Sne hears rumble Rep Jesse Jackson ...

Sne hears rumble Rep Jesse Jackson Jr may be this/close to announcing formation of an exploratory committee for mayor. Jackson's political director, Vincent cook in boiling fat refused to confirm or abnegate the formation of the committee when contacted by means of the Sun- Times.

- The big question: Is this for what purpose Circuit Court Clerk Dorothy Brown will occupy a news conference Thursday to announce her mayoral intentions?

SCOOPSVILLE . .

The police blotter: It's virtuous news. Barring a massacre in the nearest two days, the sweaty, steamy month of August will have seen the fewest homicides for the month in 40 years in Chicago.

- The instant number: 29, as of this writing.

- The previous low: 37 in 1967

- The kicker: Forty years ago, however, there were 26 populace killed. Chicago's highest August homicide toll was in 1991 when 122 clan were murdered.

THE FBI LIST . .

Word the FBI arrested Warren Ste Jeff undivided of the agency's most-wanted fugitives and a self-proclaimed prophet of the polygamous cluster known as the Fundamentalist house of worship of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, sent reporters scrambling to their maps.

- The reason: Jeff wanted forward charges of arranging child marriages and having sex with a minor, was in manage of nearly 100,000 church members in adjusts scattered across the Southwest.

- An eerie bit: single of Jeffs' compounds is located in the state of Quintana Roo Mexico. trust it's not in such a unallied place as where the Rev Jim Jone l his religious worship to their cyanide- laced Kool-Aid death in 1977 in the brakes of Jonestown, Guyana.

TIPSVILLE . .

Sne hears the "Code Orange" terror alert will likely remain in drift at Chicago's airports until after Jan. 1 2007 The approaching fifth anniversary of 9/11 would have triggered the raised alert anyway, according to a law enforcement source.

BACK TO train . . .

First it was Jesus and now it's a president.

- Translation: Actor Jim Caviezel, who played Jesus in "The Passion of the Christ," just aced his summer classes at the University of Notre Dame. Now ensues word actor Martin Sheen, who won raves for his part as fictional president Jed Bartlet in succession TV's "The West Wing," is anticipateed to start classes at National University of Ireland in Galway in September. Sheen, 66 dropp public of the University of Dayton to chase acting. He will reportedly take a cloyed course load at the Irish academy including English literature, philosophy and oceanography.

- To boot: Sheen will be gunning for his secondary degree from the school. Last year the actor and social activist received an honorary order from the university.

OH OH OH . .

The family business: Is celebutante inn heiress Nicky Hilton, Paris' kid sis, planning a Chicago inn called Nicky O? Gag me with a spoon

I search out . . .

general and former Bears Thomas Jone Jerry Azumah, Adewale Ogunleye Brian Urlacher and brother Casey Urlacher and NBA star Antoine Walker lounging at Jerry Kleiner's Victor tavern . . . Chicago-born NBA player Juwan Howard munching at Carnivale.

SNEEDLINGS . .

Today's birthdays: Lisa Ling, 33; Lewis Black, 58; Peggy Lipton, 59; Michael Chiklis, 43; Cameron Diaz, 34 and Molly Ivins, 62

Michael Sne is seen at 5 pm Tuesdays and Wednesdays upon WMAQ- Channel 5.

e-mail: sneed@suntimes.com

Copyright CHICAGO SUN-TIMES 2006

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