The Chicago and county judicial ballots are long, and it is hard to know how judges are performing. The  Judicial Performance Commission Pilot Project aims to assess the  qualifications of judges seeking retention in the November 2010 election. The commission is made up of lawyer and non-lawyer community leaders who will create a comprehensive...
Continued >>

A news report from Lake Effect News If you’re mad as hell about fraud and corruption, and sick of the government wasting your money, you don’t have to take it anymore. The Better Government Association is hosting two Citizen Watchdog Training sessions from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on July 20 and July 27. Both sessions are...
Continued >>

By: Laura Pearson, Center Square Journal Beat 1724 has been relatively quiet in comparison to other beats, said Chicago Police Sgt. Kristin Barker in a monthly CAPS meeting last night at Horner Park Field House. Barker told those present—six residents and one other officer—that the city average is 100–125 incidents per beat per month,...
Continued >>

In New York City, artists who encounter police are advised to record their interactions as a form of documentation of the events. This is used as a safeguard, and since police are city employees, it seems like the most logical way to insure that rights are not abused. For local art activist Chris Drew,...
Continued >>

Violence in Chicago is nothing new, and as the hot summer months are upon us crime has escalated and the Far South Side is the “hot spot” of illegal activity. The Chicago Police Department has said that they cannot alleviate the situation alone, and are looking for assistance from the community. This summer, much like...
Continued >>

The message – Step Up, US Bank- was loud and clear Tuesday night at Hope Community Church in Austin as over 150 people gathered to voice their concerns over the foreclosure crisis that has hit hard the West Side neighborhood. Two US Bank representatives joined locally elected officials and community activists in search of a...
Continued >>

Ald. Deborah Graham (29th Ward) and Rep. Camille Lilly (D-Chicago) walked a block in Austin last week to get a first-hand look at the foreclosure crisis and how it’s affecting residents in the West Side neighborhood. More than 30 people took part in the “tour” and heard Steven McCullough, chief executive officer and president of Bethel...
Continued >>

By Laura Pearson, Center Square Journal ‘Tis the season to renew your Chicago vehicle registration sticker. All city vehicle stickers expire June 30, regardless of the purchase date. If you plan to purchase your sticker in person, head to your local Ward Office on Tuesday, June 8, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The...
Continued >>

When Mary Anne Barfield opens her business, B&K Office and Art, in Lakeview, strangers usually greet her outside the door. But instead of stamps or stationery, they want food or her spare change. When she leaves for the night, they are still outside roaming the block, which is why Barfield closes her store at...
Continued >>

The shallow scar by 48-year-old Craig Canser’s left eye serves as a gentle reminder of where he once was, and where he hopes to never return. By the time he was released from prison for the last time in December 2007, Canser had spent about a third of his life behind bars for crimes...
Continued >>