Ah, one of the great debates of this grand country of ours: soda, pop, or coke? Which do you call it? I grew up in the region that overwhelmingly calls it "Coke." But Illinois? You call it "pop." By an overwhelming majority (66 percent). It's a fascinating look at how the trend varies by region; what gives, east Missouri/western and central Illinois? Soda, eh? A rebellion against the north staters' "pop" coalition? Check out the map above, created by Matthew Campbell and Prof. Greg Plumb of East Central University in Oklahoma, and even more of the data, collected in a not-exactly-scientific method by Alan McConchie, here. [h/t our sister site LAist who apparently calls it "soda"] more ›

Facing a deep budget gap of its own, the CTA is making moves to earn a little cash. One way it's doing so is by re-upping a deal with soft drink maker Coca-Cola. The deal, which will net the CTA around $1.4 million over the next five years, means Coke is the exclusive provider of all drink vending machines at CTA stops. According to a press release by the CTA: more ›

As if we needed another tax, a group of dentists are descending upon Springfield with the hopes of adding a five percent tax to soda. The Illinois State Dental Society says it would use the proceeds from the tax to help fund a dental program that serves the state's poorer residents. According to the group's Greg Johnson, the extra proceeds would help cover costs for dentists, hopefully encouraging more dentists to participate. He told WBBM, "This is one that we think, because of the sugar in soft drinks and the acid and effects on teeth, that it would be a nice tie in because it is related." The City of Chicago already has a three percent soda tax. [WBBM] more ›

Last summer, the state of Illinois awarded an exclusive contract to Pepsi for the sale of soft drinks on state property. But now Coca-Cola's crying foul, saying the state impeded their ability to put together a full proposal, and state legislators agree. They voted 104-0 to have the auditor general take a look at the contract. The Revenue Department says the deal is completely un-shady. more ›