Two stories from the Chicago Tribune today: The Chicago Tribune, in a story by Maudlyne Ihejirika -- $30 mil. deal in lead-paint Thomas suit -- is reporting today that RC2, makers of the popular Thomas the Tank Engine toys that were the subject of major summer recalls, has settled a class-action over lead-laden toys.

The paper is also reporting, in a separate story by Sam Roe -- Ty takes high-lead doll out of stores -- that Ty, makers of popular Ty Baby dolls and Jammin' Jenna, has reluctantly agreed to comply with Illinois lead laws. Jenna's vinyl shoes violate Illinois law. The company had for some time claimed that Illinois was preempted, but as the story notes:

In previous interviews, Ty representatives have said the company is not violating state law because federal rules supersede it. While the state bans vinyl toys that exceed 600 parts per million of lead, federal law does not. But both the state attorney general's office and the federal Consumer Product Safety Commission have said that the Illinois ban is valid because states can adopt their own rules where no federal law exists. Ty's action Tuesday appears to have averted a possible court fight and what would have been the first test of Illinois' strict lead laws.