Gov. Quinn and Mayor-elect Emanuel met yesterday for the first time since Emanuel's February election and promised a "strong alliance" between Chicago and Springfield rooted in the 31-year relationship between the two, who first met as campaign workers for the late Senator Paul Simon in 1980. more ›

Now comes word that Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart and Congressman Luis Gutierrez met to discuss the wide open race. more ›

The fallout from Police Superintendent Jody Weis's meeting with gang leaders two weeks ago, where Weis let them know that they would be charged under RICO statutes if they don't work to stop killings by their foot soldiers, continued yesterday. Gang leaders held a press conference yesterday condemning Weis's actions as not being fair to them. John Kass's account of the press conference painted a portrait of a group of men who tried to deflect responsibility everywhere but on themselves. It was almost surreal, like when the titular character in "Black Dynamite" declares war on people who sell drugs to the community and one of the other gang leaders answers, "But Black Dynamite! I sell drugs to the community! " more ›

With all the talk of fare hikes, doomsdays, and state funding shortfalls we've heard about our public transportation system since the beginning of the year, well, there's going to be even more talk over the next several days. Starting tomorrow and running until next Tuesday, September 1, the RTA will conduct 13 hearings to help them set next year's budget. WBBM 780 has more on the meetings as well as a break-down of the schedule. more ›