We don't enjoy starting our mornings by having a downright hissy fit, but reading the Sun-Times story on Mayor Daley's planned speech in which he'll allegedly admit he made a mistake with the infamous parking meter deal is throwing us into a hulk-out rage. Know why? Well, for starters: more ›

Chicagoans have been relatively blasé lately about the fates of our most cherished icons. For example, fans adjusted fairly quickly to the renaming of old Comiskey Park, christening the field with a snappy new nickname faster than you can say boo. And even though people still lament the passing of Marshall Field's, it's not as if Macy’s ruined State Street’s mojo. But what would happen if everything were up for grabs? The idea is not as far-fetched as you might think. more ›

On Wednesday, the Illinois House Committee on Mass Transit approved legislation that would enable the RTA to fund the CTA, Metra and Pace and prevent service cuts and fare hikes across the board. The Illinois House Committee on Mass Transit approved a transit funding and reform proposal by a 15-4 vote. The House is expected to convene to vote on the proposal next week. This bill comes after the RTA announced that a "doomsday" scenario... more ›

Rod Blagojevich has made much about his fantasy of selling parts of the State to private companies as a revenue stream for Illinois. Daley started this trend by selling a 99-year lease of the Chicago Skyway to foreign investors for $1.8 billion. Blago has seen dollar signs in his eyes, ever since, floating the idea of selling the Illinois Lottery as a financial source for "education". Now he's turning his sights to vending rights in... more ›

So, maybe we can deal with the Skyway having a corporate name. Or how Wrigley's bleacher seats are now the Bud Light Bleachers. Or how half of Millennium Park is named after one rich corporation or another. But how much is too much? more ›

Houstonist reports on cross-dressing thieves and undressing educators this week. A Peeping Tom defends himself with a papaya and an outraged onlooker asks Ken Lay, "TATER TOTS OR FRIES?" Also, FEMA wants it's money back. LAist are a bug bunch of geeks. They're Star Trek geeks, David Duchovny geeks and Frank Gehry geeks. During their Cochella preview their readers reveal themselves to be Depeche Mode geeks. Seattlest saw their basketball team preparing to leave for... more ›

In a world where everything can be sold and named for a price, the next thing Chicago is auctioning off is the Chicago Skyway. In the next couple weeks, the bidding will begin to rename the toll bridge to Indiana. The winner pays $3 million a year and gets to have their name plastered all over the place for at least 5 years. And the city better be successful in finding someone who wants to pay up, because they're already counting on the money for this year. more ›

What would you do to avoid being caught drunk driving? How about jump off the Chicago Skyway? That's what Minh Van Hua did on Tuesday night. more ›

One of the great benefits of the Chicago's Skyway's 99-year lease agreement with a private group is the implementation of a series of long-needed "duh" improvements to the toll bridge. In February variable rates for trucks were implemented, and starting next month automobile drivers will have three lanes where they can use I-Pass to pay the $2.50 toll, helping to eliminate the inevitable long backups. more ›

In case you haven't heard, it's budget time in Illinois, so that means good times for everyone! And since we're no longer in the Go-Go Nineties (much like the "Swingin' Sixties" but different from the "Naughty Naughts"), local governments have a lot of shortfalls and are scratching for every last revenue dollar. more ›

The city has finalized a $1.8 billion deal that gives a private group rights to run the Chicago Skyway for the next, not 100 but 99 years. Mayor Daley says the deal signed yesterday is a good move for everyone and says the city will use the cash to pay off existing Skyway debt and to invest of the future. more ›