This Time It's For Real

NBCChicago.com, NBC Chicago Nonstop to offer live video

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NBCChicago.com will offer live video of the Inaugural Ceremony in this article beginning at about 10:45 a.m.  Coverage will also be carried on NBC Chicago Nonstop: Over-the-air on 5.2, Comcast 341, WOW: 130 and RCN 50.

Pat Quinn gets sworn in as Illinois' governor Monday, and this time it's offical.

He took the oath of office nearly two years ago after the ouster of Rod Blagojevich. Since then, he fended off Comptroller Dan Hynes in the Democratic primary and State Sen. Bill Brady of Bloomington in the general election. His next challenge -- and likely his most difficult -- will be navigating the state through a challenging economic mess.

Quinn will be sworn in by Supreme Court Justice Anne Burke, who also administered the oath to him on Jan. 29, 2009.

The event happens amid a last-minute push by the state's top Democrats to pass a hefty income tax increase before the disappearance of lame-duck lawmakers makes it far more difficult when a new General Assembly takes office Wednesday.

After a two-year vacancy, Monday will also see Illinois' lieutenant governor position filled.  Sheila Simon, the daughter of late U.S. Sen. Paul Simon, will be sworn in by former Supreme Court Chief Justice Mary Ann McMorrow. She and Simon’s late mother, Jeanne Hurley Simon, served together as the first two women assistant state’s attorneys in Cook County.

Simon told columnist Bernard Schoenburg, of The State Journal-Register, that the suit she'll wear to the inaugural ceremony and the full-length dress she'll wear at Monday evening's ball will be of her own design and making.

"I've been a seamstress since I learned how to sew in 4-H as a kid," she told Schoenburg.

Also sworn-in Monday will be Attorney General Lisa Madigan, Secretary of State Jess White, Comptroller-elect Judy Baar Topinka and Treasurer-elect Dan Rutherford.

Officials said security will be beefed up but said there were no major changes planned for the day's events in the wake of Saturday's shooting in Tucson, Ariz., in which a congresswoman was injured and six people were killed.

The State-Journal Register: Illinois inauguration: Oath of office has changed over two centuries
The State-Journal Register: Springfield prepares for Monday's inauguration ceremonies

Monday's full schedule of events:

9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Interfaith Service (Doors open at 8:15 a.m.)
First Presbyterian Church
321 South 7th Street
Springfield, Illinois

The Governor and his family will join the Constitutional Officers and their families for an interfaith service.

11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Inaugural Ceremony (Doors open at 8:00 a.m.)
Prairie Capitol Convention Center
1 Convention Center Plaza
(Corner of 9th and Adams streets)
Springfield, Illinois

The Governor and the Constitutional Officers will take the Oath of Office and deliver their inaugural addresses.

2:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Executive Mansion Open House
Executive Mansion
410 E. Jackson St.
Springfield, Illinois

Governor Quinn and Lieutenant Governor-Elect Sheila Simon will greet the public at the Executive Mansion.

8:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Inaugural Ball
Prairie Capitol Convention Center
1 Convention Center Plaza
(Corner of 9th and Adams streets)
Springfield, Illinois

The Governor and the Constitutional Officers will attend the Inaugural Ball.

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