While the talk around town has focused on the implications of Tony Rezko's indictment for Blagojevich, the national story has been how close he was to Obama. more ›

Londonist are starting to think their city is getting just a little bit too expensive, when even Christian Slater can't afford to go out there. And there's no escaping, as local singer Lily Allen discovered when she was barred entry to the US. The British mapping agency caused further bad karma, by blocking a 3-D representation of London in Google Earth. But the smiles returned to Londonist's faces as they interviewed Baroness von Reichardt,... more ›

Mayor Daley is attempting to giddyup the vote on his affordable-housing plan prior to the new council members take office on May 21. Wednesday was supposed to be the last meeting of the current council, but using a parliamentary maneuver Ald. Preckwinkle (4th) and seven others blocked the vote, hoping to have the vote once the 9 new members come on board. The Mayor's affordable housing plan calls for 10% of new developments that are... more ›

The city was abuzz Saturday afternoon with the news that Chicago has made the cut to be the US Olympic Committee’s choice to host the 2016 Olympics. It’s not a done deal yet; the International Olympic Committee still has to choose a final site for the Games, but this latest adventure from Mayor Daley has certainly changed the equation. In bars and coffee shops, around dinner tables and water coolers, and yes, even here in... more ›

Shit is starting to fly in the 2nd Ward. (If candidate Larry Doody were in the runoff, the number of potential poop-themed jokes would be truly astronomical.) During the campaign, the local chapter of the National Organization for Women rescinded their Fioretti endorsement, citing a five-year-old case in which a female court reporter filed for an order of protection against Fioretti, who was then a practicing lawyer — charges that were eventually vacated. Now NOW... more ›

Much has been made about this being the year of change here in Chicago. In November Democrats took control of Congress, harnessing voter dissatisfaction and promising change. And while the main attractions on the reform ticket, Tony Peraica and Jesse Jackson Jr either lost or decided not to run, many pundits are predicting that as much as 30% of the City Council could change in late February. It seems that some candidates believe in miracles,... more ›

In March of 2006 the National Organization on Disability announced its finalists for the Accessibly America Awards. The announcement of the winners came on Thursday. Coming in first place was Berkeley, CA and our fair city came in second. Receiving a $10,000 award from Wal-Mart, our city was recognized for incorporating and continuing to promote the assimilation of the disabled into community life. more ›

While we were busy obsessing over Ward politics and aldermanic races, all kinds of newsworthy events happened in the spectator sport of local Chicago politics. Lets take a look back at the week so far: Todd Stroger is asking Cook County's elected officials for budget cuts, in an attempt to trim the deficit. Facing a nearly $500 million shortfall, Stroger is asking Sheriff Tom Dart, State's Attorney Dick Devine, and Clerk of the Court Dorothy... more ›

A report due this week — and an accompanying rally — is intended to bring attention to the problem of harassment of runaway and homeless youth on Chicago’s North Side. more ›

One of the coolest ideas happening in the city right now is the push for environmental friendliness. In 2005 22 city buildings were registered as “green,” and all new city buildings are to be green designs. The idea is that as builders become familiar with doing green projects they will be comfortable adding green aspects to private projects, and of course take advantage of governmental incentives to do such. Green roofs are the Mayor’s biggest selling point, and they are all over the place on the Department of Environment’s website. more ›

Let's take a look back at a week that raised this Zen koan: if Kevin Federline got into a wrestling ring with a wrestler, who would you root for? more ›

As is the case in most major cities, providing and maintaining access to affordable housing is one of the most pressing issues in Chicago. A few weeks ago, many of you said that you were paying close to 30 percent of your salary toward housing, and chances are you have jobs that pay significantly more than a sizable portion of Chicago residents. more ›

Douglas Pensack, Illinois Tenants Union more ›

Mayor Daley gave his annual State of the City address yesterday, and judging from his words, everything is just hunky dory. more ›

Oh, Block 37. We'll never tire of your absurd saga. You have so much potential, you're so conveniently located near Old Navy, you're so sought-after and fought-over; baby, look at you now. Oh, yeah, you're still a mostly empty lot. But we can see through that, through the politicking, the squandered possibility, past that strange but ultimately cool Con-Ed painting, right into your heart. And you know what that heart says? "Sell me, and make me into a casino." Aww. You're pretty. more ›

Uptown, traditionally defined by Foster Avenue, Irving Park Road, Lake Michigan and Clark Street, has gone through a great deal of change over the past ten years. Once one of Chicago's seedier neighborhoods, it has long been primarily a home for tattoo parlors, dive bars, and single room occupancy hotels. But as Lincoln Park, Lakeview and then Andersonville and Rogers Park began to pick up, Uptown's proximity to the Red Line and Lake Michigan became irresistable to developers. more ›

The Illinois Housing Development Authority is requiring that 49 local communities offer more affordable housing under a new state law. The towns are located in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry and Will counties and are towns where less than 10% of the housing is considered affordable. Affordable, for those of you who do not know, is $125,000 to purchase, $775 to rent. At least that's what the state says. The communities have until April to develop plans to meet the affordable housing goals set by the state. more ›