Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich has announced $1.6 million in federal grants to allow municipal, county, and state law-enforcement agencies in northern Illinois to acquire in-car computer equipment to help improve access to criminal records during traffic stops and enhance public and police safety. Recipients from Henry County include the Geneseo Police Department ($17,400) and the Kewanee Police Department ($11,092). Rock Island County recipients include East Moline ($8,503), Milan ($11,792), Moline ($8,022), and Rock Island County ($10,646). In addition to data access, law-enforcement officers can use the terminals for note-taking and report-writing, as well as wirelessly entering incident, accident, and arrest information.

Rarely does paint - the actual physical stuff laden with pigment - have as enthusiastic a friend as it does with Felix Morelo. The artist often lavishes his surfaces with thick and lustrous textured passages in blood reds, dirty aqua greens, or caustic oranges. In other areas, he stingily scrubs in the most minimal hints of browns or soiled denim blues.

On a small, dark stage, Venus slowly materializes, walking silently toward us in a diaphanous robe, holding a chalice and a sheath of wheat, her eyes distant. Jupiter, looking like Dionysus, sits on an invisible chair holding a jester's toy, laughing at something he's just heard from sly Mercury, who slowly floats by. Neptune the mystic crouches, bare-headed, waiting, looking beyond us.

Several African-American House members are starting to worry about potential primary opponents backed by Senate President Emil Jones and Governor Rod Blagojevich, but it's unclear right now how many will get opponents and how involved the two leaders will be. Jones and Blagojevich have engaged in open political warfare with House Speaker Michael Madigan pretty much all year, and it looks like they may be taking another big step by attempting to take out some of Madigan's people.