former state representative derrick smith was not in court yesterday his lawyers attacked the credibility of the government's confidential informant an individual who said recorded conversations with smith show he took a $7,000 bribe ... there was an ethics investigation and derrick smith is trying to win back his house seat ... many democrats have coalesced around an alternate it remains to be seen whether and how he will have enough votes to defeat derrick smith chicago alderman sandi jackson stood up reporters outside one of her fundraisers. the 7th ward alderman celebrated her birthday yesterday with a fundraiser in hyde park. jackson didn't want to talk to reporters when she arrived. she did tell them she'd be right back ... but she never came out. jackson then told her guests the "jackals" were outside referring to the media. she also told them that her husband, congressman jesse jackson junior, is home and feeling better. the congressman is on a leave of absence as he gets treated for bipolar disorder. drew peterson's leed attorney is asking a will county judge to postpone peterson

conversation part of the sting operation that according to prosecutors captured then a representative derrick smith accepting a $7,000 bribe. he hopes to win back the 10th district after fellow state legislators voted 100-6 to expel him after he was or rested. >> the irony is that there is a concern of efforts by a lot of democrats to have someone else elected someone who doesn't even live in the district. let's tyson is the man that anderson is talking about. yes, tyson concedes he lives just outside the tents after redistricting outside boundaries but he says he knows what's ailing people on the west side and he will bring a competent leadership to the 10th district. i am going to draft a bill that creates tax credits for employers to hire ex offenders and the only way to address the violence question in my opinion is not by looking folkslocking folks up. he worked with then state senator barack obama and he says derek smith needs to step aside. enough is enough, time is up selfless politics is over, the true democrats, myself are stepping up to make sure that we end the process. how about this a