In brief: Flake wins heated primary in Arizona

Phoenix – Arizona Rep. Jeff Flake defeated wealthy businessman Wil Cardon on Tuesday in an unexpectedly feisty Republican U.S. Senate primary race marked by accusations of hypocrisy, broken promises and flip-flopping.

The six-term congressman had 70 percent of the vote in early returns. He will face Democrat Richard Carmona, who was surgeon general under President George W. Bush, in the November general election to succeed retiring Republican Sen. Jon Kyl.

One or both major parties also had primary races in all nine of Arizona’s U.S. House districts, including a two-incumbent rivalry between freshman Republican Reps. Ben Quayle and David Schweikert, who were pitted against each other by redistricting. Schweikert was leading 53 percent to 47 percent in early returns.

Illinois governor vetoes Chicago casino

Chicago – Citing Chicago’s reputation of mobsters and corruption, Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn vetoed a plan Tuesday to bring casinos to the city and four other areas, leaving irked lawmakers with the task of overruling him.

Quinn squashed a proposal that supporters – including Chicago’s mayor – said could create tens of thousands of jobs and millions of dollars for the cash-strapped state, saying the plan lacked regulatory oversight and ethical standards. He took specific aim at the proposed Chicago casino, saying it would have been allowed to operate under different rules, making it vulnerable to “unsavory influence.”

“We’re not going to have loopholes for mobsters in Illinois,” said Quinn, himself a Chicago Democrat whose two predecessors are in prison for corruption.

Supporters immediately vowed to fight back, claiming they had enough support to move forward with the plan. The bill also calls for allowing slot machines at horse racing tracks.