After making a big fuss over coming to Illinois to talk to businesses and to try to get them to relocate to the Garden State, New Jersey governor Chris Christie has indicated that the war between him and Pat Quinn isn't quite over. more ›

There's at least one company that wanted nothing to do with New Jersey Governor Chris Christie's recent feeble attempt to swipe jobs from the Land of Lincoln to the Garden State -- Northfield-based Kraft Foods, Inc. more ›

As we discussed last week, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and his roving band of job thieves are ridin' through town, a-whompin' and a-whumpin' every livin' thing that moves within an inch of its life. The trip is part of Christie's "this is not a PR stunt" plan to lure Illinois jobs away from the state due to the recent income tax increase. However, Christie himself acknowledges that New Jersey's tax rate, which is higher than neighbor state Pennsylvania's, is not a reason for jobs to leave New Jersey. more ›

Sure, a lot of people and businesses are cheesed about the state income tax hike. But, as Kevin pointed out last week, it was the necessary thing to do. But that isn't stopping other states from using the income tax hike to lure businesses to their states. We know Wisconsin has dangled a carrot to Illinois businesses, offering two years of no taxes to pull up stakes for America's Dairyland. Now, here comes New Jersey Governor Chris Christie — the one state in a worse financial situation than Illinois — with an ad campaign intended to lure Illinois businesses to the Garden State. more ›

A United Airlines plane flying out of O'Hare International Airport made an emergency landing in New Jersey this morning after its landing gear "failed to deploy," Chicago Breaking News reports. Passengers were evacuated and no one was injured. more ›

Jack Shaw, a Jersey City political consultant who was arrested last week in connection with the massive New Jersey corruption probe, was found dead yesterday at his home. Authorities reported finding several bottles of pills near his body, but the cause of death has not been determined as Shaw did suffer from an unspecified illness. According to the New York Times, Shaw got his start as, "a longtime Democratic operative who cut his teeth working for Mayor Richard J. Daley of Chicago." more ›

where she will not only take on the role of executive producer but will also star as legendary singer Etta James. No word yet on when she will actually arrive, but we’re certain well know as soon as her private jet lands, as Beyonce buzz travels fast. The film will mainly be shot in New Jersey and Mississippi, but may shoot in Chicago for a few exteriors. more ›

The Spice Girls are in town tonight at the United Center for the Chicago stop of their reunion tour. Originally Chicago tour dates were scheduled for both the February 15 and the 16, but management moved Saturday’s show over to Detroit. Tickets are still available for tonight’s show. more ›

John McCain won big in last night's Republican primaries, winning nine states and pushing his delegate count up to 559--not enough to win the nomination, but big enough to secure his standing as the front runner. Mike Huckabee got a boost last night as well, winning a string of upsets in the Southern states, enough to justify his continued candidacy. Mitt Romney, however, has bigger problems, winning only a handful of states, and with Huckabee still in, he won't get the one-on-one race he so desperately wanted. more ›

Today's the big day. Along with 24 other states, we're voting in Super Duper Tuesday. Up for grabs are 1688 pledged Democratic delegates, and 900 Republican delegates. Delegate-heavy states such as California, New Jersey, New York, Illinois and Georgia could play a deciding role in the outcome of both races. But with polling showing a tight Democratic race, and Obama working overtime to split votes in odd-numbered districts, tonight's results won't produce a nominee for the Democrats. more ›

With the race for the Democratic nomination showdown just days away, and polls showing Obama closing in on Clinton in key Super Duper Tuesday states, the Obama campaign made a huge ad buy during the Super Bowl in the Super Tuesday states, including Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Utah, Virginia and Washington, (but, alas, not Illinois) more ›

Last week, both houses of the Illinois General Assembly passed a law that would enable Illinois to bypass the Electoral College in future presidential elections. The move came just before New Jersey Governor John S. Corzine signed similar legislation on Sunday that would eliminate New Jersey's participation in the Electoral College. The only other state to have passed a similar law is Maryland, which was the first state to take up the cause. more ›

Thanksgiving came at the perfect time for Topps Beef. Two months after the second-largest beef recall in history (over 21 million pounds), the company filed for bankruptcy protection in New Jersey last week; any other time and the news would have been bigger. In the filing, Topps listed assets and debts totaling nearly $100 million each, and over 10,000 creditors lining up for what's theirs, including high-ranking executives at Topps. Seeing as how the recall... more ›

There has been a (baby) rash of Nativity crime in Chicagoland over the past few years, and this year’s organizers of the Nativity scene (known as the “God Squad”) in Daley Plaza have taken steps to help curb the thefts--the baby Jesus is chained down like a toddler on a leash. The God Squad has faith he’s not going anywhere this year. A Tribune expose has revealed the Baby Jesus has been stolen numerous times... more ›

In a past life we worked as a talent buyer for a local club, and one of the pleasant surprises of our life at that point was bringing in bands from out of town that were so much better than their demos. The Milwaukees, out of New Jersey, were brought to our attention by a friend, and while their demo was so-so, we took a chance on them anyway and gave them a show. The... more ›

Today we take you back to Friday, April 18th, 1980. The anchors on our evening newscasts were giants like Bill Kurtis and Walter Jacobson at Channel 2, John Drury at Channel 9, and the bow-tied Fahey Flynn at Channel 7, where the above clip comes from (big thanks to Fuzzy Memories for this clip). In the clip, anchor Diane Allen reports on the top stories of the day, including a proposed CTA rate hike... more ›

Did anybody else notice the photo headlining the Chicago Tribune's website on Saturday, filling us in on the latest deal to stave off "Doomsday" for the time being? We instantly thought, "Hey, isn't that the Numa Numa Guy?!" Here in the Chicagoist offices, we know all too well that Internet notoriety does not always equal chauffeured limos and Lear jets. So was that the Numa Numa Guy chillin' on one of Chicago's buses? Gary... more ›

The Bulls opened their regular season last night in in New Jersey against the Nets -- with the same results as the last eleven times they've played the Meadowlands. But what does the 109-103 overtime loss mean for the rest of the season? Not too much; it's only one game. more ›

Where Do Cows Go to Retire? more ›

Ask any dirty record-store clerk who's worth his weight in vinyl who the most influential bands in "indie rock" are, and Yo La Tengo will be near or at the top of their list. The Freewheelin' Yo La Tengo is the ballsy moniker of the New Jersey band's current tour, and it's said to be part Storytellers, part Unplugged. more ›

Before we teleported up into the great nightclub in outer space, Chicagoist took a few hours to walk around Grant Park this weekend and have a friendly chit-chat with some of the many fine folks who came to Lolla this weekend. Some of them came from nearby - North Side, South Side and the suburbs. Others came from farther away, places like New Jersey. Still others came to visit us from other countries, like Ireland.... more ›

IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776 The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires... more ›

members, New Jersey skate shop owner, and writer for several alt publications, Chris just released his first book, Skinema, a mash-up of previously published porno reviews that have little or nothing to do with the films themselves. Instead, Chris uses the space to relate perhaps even dirtier stories involving hookers, transvestites and/or vomit in exploitative, hilarious articulation. more ›

From the tallest skyscraper in the City of Brotherly Love to Canadian tourism copywriting brilliance, here's what you should know from our -ist cities: This week, Phillyist took a gleeful listen to the White Stripes' exciting new release, watched in awe as their new tallest skyscraper was finally completed, found a cheaper way to get to Gothamist, invented a tasty new dessert, and brought back their Craigslist Round-Up feature with a bang. Bostonist watches... more ›

The lastest basketball buzz in Chicago is that an MJ will be playing basketball elsewhere next season. No, not that MJ... but his son, Marcus. During a recent interview with the Trib, Dad spilled the beans that what had long been rumored was now all but official -- that Marcus Jordan has decided to transfer from Loyola Academy in Wilmette to Whitney Young High School on Chicago's west side for his junior year. more ›

Well, the Bulls certainly didn't go down without a fight — not even after falling into a 3-0 series hole. But down they ultimately did go, losing to the Detroit Pistons 95-85 in Game 6 on Thursday night at the United Center. For a half, actually forcing Game 7 seemed like a realistic possibility as the Bulls took a 48-43 lead into the locker room. P.J. Brown had the playoff game of his long career,... more ›

Austinist gets arty with an interactive guide to SXSW, loved some local art galleries and a new art exhibit and lamented the possible loss of "Friday Night Lights" production to New Mexico. Bostonist was happy they finally found an Anna Nicole Smith connection to their fair city and that an Apple Store was opening up. They were less happy that new rules have been established limiting underage shows and that their Governor is spending... more ›

Wednesday night Martin Havlat will be the lone Blackhawk who wears one of the revised jerseys in the All-Star game. All 30 NHL franchises will don the new "uniform system" to begin the 2007/2008 season.
more ›

So the Cardinals won the Series. Yeah, yeah. The Cubs fans can't stand it, and the Sox fans are equally chagrined, what with just ruling the school last year and then not even making it the playoffs this year (insert sad foghorn noise here). more ›

Let's take a look back at a week that raised this Zen koan: if Kevin Federline got into a wrestling ring with a wrestler, who would you root for? more ›