Illinois Senator Dick Durbin has asked the FDA to investigate the health effects of energy drinks. He says the move is a response to the death of a 14-year-old girl in Maryland. Durbin specifically called out Monster Energy, Rockstar, Full Throttle and Red Bull in his call for investigation. more ›

I can haz grassroots protest? Wikipedia and Google are among the many websites "on strike" today to protest two bills before Congress that they say would cripple the open nature of the internet. more ›

Late Friday, Todd Stroger and nine other county commissioners worked to close the Cook County budget for 2008. The compromise deal doubled the county parking taxes and raised the sales tax to 1.75 percent - making Chicago one of the highest taxed cities in the nation. Those tax hikes, coupled with an agreement to cede control of the county Health Services Bureau to an independent oversight panel yielded the elusive ninth vote that Stroger had been seeking to pass his budget. Larry Suffredin, who brokered the health services deal, was the swing vote. more ›

One of the more contentious races in Tuesday's election is at the Cook County Board of Review, where incumbent Joe Berrios is facing a stiff challenge in trial lawyer Jay Paul Deratany. For many homeowners throughout Cook County, the Board of Review is their best chance at finding relief from both the monster property tax increases proposed by Mayor Daley and the County Board and the skyrocketing assessments of County Assessor Jim Houlihan. more ›

The Tribune Editorial Board released its list of endorsements in the upcoming Illinois primaries on February 5. Among the list are 3rd District Congressman Dan Lipinski (striking a blow to challenger and progressive blog champion Mark Pera) and tenacious ice cream magnate Jim Oberweis -- running for Congress in the 14th District -- who is determined to get himself elected to some office, somewhere, some time (we hear Sugar Grove is looking for a new mayor, perhaps he should start there). They also endorse Senator Dick Durbin's challenger, Steve Sauerberg, who has about as much chance of unseating Durbin as Spanky the Clown. more ›

A blue-ribbon committee of business and health care executives announced their recommendation yesterday that an independent board assume oversight of Cook County's health care system. The ten-member committee was appointed by Board President Todd Stroger last spring at the urging of Senator Dick Durbin. Stroger said that he is open to independent management of the county's health care system, stating the obvious to the Chicago Tribune: "It's obvious that the [County] Board does not work... more ›

Illinois Senator Dick Durbin more ›

Tomorrow is the kick-off the YearlyKos, DailyKos's annual "unconventional" convention for grassroots Internet political activists, or "Netroots" community. This year's party will be hosted in Chicago, at the illustrious McCormick Place. more ›

Now that Todd Stroger has put together his executive management Dream Team — what the Chicago Tribune aptly termed "The Friends and Family Plan" (and we wish we came up with that one here at Chicagoist) — he's certainly got his work cut out for him. Unlike the Tribune, however, we hold no illusions that The Toddler will actually fix the problems that his predecessor (did we mention that it was his father?) helped to... more ›

In light of the Jack Abramoff scandal in Washington, politicians are having an ethics-off, with both Republicans and Democrats denouncing the other party and vowing to pass their own ethics plans. more ›

Senator Barack Obama and other Midwestern senators spent this past weekend in Iraq visiting troops and US and Iraqi officials. It’s not really Chicagoist’s idea of a weekend getaway—we’re more into relaxing on a beach or drinking in a ski lodge, or just plain drinking, which is probably why we will never be senator. more ›

Just when you thought the holiday season was over, here comes Abramoffukkah, the moniker given to the emerging political scandal surrounding lobbyist Jack Abramoff, shown here disguised as Al Capone. Abramoff was a high powered lobbyist who defrauded his clients, primarily Native American tribes, and conspired to buy the support of public officials by donating to their election campaigns. He gave to politicians on both sides of the aisle, although he is probably best... more ›

Governor Blagojevich was in Washington DC earlier this week in an attempt to turn his All Kids insurance plan into a national program. All Kids, which offers low cost health insurance to Illinois children, was signed into law by Blago last month, and is scheduled to officially begin in July of 2006, although pre-registration is currently underway on the program’s website. All Kids has garnered national attention as other states and the national government... more ›

As Hurricane Rita gains steam and takes aim at Texas, the Bush administration is still reeling from the criticisms of its failures and slow action in the tragedy that is Hurricane Katrina. Last night Senator Barack Obama addressed the 35th annual legislative conference of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation and condemned the President’s response to Katrina and his efforts, or lack thereof, to deal with poverty honestly in this country. In response to Bush’s... more ›

Yes, yes, yes. We're on the bandwagon. U.S. Senator Barack Obama is a wonderful man. Illinois citizens are lucky to have such a great senator, so smart, so good looking, so many prospects for solving our nation's ills. more ›

Yesterday Chicagoist wondered how organizations like the Hispanic Democratic Organization might play into Mayor Richard M. Daley's new campaign contribution restrictions. The Chicago Tribune learned the answer: HDO and other political committees will face no limitations. The upshot is that while city contractors will now be limited from making direct contributions to the mayor's campaign committee, contractors now have a green light to make contributions to Daley sponsored political committees like HDO, the Coalition for... more ›