Chicago Current News Feed

Daley pal lands new city contract

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 11:20:00 -0600

The latest in a gravy train of city contracts for Daley pal Richard Crandall calls for Crandall-owned Builders Chicago Corp. to “maintain and repair interior and exterior expansion joints” at O'Hare and Midway Airports.

Emanuel gives coal plant operator an ultimatum to clean up

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 08:00:00 -0600

After months of negotiations, Mayor Rahm Emanuel is giving the owner of Chicago's two coal-fired power plants until next week to figure out how to clean up some of the city's biggest sources of lung-damaging pollution.

Related:

Deadline Imposed In Negotiations Over Chicago Coal Plant Emissions [Progress Illinois]

Daley Center architect Jacques Brownson, 1923-2012

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 07:29:00 -0600

Jacques Brownson, the chief architect of Chicago’s Richard J. Daley Center, the steely, broad-shouldered modernist skyscraper that ranks among Chicago’s greatest post-World World II designs, died Sunday at McKee Medical Center in Loveland, Colo. He was 88 years old.

Illinois House passes property tax cap

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 07:00:00 -0600

In a potential election-year gift to homeowners and businesses, the Illinois House Tuesday voted to block suburban governments from increasing property taxes when overall property values decline. By a 74-39 vote, the measure sponsored by Rep. Jack Franks (D-Marengo) moves to the Senate, where it is expected to encounter stiff resistance from teachers unions, the Illinois Municipal League and other local government advocates.

State’s attorney: Releasing Koschman transcripts would ‘undermine’ case

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 06:28:00 -0600

Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez is fighting an effort by the family of David Koschman to make public transcripts of witness interviews related to Koschman’s homicide case. “The wholesale disclosure of the information that the petitioners request would disrupt the ongoing criminal investigation and further undermine an already dim prospect of any future criminal prosecution” of Richard J. Vanecko, a nephew of former Mayor Richard M. Daley, Alvarez said Tuesday in an 11-page filing.

Rahm Emanuel, Bill Daley to be named Obama campaign co-chairs

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 06:00:00 -0600

In a morning rollout, officials will announce Bill Daley and Rahm Emanuel as national campaign co-chairs, according to a source familiar with the plans. They'll be joined by several other prominent supporters around the country, including Sen. Dick Durbin, Rep. Jan Schakowsky, billionaire philanthropist Penny Pritzker and Chicago lawyer Alan Solow.

CPS planning new neighborhood school to replace Crane Tech

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 16:51:00 -0600

On the eve of Wednesday's board vote on school closings and turnarounds, Chicago Public Schools has reached a deal with community leaders on the West Side to bring in a new neighborhood high school to replace Crane Tech, which is expected to begin a three-year phase-out next fall, the Tribune has learned.

Related:

Ministers, Community Leaders Petition For School Turnaround Plan [CBS Chicago]
Emanuel says school protest outside his house a response to change [Tribune]

Chicago ordinance would create police transgender issues commission, protections

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 16:50:00 -0600

Chicago Ald. Joe Moreno and a group of local LGBT rights activists are pushing for an ordinance that would establish a transgender issues commission in the Chicago Police Department as well as set guidelines for police to follow while handling transgender people.

Gov. Pat Quinn: Close super-max downstate Tamms prison

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 16:50:00 -0600

Illinois’ super-max prison at downstate Tamms that has been criticized by prison-rights advocates would be mothballed under a money-saving move by Gov. Pat Quinn, the Chicago Sun-Times has learned.

What the CNC's demise says about MacArthur and Chicago

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 13:46:00 -0600

There's an old saying in the journalism business: A newspaper is a mirror of the community it serves. Usually this old saw is meant to imply that strong investigative reporting can force a community to notice its warts (or aldermen) and take action to remove them.

But for me, the saying has come to mean something else—that you can tell a lot about a city's civic health by the way it supports, or fails to support, news organizations that engage in public accountability reporting.

In communities around the country, nonprofit news organizations cropped up over the past several years to fill the gap caused by wave after wave of layoffs at newspapers. Voice of San Diego has raised millions of dollars and become a vital source of watchdog journalism in Southern California. In the Twin Cities, MinnPost has done the same, bolstered by the generosity of wealthy individuals and local foundations. And the Texas Tribune has become the Lone Star state's go-to source for accountability reporting.

Treasurer Rutherford: State Government Lacks Long-Range Planning

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 12:09:48 -0600

Illinois State Treasurer Dan Rutherford says it’s time for long-range planning to come to government, and the state should be run more like a business.

Police Horses To Get Riot Gear For NATO/G8 Summits

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 12:09:36 -0600

When the NATO/G8 summits come around, Chicago Police horses will be outfitted with riot gear along with the officers riding them.

Related:

Police Horses to Get Riot Gear for G8 [Fox Chicago]
Chicago Police horses will also get riot gear for NATO/G8 summits [Chicago Sun-Times]
Chicago police horses to get shields for summits [Chicago Tribune]

A new Malcolm X College will be built, Emanuel says

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 12:08:23 -0600

Former Mayor Richard M. Daley built a new $256 million Kennedy King College and dreamed of doing the same at all city colleges The new Malcolm X is part of a five-year, $479 million capital plan to upgrade the City Colleges that includes $7 million for ...

Related:

New Malcolm X College Part of $479M City Colleges Boost [NBC Chicago (blog)]
$479M Plan Coming to City Colleges [Fox Chicago]

Rep. Jackson supporter says foe driven by 'political demonic forces'

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 08:27:00 -0600

U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. on Monday touted the backing of more than 50 ministers, including one who said “political demonic forces” were driving the agenda of Democratic primary opponent Debbie Halvorson.

Related:

Jackson Jr. Wins Backing Of Dozens Of Ministers In Re-Election Fight [CBS Chicago]

Sara Spurlark, 1923-2012

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 08:00:00 -0600

Sara Spurlark influenced thousands of students as a Chicago Public Schools teacher and administrator before joining the University of Chicago to help launch what is now the school's Urban Education Institute.