The agreement calls for a "hybrid" worker position where new Streets and Sanitation workers are trained in all manner of jobs ranging from tree trimming and hand labor to sanitation and graffiti removal, allowing the workers to float from task to task based on need. more ›

The Chicago City Council approved Mayor Rahm Emanuel's $1.7 billion, privately financed Chicago Infrastructure Trust today by a vote of 41-7. more ›

Ald. Scott Waguespack (32nd) is among those who wants to get more information on oversight for the Chicago Infrastructure Trust before it goes to a vote. He's created an alternative ordinance that would give City Council more oversight over the Trust. more ›

The state's pension fund is underfunded by $80 million at this point and, if Quinn's proposals are approved, would save the state $65 to $85 billion by 2045. Quinn called the pension shortfall “one of the most difficult problems that Illinois government has faced for more than three decades.” more ›

It's been a busy morning at City Hall. more ›

The office of Ald. Jason Ervin (28th) sent a press release to media asking for Smith to get back to work or resign on a temporary basis, saying that Smith has missed nearly 150 votes since he was arrested and charged in March with accepting a bribe. more ›

City attorneys announced today that former Mayor Richard M. Daley will answer questions in a deposition stemming from a lawsuit related to the systemic torture that happened in the Chicago Police Department under the watch of former Cmdr. Jon Burge. more ›

The amendment, which is effective immediately, seems intended to keep Tom Swiss off the ballot for November's general election in the state's 10th legislative district. Swiss, the former chairman of the Chicago Republican Party and until recently the Republican committeeman for the 27th Ward, lost last week's Democratic primary race against State Rep. Derrick Smith, who was charged in the days before the primary of accepting a bribe. more ›

City officials have argued that the planned route would interfere with the multiple motorcades which would pass through the Loop. more ›

Mitt Romney won yesterday's Illinois GOP Primary in what Chicago election officials estimate is the lowest voter turnout since World War II. more ›

Walsh, who will run against either Tammy Duckworth or Raja Krishnamoorthi, managed to raise only $38,300 in the first two months of this year. At present, reports show Walsh owes $24,015 in legal fees. more ›

The Emanuel Administration unveiled its speeding camera plan and ordinance to aldermen yesterday. Transportation Commissioner Gabe Klein said that, if approved, the new security cameras would be rolled out slowly, a 90-day education plan would be introduced to let the public know of the plan, and motorists caught speeding during the first 30 days after a camera has been installed would receive warning notices, regardless of how many times they've been caught on camera. Klein also said installation of the cameras would begin in the fall, with revenue from them beginning to trickle in by the end of the year. more ›

Mayor Rahm Emanuel has talked a good game about how his administration is ushering in a new level of "transparency," despite actions to the contrary. more ›

Blagojevich's attorney, Carolyn Gurland, said she hoped her client hoped he could enter prison with—get this—"dignity." more ›

Here's your new ward map, Chicago. It was approved by City Council today by a 41-8 vote. The number of votes is notable as it means the map will not go to residents to a vote. more ›

The council approved tighter restrictions on parade organizers, give authority to Chicago Police Superintendent Gary McCarthy to deputize law enforcement from other states and closes parks to the public for an extra two hours. The City Council also approved blanket spending authority to the Mayor for the events. more ›

It’s (almost) all over but the shouting between black and Hispanic aldermen over their rival ward remapping proposals. A compromise has been reached on a new ward map that includes 18 majority black wards, 13 majority Hispanic wards, and two wards of Hispanic influence. more ›

A report obtained by NBC5 and the Sun-Times said an investigation into the project showed “missing records, improper procurement practices, unallowable costs and unaccountable inventory items” in 15 15 municipalities. Sen. Mark Kirk and U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley are calling for an FBI investigation. more ›

Saving state taxpayers $12 million a year and eliminating redundancies in the Comptroller's and Treasurer's offices apparently isn't enough for Michael Madigan to support an amendment to the Illinois Constitution merging the two offices. more ›

Rep. Joe Walsh (R-McHenry) showed his concern for important legislative matters in a letter to Congressional colleagues criticizing guidelines which prohibit specific holiday greetings like “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Hannukah.” more ›

The three-judge panel agreed that the new map was a blatant attempt at gerrymandering by Illinois Democrats, but that their Republican counterparts "failed to provide a workable standard" to evaluate such claims. more ›

The case may hinge once again on the finer points of municipal real estate law, but it’s the “disproportionately favorable terms” of the Daley-era agreement, as the Emanuel administration's lawsuit put it, that are really on trial. more ›

16 aldermen, including the entire City Council Latino Caucus, filed their version of the redistricted wards with the City Clerk's office today. more ›

Attorneys for former Gov. Rod Blagojevich have requested he be placed in a drug treatment program when he reports to prison next March. But they haven't responded to requests for comment when asked if Blago has a legitimate problem or if he's trying to cut more time off his sentence. more ›

The ordinance would increase the minimum fine for “resisting a police officer or aiding escape” from $25 to $200, with a maximum fine of $1,000. Parks, playgrounds and beaches would open at 6 a.m. instead of 4 a.m., but still close at 11 p.m. In addition, the ordinance would “clarify the Chicago Police Department’s ability to enter into agreements with the necessary law enforcement agencies to deputize law enforcement personnel,” and allow the Mayor or appointees to execute agreements with public and private entities for anything related to the summits. more ›

It was a no-brainer of a decision, even for Walsh. more ›

A three-judge federal court panel tossed a lawsuit filed by Illinois GOP leaders that claims the redrawn state legislative maps by their Democratic counterparts was unfair to minority groups and Republican voters. more ›

Despite a bitter racial argument that reportedly almost got Ald. Richard Mell punched out in Council chambers, the Mayor says Chicago's aldermen will reach an agreement on a new ward map. more ›

Judge James Zagel sentenced former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich to 168 months in prison, for his conviction on corruption charges stemming from his attempts to appoint someone to the Senate seat vacated by Barack Obama's election to the presidency. more ›

The day Rod Blagojevich has been dreading has arrived. more ›