Story by Ben Protess/ProPublica Feb. 27, 2009 – Just when Roland Burris’ new gig in the U.S. Senate was starting to look safe, Illinois lawmakers devised a plan Thursday to boot him from office. Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn (you know, the one who replaced Rod Blagojevich) called on state legislators to approve a special...
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Feb. 26, 2009 – Credit experts active in LISC Chicago’s New Communities Program Foreclosure Response Fund say they’re optimistic President Barack Obama’s plan for modifying bad mortgages will begin to cure Chicago’s alarming epidemic of home foreclosures. They do have one regret:  Something like this plan should have been implemented two or three years...
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Feb. 26, 2009 – Today, most people under the age of 30 have been introduced to computer tools that let you paint, manipulate, and create images. For most grade schoolers this is part of art, as well as media literacy. There are plenty of free paint-style programs, even some that come with whatever computer...
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Feb. 25, 2009 – Tens of thousands of Illinois students who maintain a “B” or better grade point average could receive scholarships covering the costs of college tuition and related fees under legislation introduced to the Illinois General Assembly, though opponents of the legislation say it’s too costly. Though it’s unclear whether the proposal...
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Feb. 24, 2009 – Chicago Public Schools' plan to close, phase out and turnaround up to 16 schools next year could be stopped under legislation being considered by the Illinois General Assembly. The Chicago Sun-Times reported that the list of school closures was lowered from 22 to 16 Monday by new Schools CEO Ron Huberman. "This sudden interruption...
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Story by Nick Tallidis Feb. 23, 2009 – The scene was looking bleak.  Local bands and performers, commodities in which Chicago has historically seen no shortage, were struggling to get their names out.  Touring musicians referred to the city as the “black hole” of the Midwestern circuit, many skipping it all together.  And most...
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Times are hard. Not every graduate has his or her dream job. What's a struggling young professional to do? When the going gets tough, the techies go networking. If you have an interest in technology, as in being online, working online, creating a the next "killer app," or just networking to find collaborators to...
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Feb. 11, 2009 – College students from low-income households stand to benefit most from the educational provisions in the economic stimulus package, but paying for college will remain a daunting task for many Illinois families. The House of Representatives’ version of the economic stimulus package designates $15.64 billion for Pell Grants, with an additional...
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Feb. 19, 2009 – Americans are worrying themselves sick over their financial security in a declining economy. Doctors nationwide have reported increasing patient complaints of fatigue, irritability, sleeplessness and apathy, which are common symptoms of anxiety and depression, according to an October 2008 report by the American Psychological Association. But just as the need for mental health services is reaching...
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Feb. 18, 2009 – Solutions for the U.S. economy were at the forefront of the debate Monday at a Northside church, where candidates vying for Illinois' 5th Congressional District seat sounded off before a packed room of voters. Early voting for the seat vacated by Obama's Chief of Staff Rahm Emmanuel, began on Monday as candidates continued to seek...
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