City Colleges of Chicago received approval today to use $1.8 million in tax increment financing to take over the financially beleaguered Harold Washington Cultural Center in Bronzeville. The center, built on the site of the former Regal Theater, has long been plagued with cost overruns and accusations of patronage, nepotism, mismanagement and possible violations of federal tax law. more ›

Once viewed as the anchor of a surging Bronzeville neighborhood, the Harold Washington Cultural Center is again the center of controversy as the City considers taking over the building. Despite assertions to the contrary, the state-of-the art theater at 47th and King Drive has fallen under a foreclosure cloud with a $1.3 million dollar suit against former Alderman Dorothy Tillman’s Tobacco Road Productions. The Sun-Times reported that the Mayor has taken notice of the situation and has announced that he may use TIF money to finance a City Colleges takeover of the performing arts facility. more ›

• Police continue to investigate the death of a three-month old baby who was found in a crowded, dirty apartment on the Northwest Side.
• Yesterday was a dark day for businesses nationwide with tens of thousands of jobs cut. Among them, 20,000 by Illinois-based Caterpillar.
• The ACLU has filed suit against the Illinois Department of Vital Records for refusing to issue new birth certificates to transgenders who have their sex change operation performed overseas.

Former 3rd Ward Alderman Dorothy Tillman was found guilty today of criminal trespassing in Montgomery, Alabama stemming from a March incident at a hospital. Tillman, who is from Montgomery, was visiting an elderly aunt at Jackson Hospital and became "very disorderly" when the hospital would not turn over her aunt's records on demand, telling Tillman they first needed a written request. She was sentenced to $541 in fines and 10-day jail sentence which was suspended. more ›

Former alderman Dorothy Tillman was arrested over the weekend in Alabama. She was charged with criminal tresspassing after refusing to leave an Montgomery hospital, according to the police. Tillman says the cops used excessive force and that she was brutalized. more ›

The warm weather seems to have kept some of our naughty citizens somewhat at bay this weekend, but there was still some activity in Chicago's criminal justice world: more ›

Former Chicago mayor Eugene Sawyer has died, following a long illness. Sawyer was 73 years old. more ›

The City's already poured $2 million into a park in Bronzeville, but now Alderman Pat Dowell and Mayor Daley want to sell the property. Ex-alderman Dorothy Tillman is not pleased. Chicago's lone Wal-Mart paid more than $5 million in state and local taxes during its first year, including $1.3 million to the City and $400,000 to Cook County. That means the store brought in between $55 and $60 million for the year, which is... more ›

A piece that ran in Sunday's Tribune got us to thinking about the ramifications of last week's election here in Chicago. Much has been made about the significance of the nine new aldermen that will take office in May, especially those that had the support of labor. Dorothy Tillman, Madeline Haithcock, and Shirley Coleman all went down, beaten by union backed candidates. Toni Foulkes in the 15th Ward, an actual union member, beat Felicia Simmons-Stoval... more ›

This election has been one of the most significant in recent memory. With seven new aldermen set to take office in May, including the wife of Jesse Jackson Jr. in the 7th Ward, the stage is set for a new power struggle in Chicago. This year, more than any other, saw the city's labor movement — especially the service-sector unions — flex their political muscle. The result? A record-low turnout in the mayoral vote, and... more ›

At least since Warhol began displaying boxes of soup cans and Brillo pads in gallery settings, the concept of the “found” object as art has been a primary component of our culture. In other words, there’s a very good reason why “America’s Funniest Home Videos” has been on the air since 1989 (hint: it’s not Bob Saget). We’ve become a voyeuristic culture, with an appetite for spying-as-entertainment as an antidote to the increasingly formulamatic output... more ›

In the latest round of skirmishes over power in this city, aldermanic candidates have seen the labor movement in Chicago flex it's muscle. In the 21st Ward, incumbent alderman Howard Brookins is being challenged by Leroy Jones, a community activist and member of SEIU Local 73 and UFCW Local 881 member Toni Foulkes is running against Felicia Simmons-Stovall for an open seat in the 15th Ward. In fact, this election cycle, more than any other... more ›

This week's theme: soul food, y'all. We ate enough of it last week to pine for the days of Ms. Biscuit on South Chicago Avenue (located next door to Mr. Biscuit's Hand Car Wash and Auto Detail). Here we go. City Mouse: Chef Gilbert Langlois (Rushmore, SushiSamba Rio) describes his new North Center-based concept Chalkboard as "new American cuisine," drawing inspiration from French country, classic Southern, and the less spicy elements of Creole for his... more ›

Well, another municipal election has come in Chicago, and in many wards (but not all) it's gone. As expected, Richard M. Daley sailed to re-election, set to eclipse his father as the Chicago's longest-serving mayor, in spite of Ben Joravsky's best efforts. At the time of this writing, a few things are clear: there will be a few runoffs this year, including Madeline Haithcock - Bob Fioretti (2nd), Dorothy Tillman - Pat Dowell (3rd), Shirley... more ›

Halfway through reading about Tom Tunney's proposal for the city, we had to start over. We searched and searched, scratching our heads, thinking, "Wait, is a Chicago alderman actually doing something?" Inspired, we smiled wide. So THIS is why we vote in local elections! more ›

"Gut Feelings" via pantagrapher. more ›

When we were young, we were told to stand up for what we believe in. We would be rewarded with a sense of self, a sense of purpose. Mayor Daley, Aldermen Howard Brookins Jr. (21st), Shirley Coleman (16th), Anthony Beale (9th), Dorothy Tillman (3rd), and Arenda Troutman (20th) stood up for what they believed in by blocking the big box ordinance. Shirley Coleman voted for the ordinance before she voted against it (we've always wanted to put that in a post). Their claim was that so-called big box stores are a necessity, especially in areas where goods are not easily accessible. more ›

The voice that breathed velvet soul is now silent. Smooth voiced Grammy-winning singer and Chicago native Lou Rawls passed away this morning after being hospitalized in Los Angeles for treatment of lung and brain cancer. Mr. Rawls was introduced to music by his grandmother and the gospel strains of church. He started singing professionally in the mid-'50's with the L.A.-based gospel group the Pilgrim Travelers, whose contemporaries the Soul Stirrers featured at that time the... more ›