Chicago Police Board Growing Bored?
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Public schools across the state await an appellate decision on whether they must reinstate the controversial moment of silence at the beginning of each school day. The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is grappling with the decision to uphold the district court’s opinion that held it unconstitutional. In the meantime, lawmakers are struggling to...
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Eating a Big Mac, a Whopper or a juicy Potbelly sandwich could come with a reminder for consumers in Illinois. State Rep. Deb Mell (D-Chicago) introduced a bill last month that would force chains such as McDonald’s, Burger King, Subway and Potbelly to disclose on their menu boards the number of calories contained in each...
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Nancy Buckley knows all too well the ill effects of bad air. In the past year, the 44-year-old has been hospitalized three times due to severe asthma attacks. “It’s like somebody sticking a pillow over you and you’re trying to breathe through it,” said Buckley, who lives on the North Side of Chicago. ...
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SPRINGFIELD – For Dora Brooks-Rodriguez and Trista Bond, it’s the second chance they’ve been waiting for. After years of volunteering at their local schools, they are now on their way to the head of the classroom. But the program that has given more than 500 an opportunity at a college education and a second...
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Chicago students and workers joined protesters around the nation Thursday for what organizers are calling the “March 4th Day of Action” for higher education. Nearly 200 students and faculty members rallied at the University of Illinois-Chicago to demand that the university not “balance the budget on the backs of students, faculty and the community” through...
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Chicago recently hosted the first of three public hearings required by last year’s legislative bill HB3767, which created the Obesity Prevention Initiative Act. This calls for the Illinois Department of Public Health to find solutions to the state’s obesity epidemic. The next two public hearings take place in Springfield on March 8 and Carbondale on March...
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When federal regulators seized Park National Bank and its parent company last October and turned operations over to US Bank, it caused outcry through Chicago’s West Side and into Oak Park. And the fight is not over. On Saturday, March 13 at 10 a.m., the Coalition to Save Community Banking will meet at the Light of...
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Bad credit? No credit? No problem. With Illinois’ unemployment rate at a staggering 11 percent, employers can afford to be more selective in whom they hire. But a new bill could give job seekers with bad credit a fighting chance in landing a position. Rep. Jack Franks (D-Woodstock) has introduced a bill, HB4658, creating the Employee...
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As Illinois struggles with a $13 billion deficit — one of the worst in the country — human services groups and tax watchdog organizations pushed state lawmakers last week to raise taxes. The Center for Tax and Budget Accountability released a study that shows that human service organizations have been underfunded by $4.4 billion...
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The Rink at Wrigley closed its gates for the season on Feb. 28, and it may not return next year. Over 12,000 people this winter visited the ice rink, which was located for the first time this winter on the northwest parking lot of Wrigley Field, according to Chicago Park District spokeswoman Monique Lehman. “Compared to...
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Comics can be academic material, providing literary insight and perspective on times, current and past according to Chicago Nerd Social Club. Nerds of all kinds (history, literary, academic) are invited to an event called “Comics 301″. Cord Scott,  a PhD. candidate in American History at Loyola University, and has written about comic-related...
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Do some shopping and support Chicagoland’s voice for better biking, walking and transit, all at the same time. Columbia Sportswear and the non-profit Active Transportation Alliance are teaming up to celebrate the opening of Columbia Sportswear’s first Chicago store. For the store’s Grand Opening weekend, from Friday, March 12 – Sunday, March 14, the Active Transportation...
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When the final bell rings, high school students rush to the nearest door, excited to head home, hang out with friends, watch television and eat a home-cooked meal with their families. But 19-year-old Niaesha Shivers isn’t one of them. She is one of nearly 13,000 Chicago Public School students who is homeless. For the past...
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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Senate unanimously approved legislation Wednesday that would make some changes to the legislature’s controversial scholarship program but keep it intact. The program has been under fire in recent months after stories by ChicagoTalks, The Chicago Tribune and the Associated Press. Senate Bill 365 – sponsored by Senate President John J. Cullerton...
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