FOX 32 Sunday: Reporter’s Notebook: William Beavers
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By Mike Flannery, FOX 32 News Political Editor - bio
CHICAGO (FOX 32 News) -
In my reporter's notebook, it looks like the hog will be going to the pen, but Big Bill Beavers was unrepentant, following a jury's quick decision to convict the Cook County commissioner on felony tax charges.
It was just a few weeks that Beavers' longtime political rivals in the South Side 7th Ward pleaded guilty to tax charges of their own in another federal courtroom. Former Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr., and his wife, former Ald. Sandi Jackson, ousted Beavers and his daughter, Darcel, telling voters they were going to reform and clean up politics in the ward. They're facing prison time for their convictions, related to the looting of federal campaign funds.
Beavers did something similar with his local campaign funds. But at the age of 78, is putting Beavers behind bars really the best punishment? He was a Chicago police officer for 21 years, before winning a seat in the City Council and then moving to the County Board.
It will ultimately be up to US District Court Judge James Zagel to sentence Beavers. Your Honor, I have a humble suggestion. Testimony at the trial indicated Beavers is virtually addicted to gambling and that he lost a half-million dollars at one local casino boat. How about ordering him to perform hundreds of hours of community service for the Chicago Public Schools...and locking an electronic monitoring device on his leg for several years and forbidding him even to go near a gambling establishment? He couldn't even visit a local parish casino night fundraiser! Talk about punishment. Anyway, your Honor, that's my idea.
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Mike Flannery, along with a handful of other Chicago TV journalists, will be inducted Friday into the prestigious "Silver Circle" of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.
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