With the cash strapped governments of today, cutting spending and scaling back resources is vital. Chicago alone is facing a budget gap of $654 million next year. Too bad they can’t use the $1 million of taxpayer money the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District spent over three years on lavish dinners and trips. more ›

• Hundreds of protesters rallied downtown today along with others across the country as part of a tax day "Tea Party" against excessive government spending. Chicagoisto Kevin was there, and will have coverage/photos tomorrow.
• Looks like the city is having a hard time finding any patsies to switch from a monthly flat fee for water service over to city water meters -- the Sun-Times reports that "only a trickle" (ha, get it?) of homeowners have signed up. A Water Management spokesman acknowledged that residents have the perception that if meters are installed, their water bills will go up. Shocking!
• Since we already used up our allotment of "Bo knows" references today, we'll skip the obvious and just say that Bo "I-Can't-Decide-On-One-Sport" Jackson has founded a bank in south suburban Burr Ridge. Well, he certainly can't make the banking system any worse.