It looks like thee David Koschman case is going to have something resembling a independent investigation after all. Inspector General Joe Ferguson requested documents from the Police Department regarding the Koschman case a full two weeks before the Illinois State Police agreed to Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez's request to investigate. more ›

There are many things that distinguish the great city of Chicago from other metropolises across the United States. Though many that visit the our shores immediately gravitate towards our most commercially driven symbols like Wrigley Field, our signature deep dish pizza and the startling view into the great beyond from the top of the iconic Sears/Willis tower. The events that punctuate the seasons, like the Taste of Chicago, the Blues Festival and the Monday night Downtown Sound free concert series are truly the events that have made a deeper impact on those that walk our streets each day. Sometimes we take for granted how lucky we are to have such rich and diverse cultural events here, and over the past twenty years our lives are much richer by the one-woman machine that both founded and headed the Department of Cultural Affairs: Lois Weisberg. more ›

Surrounded by dirt, trellises, plants and happy gardeners; you would think we had wandered into a fairy tale about sustainable agriculture. Which, in a way, we had … except this storybook was set in a magical land 20 feet above the ground. On Saturday, Uncommon Ground opened America’s first organically certified rooftop garden at their Devon Avenue location, and they invited Mayor Daley to join in the revelry. more ›

The US House subcommittee on highways and transit will conduct a hearing here on October 29 to determine what kinds of transit improvements Chicago would need before we could host the Olympics. Why yes, October 29 is a mere 6 days before our public transit system starts collapsing into itself like a dying star! "Mayor Richard Daley, Blagojevich, officials from the Regional Transportation Authority, the three transit agencies and the U.S. Olympic Committee will... more ›

CBS2 reports that the city is testing a new system where they are going to put red and green lights on street poles to help residents avoid street cleaning tickets. On street cleaning day, the light would be red, and when crews finished the light would go green, indicating the street was once again safe for parking. "Once the sweeper comes by then the light goes green and everybody can park there. Takes 5 minutes to clean it and save an enormous amount of money," said Mayor Richard Daley. CBS2 says, "The pilot program still has a few kinks to work out, but he [Daley] loves the idea." more ›

A few months back, A Chicago bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics was discussed. Chicagoist whole heartedly endorsed the idea. Da Mere also came out in favor of such a bid. It was pointed out, however, that the newly renovated Soldier Field wasn't large enough to accomodate the opening & closing ceremonies or track & field events. So, while we already have many of the necessary venues we'd have to build an Olympic Stadium in... more ›

You already know that Chicago is one of America's greenest cities, but a group of area architects are asking the ever-burning question: Why just be green when you can be green and stylish at the same time? more ›

If you like gambling, and you live in Chicago or the south suburbs, get pumped, because odds are some action is coming your way. Or at least, that's what it looks like. more ›

Chicago Public School teachers are about to be subject to tougher enforcement of residency requirements, despite the Chicago Teachers Union's request to eliminate or at least relax the rule that mandates teachers hired since 1996 to live within Chicago city limits. more ›

Today's the day Chicagoist has been waiting all season for! The first game between the Cubs and White Sox begins this afternoon at 3:05pm at U.S. Cellular Field. Mark Prior faces off against Jon Garland in the first of three games between the two clubs this weekend. The Cubs' and Sox's success on the field again has fans dreaming of a Red Line World Series. Will it happen? If history is any indication probably... more ›

At least one more thing is complete in Millennium Park.. In a closed ceremony on Saturday, Master Architect Frank Gehry and Mayor Richard Daley cut the ribbon and opened the new Gehry-designed, 935-foot-long footbridge. The bridge begins in Grant Park, goes over Columbus Drive and winds down into the gardens of Millenium Park. Passing pedestrians described the bridge as "snakelike" or looking like a space ship. Gehry, himself, said he think it looks like a river. This is Gehry's first attempt at a bridge. And because everything these days has to have a corporate sponsor, the bridge is officially known as BP Bridge, after the oil company that was its primary funding source. more ›

After several days of wishy washiness, Mayor Richard Daley has announced that he is supporting plans to build a casino in downtown Chicago. He said that budget problems are forcing the city to find new sources of income and that he wants Chicago to be the first city in the nation to own a license so that both state and city taxpayers would receive all of the revenue benefits - up to $850 million annually. Daley also said that a casino would employ about 2,500 people. more ›