In the on-going saga of Chicago’s best kept secret - a shadow budget kept on a second set of books - the Chicago News Cooperative’s Mick Dumke takes a look at how Tax Increment Financing, once a behind-the-scenes function of the city’s development funds, has begun to appear front and center in both city wards and in the mayor’s race. more ›

Earlier this year 49th Ward Alderman Joe Moore opened up hearings to his constituency on how to best spend $1.3 million in funding for infrastructure improvements. So-called participatory budgets have been around for years in South America, but the 49th Ward was the first place in the United States to try this out. more ›

Authorities are investigating a break-in at the 49th Ward Democratic Party campaign office but don't believe it was a politically-motivated break-in, so keep the "-gate" in check for now. According to 49th Ward Democratic Committeeman David Fagus that a computer and monitor were taken. According to CBS 2: more ›