The guard troops will use eight helicopters and ground support to deliver supplies to areas isolated by flooding. more ›

Be prepared, Chicago. A series of emergency drills are scheduled for next week which, according to the Tribune, "will include a simulated commercial airplane crash, a simulated rail-car evacuation and a simulated terrorist attack," with more than 50 agencies participating. more ›

Just a few weeks after two state representatives suggested that the National Guard be brought in to help Chicago Police control the violence, Chicago Police are actually touting a drop in some violent crime. Police superintendent Jody Weis announced crime is down almost seven percent, most violent crime is down 11 percent and the number of homicides this year is below the five-year average for the same period. Weis attributes the decrease to "smart policing; sharing more information among federal, state and local police; and building partnerships within communities." more ›

Days later, fall-out continues from the call to have the National Guard mobilized in Chicago to help curb the city's violence as various government and community leaders weigh in on the matter. more ›

Rep. John Fritchey is among a few law-makers calling on the National Guard to help quell the outbreak of violence in Chicago. But is this the right answer or just a quick fix? more ›

180 National Guard troops got a warm welcome home today from friends, family, and Governor Pat Quinn. The ceremony was held today at Soldier Field; it's the first trip home in almost a year for the soldiers from the 178th Infantry. The troops were among those that Gov. Quinn visited during his surprise trip to the Middle East a few weeks ago. more ›

Henry Hyde, 6th District Congressman since 1975, is retiring next year, and the battle to take over his seat is heating up. Democrat Christine Cegelis, pictured at right, did respectably against Hyde in 2004, and appeared to be the leading Democrat in the race to represent the rapidly changing district, which includes parts of Cook and DuPage counties. However, Rahm Emanuel, 5th District Congressman and Chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, has not... more ›

What’s the best way to cap off a week of promotion for your new album? If you’re Kanye West, it’s taking on the President during a national telethon and cementing your status as the ambassador of the hip-hop nation. During an appearance on NBC’s “A Concert for Hurricane Relief,” West departed from scripted remarks he was to deliver with fellow presenter Mike Myers. After an introduction by Meyers, a nervous-looking West stammered “You see a... more ›

Along with everyone else, Chicagoist has been watching as Katrina formed, advanced, and finally plowed over New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. Our hearts go out to everyone who was there and who lost family and friends, their homes and possessions. In some ways, this storm was reminiscent of Hurricane Andrew, a Category 4 hurricane that immobilized Miami-Dade County (and one Chicagoist staffer) in 1992. Both storms crept slowly towards their target, leaving Miami and... more ›