We hope you’re not reading this on your phone, as the Illinois House voted Thursday to ban the use of hand-held mobile devices behind the wheel. more ›

Ten years ago, "Can you listen to 'Dust in the Wind?' " was a question no one asked. But Clear Channel decided to answer it anyway. more ›

Calling it "over the counter napalm," Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan has started a campaign to have all gel fuels banned. 37 people nationwide have been burned by gel fuel, and 4 of them were in Illinois, leading Madigan to demand their recall. We're sure that caterers everywhere cried at the news - gel fuels are most commonly used for keeping chafing dishes hot during service. more ›

The Lieutenant Governor's office isn't the only potential endangered specie: styrofoam's day of reckoning may be near if Alderman Ed Burke (14th) gets his wish. Burke proposed an ordinance that would ban all use of styrofoam in the city. Burke was inspired to introduce the bill after learning Chicago Public Schools use and throw out 35 million styrofoam lunch trays in a year. He told the Sun-Times: more ›

Evanston became the largest city thus far in the state of Illinois to outlaw video gambling, the mayor claiming - according to the Tribune - "the 'social consequences' outweighed the financial benefits." The Evanston City Council unanimously voted 9-0 on the issue. The new law allowing video gambling, passed in May, also gives communities the option of voting it down. So far, DuPage County has banned it as have smaller communities like Rosemont and Country Club Hills; the Naperville City Council is slated to take up the issue tonight. [Trib, CBS 2] more ›

• Bail was set at $1 million for the cab driver accused of sexually assaulting a passenger.
• University of Illinois Chancellor Richard Herman spoke briefly today on ending the admissions process at the school that gives favor to certain "connected" students.
• The FBI is now investigating a suspicious package found this morning at Riverside Plaza.

Anyone who's ever gone to a Cubs game knows the clusterfuck that occurs around Wrigley Field right before game time. Now, Ald. Tom Tunney (44th) wants to try to clear that congestion a bit by making it illegal for street vendors to set up shot within a certain radius around the stadium. The proposal, introduced today, would make it illegal for vendors to, as the Tribune explains, "sell food or merchandise from a cart, table or other temporary stand." more ›

From today's Tribune: Alderman Tom "Sticky Buns" Tunney, citing opposition from the restaurant industry (of which he's a member as owner of Ann Sather's) intends to force a vote on repealing the ridiculous-but-upheld-in-court foie gras ban. "We think we have the votes to (repeal) it," Tunney told the Trib. more ›