Chicago News Cooperative and the Better Government Association obtained a report from the Cook County comptroller's office that showed which county commissioners didn't take all of their furlough days before the 2011 fiscal year ended Nov. 30, 2011. more ›

This isn't unexpected from "the Hog with the Big Nuts." For Collins, it's a reversal of what she agreed to in February. more ›

In a move that's caught almost everyone by surprise, the Cook County Board yesterday voted to decriminalize marijuana in very small amounts in unincorporated parts of Cook County. Under the legislation passed, sheriffs can arrest someone possessing less than 10 grams of marijuana on misdemeanor charges or simply issue a $200 ticket. The measure was introduced by Commissioner Earlean Collins who admitted personal motivations: her grandson was arrested for having a small amount of marijuana. Collins, though, made a salient point: arresting marijuana offenders is crowding jails. According to the Sun-Times, she said: more ›