Now broadcasting my cable TV Show in Oak Lawn, Bridgeview, Burbank and 145 more suburban communities

For the past several years, I have been taping and broadcasting a TV program on Comcast Cable TV, channel 19 every Friday at 8:30 PM called "30 Minutes." The show focused mainly on Middle East and Arab heritage issues.

Beginning Friday, August 10, I will be expanding my Comcast Cable TV Program to now feature a program focused on Chicagoland Political issues that will air Friday Nights on Channel 19 at 7 PM.

The 8:30 PM show will continue to be broadcast in the original 45 suburban communities including Orland Park, Tinley Park, Palos Hills and Palos Park, for example.

The 7 PM show will broadcast in Oak Lawn, Bridgeview, Burbank and 97 other suburban communities.

All of the shows I tape are archived and viewable online

Middle East shows are archived at:
http://www.arabamericantvonline.com/

Chicagoland Political shows are archived at:
http://www.tvchicagoland.com/

Here's the lineup of shows and communities:

30 Minutes is NOW available on COMCAST Cable TV
in the following 145 Chicagoland Suburban Communities
EVERY FRIDAY NIGHT ON CHANNEL 19,
at either 7 PM and at 8:30 PM

Chicagoland Focused shows Available on Comcast Cable at 7 PM - - Alsip Bridgeview Burbank Chicago Ridge Evergreen Park Hometown Justice Oak Lawn Palos Heights Stickney Stickney Twsp Summit - - OTHER SOUTH & WEST SUBURBS Aroma Park Aroma Twnshp Ashkum Blue Island Bourbonnais Bourbonnais Twnshp Burnham Bedford Park Bellwood Bensenville Berkeley Berwyn Bloomingdale Bradley Broadview Brookfield Burr Ridge Carol Stream Chebanse Cicero Clarendon Hills Clifton Countryside Darien Dixmoor Downers Grove Elmhurst Elmwood Park Forest Park Forest View Franklin Park Ford Heights Glenwood Glendale Heights Harwood Heights Herscher Hillside Hinsdale Hodgkins Indian Head Park Itasca Iroquois Kankakee Kankakee Twnshp La Grange La Grange Park Leyden Township Lombard Lyons Lyons Township Limestone Twnshp Lynwood Matteson Maywood McCook Melrose Park Norridge North Riverside Northlake Otto Twnshp Oak Brook Oak Park Oakbrook Terrace Proviso Township River Forest River Grove Riverside Roselle Rosemont St. Anne Steger Schiller Park Stone Park Sun River Trrce Villa Park Westchester Western Springs Westmont Willow Springs Willowbrook Wood Dale Woodridge

Middle East Focused ShowsAvailable on Comcast Cable at 8:30 PM Blue Island Country Club Hills Crestwood Hickory Hills Markham Marrionette Park Midlothian Oak Forest Orland Hills Orland Park Palos Hills Palos Park Posen Robbins Tinley Park Worth OTHER SOUTH & WEST SUBURBS Beecher Burnham Calumet City Calumet Park Chicago Heights Crete Dixon Dolton East Hazelcrest Flosmoor Harvey Hazelcrest Homewood Lansing Manteno Madison Monee Olympia Fields Park Forrest Peotone Phoenix Richton Park Riverdale Salk Village So Chicago Heights South Holland Steger Thornton University Park

Challengers lining up to replace Dan Lipinski

Needless to say Congressman Dan Lipinski has been a deep disappointment. Nothing like his father or maybe just like his father, he was handpicked by his father, William O. Lipinski. Dan's troubles cover two major areas. The first is his voting record, which is pathetically weak on the War in Iraq. That's natural, though, as his father was a diehard Reagan Republican and he can't totally remove those conservative roots from his blood. Dan votes Bill, and Bill votes conservative.

The second problem is his representation in the congressional district and his capricious attitude towards the communities he services. In Oak Lawn, in particular, where a heavy handed hypocrite, Jerry Hurckes, runs politics amok! Hurckes is not only Lipinski's "Chief of Staff" but also his political enforcer. Hurckes, a trustee holdout like Steve Rosenbaum, are the last survivors of the old Ernie Kolb Machine that, as it turns out, failed to properly monitor the rights of Oak Lawn taxpayers. So many wasted spending practices they approved were later uncovered by Kolb's eventual successor, Dave Heilmann, the only bright thing to come to Oak Lawn in decades.

Hurckes and Rosenbaum are hypocrites who have done everything possible to block Heilmann's reform efforts. Worse, Rosenbaum is a terrible whiner, someone who I respected years ago only to learn he is such a disappointment. Hurckes and Rosenbaum really don't deserve to hold office and should be removed, but thanks to Lipinski, Hurckes remains in office. Rosenbaum is up for re-election soon.

Politicians are judged by the company they keep. And you have to judge Lipinski by his allies in Hurckes and Rosenbaum.

For background on the Lipinski races, here is a link to DEMOCRACY FOR AMERICA blog which does a good job of profiling the first candidate to announce a challenge to Lipinski, Mark Pera of Western Springs.

http://www.blogforamerica.com/view/21525

Here is a story on a second candidate, Jim Capparelli, to announce against Lipinski in the February 5, 2008 Democratic primary which is not that far away, written by my colleague at the Southwest News-Herald, Dermot Connolly:

http://www.swnewsherald.com/news_frontpage/2007/07/072507olbv_lipinski.php

I'll have much more to say about Lipinski, Hurckes and Rosenbaum in upcoming print columns and on this blog.

Pera sounds like a legitimate candidate but I will have to do more vetting to explore the motivations and background of Capparelli. No one should put it past Lipinski to front a candidate to divide the anti-Lipinski votes.

Capparelli has some background issues that raises all these concerns. He worked for Il. Attorney General Lisa Madigan (whose father is one of Lipinski's staunchest supporters and has never shunned backing a vote-divider in the past). He has absolutely no background in running for office, but has the backing of his extended family. Sounds like some local political clout?

Here is what another blogger, the Prairie Blue State blogger, writes about Capparelli and makes some great points:

http://www.soapblox.net/chicago/showDiary.do?diaryId=3238

-- Ray Hanania

Chicago Reader Management Change, letter to freelancers from Editor

Here's the letter from Alison True (what a great Damon Runyan character name for a journalist), the editor of the Chicago Reader, one of my favorite weekly publications:

Friday, July 27, 2007
Dear staff and valued freelance contributors--

As you all know by now, the Chicago Reader's been sold. There are reasons to be distressed by a change this big, and many of you are understandably upset.

Losing our production department will be a difficult adjustment for everyone who thinks of the people on the fourth floor as friends and family. It's hard to imagine making this paper without them. Others around the building may be laid off as well, and no one will be happy about it. I hope, and I'm sure, the ties we've established at the Reader will extend long beyond our shared employment.

As for the future, this changeover shouldn't be regarded, as one blog commenter put it, as a sad day for the city of Chicago. The paper and Web site that so many Chicagoans depend on isn't going anywhere, and you--house staff, freelance writers, illustrators, photographers--are going to continue to be its lifeblood.

And there are reasons to be optimistic: the new owners say they're going to be pouring energy and resources into the business, enhancing promotion, sales, software, and circulation. A plan to convert to a single section tabloid--to get out from under crippling printing costs--was well under way before any talk of a sale, and we'll be finishing that redesign soon, something I'm actively looking forward to. There's no plan to change our name to match the rest of the chain.

The only talk about editorial from the new owners involves the budget, and that's nothing new. All indications are the new owners don't think the way to turn the company around is by messing with content, and Ben Eason tells me he's not going to butt in. When revenues increase, so does the editorial purse. Nothing wrong with that scenario.

There's been a lot of grumbling about the way absentee owners might affect the product, but my guess is that working for out-of-towners won't be a whole lot different from working for the founders, who, bless their hearts, gave me complete autonomy when I took the helm in 1994. They deserve our reverence for thinking up and developing such a kick-ass paper, but you guys are most responsible for its success.

It's been an honor to work with all of you over the years. Let's keep up the good work.
Best,
Alison True
Editor
Chicago Reader

White Sox Terrero meets fans at Bridgeview store Friday July 27

CHICAGO WHITE SOX PLAYER LUIS TERRERO TO GREET FANS
AND SIGN AUTOGRAPHS AT BRIDGEVIEW STORE
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Local U.S. Cellular® Store Gives Fans a Chance to Meet Chicago Sports Figure


WHAT: Luis Terrero, outfielder for the Chicago White Sox, will greet fans at the U.S. Cellular® store in Bridgeview. All attendees are encouraged to bring memorabilia for Terrero to autograph and cameras for photographs.


WHO: * Luis Terrero, Chicago White Sox outfielder


WHEN: 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Friday, July 27


WHERE: U.S. Cellular Store
8516 S. Harlem Ave.
85th Street & Harlem Avenue
Bridgeview, Ill.


PHOTO * Fans meeting Luis Terrero, receiving autographs and taking photographs
OPP:


CONTACT: Holly Ramsey or Erin Kane, public relations counsel
Office: 312-565-3900, Cell: 312-671-4200
hramsey@lcwa.com or ekane@lcwa.com

Jonathan Guerín, U.S. Cellular
Office: 773-399-4379, Cell: 773-317-0113
jonathan.guerin@uscellular.com

*Luis Terrero is scheduled to appear at the U.S. Cellular store in Bridgeview on July 27. Schedule and player to appear are subject to change without notice.

# # #

Lipinski supports removal of troops from Iraq

Here's a release from Dan Lipinski and his "new" Chief of Staff in Washington:

Ray Hanania
=====
Congressman Dan Lipinski
3rd District, Illinois · 1717 Longworth Building, Washington, D.C. 20515 (202) 225-5701
Homepage: www.lipinski.house.gov

For Immediate Release
Contact: Jason Tai (202) 225-5701

Lipinski Votes to Start Redeployment of Troops from Iraq
Representative Continues Work for Implementation of Iraq Study Group Recommendations

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] Today, Congressman Lipinski voted for and helped pass H.R. 2956, the Responsible Redeployment from Iraq Act, which would require U.S. troops to begin a safe and orderly redeployment from Iraq within 120 days of the legislation’s enactment. This bill requires that by April 1, 2008, all American troops are withdrawn from Iraq except for a minimum number needed to protect U.S. diplomatic facilities, pursue al-Qaeda, and train Iraqi security forces. By January 31, 2008, the president would have to justify the need for these troops to stay in Iraq and specify the precise mission and cost.

H.R. 2956 passed the House by a largely partisan vote of 223-201, and the President has promised to veto this legislation should it reach his desk.

“America’s Iraq policy must change and we must begin bringing our troops home,” said Lipinski. “But while today’s legislation sends a strong message, if we are to truly get the President to change his Iraq policy we must have bipartisan support. That is why Congress must pass H.R. 2574, a bill I helped introduce which institutes the bipartisan recommendations of the Iraq Study Group. This bill has already garnered nearly 60 cosponsors, including more than 30 Republicans, and offers the only bipartisan plan for changing the course in Iraq and bringing our troops home.”

Among other things, H.R. 2574 would require the Iraqi government to meet real benchmarks in governance and reconciliation in order to receive continued U.S. economic and military support. This bill would also require the president to report back to Congress frequently and provide candid assessments of the situation on the ground in Iraq. Furthermore, this bill would shift U.S. military forces from a combat mission to training, equipping, and advising the Iraqi military and security forces. Finally, this bill would set a goal for a redeployment of most troops by April 1, 2008.

“The Iraq Study Group provided thoughtful recommendations on how we can move toward successfully concluding the war and bringing our troops home, and we should start implementing those immediately,” said Lipinski. “This bill provides the best chance to bring stability to Iraq while taking our troops out of harms way.”

The Iraq Study Group was created in March 2006 at the request of a bipartisan group of members of Congress and was co-chaired by former Secretary of State James Baker and former chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Lee Hamilton. In December 2006, the ISG released its recommendations and outlined a bipartisan approach to bringing a responsible conclusion to the Iraq war.

###

Keith DevereauxLegislative AssistantCongressman Dan Lipinski1717 Longworth H.O.B.Washington, D.C. 20515
Please sign up for E-News from Congressman Lipinski at http://www.lipinski.house.gov/

Il. Senator Maggie Crotty on state education

I'm going to start publishing some of the interesting press releases I get, just inc ase you are interested.

Ray Hanania
=====================

For Immediate Release: For More Information:
Wednesday, July 18, 2007

Crotty Joins Efforts to Prioritize Education in Budget Talks

SPRINGFIELD, IL –State Senator Maggie Crotty (D-Oak Forest) joined members of the Senate Education Committee this week for a discussion on education funding and its impact on the state budget. The Senate kicked off the week-long hearings by taking testimony from teachers, principals and school board members throughout the state.

"It is immensely helpful to begin the week’s hearings with testimony from those dealing with these issues every day," said Senator Crotty. "Unfortunately, many of the concerns shared by those on the panel were all too familiar."

"I began my career in public service by running for my local school board. In that position I gained firsthand knowledge of some of the inequities and inefficiencies plaguing our education system," said Senator Crotty. "My decision to run for the General Assembly was motivated by a strong desire to help improve public education in Illinois, and I’ve remained a vocal proponent of education funding reform throughout my tenure."

Other topics discussed with committee members included federal education testing requirements; the availability to meet the needs of gifted, special and bi-lingual students; societal and socio-economic challenges which teachers and administrators must deal with on a daily basis; school overcrowding; and the lack of classroom supplies from working copiers and computers to updated textbooks.

North Palos School District 117 President Chris Slowik echoed the concerns of many present, when she described the urgency of education funding reform in this current budget process. "If this budget is not passed," Slowik noted, "we still have to open up our doors. And we are committed to programs that we will still have to go ahead with."

"These Senate Education Committee hearings are helping to lay the foundation for productive discussions on education funding and an eventual budget compromise. As budget talks continue, I will continue to be a voice for increased funding for education and meaningful education funding reform along with property tax relief," said Crotty.

###

What do we do about terrorism?

A friend was so exasperated with all the news about terrorism threats -- al-Qaeda is stronger today than it was on Sept. 11, 2001, inspite of the "war on terrorism" (I like to call it the "war of errorisms") -- he wondered if it wasn't appropriate to prevent all foreigners from entering the United States.

Why stop there, I responded? Why not just jail everyone with dark skin and black hair, only allow White people who are "very pale," and who have blond hair. Lock the rest of them up. Would that be enough to stop terrorism? Why just terrorism? Why not stop crime, too and lock up everyone based on the national profile of who sits in our jails. (You think they are minorities but the majority of criminals are White.) Well, that explains why most Americans won't support extending the war on terrorism to the war on crime, too. Profiling only works when the targets are "dark people" from "foreign countries. As if we, Americans, are not from foreign countries ourselves.

You think being born here is what makes an American? I don't think so. I think Americans come from a spirit of freedom and the knowledge that freedom makes us safer. That the more freedom we have the more effective our fight against criminals and even terrorists. Can we stop crime or terrorism? No. Not even the Nazis could prevent rebellion and insurgencies and they imposed one of the most vicious and oppressive system on society, outside of Stalin.

There is no correlation between reducing crime and oppressive policies that deny freedoms to certain people based on profiling. Profiling merely makes us feel more comfortable with our failed war on terrorism and forgotten war on drugs, street gangs, crime and even homelessness and hunger. If we can profile, we have "someone" in custody or in our sights. That makes us feel good. And isn't that what the new American order is all about? Feeling comfortable in an environment of insanity?

No. The real answer to fighting terrorism is not to lock people up based on how they look, their "profiles." The real answer to fighting and defeating the terrorists is to be smart, professional and strategic. That means we make more friends in the world, not more enemies. We don't just target anyone, because innocent people become enemies when you treat them like enemies.

My only suggestion to start winning the war on terrorism is to do the one thing we must do in order to turn all this around. Impeach President Bush. File international war crimes charges against Vice President Dick Cheney. Put them in jail. If we're going to profile, let's arrest every politician in order to end government corruption. Because right no, we are not winning the war on terrorism. We are losing the war on terrorism and the reason we are losing is that we do not have a leader ho knows how to fight this ar the right way, the successful way, the intelligent way. Bush only survives in all this because he knows how to exploit our emotions.

"If we leave now the terrorists will win ... " Blah, blah, blah. He has no answers. He has no solutions. All he has is our fear, and his success is our fear.

-- Ray Hanania

Conrad Black and his "royal legacy" in Chicago

If anyone brought the Chicago Sun-Times to its ethical knees, it was Conrad Black. During his reign of terror, he undermined the newspapers integrity and launched vicious partisan issues campaigns that ignored journalistic principles and instead championed his pet causes.

So why are we not surprised by Black's pathetic conduct during the Federal Court room where he faces possible conviction on 16 criminal counts of fraud, tax evasion, racketeering and obstruction of justice -- things not normally associated with a "newspaper publisher," or with someone who has been "Knighted" byt he Queen -- the Queen of England, I should clarify.

Here is an Associated Press photograph of Black giving reporters the finger -- not even trying to be coy -- as he entered the Dirsken Federal Building courthouse on July 10, 2007.











Black is an idiot. He looks like a school yard bully. I remember reading a two page long column by his wife, Barbara Amiel -- a two page long column with no pictures -- arguing the most extremist view of the Middle East conflict.

Fortunately, the Chicago Sun-Times has shaken off Black at least for enough years to return to being a very prestigious and serious newspaper -- the reporters there, many my friends, deserve to work in an environment of journalistic excellence rather than under Black's black shadow.

The jury seems to be tussling with some serious issues. Charges involving tax evasion and racketeering are not always easy to sort out and they have been deliberating 11 days after saying they were having a hard time sorting through one or several of the 16 counts.

That's okay. Have faith, this jerk will get what he deserves, royally, hopefully.

-- Ray Hanania

Am I too grumpy, or just allowing my Middle East passions to get the best of me?

Here's a great letter I received froma reader today and I think she makes some great points that I thought I should share:

Hi Ray,

I hope you don’t mind the lack of formality. The fact that you enter my living room (or at least my kitchen!) each week through your newspaper
column makes me feel as though I know you.

I read your column weekly – or almost weekly. I have a three year old, so, of course, there are times when the newspaper becomes a table cover for my young artist to paint upon, before I had a chance to see it. I have to say, although I sometimes don’t agree with you, I respect the way you present your views, and I enjoy your column very much.

I’d like to comment on a few of your most recent columns, though. First of all, with regard to your column in this week’s edition, you ask, “Did we or did we not ban smoking in Orland Park?

And why?” I don’t live in Orland, and don’t follow its politics that closely, so I can’t comment on the first part of your question. But I would like to answer the second part. If smoking was banned, you ask why it was banned? The answer is simple: It was banned for the same reasons that liberal politicians ban anything else – because the liberal politicians think they know better than you do what is best for you, and will create laws upon laws to be sure that you (and I) do what THEY think is best for you!

I have one final comment on the tone of your last few articles: Be careful, Ray – you’re beginning to sound like a grumpy “old” man who is as judgmental about those about whom he is complaining!

Thanks for your columns. I really enjoy them, because your opinions have a great deal of thought behind them. And, believe it or not, many times (probably, more often than not) this conservative actually AGREES with you.

Sincerely,
DL

Here is my response:

Thanks so much DL

I appreciate your comments, and your constructive criticism ... the tragedy of today is that President Bush and the Iraq War have created this atmosphere where criticism of elected officials is portrayed as being personal rather than a part of the political process. In otherwords, challenging our elected officials and keeping their feet to the fire is as much a part of the job as them getting their (bloated and excessive and unearned) paychecks :)

It does disturb me that I get so involved in these issues. I wish I could just turn away and pretend everything is so good today. But I can't. I see 3,600 Americans die in a stupid war -- Bush opened the door to al-Qaeda in Iraq, almost saving them by giving them a place so uncontrollable that they can now use Iraq to train for future attacks against us.

I also worry that we have a bad priority list of what's important; sure, banning smoking is important but I don't believe the officials in Orland Park took that action because they thought it out. I believe they did what George Ryan did -- he made the death penalty a priority not because he even understood the issues, but because he hoped it might make him look like a real leader as he faced certain conviction for being a crook and a thief.

I have to be the cynic so you don't have to be. I have to look at good ideas and ask, why did they do it?

I don't like cigarette smoking, but there are so many other issues, for example, in Orland Park that go unaddressed, and I look at the move as a self-serving effort by one trustee to jump on a bandwagon. They proposed the ban, then lifted the ban because they saw how it was hurting local businesses that generate money for the community.

I do try to insert my personal feelings into the column because I think you deserve to hear how I really feel. Too many columnists write what they think you want to hear. I don't and I know that because ot everyone agrees with my views. But I do believe I owe you honesty and not to hold back.

But, I will try not to be grumpy :) ...

I do appreciate your bringing it up and I will post your letter on my blog (without posting you name) because I think you bring up a great point.

Thank you so much for reading the columns and taking the time to respond. I always appreciate and even learn from what readers write.

Ray

(Postscript: DL then wrote back saying she was talking about the National Anthem and the display of flags after Sept. 11. Many people like her really did put their flags out because of genuine patriotism. I believe her.)

Controversy over New Jersey Beauty Queen Amy Polumbo so exaggerated

The story that stands out this morning is the one about how some unknown blackmailer has been trying to embarrass New Jersey Beauty Queen Amy Polumbo. The person took pictures off of Amy's private FaceBook Page and then mailed copies threatening to expose her unless she quit her position as Miss America.

The best interview with her was by Matt Lauer at The Today Show -- he is a class act! Amy had NBC show the pictures to deflate what we have all become used to: expecting the salacious worst of people. Turns out the pictures are really nothing but the images that you might find in anyone's photo albums. She's just having fun with her friends including her boyfriends. Some embarrassing? Maybe. But serious enough to suggest she is not a role model. Puhlease!

Polumbo is like any young person. Give them a break to be young. Do we now have to watch what photos we take of our children acting like children, fearing that maybe they might come back to haunt them?

I think the photos show Amy to be just a normal girl, someone who is having nice clean fun.

If people are upset because two of the dozens of photos suggest some compromosing positions (no nudity, just some mild sexual implications), then let them start by taking on the real problem we have in society, the excessives that we see everyday and night on our television and media. Bad words. Sex. Violence. We see those every day.

-- Ray Hanania
www.hanania.com

Letters on Amy Jacobson

Ray,

Thank you for your insight on Mrs. Jacobson. None of us are perfect. Go figure, all those years that she sacrificed balancing family and work are easily forgotten. I have faith that the good citizens of the Chicagoland area (we are Hoosiers) will be seeing Amy appear once again. Shame on WBBM. They will no longer be watched.

Shame on the neighbor who was nothing more than a peeping tom over the fence.

Please pass our best wishes to her and her family.

Jim and Beth

Reporters in conflicts -- the tragedy of Amy Jacobson

I feel for Amy Jacobson, the WMAQ TV reporter who was (fill in the blank here, but she no longer works there) Tuesday when a competing news station (WBBM TV) videotaped her in a bikini at the Plainfield home of Craig Stebic, the estranged husband of Lisa Stebic, who has been missing since April 30.

Jacobson was covering the Lisa Stebic story for WMAQ TV. But, she brought her own two children (aged 2 and 3) to the Stebic home after, Jacobson explained, she was invited to the home by Stebic's sister to discuss the story followup. Jacobson's kids were playing with Stebic's kids and Jacobson was enjoying the extremely hot weather.

I know what she's going through. Nearly 18 years ago, I found myself in a similar situation when I started dating former City Treasurer Miriam Santos. The news media never gets the story right I discovered when I became the subject of news media coverage eight months later.

When I started dating Santos, I left the City Hall beat and transferred to the Cook County beat. In fact, I worked at Cook County for eight months before the controversy surfaced. The Sun-Times editors were fully aware of the relationship, as were the reporters who broke the story; my friend at the Chicago Tribune, John Kass, had dinner with us several times and knew we were dating.

Daley went after Santos by trying to compare here to Jane Byrne, and they used the fact that I was a reporter to do it; Jane Byrne's husband was the colorful and controversial former reporter, Jay McMullen. I don't really care about the whole thing today at all, except that a lot of innocent people (including my ex-wife) were unfairly hurt as a result.

Still, had it not been for that turn of events, I might not have met my current wife. We just celebrated our 10th anniversary and have the perfect marriage -- not withstanding that she is Jewish and I am Palestinian. The real problem is she is a Republican and I am a Democrat.

I can only guess that Jacobson is as much the victim of a bad choice on her part as she is the victim of a media that too often intentionally chooses the inaccurate story or implications because it is the "better" story.

Here's what was reported:

Jacobson told the newspaper she was on her way to go swimming with her kids on her day off when Stebic's sister, Jill, invited her to the house to discuss the
case.

"My kids were in the car with me," Jacobson said. "It was a way for me to do my work and have fun with my kids."

She said the video didn't show others who were at the home, including Craig's sister and other children.

"If a tape didn't exist, I know I would still have my job," she said. "The video they used was not indicative of the situation."Jacobson admitted she did not handle the situation properly.

"I know I made a lapse in judgment," she said. "I know it and I apologize for it. But I'm a competitive person and I did it to advance the story."

Imagine the implications in the Jacobson-Stebic story. I won't even get into them as everyone is already speculating on Craig Stebic himself and his estranged wife -- they were separated and getting divorced when she disappeared. You know what is being implied there. Too often, the husband turns out to be the bad guy and everyone is waiting for a shoe to drop on that case, even if no shoe will ever drop.

Regardless, I think Jacobson's 11 years of phenomenal reporting should have played into the decision by WMAQ TV to drop her. Isn't that always the case, though, years of achievement means nothing in the face of one moment of indiscretion or a personal mistake.

We're all human. We all make mistakes. I've made my share. And so will everyone reading this.

Rather than relishing in the story of Jacobson's demise, we should step back and consider the possibility that it was all an innocent mistake that would not be as appealing to the media as is the inuendo and suggestion of something worse.

-- Ray Hanania

NOTES:

Here is the WMAQ TV Bio of Jacobson, which was removed from the NBC site Tuesday night:

Amy Jacobson joined NBC5 News as a general assignment reporter in August 1996.

In her 10 years in Chicago, Jacobson has covered major assignments. She was in the locker room when the Chicago White Sox won the Pennant and the World Series. She also covered the Salt Lake Olympics.

As one of the most distinguished and well-respected reporters in the market, Jacobson has covered several local stories that have been picked up by the NBC network. She has been a featured reporter on the Today Show four times.

Prior to joining NBC5, Jacobson was a general assignment reporter at the Fox Affiliate WJBK-TV in Detroit, Mich. She worked at the ABC Affiliate KVIA-TV in El Paso, Texas, where duties included general assignment reporter, assignment editor and substitute producer/anchor.

Jacobson also spent time at KOLD-TV in Tucson, Ariz., where she was a morning anchor/producer, general assignment reporter and photographer/editor.

Jacobson started her career in journalism in 1992 at KSAX-TV in Alexandria, Minn., as a morning anchor/producer and general assignment reporter. Jacobson held an internship during college at KGAN-TV in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

A native of Mt. Prospect, Jacobson graduated Phi Beta Kappa from The University of Iowa with a Bachelor of Arts degree in broadcasting and film. Jacobson married Jaime Anglada in 2002. They have two boys, ages 2 and 1.

Drop Amy a line: amy.jacobson@nbc.com.

end

A few letters ...

Read your article, "Paris Gets Jail and Scooter Goes Free". How true. You hit the nail right on the head. Cheney should be impeached. No question about it.
Diane C. Bonacci
Syracuse, NY

NOTE: I'm not posting letters from those "Free Republic" freaks :)
Ray Hanania