Wall Street kingpins Goldman Sachs reported a staggering $3.3 billion in earnings amidst charges of fraud by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The SEC filed a civil suit last week against Goldman Sachs, charging that the bank created and sold debt linked to subprime mortgages without disclosing a hedge fund’s involvement in picking the securities involved. The SEC vote split on party lines, with 3 Democrats voting in favor of the suit and 2 Republicans dissenting. In response to the big bank’s legal troubles, Congressman Mark Kirk has decided to return $54,010 in campaign contributions from Goldman employees. Kirk made the decision after criticism from Alexi Giannoulias, who is also under fire for questionable bank related behavior. Spokeswoman Kirsten Kukowski said Kirk made a “personal decision to go above and beyond the reasonable ethics standard and err on the side of caution.” more ›

With visions of sugar plum fairies dancing through their heads, the -Ists began to get into that holiday mood. Well, some did. Austinist wasn't as the NY Times dissed them and a local Tex-Mex institution sold out. Making them feel better was music, sweet music and the local theater getting name checked on "Heroes." Chicagoist tried to wrap their heads around a religious movie being banned from a Christmas themed park. To wash that... more ›

Every year Chicago Magazine chooses a handful of people who they believe have made our city a better place. This year they've chosen 6 people to honor as Chicagoans of the Year: more ›