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Welcome to Clout Street: Morning Spin, our weekday feature to catch you up with what's going on in government and politics from Chicago to Springfield. Subscribe here.

Topspin

A busy week is on tap in Illinois politics from Chicago to Springfield.

The big thing to watch is the final scheduled week of the Illinois General Assembly's special session. Things resume today after a weekend where not much happened outside of a meeting with the legislative leaders that did not feature Gov. Bruce Rauner.

If they don't agree on either a full budget or stopgap by Friday (June 30), the state's credit rating likely will dip to junk status, giving Illinois anignominious distinction among the 50 states. Illinois residents also might not be able to play Powerball or MegaMillions lottery games anymore if the association that runs those multistate games gives us the boot. And the Illinois Department of Transportation could halt road projects, throwing thousands out of work at least temporarily.

On Tuesday, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is in town for a sponsored speech to the American Library Association. And an Astroturf group will rally at the Thompson Center plaza against the new Cook County soda pop tax, which takes effect Saturday.

And on Wednesday, the Chicago City Council meets.

What's on tap

*Mayor Rahm Emanuel will appear with Chicago Police Supt. Eddie Johnson at a "cultural awareness training initiative" at the DuSable Museum of African American History, with Sen. Dick Durbin to tout a new gun law that allows judges to crack down on repeat offenders, and welcome a new class of police recruits.

*Gov. Rauner will be just over the border joining Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds to break ground on a bridge project.

*Diana Rauner, president of the Ounce of Prevention Fund and Illinois first lady, speaks to the City Club of Chicago.

*The IllinoisHouse and Senate continue in special session.

*State Sen. Daniel Biss, a Democratic governor hopeful, will hold a rally with unions to pressure Gov. Rauner to sign the $15-an-hour minimum wage bill. What's the occasion? It'sabout to be sent to the governor, which is a new one on us.

From the notebook

*On the Sunday Spin: Chicago Tribune political reporter Rick Pearsons guests were state Sen. Jason Barickman, R-Bloomington; state Rep. Lou Lang, D-Skokie; and state Sen. Bill Brady, R-Bloomington. The Sunday Spin airs from 7-9 a.m. on WGN AM-720. Listen to the full show here.

What we're writing

*Monday Springfield story: Madiganoffers his wish list in exchange for Rauners property tax freeze.

*Sunday Springfield story:With a week to go, Rauner and Madigan cant even agree on meeting.

*Saturday Springfield story: Rauner signsEmanuel-backed gun bill.

*Rauner names new DCFS director.

*Scrutinybuilds over Berrios property tax assessments; inspector general investigating.

*FAQ on Preckwinkle's Cook County soda pop tax.

*Pence stops in Chicago to meet with top Republicans.

*White House suggests one finalist for U.S. attorney postin Chicago.

*Chicago City Council poised to approve$1.3 million settlement in fatal police chase.

*Petition pushes for "Hipster Highway" bike lanein Wicker Park.

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Morning Spin: Clinton speech, special session, City Council meeting mark busy week - Chicago Tribune

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said in an interview on Sunday that after losing an election, you shouldnt blame others, only yourself.

In an interview with George Stephanopoulos on ABC News This Week, Schumer discussed how Democrats should move forward after their latest election loss, which they suffered on Tuesday in Georgia when Democrat Jon Ossoff was beaten by Republican Karen Handel.

Democrats need a strong, bold, sharp-edged and commonsense economic agenda, Schumer said. Policy, platform message that appeal to the middle class, that resonate with the middle class, and show that, and unite Democrats.

This economic message platform is going to resonate, Schumer added. Its what we were missing, and its not going to be baby steps; its going to be bold.

Then, likely without even realizing it, Schumer made a statement virtually identical to the many made by those who have been critical of how Clinton has handled herself since losing to Donald Trump in the 2016 election.

But you lose an election, you dont blame other people, you blame yourself, Schumer said.

Schumers claim that Democrats shouldnt blame other people seems to conflict with Clintons strategy of continuously blaming everyone but herself for losing to Trump, a candidate many analysts believed couldnt win.

In May, Clinton told New York Magazine she would have won had it not been for the actions of former FBI Director James Comey and others.

I would have won had I not been subjected to the unprecedented attacks by Comey and the Russians, aided and abetted by the suppression of the vote, particularly in Wisconsin, Clinton said.

Whoever comes next, this is not going to end. Republicans learned that if you suppress votes you win, Clinton added.

A number of Democrats have since grown frustrated with Clintons blame game, which they believe will hurt the partys long-term chances.

In June, after Clinton bashed the partys voter data, which she called mediocre to poor, former Democratic Party data director Andrew Therriault said, DNC data folks, todays accusations are f***ing bulls**t, and I hope you understand the good you did despite that nonsense, Therriault tweeted, according to the Washington Examiner.

Although it seems as though Schumer didnt intend to knock Clinton in Sundays interview, his message is one many in both the Democratic Party and Republican Party have been attempting to convey to Clinton in recent months so far, to no avail.

See the original post here:
Chuck Schumer accidentally crushes Hillary Clinton in latest interview - TheBlaze.com

MORRISON A hold put on proceedings in a wrongful death suit filed against a woman who hit and killed a motorcyclist more than 5 years ago is coming to an end.

Theresa Ruf, 47, is charged with reckless homicide and failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident in the June 5, 2012, death of Samuel L. Munz, 53, of rural Sterling. Ruf rear-ended Munz as he was waiting to make a left turn into his driveway.

Munzs family also sued Ruf on Aug. 15, 2012.

On March 12, 2013, Rufs attorney, James Pignatelli, argued that a stay should be granted because information that would be made public in the civil suit might incriminate her in her criminal case.

Ruf was granted an indefinite stay, meaning evidence involving her, including a deposition, could not be obtained by Jim Mertes, the familys attorney, until the court allowed it. The stay did not apply to any other discovery in the civil case.

On March 29, Mertes filed a motion to lift the stay. Among his arguments:

Ruf never asserted her Fifth Amendment rights when she was answering interrogatories in the criminal case, nor did she invoke when she answered the complaint in the civil suit. In fact, she admitted driving the SUV that struck Munz, that she had no insurance at the time, and that she had a drink at Kellys 2 hours before the crash.

Rufs waivers to date have dramatically reduced the extent to which she would be burdened by any further invocation of Fifth Amendment privilege, he wrote.

In terms of self-incrimination, it would be up to Ruf to decide if and what to say in either case it may be a difficult choice, but its still a choice; shes not being compelled to incriminate herself, and therefore lifting the stay would not violate her Fifth Amendment protection.

Illinois appellate courts routinely have denied requests for stays of civil proceedings when there is a related criminal case.

Perhaps Mertes most compelling argument, though:

At the time he filed his motion to lift the stay, Ruf had been granted 36 motions to continue the criminal case, causing a delay of nearly 5 years since the civil suit was filed. That timeline is unfairly affecting Munzs wife, Vicky, who relied on him for his income, is impairing the resolution of his estate, and is an unreasonable delay in the familys attempt to seek justice, shifting the balance from Rufs right not to self-incriminate to the familys right to seek redress, Mertes argued.

Whiteside County Judge Stanley Steines agreed, and on June 5 5 years to the day since the crash ordered that the stay be lifted, either 30 days after the conclusion of the criminal case, or on Sept. 1, whichever comes first.

The trial in the criminal case is scheduled for July 18, but that date may change. Ruf has a pretrial conference Wednesday.

In addition, Sauk Valley Medias request to be allowed to photograph and to use electronic devices to report the proceedings in Rufs criminal case was granted, with one restriction.

On May 8, Pignatelli filed an objection to SVMs request, in which he cited his clients unspecified medical condition and said allowing news cameras would substantially impair her ability to defend herself.

He later modified his objection, asking that video cameras only not be allowed at the hearings. The judge agreed to the terms on June 8.

Under a program launched 5 years ago by the Illinois Supreme Court, enhanced, or extended, media coverage is allowed at those hearings and trials that are open to the public.

Among other things, media are allowed to use a limited number of still and video cameras, audio equipment and cellphones from which reporters can tweet or text developments, to broaden coverage of proceedings. Pooling the information with other media that request it is a main requirement.

Shooting images of jurors and recording discussions between attorneys and their clients, opposing attorneys, or sidebars with the judge, are prohibited.

While the presumption is such access should be granted, witnesses or attorneys and their clients can object to the extended coverage.

It is up to the presiding judge to decide whether the basis for the objections has merit, either by ruling on submitted, written arguments or by holding hearings and listening to testimony, or both.

Judges are given wide latitude in determining whether to restrict extended coverage.

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Whiteside County judge lifts stay in wrongful death suit - SaukValley.com

Search Engine Optimisation or SEO is the process of optimising a website to rank on top of the search engine results pages for highly targeted keywords (search queries that potential customers key in to find your products and services).

Organic search traffic is also ranked one of the most effective digital marketing channels when it comes to converting qualified prospects into paying customers. Marketing Land

This intensive 2-day Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Training course covers the most up-to-date search marketing strategies and how to implement them to your existing businesses.

To better facilitate the learning, each participantwillbe provided with a demo website for practical sessions on keyword research, on-page optimization, and link building. Participantswill also have the opportunity to work on their own websites should they choose to.

In order to reinforce the concepts learned, participantswill participate in live exercises, group discussions, role-playing, Q&A sessions, and undertake quizzes aftereach module.

By the end of the course, participantswill take away actionable SEO strategies that will enable them to manage their own SEO campaigns, be able to spot any tell-tale signs of a third party SEO vendor should hiring onebe necessary, and oversee SEO campaigns as an SEO head.

Unfamiliar with any SEO terms mentioned here? Check outourA-Z SEO Glossary of Terms & Definitions.

The 4 Pillars of a Successful SEO Strategy

In this SEO workshop, participantswill learn:

Key Features

Weve partnered industry-leading SEO SaaS companies to provide you with premium access to a suite of SEO tools during the course:

By the end of the class, participantswill:

Marketing professionals, Web developers, Content developers, and Marketing managers who are required to understand how search engines work in order to manage SEO campaigns and oversee SEO vendors, as well as how to develop/optimize content and webpages to increase search rankings.

Basic computer knowledge.Each participant will be provided a windows laptop for the duration of the course. Participants may however opt to bring their own laptops.

A live website will not be required as students will be provided with demo websites to hands-on with both on-page and off-page SEO techniques on dummy webpages to increase search rankings. Participants will also be given the opportunity to apply the knowledge learnt to their own websites during class.

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

Instructor-led | Mode of delivery (Presentation, quiz)

For a beginners introduction to SEO, check out our free guide: Step-by-StepBeginner SEO Tutorial

The first section of the course provides participants with an overview of the course and what to expect from the 2 day session. The fundamentals of search marketing will be covered including:

CHAPTER 2: KEYWORD RESEARCH

Instructor-led | Mode of delivery (Presentation, demonstration, case studies, small group discussions, role-playing, practical, quiz)

Free guide: How to Conduct Keyword Research Like a Pro

CHAPTER 3: ON-SITE OPTIMISATION

Instructor-led | Mode of delivery (Presentation, demonstration, case studies, small group discussions, role-playing, practical, Q&A, quiz)

Free guide: SEO Keyword Optimisation Guide

CHAPTER 4: LINK BUILDING

Instructor-led | Mode of delivery (Presentation, demonstration, case studies, small group discussions, role-playing, practical, Q&A)

Free guide: How to Build Links to Your Website (A 4-Step Link Building Methodology)

CHAPTER 5: Local & International SEO, Reporting, and Campaign Management Principles

Instructor-led | Mode of delivery (Presentation, Q&A, quiz)

Download SEO course brochure.

In addition, Dylans passion for SEO grows on the class. Another reason why Equinet Academy SEO Course is value for money is the free consultation that he provides during breaks. Students who prefer a more personal and private session could often be seen seeking his advice and expertise during lunch breaks and after classes. He would take every student seriously and approach each issue patiently and objectively. It is evident that Dylan is committed to ensure that his students understand and grasp the concepts that are being taught. Alison Liew Heartlandboy.com

Dylan Sun

Recognized as the authority in the fields of Search Engine Marketing and Web Design by some of the Worlds leading companies, Dylan made it his mission to train and consult businesses and individuals to establish a successful and above all profitable online presence.

Throughout his career as a Search Engine Marketing specialist, he has consulted on technical SEO and offered actionable advice on Search Engine Marketing for SingHealth, Fuji Xerox Asia Pacific, LHN Group, Academic Institutions, Government Organisations, and companies in the Infocomms, Travel, Hotel, Retail, and B2B & B2C industries.

Passionate in all aspects of Digital Marketing, Dylan enjoys authoringarticles relating to Digital Marketing. You can find his work on Techinasia, LinkedIn Pulse, Business2Community, and Equinet Academy. In 2013, Dylan founded Equinet Academy and currentlyfacilitates courses there. He has also conducted workshops for various organisations including Singapore Institute of Managements (SIM) Marketing Executive Group (MEG).

Dylan also holds certifications in Google AdWords, Google Analytics, and the Advanced Certificate in Training and Assessment (ACTA) awarded by WDAs Institute of Adult Learning (IAL). He currently manages digital marketing campaigns for several companies in Asia, all observing a significant increase in leads and online conversions, leading to a stable profit growth.

Alternatively, you may email your registration details to register@equinetacademy.com

Click to register via Gmail (Desktop)

Click to register via email e.g. Outlook (Mobile & Desktop)

Or call us to register at:

+65 6745 0745

Excerpt from:
SEO (Search Engine Optimization) Training Course 2017 ...

The following is the final article in a three-part series from IBM. Read part 1 here and part 2 here.

Step 3: Learn.

It's easy to say marketers, especially social media marketers, have to be data savvy. But it's quite another in practice, when analytics has been in the wheelhouse of specialized data scientists. Especially when you move beyond simple web analytics, in most cases, they're the only ones who really knew how to make sense of all that data coming your way.

Until now. Simple-to-use yet powerful analytic tools are now available for the everyday marketer, merchandiser. and back-office process manager. You can access customer insights in real time, including the ability to understand how your customers are engaging with your brand through social and messaging channels. And save your (very expensive and probably over-taxed) data scientist for those truly complex analyses or one-time model setups.

Moreover, predictive analytics can be help you determine -- in real time while the customer is in your chat -- what offer is most relevant to a particular customer, predict their lifetime value and churn propensity, and even determine the optimal discount to get them to convert. The outcome of each engagement goes into a feedback loop, allowing the models to be continuously fine-tuned.

The marketing and operations teams can even monitor the relative importance of the drivers of performance to fine tune your marketing -- and your business. These tools move beyond pretty visualizations to help you look at where their customer experience is breaking, and even suggest next best actions or higher performing customer journeys. In other words, these tools help to learn from your customers' behavior and react quickly to their ever-changing needs.

Image: Watson Chat Bot and Predictive Analytics in Action

Read more about how IBM can help marketers engage successfully with their customers through mobile and social channels. You can also download their whitepaper here.

Read the original here:
Chat: the gaping hole in your social media strategy (Part 3) - Marketing Dive