A day after the historic announcement that Chicago's notorious coal plants would be closing, community groups gathered at Dvorak Park to celebrate their victory in the shadow of the Fisk Generating Station smokestack. more ›

Two men posing as police officers have robbed several people in six different incidents in the Little Village neighborhood on the Southwest Side, police said via the Chicago Sun-Times. Victims were approached by the men who claimed to be police officers and then took the victims' money between 8 p.m. and midnight from December 18 through last Friday. more ›

According to the study the plants cause more than $127 million in 2010 dollars in health damages yearly, based on 2005 emissions. Particulate matter released into the air causes cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, heart attacks, premature death and more. A spokeswoman for Midwest Generation told WBEZ that there is no tie between the plants and public health, putting the blame on traffic instead. The ELPC supports the Chicago Clean Power ordinance, which would require Midwest Generation to reduce PM pollution within 4 years. Howard Learner, executive director for the ELPC said via press release “Soot and smog from Chicago coal plants is making us sick and costing us millions. Cleaning them up is the right thing to do for our health, our environment and our economy.” more ›

After an alleged drug dealer was robbed of his product he called the police to report the theft. Steven Dragon was picked up by the police for being a suspect in a purse snatching incident last January. While Dragon was doing the phony lineup, the police confiscated the half a kilo of cocaine that was in Dragon’s trunk, according to a federal complaint unsealed Thursday, the Sun Times reports. more ›

• Be sure to check our original post on Mayor Daley's retirement announcement for the latest reaction, news, and links.
• Ald. Freddrenna Lyle (6th) is more concerned with her home being burglarized than Mayor Daley's announcement.
• Some veterans are upset about a mural added to a Little Village memorial honoring Mexican-American war heroes.

Two 911 emergency center employees have been suspended without pay for their part in a "dispatch delay" that left an off-duty Chicago cop alone to defend himself against a car full of alleged gang members, the Sun-Times reports. more ›

After a failed attempt to shoot and kill an off-duty cop believed to be a rival, four gang members were charged with attempted first-degree murder, Chicago Breaking News reports. more ›

Two Little Village men were arrested yesterday with cocaine in their possession. How much cocaine? $19 million worth. A tip led CPD Narcotics officers to set up surveillance of a drug deal. Officers watched the deal which led to the arrests of Anastacio Esparza and Lorenzo Barrios. Esparza was driving a van containing 50 kilograms of blow and further investigation led to the arrest of Barrios who was found to be in possession of 104 kilograms at his home. more ›

The estranged father of Ald. Ricardo Munoz (22nd) was sentenced to four years in prison and fined $500 for his part in the production of false documents, including drivers licenses and social security cards. Elias Munoz, 63, was among the 22 people arrested in a Little Village raid in April 2007 to crack down on illegal immigrants. Munoz's photo shop supplied photographs for the false documents. He will report to prison on April 6. more ›

A bone from the arm of Mother Cabrini, a 19th century Italian-American nun who founded hospitals, schools and and orphanages across the country, has made a temporary home at the Shrine of Our Lady Pompeii Church in Little Village. Mother Cabrini is known in the Catholic community for her missionary work that created a whopping 67 institutions in big cities across America, including Chicago's Columbus Hospital in Lincoln Park. In fact her bone normally resides within the National Shrine of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini at Columbus Hospital, which is currently being converted to condos. Cabrini Green was also named in her honor. Mother Cabrini was the first American to become a saint, and was named the patron saint of immigrants. more ›

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials arrested 21 more people over the last two days in connection with a fake visa scam in Little Village, the same site where a similar sweep occurred last year.

The "St. Louis crew" allegedly operated in the area of 26th Street and St. Louis Avenue from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week. 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 ›

So much so she posts the process of her paper creature creations on her blog. Esther's cards and stationery are delicate pieces that are brilliantly colored without losing their subtlety (like the bunny Zaha, right). A resident of Little Village, Esther says, "I find confectionery inspiration from the many colorful bakeries there and in the surrounding neighborhoods." more ›

Shake-ups and oustings continue at the Trib. The latest casualty: Tribune Interactive President Tim Landon. [Trib] more ›

CBS 2 news anchor Phil Antonio Mora is moving to Miami to do the news there. He says once he's gone, Chicago won't have any Latino nighttime news anchors. [S-T] more ›

There are three Cocina Cocula locations in Chicago. The closest one to us is a short — and, for yesterday, hot — bike ride away where Pilsen blends into Little Village. We've often passed Cocula on our way to our favorite haunts in La Villita, but with the sound of sirens in the air all around yesterday, we figured it would be as good a place as any to cool down and have a nosh.... more ›

Saturday the sun and heat agreed with Chicagoist. So we saddled up on our seven-year-old Schwinn Mesa GS and beat a straight line north on Halsted to the Lincoln Park farmers market. We just had some chicken butchered for us at Chicago Live Poultry House in Little Village, and had some ideas of how we wanted to prepare the cuts. more ›

As Chicagoist enjoyed a day off yesterday, we also found ourselves reflecting on some of the hallmarks of the holiday, namely fireworks. We spent our care free day away from work and the stresses that usually come with it, taking the opportunity to ride the Damen bus down to 18th Street, where we kept walking until we got to 23rd. After a cozy stroll through Heart of Chicago, we wound up in Little Village, where... more ›

One of the reasons we feel fortunate living on the south side is when we want to visit a nearby neighborhood, we can do so with relative ease via bicycle. We're a couple minutes away from Pilsen. Bronzeville is a few pedals from the house. Hyde Park is a quick ten minutes via the lakefront bike path. We've even found great West Indian cooking in Englewood en route to Beverly via Damen Avenue and... more ›

If you're a local pol these days, it seems that the feds are gonna get you one way or another. Sure, if you're a Lipinski, a Sorich, or hell, even a former or current governor, somebody from DC is probably taking a good hard look at you. But what if you are a photo shop owner, and your son is the alderman of the ward you live in? What if you are an alderman with a relatively clean record and a reputation for representing the community? Well, then the feds may nab you or a relative any way. more ›

It's hard not to love Chicago's MacArthur Foundation because even when they cut funds for something you cherish, they continue to support tons of other amazing services, community programs, and on and on. The newest rabbit with a hat up its sleeve is a boatload of money for sixteen ailing Chicago neighborhoods the Local Initiatives Support Corporation* is concentrating on with its New Communities Program. In what someone (but who?!) calls "the nation's largest community... more ›

As immigration rights activists around the nation prepare for marches marking the one year anniversary of the massive protests that took place on May 1 last year, federal agents stormed into a shopping mall yesterday in Little Village, serving a warrant to dismantle a counterfeiting operation that was allegedly producing fake work identifications. As of midnight last night there was no official confirmation of the number arrested, but witnesses have told the local media that as many as 160 people were arrested. Witnesses told CBS2 news that they had let most of the people they detained go, holding between 16 and 18 people in custody. After U.S. immigration authorities locked down the Little Village Plaza strip mall and parking lot, searching customers and businesses, anger and frustration spilled out into the corner of 26th and Albany in a protest of around 300 people. more ›

It's tax week, everyone. It's also a busy weekend for food and drink events in the city, between WhiskyFest and the IACP Cookbook Expo. Some of you are probably shedding tears in your beer after writing yet another check to the Man. In the spirit of empathy, we have a wine-and-spirits intensive edition of "YFFB" to take your mind off things. It's Still Alright to "Head For the Mountains of Busch": Sometimes it pays... more ›

Another Friday, another edition of "Your Friday Food Buffet." This week, we'll try to avoid outright mentioning St. Patrick's Day. We will talk about corn (dogs) and green (as in sustainability). So let's cut the crap and hook up right now. "Eighty? You Don't Look a Day Over 72.": Italian Village turns 80 this year, and the Sun-Times ran an article Monday trying to uncover the secrets behind the Loop mainstay's longevity. It also suggests... more ›

Is Daley building an "elitist city"? Dorothy Brown, mayoral challenger, thinks so. A gunman opened fire at Pizza Nova in Little Village. Three teens were shot, one was killed. If you're going to adopt some kids you might want to make sure you're married first, or at least make sure your name is on the papers. Otherwise, you've probably got no custody rights when you and your girlfriend break up. Lovie Smith had a... more ›

With a Starbucks on every corner –- and 40,000 stores planned for the upcoming years -- it can seem like the coffee giant is the only place to get coffee. Those in the know, however, know that Chicago is home to a bevy of coffee houses, in the Loop and all around the city. more ›

The Hideout Block Party - including Touch and Go's silver anniversary celebration - merely headlines what is shaping up to be a busy weekend of neighborhood and city-endorsed festivals. As people throughout the city scramble to enjoy the waning moments of prime tanning and outdoor drinking weather, here are some other festivals and events around the city for you to check out: - The Windy City Wine Festival gears up for another weekend of oenophilia... more ›