To the Plows!
Daley reversed his position on limited plowing and resumed full-blown plowing and de-icing throughout the city. He must have been reading Fuel.
Daley reversed his position on limited plowing and resumed full-blown plowing and de-icing throughout the city. He must have been reading Fuel.
Power to the southbound tracks on the CTA's Blue Line downtown has been shut off after a woman was struck and badly injured by a subway train at 8:15 this morning. Blue Line customers are being advised to use alternate service into the Loop.
Following a federal appeals court decision, it looks like 330 more red light cameras are on our way.
A fugitive leader of Chicago's Latin Kings gang was captured in Mexico.
Barack Obama and Roland Burris are both leaving Chicago and headed for D.C. One may be back a lot sooner than the other.
With all of the talk about the Chicago school's problems regarding the recent financial crisis, Raghuram Rajan wants people to know the U of C was also leading the warnings.
If Chicago's weather in 2008 seemed a little unusual, you weren't wrong.
CTA raised their rates, parking meters are more expensive, and someone has already been shot. I would stay home today if I were you.
The increasingly relevant Lt. Quinn announced the 2008 Environmental Hero Awards featuring more than a handful of Chicagoans.
Ah, there's nothing more exciting than an academic smackdown, like the one between U of C economist and Freakonomics author Steven Levitt and Northwestern Northeastern criminologist James Alan Fox on the subject of black teen murder rates. Levitt criticized Fox for "ominous reports he produced about juvenile homicide...in the 1990s." Oh, snap!
A Blue Man Group actor and a suburban assistant principal were arrested for having sex in Lincoln Park near Montrose Harbor last night. That will not end well. UPDATE: Blue Man Group issued a statement saying that the man arrested has never been a member of the cast.
Our city's freaky up-and-down weather has one bone-jarring side effect: potholes. As of Monday there were more than 1,100 dotting the city landscape and threatening to bust axles. The city says it's on it and you can file a claim for any damages. Incidentially, if you're driving east past the Heart 'O' Chicago motel, don't let that shallow looking puddle on the right side of the road fool you. Trust me.
Breathalyzer installation: $80. Monthly equipment and monitoring fees: $110. Taking a cab and avoiding the whole mess: Priceless. Illinois is gearing up for a whole new type of crackdown on first-time DUI offenders in the new year, hoping that inconvenience, cost and embarrassment will be enough to dissuade potential drunk drivers. [via]
First snow hit the city, then ice, then fog...and now, today's temperatures will be in the mid-60s, along with flooding dangers due to rain and melting remnants of the past two weeks, which has already closed part of the Dan Ryan and streets near the Des Plaines and Du Page rivers. Check traffic before you get on the roads.
You weren't the only one who was having trouble negotiating their way around town over all that ice. A few other people did their share of slippin' and slidin' too.
"[B]lacks in Chicago are the most isolated racial group in the nation's 20 largest cities, according to a Tribune analysis of 2008 population estimates. To truly integrate Chicago, 84 percent of the black or white population would need to change neighborhoods."
With Monday night's slaying, there have been 500 murders in Chicago this year.
Hope you're not headed out of town today -- the weather has snarled pretty much every mode of transportation: planes, trains and automobiles. Even ice skates.
A man flew 125 feet off of the Dan Ryan this morning when his car struck a wall and "ejected" him. The Stroger Hospital spokesman reported that his injuries are not life-threatening.
Usually it takes four years in office for it to happen, but grey hair has already been spotted sprouting on Barack Obama's head. Judge for yourself here (from a 2007 photo) and here (on the cover of Rolling Stone from this year).
... that is, since cops caught the guy videotaping a women's restroom.
The Cook County Sheriff's latest sting to arrest those with outstanding warrants involved a "sweepstakes" called Shoptastic Solutions. When people attempted to collect their prizes, they were arrested.
Drew Peterson's announcement that he is engaged is not true, and is actually a publicity stunt meant to embarrass a woman who denied his advances, says the boyfriend of Romeoville waitress Christina Raines, who has denied that she and Peterson are romantically involved. Peterson contends that Raines' boyfriend is lying. Maybe they can work this issue out on Springer.
Wanna be an alderman? The city of North Chicago has two seats on their city council that apparently nobody wants.
Like zombies from a George Romero movie, the good people at Wal-Mart keep coming back. They're going to try one more time to open their second store in Chicago.
First they sold off the parking meters, now City Council is weighing a proposal for a "congestion reduction fee" on parking spaces downtown. Proceeds would theoretically go to the CTA for service improvements.
Yes, we live in a world in which we can have "a typical pet-hoarding situation."
The Chicago Archdiocese has agreed to pay $1.4 million to a man who claimed he was sexually abused by a priest twenty years ago.
Just so you know, the Ghostbusters don't exist.
The latest twist in the Blagojevich saga and it's a strange one: a former mob lawyer says the governor was formerly a bookie with ties to the mob. (A tip of the hat for the tip to the Reader).
The father of Drew Peterson's reported fiancee Christina Raines has spoken to the press about his future son-in-law.
That's right: the Streets of Woodfield mall is a major distribution points for crack and cocaine. Even better? One of the arrestees allegedly sold crack at his son's football games.
It's not surprising given the current economic conditions, but still troubling: the Salvation Army is facing financial trouble due to a big drop in donations.
Drew Peterson is engaged to a 23-year-old woman who will be his fifth wife. According to the S-T, "Peterson said he does not believe his marital status should prevent him from becoming engaged. 'I was married to Kathleen when I was engaged to Stacy,' he said." The heart wants what it wants, people.
Someone talked concrete with Blago ...and now they're talking to the Feds.
Well before bleeps and Blagos the national lens was focused on the story within a story of local NBC reporter Amy Jacobson's supposed impropriety. Now Chicago Mag has a feature article which details the scandal and Jacobson's pending lawsuit. Meanwhile, Lisa Stebic's disappearance remains a mystery.
As expected, the Illinois House led by Speaker Michael Madigan has begun the move to impeach Gov. Blagojevich. Madigan says he's been reviewing grounds for impeaching Blago for "about a year."
Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan has begun the process to declare Governor Blagojevich unfit to serve.
The NY Times is playing around with a new format on its website wherein one can read articles by the Times, as well as numerous other online and print sources, including some from the Tribune company.
Don't let her (alleged) potty mouth fool you. Patti Blagojevich's family insists she's a sweet kid.
Two Chicagoans were amongst the 23 recipients of the Presidential Citizens Medal, second only to the Medal of Freedom in civilian recognition. One person honored you may know: Gary Sinise, for his work helping both Iraqi children and children of military members serving there. The second is Rev. John Foley, founder of a high school network that focuses on the "nation's most vulnerable youth."
OK, enough about the governor. What about the man who brought him down? The New York Times has the lowdown on Chicago's new "Eliot Ness," U.S. attorney Pat Fitzgerald.
She's known for her "scoops," but Sun-Times columnist Michael Sneed may be part of one now, this one involving Gov. Blagojevich. Gawker alleges that Sneed was the gov's "go-to reporter" for planting fake stories designed to extort money in exchange for passing off Obama's vacant Senate seat.
The AP and Bloomberg are reporting that Bank of America has agreed to offer Republic Windows & Doors additional credit to pay its workers, now in their fifth day of sit-in. Of course, it won't matter if Republic doesn't take the offer.
WGN is reporting that federal authorities have taken Gov. Blagojevich and his Chief of Staff John Harris into custody. UPDATE: the US Attorney's office will hold a press conference at 11am today(live streaming footage here) to discuss the federal corruption charges leveraged against the Governor, which apparently stemmed from the search for a senate replacement for President-Elect Obama. The Trib , NYT and the S-T also have coverage. The Smoking Gun has the criminal complaint document on their site.
Interesting development in the Republic Windows & Doors story: its owners may have already started a new company. (More updates in Mechanics.)
Though the presidential election has long since been decided, two of the most controversial figures from that historic campaign are still hanging around like zombies and popping up in the news: Chicagoans' Bill Ayers and Rev. Jeremiah Wright.
The WSJ reports that the Tribune Company has hired financial consultants Lazard to guide them through the process of filing for bankruptcy protection. The Trib itself says that they're exploring their options and that decisions have yet to be made.
Republic Windows and Doors had their credit line closed by Bank of America, so they closed their doors on Friday and laid off their employees with no notice, severance or benefits. The workers joined forces and took over the factory. They plan to stay there until they get paid. UPDATE: Photos from the factory on Sunday. UPDATE II: Read more about this in Mechanics.
Chicago radio legend (yeah, it's pretty safe to call him that) Steve Dahl signed off on his WJMK morning show. Dahl has been a fixture on the fickle Chicago radio scene for more than 30 years.
Oprah Winfrey is number 1 on The Hollywood Reporter's Power 100 list for 2008. No doubt her recent appearance on "30 Rock" helped her nab the spot. This ranking is an improvement over her 2007 standing, when she came in at sixth place.
The CTA unveiled new hybrid buses today that plug into an electrical outlet at night and run on battery power for most of the day. The move is estimated to save the CTA almost $7 million annually in maintenance, labor and fuel costs by retiring aging buses.
Working together as "Fix Wilson Yard," more than 2,000 residents of the Uptown neighborhood filed suit (PDF) against the City of Chicago today, challenging numerous abuses in the creation, planning, implementation and funding of the Wilson Yard Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District and the corresponding Wilson Yard Redevelopment Plan. Sure, we're happy Target is on board, but where's our movie theater?
Tired of dodging the city tow trucks thanks to that fistful of parking tickets you've collected? The Department of Revenue is giving you a break.
The Trib has story on Chicago connections to the recent tragedy in Mumbai. Update: At least one Chicagoan was killed in the attacks.
"I've got some cayenne pepper and a leaf blower. What could go wrong?"
A friend and fellow Cubs fan joked to me the other day he was re-thinking his vote because he's tired of seeing Obama in Sox gear on the national news. Yesterday, the President-Elect's press team miffed at least one reporter by nonchalantly invoking the rivalry.
Believe it or not, you can get gas in Chicago for less than $2 a gallon. Not in a nearby suburb, not across the Skyway in Indiana, but actually within the city limits, specifically at a BP and Mobil station at 76th Street near the Dan Ryan Expressway.
So what were you doing when you heard the news? The Chicago Reporter wants to know your reaction when you first heard that Barack Obama had won the election as part of their upcoming "50 Days/50 Voices" project. Video, audio and essays are all welcome.
Election night wasn't only a bad night for Republicans; some Austin residents are suing over police actions.
Getting on the Obama bus to Washington might be tough -- more than 200,000 resumes have been submitted on Change.gov so far. You might have better luck on the state level.
A 22-year veteran Chicago cop could lose his job over a $1 bag of trail mix.
The Chicago Reporter reports that the African-American HIV/AIDS Response Fund, created just two years ago, could be on the chopping block along with several other important health initiatives due to the state's budget shortfalls.
Crime novelist and lawyer Laura Caldwell was mugged while jogging in Lincoln Park last week. Her latest novel, coming out soon, just happens to feature a nearly identical scene, set in Old Town.
Bump J was arrested downstate on an outstanding warrant when stopped for a traffic violation. Here's a song of his that was produced by Kanye; you may recognize it from a McDonald's commercial. Oops.
Business Week just named Mt. Prospect the best community in the nation for raising children. Des Plaines and Palatine were runners-up. Rankings were created from towns with a population over 50,000 and a median household income between $40,000-$100,000.
The Diplomat Hotel, an SRO in Lakeview known best for its neon sign visible from the CTA, may be shut down if its owner continues to block fire inspectors from checking on code compliance.
A local woman's story of domestic violence calls into question some of the legal issues surrounding abusers, victims, and their children.
Time Magazine gives us the 411 on Barack Obama's right-hand woman, Valerie Jarrett, aka "big sister."
If Chicago ever becomes a high-speed rail stop, we've already got the station for it. Or at least the design for the station.
Evanston police report that a 90-year-old woman has been living in a house with three deceased siblings, one of whom probably died in the early '80s.
The old main post office maybe finally be getting a new life as an office and condo development, according to the Sun-Times. The plan also calls for reducing the middle section that rests over the Eisenhower Expressway. To be fair, the building hasn't been totally useless over the years, appearing in two very popular movies recently.
Tribune critics list the Chicago-connected bands/performers they'd like to see at the Barack Obama inauguration balls, ranging from the Staple Singers to Obama favorite, Wilco.
See, things are already changing after Barack Obama's election victory: Mayor Daley wants to give parking ticket scofflaws a break on unpaid tickets issued before 2007. The amnesty period would run from Dec. 1 to Feb. 14.
The OTHER big story on Election Night? Apparently it's Michelle Obama's dress. The Sun-Times and others from around the world weigh in on her duds.
If you'd like to see different ways Obama splashed across frontpages in newspapers today, check out Daily Kos' roundup, or go country-by-country at the Newseum.
Well, SOMEBODY'S making money in this lousy economy: The firm that installed and maintains the red light traffic cameras just scored a cool $32 million payday from the city.
A day before her grandson has a chance to make history, Madelyn Dunham, Barack Obama's grandmother, has died in Honolulu. Obama credits her with being one of the major inspirations in his life.
The city's Northside College Prep high school once again nabbed the top spot in a survey of area schools. But the news wasn't all good: Chicago schools also claimed 42 of the 50 lowest scoring spots on the list as well.
Recent problems with the construction of The Chicago Spire and selling out Trump Tower is leading some to speculate that Chicago is losing its "skyscraper swagger."
Meant to vote early but just haven't gotten around to it? You've got until 5 p.m. this evening. Get a move on (not to be confused with Move On).
To head off another "Great Egg War" this Halloween, an Evanston and Chicago alderman are asking area merchants to stop selling eggs to youths until after the holiday.
...or rather the othe way around as this one pooch demonstrated. We knew the city was popular tourist destination, but...
After 61 years of the Terrills writing the Just Dogs column for the Daily Herald, it was retired yesterday. Originally started by Dave Terrill in 1947, his wife Alice officially picked it up when he passed away in 1982. By the way, at 91, she's retiring to travel and represent the Lions Club.
The mother of the "person of interest" in the Hudson family slayings says her son was "no way" involved in the tragic shootings. She spoke to CNN's Nancy Grace last night.
Actually, MillerCoors time, the mash-up of two of the biggest brewers in the country. The company has tabbed downtown Chicago as the site of its new headquarters.
Rick Beard, the director of Springfield's Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, was fired by the governor today after he was recently arrested for shoplifting a $40 DVD box set of the fourth season of "House" at a local Target store. Beard's job earned a $150K annual salary.
The days may be numbered for Hyde Park's Village Center shopping district. Plans for a 150-unit condo are underway and just needs the city's John Hancock on the deal. One of the area's blogging watchdogs, Hyde Park Progress, wrote about the future of the site a while back.
Remember the teenage train engineer? Guess how he was caught: putting pictures on myspace.
UPDATE: The body of a young boy found shot on the West Side has been positively identified as that of Julian King, nephew of Oscar-winning actress and Chicago native Jennifer Hudson.
According to AP reports, Chicago police have found the body of a boy on the city's West Side and have towed a white SUV from the scene. Police have not IDd the victim. Julian King, the seven-year-old nephew of Chicago native and Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson has been missing for several days and police issue an Amber Alert for the and were looking for a white Chevy Suburban.
The mother and brother of Oscar-winning actress and singer Jennifer Hudson were fatally shot in their south side home earlier this afternoon. An Amber Alert has been issued for Hudson's missing seven year-old nephew Julian King, who was likely taken by the suspected murderer.
Some Metra riders recently had a surprise guest engineer: a teenager.
Even with a smaller population than New York City and Los Angeles, Chicago leads them both in murders so far this year. A Chicago Police Department rep says cops tied down with paperwork may be partly to blame.
Bring some quarters along with that sunscreen when you go to the beach next year. The Chicago Park District will charge for all 4,000 parking spots along Lake Michigan, specifically $1 an hour. In addition, they won't open beaches until 11 a.m. to cut down on lifeguard expenses.
It seems antithetical to a zoo's mission to preserve and protect wildlife, but the Lincoln Park Zoo is only saving some of the inhabitants of the South Pond; non-native species like Koi and goldfish will be destroyed as the zoo restores the pond to an Illinois freshwater habitat.
Mayor Daley has apparently pulled the plug on plans for a high school serving gay and lesbian students.
I'm sure it's not a surprise to anyone, but it's official: despite claims Millennium Park would be maintained with private funds, the public is picking up the tab.
The CPS has received a major donation to create a biotech education program for junior high/high schools to the tune of $5 million over five years. The program, sponsored by Baxter International, includes the creation of a Biotechnology Center of Excellence and two new Ren2010 schools. And not a moment too soon as local math scores reach Third World-levels.
A recent study demonstrates that the death rate from breast cancer in Chicago is 116 percent higher for African-American women than white women, twice the national average. What's worse: in 1980, the rate was identical.
Popular Wicker Park eatery Earwax Café, 1561 N. Milwaukee Ave., was ordered to close after Chicago Department of Public Health inspectors found rat feces in a basement storage area, holes in walls that allowed insects and rodents to come in and a poorly maintained outside garbage container, the Tribune reports.
That commercial John McCain's people produced linking Barack Obama with "corrupt" Chicago politics? It's ruffling the feathers of some local politicians...and not who you might think.
How popular is Barack Obama? Even his suit is getting more attention than John McCain (OK, sorta...).
The number of Cook County residents chosing to vote early for this year's election has hit record numbers. If you think you want to jump the gun yourself, you have until October 30.
Need refreshing on John Burge and the Police Torture scandal? Read up on the U of C's Chicago Police Torture Archive and Human Rights Watch's overview.
The controversial case of former CPD Commander Jon Burge may have reached a conclusion. He was arrested this morning in connection with more than two decades of torture charges. The Chicago Reader has a long history of covering Burge's alleged activities as well as other police torture cases.
It's been a couple of days since Chicago made a ranking. This time they rank 8th in the first Global Cities Index put out by Foreign Policy magazine.
Construction shortcuts on the new brown line stations result in splintering wood in the platforms and rust on canopies and railings. Expect things to look uglier as winter sets in.
Bowing to pressure from politicians and donors while citing "safety reasons," the University of Nebraska rescinds a months-old speaking invitation for Bill Ayers.
Giving a twist to its longstanding history of backing Republicans for president, the Tribune announced its endorsement of Democrat Barack Obama. This is the first time the paper has endorsed a Democrat for president. In 1872, it backed Horace Greely who ran as an independent but later was endorsed by the Dems.
As a South Sider, one of the fascinating outcomes of the election season has been the increase in attention this side of the city is getting. The Washington Post chips in with a four page profile of Hyde Park. [Thanks, Spencer!]
Sorry, that's the punchline to a bad lawyer joke. But the reality is that two Chicago law firms have laid off a significant number of their staff, a result of the current economic crunch.
Just four games into the season, the Blackhawks have canned coach Denis Savard, ironically after the team notched it's first win of the year. Jeremy Piniak has the details over in Tailgate.
If the stock market dive hasn't eaten up all of your cash, you might consider a stay at the Peninsula Chicago. The luxury hotel was just named the top hotel in the U.S. by Condé Nast Traveler.
Authorities are still searching for the cause of a helicopter crash that occured overnight in Aurora. The copter, carrying a one-year-old girl, was headed for Children's Memorial Hospital here in Chicago.
Big doings at City Hall today: Not only is Mayor Daley planning on laying off more than 900 city employees (including cutting some garbage crews from two men to one) to help balance the city budget, but his hand-picked top cop Jody Weis is announcing a major shake-up in the CPD.
The MacArthur Foundation has announced an investment of $68 million, the largest effort by a private foundation in the US, to address the foreclosure crisis in Chicago. MacArthur predicts that it will be able to assist 10,000 households (which includes counseling for 6,000 borrowers and the prevention of 2,700 foreclosures) by 2010.
The Wall Street Journal just released its list of the Top Small Workplaces 2008. Out of the 15 they selected, two are in the Chicago suburbs — Integrated Project Management Co. in Burr Ridge, IL and J.A. Frate Inc. in Crystal Lake, IL. Chicago-based Radio Flyer was a finalist.
A desperate move or his ace-in-the-hole? Britain's Sky News reports that GOP presidential candidate John McCain plans to bring up Democratic opponent's Barack Obama's connection to Chicago professor William Ayers at tonight's debate.
A Chicago surgeon is being sued by a Niles woman for implanting an experimental heart device in her chest without her consent. The surgeon reportedly earns royalties every time he uses the device.
Starting today, CTA riders can sign up for emails from the agency to alert them to construction, delays and changes in service. OMG.
...at least for three days. That's how long Mayor Daley wants to shut down city government this year and in 2009 to address Chicago's budget crisis.
Did you feel a sudden unexplainable chill down your spine this morning, as if the minions of the Dark Side had assembled their demonic hordes and began a death march across the barren terrain of the living. Yeah, me too. Oh, by the way, Dick Cheney's coming to Chicago tomorrow.
Runners in this year's Chicago Marathon were grateful for the added spirit (and plentiful water) offered by neighborhood spectators and volunteers. Lion dancers greeted runners in Chinatown, while Little Italy had cheerleaders and Pilsen's West 18th street had speakers playing Latin music.
With some of Chicago's main competition for the 2016 Olympics bid coming from Rio de Janeiro and Madrid, the city stressed its Latin ties in its first formal presentation on Saturday. Soon-to-be former chairman of the United States Olympic Committee, Peter Ueberroth, also touted Chicago as the best choice for purely financial reasons.
Cars, whether parked legally or illegally, appear to be the answer to the city's budget shortfall, according to Mayor Daley. To close the $420 million gap, he's raising the city parking tax, preparing to privitize parking meters, putting in more red-light cameras and revising his Denver Boot plan.
The Sun-Times' Lynn Sweet breaks down GOP presidential candidate John McCain's latest campaign commercial attempting to link Barack Obama to "the Chicago Way". Sweet notes that McCain choses to focus on Bill Ayers, Tony Rezko and Bill Daley "while the economy is sinking and the Dow is plunging again."
Experience the astounding coincidences of Pool Boy.
Yesterday Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart said he'd stop enforcing foreclosure evictions. Today, a mortgage company sued to make him do it.
City Council has banned texting while driving. It'll be a $75 fine, rising to as much as $200 if you get into an accident.
Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart has announced that he's putting a temporary halt to foreclosure evictions due to the large number of renters blindsided when their landlords default on loans.
Chicago Public Schools CEO Arne Duncan as Secretary of Education? That's the buzz according to local education publication Catalyst, which cites Duncan's role as an education advisor and close friend to a certain Barack Obama.
Staff at the Adler Planetarium were surprised to make the presidential debates, particularly when their sought-after projection system was ridiculed by McCain.
The driver of a "party bus" called the cops when the Highland Park teenagers he was driving to Homecoming tried to sneak booze -- and some of their parents are pissed.
According to the city's inspector general, Chicago's Bureau of Sanitation is a little bit like "Seinfeld": a big (expensive) show about nothing. David Hoffman says garbage crews get "paid to do nothing" for 25 percent of their time on the clock.
Admitting he never thought he'd win one, University of Chicago Professor Yoichiro Nambu, 87, was awarded a 2008 Nobel Prize for his work in subatomic physics and notified via an early Tuesday phone call from Stockholm. And how did your day start?
With the controversial Special Ops Section now defunct, the Chicago Police Department is taking a new approach to combating the gang problem.
"Roof Top Honey" may sound like some sort of upper-level illicit rendezvous, but it's actually the name of the sweet product harvested from beehives on the rooftops of City Hall and the Cultural Center and sold online and at The Farmstand at 66 E. Randolph St.
Today is Barack and Michelle Obama's sixteenth wedding anniversary today. According to Wikipedia, the expected modern gift for is holloware. According to the Sun-Times, Barack went for some white roses with baby's breath instead.
As if the Cubs didn't have enough problems, one of their player's name is being mistaken for a swear word. Good thing this guy isn't still their pitching coach.
So the Cubs lost yesterday. Doesn't mean that tickets for their game tonight are in any less demand. In fact, a brother and sister are headed to court over who gets the valuable pieces of cardboard.
Mr. Clean actor House Peters died recently at the age of 92. In case you didn't know, Mr. Clean was created here in Chicago by Harry Barnhart and Ernie Allen at the Tatham-Laird & Kudner ad agency. The hairless, obsessive compulsive, controversial, and sexually ambiguous corporate mascot's first name is Veritably, by the way, and he's known as Mr. Proper in England and Don Limpio in Spain. There you go: more than you ever wanted to know about Mr. Clean.
A would-be terrorist who tried to swap stereo speakers for hand grenades to launch an attack on a Rockford mall was sentenced to 35 years in prison.
Bail has been denied for the suspect in the slaying of Chicago Police Officer Nathaniel Taylor Jr. Meanwhile, his 5-year-old daughter tries to cope with the loss.
Michael Reese Hospital has filed for bankruptcy, which clears the way for Mayor Daley to nab the real estate for the proposed Olympic village should the city host the 2016 games.
In an effort to cure the city's budget woes, Mayor Daley says the city may layoff 1,000 workers, possibly resulting in (among other things) reduced garbage collection.
One-time political inside man Tony Rezko has reportedly been seen making frequent trips to the federal courthouse. Is he spilling the beans in order to get a reduced sentence?
It's been called "Wrigley Field North" for the way that Cubs fans take over Miller Park when their team plays there. That sort of exhuberance cost one man his job. But then he works for the Brewers so you can see where that might be a problem.
The Telegraph has no good financial news for the house that Hef built. With a crap economy, internet porn sites, and paltry pay-per-view profits nipping at its tail, could Playboy go belly up? Gawker has a somewhat graphic graphic to explain.
As the city's crime rate goes up, the number of police officers is going down, according to the Fraternal Order of Police, who say that the city could be short 400 police officers by the end of the year.
Rev. James Meeks, he of the first-day-of-school boycott, hopes his latest protest march pays off with even more attention. He plans on ringing Wrigley Field during the Cubs' first playoff game to bring national attention to his fight for school funding reform.
Mayor Daley himself is going to bat for a Chicago cop who was arrested and sentenced to five years in Iowa for assaulting a man outside of a party in 2005. Daley wrote a letter to Iowa Governor Chet Culver seeking a pardon for Officer Michael Mette.
Jeanette Sliwinski, the Morton Grove woman who killed three local musicians in 2005 during a botched suicide attempt, will be freed October 2 after serving less than half of the eight year sentence she received.
...he's the mayor's brother and Boss Daley is a bit miffed at GOP presidential candidate John McCain for linking brother Bill to the "corrupt Chicago Machine." But just to show that corruption goes both ways, the mayor reminded everyone of the "Keating Five".
Maybe the 7th inning booze ban isn't such a bad idea, in light of the death of a Cubs fan at the hands of other Cubs fans. This isn't the first serious brawl this season, either.
The Illinois Senate voted 55-0 to override Gov. Rod Blagojevich's veto of a state ban on campaign donations from supporters seeking to do business with the state.
The Chicago-based MacArthur Foundation will announce this year's Fellows (aka "Genius Grant" recipients) later today, but a few other sites beat them to the punch. The most local recipient is Will Allen, owner of Milwaukee's Growing Power.
We may be the most stressed-out city in the U.S., but at least the air we're breathing through our flared nostrils is fresher than most other places. A study has found Chicago to be the fourth most-sustainable city in the country.
Not content to take shots at Barack Obama's level of experience, presidential opponent John McCain levels his political shotgun at the "Chicago Machine" in a new campaign commercial and pretty much doesn't miss anyone.
The Chinese-American Museum of Chicago was badly damaged in a fire Friday afternoon. No word yet on whether any exhibits were lost.
Architecture fans take heart. Plans are afoot to rebuild Dankmar Adler and Louis Sullivan's Pilgrim Baptist Church, which caught fire in January 2006 (one of three Sullivans to burn to a crisp that year). The current estimate for repairs is $37 million. Donations are encouraged.
Anheuser-Busch and the owner of "the Budweiser building" across from Wrigley Field are suing each other over the iconic rooftop ad.
Mayor Daley unveils a plan to drastically cut the city's greenhouse gas emissions by 2020. The plan includes expanding the number of green rooftops, increased recycling and car-pooling and promotion alternative fuels.
Landmarks Illinois has released its Chicagoland Watch List, an annual review of threatened buildings in Chicago. If you're so inclined, you can vote on which ones should be preserved at the Trib.
The Associated Press reports that some Chicago police are taking it easy on criminals as a form of protest against Superintendent Jody Weis. No comment so far on Second City Cop, but keep your eye out.
Add another voice to the debate over a third airport for the Chicago area: the FAA chief who says another airport is needed in addition to the $15 billion expansion at O'Hare.
Have you visited Chicago2016.com, when you meant to go to Chicago2016.org? The former is owned by a Northwestern grad student, and features a "fair and balanced discussion" of Chicago's Olympic bid -- and the bid committee wants to use it for their own purposes. Both sides are now suing for control of the domain.
The Chicago Cubs aren't the only employees of Sam Zell's with balls. The Chicago real-estate mogul who purchased the Tribune and the Cubs is being sued by several employees of the Los Angeles Times (which he also owns) who are seeking to remove him from the company's board of directors.
A local high school football coach lost his job this week. No, not for producing a winless season. For robbing a bank. How many yards do you get penalized for that?
An enterprising Chicagoan realized the Kentucky sales tax on a pack of cigarettes is 30 cents, while the Chicago tax is $3.66 and the New York tax is $4.25. Unfortunately for him, taking advantage of that difference isn't legal.
Have you been feeling on edge lately? It's not just you--Forbes ranks Chicago as the most stressful city in the nation.
Braving the record rains over the weekend to say "I do" ended up paying off in the thousands for seven lucky couples. The jewelers running the promotion? Not so lucky.
The University of Chicago magazine contemplates what it means to be "U of C," and whether that's a legitimate criticism of presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama.
The already-diverse Barack Obama family just keeps getting more diverse. Meet Michelle's rabbi cousin.
A city worker was beaten with a stick and then shot in the back this morning after trying to put the Denver Boot on a vintage Buick. The car's owner will now have a whole lot more to worry about than unpaid parking tickets.
That had to be some sort of record. There's flooding all over the place, including along the Chicago River.
According to Chicago 2016 Commitee Chairman Patrick Ryan, the main goal of securing the Olympics is to change the city's image. Really? Are we still all Al Capone and Michael Jordan to the rest of the world?
The FBI is on the hunt for the "Cross-Dressing Bandit", who robbed a Park Ridge bank wearing a black and pink dress, pink sun hat and white gloves. For a dangerous felon, he manages to stay well-coordinated.
As if the Grant Park controversy weren't enough, the Sun-Times discovered the Museum isn't using its parking refund from McPier to subsidize anyone's parking.
VP candidate Joe Biden hung out in Lincoln Park this week and told fundraisers how he plans to handle opponent Sarah Palin in their debates. Bottom line: no kid gloves.
The new CPS/CPD project will let students send anonymous text messages to provide crime tips, but the real story is the ridiculous "CRIME" graffiti photo used in the article.
Seven beluga whales and four Pacific white-sided dolphins from the Shedd Aquarium have been FedExed to the Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration in Connecticut in preparation for the upcoming nine-month renovation of the Oceanarium. I wonder what the shipping and handling on that delivery was.
Once again, Chicago's historic "Maxwell Street" is on the move, this time relocating from Canal Street to Desplaines Street. Even if you don't need tube socks, you should probably go see it. Something says this latest move might be its last.
As The Mighty Starbucks Empire begins a withdrawal of sorts, closing 600 outlets including 18 in Chicago, stalwart Dunkin' Donuts is moving in to fill the gap with plans for four drive-thrus in locations previously earmaked for Starbucks.
Trading was halted for shares of United Airlines (UAL), which were as low as $0.01 today, due to false bankruptcy rumors. The scare was caused by the Florida Sun Sentinel publishing a six-year-old Trib article with the current date.
CERN hired IO's Charna Halpern to teach its physicists how to loosen up and better explain what they do. Which will come in handy as they assure the world that their Large Hadron Collider won't create a black hole that will kill us all.
In her GOP convention speech, Sarah Palin gave a little slap in the face to community organizers. A Chicago community organizer (not Obama) slaps back.
Authorities claim the person responsible for 21 bank robberies is a South Side designer. It appears this is his myspace page.
And you thought metal shows were tough. Apparently it can get down and dirty on the lawn at Ravinia during a Donna Summer show. Especially if you pull some lo-fi moves with your blanket and chairs.
If the rain and gloomy skies has gotten you down today, here's something to give you a much-needed chuckle: Todd Stroger says that patronage is over.
Phelps may be for Chicago's Olympic bid, but some are not so hot on the prospect.
Des Plaines residents don't care much for silk flowers. The only thing that's made them more upset? Casinos.
You better not pout, you better not cry, you better not ask about his seven houses and here's why: John McCain is coming to town. (With apologies to Santa.)
The boycott of the first day of Chicago Public Schools will go as planned today, with hundreds of city students attempting to enroll at tony New Trier High School.
Follow Hurricane Gustav news from the Tribune here and on Twitter.
Say farewell to Faust the Komodo Dragon, who's been sunning himself on a fake rock at the Shedd Aquarium for the past two years.
The Chicago 2016 Bid Committee is having a big party in Millennium Park on Wednesday the 3rd, hosted by Chicago's greatest athlete, Oprah Winfrey (hey, she did run that marathon!). Meet hundreds of Olympians and cheer on Chicago's chances to host the 2016 Games. UPDATED: Although the Chicago 2016 blog says he park opens at 6am, and entry is first-come, first-served, Oprah.com says to stop by the park at noon tomorrow for reservation information. This event is the season premiere of "The Oprah Winfrey Show."
Due to state budget woes, 13 historical sites and 11 state parks around Illinois will close in the coming months. If you don't get a move on, now might be your last chance to check out the Abraham Lincoln Log Cabin near Charleston, IL and a Frank Lloyd Wright-designed home near Springfield.
New spa guestrooms, opening September 1 at the Trump Hotel and Tower Chicago, come with amenities like yoga kits, fresh orchids, and are staffed by "spa attachés" to customize the experience.
NASA named another telescope after a U of C researcher, and this time it's Enrico Fermi. The article also provides a list of other U of C affiliates similarly immortalized, from Chandrasekhar to Hubble.
R. Kelly may have beaten child pornography charges earlier this year, but new legal trouble have surfaced for the "Pied Piper of R&B." South African authorities wants to question him in connection to a concert ticket scam. "Mr. Kelly has no knowledge of this woman, has never received any money from her, and has not been contacted by any law enforcement authorities regarding the matter. He will, of course, cooperate fully with any legitimate investigation of this matter, since he has nothing to hide."
Remember the Ugandan orphans who were robbed? Guess who got robbed again.
You know your robbery isn't going well when you get stabbed in the shoulder and shoot yourself in the foot.
Apparently, some thieves thought it'd be a good idea to steal equipment from a Ugandan children's choir that was in the U.S. to raise money for a school and residence for their fellow orphans. A local businessman stepped in with a donation to make up for the financial loss, but some still lost the last photos of their families.
As a primer on the potential First Lady prior to her speech tonight at the Democratic National Convention, a bio of Michelle Obama.
Crain's does a detailed analysis of the effectiveness of Chicago companies' advertisements during the Olympics.
The NYPD arrested Jim Clay Harper, aka Ether, and his girlfriend Danielle Bremner, aka Dani or Utah, as they arrived at O'Hare and JFK yesterday. The pair allegedly went on a graffiti tour of Europe, and were wanted in New York for thousands of dollars in property damage from their spray-paint escapades. Harper is originally from Chicago.
Chicago's unemployment rate is up to 7.5 percent -- 2.1% over last year -- and we lost 2,700 jobs.
Yep, four-eared cat. His name is Yoda, as is apparently the tradition with the type.
Don't bother waiting for the Democratic convention. According to the Sun-Times Barack Obama is going to announce his vice presidential running mate this Saturday in Springfield.
In our continuing coverage of the arrival of Sonic burgers in the Chicago area (actually Aurora), the fast food chain with the omnipresent commercials finally opens today. And apparently not a moment too soon.
Barack Obama's senior economics advisor is (in Obama's words) just like him: a skinny, tall, youthful, geeky guy with big ears and a funny name who taught at the U of C. Read about Austan Goolsbee in MIT's Technology Review.
Speaking of nightmares, four buffalo escaped from an area just outside of Joliet and found their way onto 55, which ended up being a bad move.
A teenaged suspect has been taken into custody in California for the July acid attack on a Logan Square woman, who is still in serious condition.
We've all thought about sliding down a stair railing, but haven't actually done it because it's dangerous and foolish. Some guy at the Steely Dan show at the Chicago Theater last night thought otherwise.
A U of C researcher discovered a 9,500-year-old, 200-body graveyard in the Sahara. Other than being the biggest find from that era, it also shines significant light on the life of humans when the desert wasn't actually a desert.
In an Olympic angle amazingly un(der)covered by the media, the Trib takes a look at suburban support -- and lack thereof -- for the Olympics.
The Cook County sheriff seized 550lbs of cocaine on Monday. What tipped them off? Well, the drugs were hidden in a shipment of cattle hooves delivered to a metal grinding business.
First it was Blagojevich attempting to ride to the rescue of the city in combating gang violence, now the feds are stepping in, offering $2 mil to help stop the violence.
More than 200,000 Illinois residents have yet to file for their simulus checks, accounting for nearly $63 million in unclaimed tax rebates. Most of the non-filers are seniors, so if the money in your birthday card envelope is a little light this year...
A large portion of Bensenville is being demolished to make way for O'Hare's expansion, but a judge put that progress on hold today.
