The House Judiciary Committee approved the Great Lakes Basin Compact yesterday, paving the way for approval by congress. "The compact will ensure that our Great Lakes will remain stabile and vibrant for generations to come," said Michigan Democrat and committee chair John Conyers. Wisconsin Republican James Sensenbrenner echoed that sentiment, saying, "the sooner this compact can be ratified by the Congress, the sooner it will become effective and the greater protection will be given." The......

We told you earlier today about monkeys being outlawed as pets. At least we know what Congress has been up to all this time. And it got us thinking about some classic monkey moments. There are many to be found, but this is one of our all-time favorites.......

Floods? Housing crisis? Crippled economy? Bah! says Congress. By a 3-to-1 margin (302-96), the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Captive Primate Safety Act which would amend the currently imposed Lacey Act by adding "nonhuman primates" to the list of "live animal of any prohibited wildlife species." The bill has 26 sponsors, including Mark Kirk (R), Jan Schakowsky (D), and Luis Gutierrez (D), all of Illinois. Animal rights groups such as the Humane Society, ASPCA,......

Gas prices are keeping many people close to home this summer, and the Sun-Times is laying out a couple places where Chicagoans can hang out during a "stay-cation." Besides being the word we hate most since "gastropub," [Ed note: "bromance"] if you haven't figured it out a stay-cation is a lot like a vacation...but you don't go too far from home. Duh. The S-T found a few boutique places where you can spend your evenings......

If you guessed that a former Navy nuclear submarine officer who served in and around the Arabian Gulf during the 2003 invasion of Iraq, who owns a real estate investment firm in suburban Chicago, and who was Officer in Charge of the Center for Information Dominance Learning Site at Great Lakes Naval Station is running for congress as a Green this year, you'd be right. On Monday the Illinois State Green Party filed paperwork in......

Ozinga Concrete launched a large ad buy last week on WLS-AM (890) radio. The ads, which promote a porous, environmentally friendly concrete, mention the Ozinga name eight times. Which wouldn't really be news if Marty Ozinga, who owns the company, didn't want to run for congress this year. Ozinga is one of a handful of Republicans that are vying to get the nod to run for Jerry Weller's seat in the 11th congressional district. Weller......

After an increasingly nasty campaign, science nerd Bill Foster prevailed over perennial candidate Jim Oberweis to win the 14th District congressional seat vacated by Dennis Hastert. The jury is still out as to if Foster won because of his methods to get out the vote, or just because even a lot of Republicans think Oberweis is a douche. But the flurry of mailers featuring cow puns and fear mongering isn't over yet -- thanks to......

If the RTA extended the Blue Line out to the Yorktown Mall in Lombard, would you go? The Sun-Times reported yesterday that possible improvements to the city's transit system could include a longer trek on the Forest Park line, new bus routes on major expressways, and a north-south train between Midway and O'hare, among other things. But did you know that the CTA used to run all the way out to Aurora? It did...kinda. It......

Ah, late February in Chicago. Cubs tickets go on sale today, there's a forecast for a high temperature above 35 degrees next week, and thousands of indie rock kids around Chicago will soon be shedding their parkas for high-priced hoodies bought from Wicker Park boutiques (tip: ours cost us $12 at Target!) for several worthwhile shows around the Chicago area. Lots of tickets go on sale this weekend. So, despite this crappy weather, there is,......

With the Democratic primary election in the 14th Congressional District all but settled, Bill Foster and Jim Oberweis are duking it out over Iraq. Oberweis is accusing Foster of politicizing the Iraq War in his bid to take the seat that Dennis Hastert vacated by retiring. Foster says he won't support any policies that don't "change the course in Iraq and do it now." Oberweis's campaign says that view is out of touch with voters......

In a political season that has been marked by the theme of change, Illinois's 3rd Congressional District has become one of the battle grounds over what the Democratic Party might look like going forward in 2008. Critics of the incumbent, Dan Lipinski, are unhappy with his opposition to abortion rights and stem cell research, and his siding with moderate Republicans on the war in Iraq and domestic spying. Besides his voting record, they also don't......

The Tribune Editorial Board released its list of endorsements in the upcoming Illinois primaries on February 5. Among the list are 3rd District Congressman Dan Lipinski (striking a blow to challenger and progressive blog champion Mark Pera) and tenacious ice cream magnate Jim Oberweis -- running for Congress in the 14th District -- who is determined to get himself elected to some office, somewhere, some time (we hear Sugar Grove is looking for a......

Head to Daley Plaza this morning at 10:30 a.m. for a quick early voting rally for Mark Pera. Pera, the assistant Cook County State's Attorney who is running against Dan Lipinski for the 3rd Congressional District seat, is the first serious candidate to challenge Lipinski since he went to congress in 2004. Pera's campaign has attracted a lot of attention, both online and in the district. Online support has helped helped fund his campaign, but......

Born on January 15, 1929, Martin Luther King would have been 79 this year. In 1984 an act of Congress made the third Monday of this month Martin Luther King Day. With most government offices closed today, there are a plethora of events honoring his memory. The Chicago Park District is holding a series of events dedicated to his legacy. The University of Chicago is hosting panels and speakers all week, with a series of......

The split between Mayor Daley and Chicago's labor movement grew a little bit bigger this week, as the Congress Hotel, which has been on strike for the last four and a half years, was denied an expansion request by the city's Plan Commission. Four of the nine Plan Commission members voted for the proposal Thursday, one member rejected the request, and four other members abstained from voting. Mayor Daley supported the proposal, saying that "it......

There's more than just choosing candidates for President at stake when the Illinois Primary rolls around February 5. For instance, in our home 3rd Congressional district, puppet incumbent Dan Lipinski is facing an actual opponent this time in Assistant State's Attorney Mark Pera. Lipinski owes his seat in Congress to the greasy maneuvers of his father, Bill. The elder Lipinski, who held the seat for 22 years, won the Democratic Primary in 2004. Amid denials......

Barack Obama took the first step in cooling off the war of words between his campaign and Hillary Clinton's. "I've been a little concerned about the tenor of the campaign," Obama said in a press conference called yesterday evening in Nevada. "We've got too much at stake at this time in our history to be engaging in this kind of silliness," Obama said. "I suspect that other candidates may feel the same way." Acknowledging the......

Ah, it's a new year and a whole new slew of opportunities to catch our favorite hometown gossip mill grinder in action on his native turf. First up: a "private" Malibu-hosted party at the Congress Theater tomorrow night, featuring the sweet, sweet sounds of young Wentz on the turntables (or iPod, as it may be), as well as complimentary Malibu cocktails and hors d'oeuvres. Ashlee sightings? Maybe. Sound like a nice way to stay warm......

Is it just us, or has this week sucked ass? It seems like everyone we've talked to has wanted to stab the whole world in the neck this week. At least we have a bunch of things to do that are awesome..... The Old Town School of Folk Music has its annual craft fair tonight, plus their monthly First Friday series. Tomorrow, bust out your wallet at Renegade Craft Fair's holiday bonanza. We've noticed......

One of the races that we've been watching this winter is the Democratic Primary in the 3rd Congressional District. Incumbent Dan Lipinski is hoping voters will send him back to D.C. for a third term, but he's facing a tough challenge from Mark Pera, an assistant county prosecutor from Western Springs. That challenge may have gotten a little tougher yesterday when Cook County Commissioner Forrest Claypool endorsed Pera. If you don't remember the 2004 general......

Long-time Republican Congressman Henry Hyde died early this morning at Rush University Medical Center. He was 83. Hyde served 32 years in the House before retiring at the end of last session, and he was recently awarded a Medal of Freedom. He's best known for his role as the chairman of the judiciary committee during the Clinton impeachment proceedings and for the Hyde Amendment, which bans Medicaid from funding abortions except in cases of rape,......

Lots to rock about over the next few days, from Modest Mouse at the Congress, to Bob Pollard at the Metro, to our beloved Hall & Oates at the UIC Pavilion, but DDaN's gonna keep it live and local this week. InchWORM mounts the stage at the Double Door tomorrow night to fire up the cornfield psychedelia and shambling country pop that have garnered them comparisons to Wilco, Sparklehorse, and My Morning Jacket. Their most......

What happens when the party you believe in, that you dedicate your political career to, takes a turn for the worse? If you're Dennis Hastert, you resign graciously, take your kudos, and become the elder statesman you always knew you could be. Hastert resigned yesterday, bringing to a close an era of congressional Republicanism marked by increasingly bitter partisanship, an unpopular president championing an unpopular war, and a rash of scandals, both political and personal......

Today we take you back to Friday, April 18th, 1980. The anchors on our evening newscasts were giants like Bill Kurtis and Walter Jacobson at Channel 2, John Drury at Channel 9, and the bow-tied Fahey Flynn at Channel 7, where the above clip comes from (big thanks to Fuzzy Memories for this clip). In the clip, anchor Diane Allen reports on the top stories of the day, including a proposed CTA rate hike......

Mark Pera, Democratic candidate for congress in the Third District, is launching his first TV ad today. Debuting on cable television around the area, the ad contrasts incumbent Dan Lipinski's supposed political affiliations with his actions in Congress. “The Iraq war is the defining issue in our campaign for Congress, and we’re giving voters a clear choice. I’m offering to voters real leadership in Congress to end this war and bring our troops home safely......

The Mississippi county where Emmet Till was murdered issued an official apology today. One of Till's relatives, who attended the ceremony, said, "Back in 1955, Tallahatchie County did nothing to help us. This is all they can do, and we appreciate it and accept." Mississippi State Senator Dave Jordan, who's trying to pass a bill getting the entire state to apologize, said "Mississippi once had a clean dress on, but her underclothes were dirty.......

The three Democratic front-runners came to Chicago this week to seek the endorsement of that other labor federation, Change to Win. Barack Obama and John Edwards made their case in person, but erstwhile local gal Hillary Clinton had to settle for phoning it in from Little Rock Arkansas where her plane was stranded. "Back in the '90s when we had a Democratic Congress and we had a Democratic president, we didn't get universal healthcare," Edwards......

Jerry Weller's announcement that he is retiring from Congress at the end of this term should have been a simple political narrative. Pol marries daughter of ex-Guatemalan dictator, makes what look like some questionable land deals in Central America, and gets subpoenaed in the case against a defense contractor who is accused of bribing another congressman. Then he announces that he won't seek another term so he can spend more time with the family. Yawn.......

A new ruling from the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals may finally put an end to the Cavel horsemeat slaughter saga that has been on our radar for some time. On Friday, the court upheld the Illinois Horse Meat Act, effectively shutting down the DeKalb County-based slaughterhouse. The ever-prolific Richard Posner penned the 15-page opinion. In his trademark witty style, he writes, But even if no horses live longer as a result of the......

It's going to be gorgeous this weekend but might rain tonight, so grab your umbrella before heading out. Just in case. The The Consumer Product Safety Commission recalled 1 million cribs today after a Trib investigation linked the cribs to the deaths of three children. Congressman Jerry Weller (R-Morris) won't be running for an eighth term because he wants to spend more time with his family. Not because he's been named one of the......