Cloud Gate a.k.a. The Bean via wood tang. See more of his Segway tour photos here. more ›

The Hired Truck scandal isn't going away anytime soon. Today the Sun-Times reports that federal prosecutors have announced that they have secret audio recordings of City Clerk James Laski that incriminate him in the scheme: more ›

The attempted cleanup of City Hall continued on Thursday as 47 employees were terminated for reasons ranging from falsifying time cards, theft and bribery. The affected employees come from a variety of departments, and stem from the federal investigation regarding the city’s Hired Truck Program, which has widened to include the city’s hiring practices. So if you are looking for a job, apparently there are a lot of openings with the city. more ›

In the most recent scandal at City Hall, Mayor Daley has fired 2 Chicago officials who are accused of running a rigged system that rewards people with political ties with jobs. Yesterday both Robert Sorich and Patrick Slattery were let go. But not just let go, that was just a result of their being INDICTED by the feds. The 2 men are accused of giving well-connected job applicants easy, fake interviews and of bumping up their interview scores to make sure they got positions. more ›

Martin McDonagh, a 38-year-old Irish immigrant, was so nervous when he entered his guilty plea in federal court yesterday, that he couldn't remember his own age. As the Sun Times and the Chicago Tribune reports today, out of the 27 people indicted, McDonagh is the first plea in the investigation, although attorneys for Angelo Torres, the one-time Hired Truck operator, announced that he intends to plea guilty. more ›

The latest Chicago pol to fall into the Hired Truck spotlight is West Side State Senator Antonio Muñoz (pictured at right), cited by the Chicago Tribune as an acquaintance of former Hired Truck Program director, Angelo Torres. Torres, you may remember, has been indicted for extortion -- sending city trucking contracts to shadow companies. The connection between Muñoz and Torres is essentially through the Hispanic Democratic Organization. Muñoz' 1998 senate election is considered one of... more ›

Last week, John "Quarters" Boyle was arrested on federal charges for taking bribes from companies to stay in the city's Hired Truck program. Prosecutors say he took cash, steaks, Marshall Field's gift certificates, and contributions to his favorite politicians. In 1992, Boyle was convicted stealing $4 million coins from IL Toll Highway Authority, hence his nickname.. Quick, someone, how much does $4 million in coins weigh!?! A few thousand pounds? Mayor Daley says it's common for the city to hire ex-convicts to give them a second chance but he says he embarassed by the latest scandal to his his administration. more ›