Paris Schutz

Todd Returns
Welcome back to the grind, Cook County Board President Todd Stroger. State's Attorney Richard Devine is especially happy to see you.
Tuesday July 10 2007In the News 

You Wanna Pizza This?
Giving new meaning to the slogan "The Connie's Driver will Break Your Knees," the founder of the venerable Chicago Pizza chain says he was shaken down by Mob boss Frank Calabrese Sr. According to testimony today at the Family Secrets mob murder trial, James Stolfe said he feared being burned if he didn't pay up.
Tuesday July 3 2007In the News 

Doomsday Avoided?
The CTA is telling riders (and hoping Springfield hears) that they've done all they can to avoid rate hikes and service cuts. Workers and management have agreed tentatively on a deal regarding pension obligations. Next stop, a state bailout.
Wednesday June 27 2007In the News 

Welcome Home, Todd
Word is Cook County Board Prez Todd Stroger is back home after successful prostate surgery. Doctors expect a full recovery.
Wednesday June 20 2007In the News 

Chicago Style Haute Couture
The Mayor, in his endless quest to make Chicago fabulous, today promoted the annual "Fashion Focus" event and a "Fashion Incubator" partnership with Macy's.
Monday June 18 2007In the News 

Super Bowl Scuffle
Da Coach and his former Super Bowl Safety Dave Duerson are in a war of words. Ditka is again rallying on behalf of former players who are denied adequate health coverage in retirement from the league and the NFL Players Association. Duerson, a trustee for the NFLPA, says Ditka is a bit late on this issue.
Monday June 11 2007In the News 

Gotham City in a Garden
Batman is back in town! No, he denied the mayor's request to head up Chicago's Office of Emergency Management and Communications (word is, Bruce Wayne was up for that job too). But "The Dark Knight" goes into production tomorrow through the rest of the summer.
Friday June 8 2007In the News 

Lost in Translation
それを持って来なさい. That is the loose translation for "Bring it on"(according to babelfish).Tokyo throws their hat in the ring for 2016.
Thursday June 7 2007In the News 

National Spotlight on Chicago
Two major news programs -- with very different slants -- anchored from Chicago yesterday. While NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams focused on lighter fare, CNN's Anderson Cooper 360 reported on the disturbing string of murders of Chicago Public Schools children.
Friday June 1 2007In the News 

Family Photo
Remember that Little Village Discount Mall raid last month? The father of 22nd Ward Alderman Ricardo Munoz was taken in and charged by the feds today. He operated a photo store out of that mall that took pictures of illegals for use in fake documentation. Bad timing -- the younger Munoz has hinted in recent months he'll run for U.S. congress when Rep. Luis Gutierrez steps down.
Tuesday May 29 2007In the News 

CTA Doomsday
New face, same tactic. More rate hikes and service cuts are imminent -- as CTA Chief Ron Huberman is trying to scare Springfield into a $110 million bail-out.
Thursday May 17 2007In the News 

Not in My 'House'
In a special Monday session called for by Mayor Daley.....the city council approved the mayor's affordable housing plan. Council members had postponed the vote, wanting to wait for the new, potentially more independent, city council to be sworn in. Insert stock quote here about how the mayor always gets his way.
Monday May 14 2007In the News 

Beyond Philanthropy
The BP Foundation announced a $1 million gift to the Morton Arboretum. That's the largest ever single donation in the Arboretum's history. So THAT'S where all my gas money is going!
Monday May 7 2007In the News 

That's Why They Play the Game
Don't tell Hillary Clinton Chicago is Obama-Land. The Park Ridge native and presidential contender was in town today and says she'll be a player here.
Monday May 7 2007Politics/Activism 

Takin' it to the Streets
Tomorrow's immigration rally has been moved from Daley Plaza to Hutchinson Field in Grant Park because of expected overflow crowds. Meanwhile Cook could become the first County in America to become a sanctuary for all immigrants regardless of legal status.
Monday April 30 2007Politics/Activism 

Birthday Wishes for Two Chicago Institutions
Happy 65th to a certain mayor of a certain Midwestern town on the shores of a certain lake. And today also marks the 23rd anniversary of the first broadcast of WTTW's nightly newsmagazine, Chicago Tonight. On the inaugural episode, legendary broadcaster John Callaway sat down with Mayor Harold Washington.
Tuesday April 24 2007In the News 

I'd Like to Thank the Academy...
They are the Oscar's (not Golden Globes) of education. Today six of the area's finest teachers were presented with Golden Apple Awards for excellence in teaching. Way to go! Pssst...post-awards party in the teacher's lounge.
Wednesday March 14 2007Schools/Education 

Pay No Little Bills pt. 2
Electric rates went up. Way up. Are natural gas rates next? Thank God it's nice out.
Friday March 9 2007In the News 

Pay No Little Bills
For they have no magic to empty men's wallets. Don't worry, the city will only pay if the 2016 Olympics lose money. We promise! And it's a measly $500 mil. Practically nothing! And even that's if private investors and insurance companies wimp out.
Friday March 9 2007In the News 

Tax 'N Spend
Governor Blagojevich will float his budget before the Illinois General Assembly tomorrow. The proposal calls for gigantic increases in health and education spending, financed by a proposed new tax on large businesses.
Tuesday March 6 2007Politics/Activism 

NY Times Gives Props to Chicago Thespians
"Props," as in "kudos," rather than "theatrical set pieces." The Times has been fawning over Chicago's vibrant theater scene in recent years. Today's article reinforces to New Yorkers that culture indeed exists outside of gotham (and in fact, it's much better here), and it focuses on the cutting edge House Theater's production of "The Sparrow."
Wednesday February 28 2007Arts/Architecture 

The Jackson Three
The super-perky and ambitious Sandi Jackson reminds one of Reese Witherspoon's character from the movie "Election." Her perkiness is warranted, seeing as how she's in the middle of Chicago's hottest new dynasty -- comprising of father in law, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, and husband, the U.S. Rep from the 2nd District of Illinois, Jesse Jackson Jr. Sandi easily unseated incumbent Darcel Beavers in the city's 7th ward.
Wednesday February 28 2007Politics/Activism 

County Budget Passes
Cook County Commissioners voted 13-4 to pass Todd Stroger's county budget at 2:30 am. The budget closes a $500 million deficit by cutting 1,000 jobs in the Department of Health and the Cook County Sheriff's office. The revised budget added some management level positions to that list of cuts.
Friday February 23 2007Politics/Activism 

Discrimination Against Germs
If there's any political organization that's lethal, it's the soap lobby. The Illinois House approved a bill that would make school kids wash the germs off their hands with anti-bacterial soap before they eat. What other sanitary activities that occur in the bathroom, specifically in the stall, will government legislate next? Because I've been slacking lately.
Thursday February 22 2007In the News 

Chicago2016 - A Done Deal?
A sports business insider says the 2016 Olympics are Chicago's to lose. Take that, Los Angeles! We have Pat Ryan!
Thursday February 22 2007Sports/Recreation 

Lemme Hear Ya
ah one....ah two....ah three.......Cub Fans and Bud Men from Liechtenstein to Malaysia are participating in a worldwide drink-a-thon in honor of Harry Caray. Ground zero is Harry Caray's Restaurant downtown, of course. Broadcast live right now.
Thursday February 15 2007Sports/Recreation 

Budget Wars: Family and Friends, Beware.
Not satisfied with frontline budget cuts in areas like health and public safety, county commissioners today proposed an alternative budget. Board President Todd Stroger wants to cut the meat, commissioners want to cut the fat. They're targeting bureaucratic, patronage, administrative level jobs.
Wednesday February 14 2007Politics/Activism 

Great Red Hope?
Oxymorons: Tragic Comedy, Jumbo Shrimp, Cook County Republican. Is it a "safe bet" Cook County Commissioner Elizabeth Doody Gorman can lead Cook's GOP out of oblivion? Well, there's "real potential."
Tuesday February 13 2007Politics/Activism 

ABC Brings World News to Chicago
Further evidence that Todd Stroger's hirings/firings are making national news, ABC will broadcast World News Tonight with Charlie Gibson from Chicago next Monday and Tuesday. Actually, as Rosenthal writes in the Tribune, Evanston native Gibson is in town for other reasons. Oh yeah, and there's that Senator Whatsisname announcing his presidential bid this weekend.
Friday February 9 2007Radio/TV 

Local Band in NYT
The New York Times writes about Chicago musician Ted Atkatz, who left a tenured post at the CSO to devote his time to local rock band NYCO.
Tuesday February 6 2007Music/Clubs 

The Dynasty Continues
While Mayor Daley prepares for another term in office, his late father, Mayor Richard J. Daley, lives on at the Prop Theater -- through the medium of actor/writer Neil Giuntoli. Hizzoner, the award winning play about the "Boss" is extending its run until May 13th of this year.
Tuesday February 6 2007Theatre/Dance 

All in the Family
Cook County's #1 family business, a.k.a Cook County government, has a new Chief Financial Officer. County Board President Todd Stroger promoted his first cousin Donna Dunning to the post -- amidst the cries of "nepotism" from several county commissioners.
Tuesday February 6 2007In the News 

Twins
In a heart-warming comedy, two unlikely governors meet and embark on a road trip in search of their long-lost mother. Actually, Conan the Barbarian and Rod The Reformer (uh, yeah) joined forces today to announce a $500 million grant for energy research to be split between Berkely and U of I.
Thursday February 1 2007In the News 

Skoien Stepping Down
Gary Skoien, the chairman of the Cook County Republican Party, is resigning to take care of his ailing wife. Skoien became famous in 2005 for his $10,000 "bounty" on the head of mayor Daley.
Monday January 29 2007In the News 

South Africa Comes to CPS
Eat your heart out, Oprah. While the daytime talk show queen attends to affairs at The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa, a musical group made up of ex-political prisoners from that country will tour the Chicago Public Schools. Yes, the kind of schools where students only care about sneakers and iPods. "The Robben Island Singers" were imprisoned with Nelson Mandela during Apartheid. They travel the world riffing on social justice and human rights. The singers will perform at Kenwood, Whitney Young and Roosevelt, among other CPS schools, throughout the first half of February. And a film crew will accompany them for a DVD.
Friday January 26 2007Schools/Education 

Sweet Virginia
She's the sweet little lady who lives in Des Plaines. She's also the daughter of George Halas and the majority owner of the Chicago Bears. Virginia McCaskey today told Tribune reporter Don Pierson "maybe I'm not competent," in reference to the criticism she received during the dark ages of the 1990's. Maybe she's not, but the team would not be in the position it is today had she not "promoted" her son Mike in 1999 after the Dave McGinnis fiasco.
Wednesday January 24 2007In the News 

Washington Perk
Two things Chicago really needs for its Olympic bid are a temporary 80,000 stadium and more high-rise dwellings. The long-awaited renderings of the Washington Park Olympic stadium have been unveiled, along with the proposed Olympic Village just south of McCormick Place. Sure, Schwarzenegger, Villaraigosa... you have most venues already built. But do you have pretty drawings? I think not.
Tuesday January 23 2007In the News