Cicero offers $50,000 reward to solve 1983 double murder

Cicero on Tuesday offered a $50,000 reward to help solve a 17-year-old double homicide that Town President Betty Loren-Maltese saidmay have involved past and present Cicero police officers.Investigators found contradictions in case reports and eyewitnessaccounts that indicate some current and former Cicero police officersmay have been involved in the 1983 murders of Richard Ortiz andArthur Morawski and a subsequent cover-up, Loren-Maltese said. TheChicago Sun-Times reported in March that Loren-Maltese planned toissue the reward to help solve the case, which was reopened in 1998.

Daley backs retirement of cops, firefighters at 63 Mayor Daley isexpected to push today for reinstatement of mandatory retirement at 63 for police officers and firefighters to improve morale and bolsterminority representation in the command ranks. Earlier this year, cityattorneys said they were drafting such an ordinance, which wouldforce the retirement of 50 Chicago firefighters and 67 policeofficers. Then Daley said he was having second thoughts. The mayorstill values experience, but has reportedly concluded that aninfusion of new blood is needed.

Gun found in Gage Park High student's locker An unloaded .25-caliber gun was found Tuesday in a locker at Gage Park High School,authorities said. The gun was in one student's locker, but it washidden in the pocket of a jacket that belonged to a second student,Chief of School Operations Blondean Davis said. The principal of theschool at 5630 S. Rockwell said all students walked through metaldetectors Tuesday and she did not know how the gun got inside theschool, Davis said. Both students were questioned by police Tuesday,and one or both could face expulsion hearings, she said.

Amtrak service to Janesville starts Saturday Amtrak will beginrunning a new daily passenger train between Chicago and Janesville,Wis., on Saturday. It will stop in Glenview and eventually may stopnear Lake Geneva, an Amtrak spokesman said. The Lake Country Limitedwill leave Janesville in the early morning and return in the eveningfrom Chicago. The trip will take about three hours each way. One-waytickets will be $22.

Correction The headline on a story Monday about a mortgage firm'sletter telling taxpayers they had not paid property taxes should havesaid the matter was being reviewed by the Cook County state'sattorney's office.