Hmm-- Pay Attention WestSiders!

If Ike is being looked at, his puppet Emma Mitts (37th) can't be far behind!

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Federal authorities later today plan to announce charges against Ald. Ike Carothers (29th), the chairman of the City Council's police and fire committee, sources told the Sun-Times.

The U.S. Attorney's office would not confirm, deny, nor comment about the target of the charges.

They issued an alert today indicating that new charges are expected in a public corruption case involving an FBI investigation.

Federal prosecutors and the FBI will hold a 2 p.m. news conference.

Also, a U.S. Attorney’s spokesman said a separate, unrelated case involving racketeering activity, armed robberies, arson and illegal gambling will also be unsealed.

Last year, the Chicago Sun-Times disclosed that federal investigators had requested city records on four West Side zoning changes pushed by Carothers.

He had received campaign contributions from two of the businesses seeking the changes.

Also, a 2007 federal subpoena obtained by the Sun-Times also reveals a demand for documents including seven years worth of aldermanic expense records; 29th Ward zoning changes; ordinances introduced by Carothers, and correspondence between Carothers and the mayor's office regarding zoning changes.

The subpoena further demanded information on comments made and votes taken by Carothers since January 2001 before two City Council committees.

Carothers could not be reached for comment.

Last year, the Sun-Times reported that Carothers' New 29th Ward Campaign Committee had accepted, then returned $11,000 in campaign contributions from Morgan Properties, Inc., where FBI mole John Thomas is listed as "manager."

Thomas is a Chicago developer-turned-FBI mole who played a pivotal role in the federal investigation that culminated in the conviction of Tony Rezko, a leading fundraiser for and adviser to ousted Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

The Sun-Times has reported that Thomas amassed hundreds of hours of recorded conversations for federal investigators and wore a wire to record conversations with an unidentified Chicago alderman.

Thomas' motive for cooperating: He hopes to get probation for a felony fraud conviction.