The Illinois State Senate narrowly passed a public-works bill, which includes plans for a Chicago casino. The bill also gives the CTA $200 million in the form of a one-year loan to tide us over until the next crisis. Now on to the House, where this bill will totally die. more ›

We have to admit that felt a little thrill when we found out that his excellency John Irving would be visiting Chicago for a reading--we read the bizarre A Prayer for Owen Meany in our literary-formative high school years, and the man is a bit of a legend. He'll be at the Harold Washington Library tonight to discuss his eleventh novel, Until I Find You. more ›