Illinois 2009: The Year in Headlines

Looking back, 2009 was the year, for better and often for worse, that the nation turned its attention to Illinois.

From Blagojevich's jazz-handed showmanship, to Roland Burris' precious inconsequence, to a certain junior state senator taking the presidential oath of office, the scions of Illinois made national political headlines.

And national security headlines. As the year wound down, a small Illinois town became the unexpected focus of our national debate on how to manage terrorism suspects.

And a teenage gang fight outside a south side Chicago school spurred a nationwide conversation about school violence.

Check out the year's top headlines below, and the year in video, here.

Blago Gets Impeached, Impersonates Elvis
Former Gov. Rod Blagojevich's year actually started to unravel just before the new year, but by the end of January, he'd been impeached by the Illinois House and removed from office by the state Senate.  Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn took over the job, claiming "the ordeal is over." In April, Blago dangled from wires in front of a green screen and pretended to fly while a fan blew air through his coif (great video, by the way).  A federal judge ultimately wouldn't allow the former governor to take part in an NBC reality show, so his wife did it instead. | Full Coverage

Blago's Burris Legacy
Just before the new year, and prior to his removal from office, Gov. Rod Blagojevich appointed Roland Burris as the junior senator from Illinois.  That didn't go over so well with a lot of people, but Burris was finally sworn in mid-January.

That Other Chicagoan...
Of course, Blago, Burris and Quinn weren't the biggest local political personas of the year.  A certain Hyde Park resident was sworn in as President of the United States of America on Jan. 20.  The inauguration was well-attended and cost a small fortune.  And did Barack Obama wear a bulletproof suit?

Chicago 2016
It just wasn't meant to be.  Years of planning, millions of dollars spent and all-star endorsements weren't enough to stop the 2016 Summer Olympic Games from heading to South America.  What hurt the most:  losing in the first round.  Ouch.  | Full Coverage

School Violence Gets a Name
Christian Fenger High School student Derrion Albert was an innocent bystander in a fight between two groups of students near the Roseland neighborhood school on Sept. 24. He was attacked and beaten and later died from his injuries.  The violence drew national attention.

Economic Woes
Illinois' unemployment rate shot up and it was bankruptcy for the Chicago Sun-Times and the Chicago Cubs, among others. 

Sold!
Among the big names under new management in 2009:  the Chicago Sun-Times and the Chicago Cubs.

Oprah's Big Bash
To celebrate her 24th season of emotionally fraught tabloid daytimery, her On-Air Queeniness took over three blocks of Michigan Avenue.  The big party -- we dubbed it Oprahpalooza -- featured the Black Eyed Peas, Jennifer Hudson, Criss Angel and a flash-mob style dance that took even her Diva-ship by surprise.  Two months later, she announced that the 25th season of the show would be her last. | Images

Parking Meter Deal
Was there a municipal matter that drew more ire this year?  The mayor gives up 75 years of parking profit in exchange for a one-time, $1.15 billion payment.  Parking rates went up, the mayor admitted the deal was poorly implemented and drivers seemed to revolt.  | Full Coverage
 
A Tower By Any Other Name...
Like the lost Marshall Field's name or the dispatched Comiskey Park moniker, Chicagoans seem adverse to change.  And so it was when British-based investment firm Willis Group moved into the Sears Tower and changed its name. | Images 

Stepping Out....
Speaking of the Willis Tower, a new attraction on the SkyDeck let you step out four feet -- and 103 stories -- above the streets of Chicago. 

Unfathomable Desecration
In July, Burr Oak Cemetery, a historic, predominantly African-American burial place, was closed upon revelations that hundreds of graves were dug up so the burial plots could be resold. | Full Coverage

Drew Peterson
He's sometimes known locally by just one name, but the man with a really bad history with his wives was arrested in May, accused of murdering his third wife, Kathleen Savio.  His fourth wife, Stacy Peterson, has been missing for two years. | Full Coverage

HealthWatch
The H1N1 / Swine Flu burst into headlines in April.  Health agencies botched dissemination of a vaccine and several churches stopped passing the communion cup during Mass.
 
Empress Casino Fire
A huge part of Joliet's economic engine went up in flames in March.  Workers at the Empress Casino were paid their full salary while the venue was rebuilt.  Three months after the fire, the casino was back in the game. | Images

In Courts...

- James Degorski, the second man accused of killing seven people in a suburban restaurant in 1993 was sentenced to life in prison.

- The owners of the E2 nightclub, where 21 people were killed in a 2003 stampede, were each sentenced to two years in jail.

- Brian Dugan, the man who admitted to the 1983 kidnapping, rape and murder of a 10-year-old suburban girl was sentenced to death.

- Andre Crawford, who was convicted in the rapes and murders of 11 women between 1993 and 1999, was sentenced to life in prison.

- Anthony Abbate, an off-duty Chicago police officer convicted of pummeling a female bartender half his size was sentenced in June to two years probation and anger management classes for the videotaped attack that appeared worldwide on the Internet and cable news channels.  Six months later, he was fired from the force.

In Sports...

- The Chicago Bears traded Kyle Orton for Jay Cutler, a move which didn't pan out the way the team expected this season.

- The Chicago Cubs finally had enough of Milton Bradley's games and sent the outfielder to Seattle.

- White Sox pitcher Mark Buehrle retired 27 batters during a July game.  In a word, it was PERFECT.

- Chicago Bulls Guard Derrick Rose was named Rookie of the Year.

- The Chicago Blackhawks made it to the Western Conference Finals, reigniting interest in the team.

In Memoriam...
 
- Legendary blues singer Koko Taylor died after complications from surgery in June.  She was 80.

- A South Side barber by day and a Chicago blues favorite by night, Jesse Fortune died in August after collapsing during a performance at a Southwest Side club. He was 79.

- Once one of the most popular newscasters in Chicago, talk-radio pioneer Paul Harvey died in March.  He was 90. 

- The Chicago Bulls' first head coach, Johnny "Red" Kerr, died in February.  He was 76.

- Writer-director and North Shore native John Hughes died in August of a heart attack.  He was 59.

- Former Chicago Bulls guard and broadcaster Norm Van Lier died in February.  He was 61.
 

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