With the economy in the tank, Lord knows we could all use a little extra money these days. We're always looking for a way to supplement our salaries, whether it's selling back old clothes to thrift stores or selling our plasma. One Grand Rapids sports writer, however, thought he had found a better way to supplement his income: selling weed. David Mayo (right), sports writer for the Grand Rapids Press, was charged with manufacture of more than 20 but less than 200 plants, a seven-year felony, and maintaining a drug house at his home. a two-year, high-court misdemeanor. We knew print media was having a hard time of it these days, but this bad? [via Awful Announcing] more ›

Breaking news: An Amtrak train and a freight train collided at 48th and South Shields Ave about an hour ago, and passengers are being pulled out as we write this. Developing. UPDATE 12:27: Don Rashid from Stroger Hospital is on NBC5 saying that Stroger is in a "stage 3 disaster." The footage is showing color-coded triage areas, and so far the green zone is empty. 12:30 Witnesses are describing a sound "like an explosion" when... more ›

Rather than go out to participate in last Sunday's national toast to Michael Jackson, we decided to stay at home and raise a glass in honor of the "Beer Hunter." Earlier that afternoon we finished the remaining bottles of Goose Island Harvest Ale during that debacle of a Bears game and were left with a varied selection in the fridge — a couple brews from Three Floyds, a bottle of Unibroue 16, two cans of... more ›

Now that it seems as though the weather is finally catching up with the calendar, we at Chicagoist feel an obligation to offer some “BotW” selections that won’t put you down any further than the impending muggy weather. Rooting through our fridge, we found one that we think might do the trick for you who like both sweeter and lighter beers. We took a good hard look at the Grand Rapids-based Founder’s brewery a few... more ›

Good American-made stouts are plentiful these days. With more breweries applying aging techniques to their beer, barrel-aged stouts are just as plentiful. Goose Island Bourbon County Stout benefits greatly from being allowed to age in 12-year-old Heaven Hill barrels. Three Floyd's DarkLord, the stout of the moment, has an aged version that uses barrels purchased from Woodford Reserve and allowed to sit for a year. Because wood is permeable, barrel aging allows a stout to... more ›

Two Allstate Arena-based franchises are finding success. The Chicago Wolves kicked off their playoff campaign this weekend against their rival to the north, the Milwaukee Admirals. The Wolves took advantage of home ice, winning the first two games in the best of seven series. They won the first game 3-2 and skated to an easier victory in the second game, 4-1. more ›

The Chicago Rush have earned a playoff berth in each of their five years in the Arena Football League. After suffering their worst loss of the season, 55-20 in Atlanta this weekend, the Rush need to find some success in the remaining two weeks of the season if they hope to continue their playoff streak. more ›