional Jose Zapata cers on a fugitive warrant for the Sept.

12 stabbing of Carmine vowed Thursday to continue fighting for custody of his two small daughters despite a Kane County judge's ruling that the children should stay with their foster parents. Giardini outside his Palm Beach Gardens restaurant, said a Palm Beach Gardens police cials flatly deny is capable of caring for the spokesman. law of this country, and I know I'm going to win." Earlier Thursday, Circuit Judge Judith Brawka said that the case is essentially over and that she will enter an order granting guardianship to the gil ls' foster parents, most likely in January. Zapata's attorneys said they will appeal. The state took the girls, ages 3 and 4, from their mother Zapata's girlfriend shortly after they were born, amid allegations the mother was neglectful.

The Department of Children and Family Services then placed the girls with a middle-class suburban couple. Although there were no allegations against Zapata, he was denied custody after posting a poor performance on a series of routine parenting tests and failing to show up for required parenting classes. The case drew the attention of Mexican officials. They have argued that Zapata was repeatedly given services in English even though his primary language is Spanish and that DCFS ignored Flanked by members of the Giardini has since recovered, the spokesman said. Florida po Mexican Consulate and a dozen lice would not release mforma A Harvey police officer charged with attempted first-degree murder of a Florida restaurant owner will be extradited to Palm Beach County, for trial, a Cook County judge ruled Thursday Joseph Cortesi, 29, of Oak Lawn is being held without bond as he waits to be taken to Florida, said Bill Cunningham, a spokesman for the Cook County sheriffs office.

He did not know when Cortesi would be moved. Cortesi was arrested Wednesday by fellow Harvey police offi tion about a motive for the stab bing. Cortesi was arrested in uniform while on the job, said Har- "I can assure you the state is in no way taking into account his nationality in making a determination as to what is in the best interest of the children," said Assistant State's Atty. Jane Brennan. Brennan said that heritage "never, ever comes into play" and that Zapata and his supporters had their focus "out of place." Brennan praised Braw-ka's ruling, saying it offers the best option for the girls.

"The focus is and should remain on what is in the best interest of the children," she said. vey Police Chief Phillip Hardi younger girl, who has been diagnosed with developmental problems. The judge also said the girls "exhibit mental anguish when leaving to visit" Zapata and "report repeatedly that they are being hit." Brawka acknowledged that DCFS might have made mistakes in the case, but she said any missteps were outweighed by the girls' needs. Thursday's hearing was largely procedural, but it gave Zapata's supporters a rallying point. man.

Cortesi has been with the department since October, he sign-waving supporters at a makeshift rally outside the county Judicial Center, near St. Charles, the undocumented immigrant denied he has ever harmed his children, called legal rulings against him racist and said he hopes his case helps others in similar situations. "I have lost a battle but not the war, and I will continue fighting until the end," Zapata said in Spanish, halting several times to fight back tears. "I trust in the said COOK COUNTY Death Row inmate closer to new trial The Cook County judge asked prosecutors and defense attorneys to be back in his courtroom Mistrial in sex harassment case Monday morning. The 37-year-old South Side man has said he confessed to the stabbing of a South Side couple 2nd jury learned of other's verdict only after he was beaten by Chi Aaron Patterson, the Death Row inmate who has long proclaimed his innocence in a 1986 double slaying, moved closer to getting a new trial on Thursday.

Judge Michael P. Toomin agreed to hear arguments next week on whether Patterson should be entitled to a new trial. Toomin said he would allow attorneys on both sides to question Patterson's former lawyer on whether he so badly bungled the case that a new trial should be granted on the grounds of inadequate legal representation. cago police officers. His allegations have gained attention in recent years after city officials determined Lt.

Jon Burge and his police officers in the former Burnside Area used force to coerce dozens of confes sions. DUPAGE COUNTY Shooting by officer in chase defended socked the Forest Preserve District for $3 million in damages $1 million more than Spina's lawyer sought. But before the second jury could begin deliberations Thursday morning over whether seven former or current district police officials were at fault, U.S. Magistrate Judge Ar-lander Keys declared a mistrial after finding out a juror learned of the verdict from a TV news report. The mistrial doesn't affect the $3 million judgment.

In comments to reporters, jurors from both panels were harshly critical of the Forest Preserve District's failure to respond to Spina's repeated complaints of harassment. "Nothing was ever done, from the information provided to us," juror Michael Kahn, 32, of Aurora said Thursday. "We really strongly urge Cook County to settle this case." Kahn said he would have favored awarding Spina $300,000 to $500,000 in damages and that other jurors told him they favor The Glendale Heights police that Frustaci may well have ed a verdict closer to the $950,000 sought by Spina. Spokesmen for County Board President John Stroger and Joseph Nevius, the Forest Preserve District's general superintendent, said both men declined to comment Thursday but that the district management needed to confer with lawyers over its options', which include appealing the $3 million verdict. Cook County Commissioner Michael Quigley (D-Chicago) lamented the lost recreational opportunities if the district ends up having to pay the $3 million.

"It comes at a terrible time," Quigley said, referring to the district's money problems. The district ran a $17 million deficit last year iind continues to face financial challenges. The county's bill will likely grow. Since Spina prevailed before one jury, her lawyer, Monica McFadden, said she plans to petition the judge to have the county pay her legal fees and expenseswhich she estimated at more than $800,000. McFadden said she is willing turned the gun on himself.

officer who shot a fleeing suspect Wednesday had reason to fpjir fnr hi lifo nnd ihat nf nlh. By Matt O'Connor Tribune staff reporter A federal judge declared a mistrial Thursday in the sexual harassment trial of Cynthia Spina, a Cook County Forest Preserve District police officer, after a juror admitted hearing a morning news report of a second jury's $3 million verdict in the same case. The mistrial means another trial might be necessary unless the cash-strapped Forest Preserve District decides to settle. In what lawyers in the case believed to be a first in federal court here, a single civil trial took place simultaneously before two separate juries on Spina's allegations she endured years of sexual harassment from co-workers and retaliation from superiors because of her complaints. Wednesday evening, one Jury Authorities said Frustaci shot his girlfriend once in the head inside the Bloomingdale townhouse they shared.

The 40 year-old woman was listed in ers, authorities said. Joseph Frustaci, 53, of Bloo-mingdale died after leading police on a chase that ended with a the officer firing eight times, DuPage County State's Atty. Jo- critical condition. Tribune photo by Chris Walker Officer Cynthia Spina was awarded $3 million at Wednesday's harassment trial. to discuss settling the entire case.

"We'll listen to anything the county has to say," she said. "But a verdict of this size has to be taken into consideration." The county offered to settle with Spina for $500,000 a few months before the trial, McFadden said. Frustaci, was preparing to move 'out of the townhouse in the 100 block of Castle Rock Lane when he shot his gir seph Birkett said Thursday. "All preliminary indications are that this was a justifiable use of force by the police officer," Birkett said. "The coroner has also given us information friend and fled, police said.

The woman's son called police, and an officer fired on him after he rammed a patrol car..