Evanston may soon follow Chicago's lead and begin adding surveillance cameras to help fight crime. The city received federal funding from the U.S. Department of Justice Technology and the Evanston City Council will consider a deal to install 15 cameras around town at tonight's meeting. The deal, worth $341,000, would be with Downers Grove-based Current Technologies. According to CBS 2, the locations under consideration are: more ›

Again with the cameras. Your odds of ending up on Taxicab Confessions might get better in Chicago. The city plans to install tiny cameras inside taxis in the hope of deterring violent crime directed towards drivers. The cameras would photograph riders as they hop in and out of the vehicle. Presently the Tribune estimates around 1,000 cameras already keep an eye on passengers. Taxi companies heralded the move, especially given the recent uptick in violent incidents against drivers. A survey by the University of Illinois at Chicago found that crimes against cab drivers have increased in Chicago and across parts of the country. Selvin Quire, a driver for 30 years told the Tribune that questionable passengers “see the camera, and they hold back.” more ›

Citing the cost of the project, the City is scrapping a plan to mount cameras on street sweepers that would film illegally parked cars, giving the City proof to ticket the scofflaws and generate more revenue. Street sweepers have been at the center of a lot of controversy lately, what with that new schedule in place. And, according to CBS 2, there are still issues with simply keeping the machines running. more ›

• A jury sentenced Andre Crawford to life in prison, sparing him the death penalty.
• Strange happenings in Austin where a Chicago-bound flight was delayed by a bomb threat that turned out to be a hoax.
• The RTA approved the CTA's 2010 budget, cuts and all, which totals close to $1.3 billion.

Mayor Daley loves cameras. Be it red light cameras, street sweeping cameras, or surveillance cameras, he can't seem to get enough of them. So he must be thrilled after last night's "unveiling" of 200 new security cameras placed around Navy Pier. The new $4.2 million monitoring system comes from IBM and, in a way, makes sense as Navy Pier is one of the city's top tourist attractions; Crain's says 8.3 million people visited in 2008. Or maybe Mayor Daley just wants to keep an eye on all those commies over at WBEZ (we kid!). The system, which was installed in February, has already proved useful. more ›