by DAN MIHALOPOULOS | Feb 24, 2012
In her windowless office behind the City Council chamber, Christina Pacheco Butler displays a black nightstick presented to her when she became the council’s sergeant at arms nine years ago. Butler pointed out that the gift is standard police issue....
by DAN MIHALOPOULOS and KRISTEN McQUEARY | Feb 23, 2012
After decades of defending political patronage and boasting of back-room deals, Cook County Commissioner William Beavers (D-Chicago) on Thursday joined the long list of local elected officials who have faced federal corruption charges. Moments after federal authorities announced allegations against...
by HUNTER CLAUSS and DAN MIHALOPOULOS | Feb 16, 2012
In his first public comments on the matter, Ald. Edward Burke (14th Ward) declined to make a case Thursday for his new proposal aimed at regulating crowd behavior at City Council meetings. At Wednesday’s council meeting, Burke and three other influential aldermen had...
by HUNTER CLAUSS and DAN MIHALOPOULOS | Feb 16, 2012
Ahead of this spring’s NATO and G8 summits, four influential aldermen on Wednesday proposed prohibiting audience members from waving signs or engaging in any “demonstration of approval or disapproval” during City Council meetings. Under the proposal, the banned conduct in...
by ADRIENNE LU | Feb 7, 2012
The City of Chicago and Cook County have saved a combined $20.5 million since they began working together to maximize resources in June, Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle announced today. The two governments saved taxpayers...
by HUNTER CLAUSS | Feb 7, 2012
When ousted 36th Ward Ald. John Rice started a new job recently in Gov. Pat Quinn’s administration, Rice said he did not rely on clout but rather applied for the $84,420-a-year position after seeing it posted online. But Rice’s job...
by HUNTER CLAUSS | Jan 31, 2012
As Chicago Public Schools begins what are certain to be contentious contract talks with the Chicago Teachers Union, Mayor Rahm Emanuel emerged as the star of a new online video promoting charter schools and ripping the union. An exclusive interview...
by PATRICK REHKAMP | Jan 26, 2012
While many public and private employers have a “use-it-or-lose-it” policy toward sick time, Wayne Watson will be paid for most of the 500 unused sick days he accrued before leaving the top job at Chicago’s community colleges – a perk...
by DAN MIHALOPOULOS | Jan 20, 2012
After shutting down library branches on Mondays earlier this month, Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced Saturday that he planned to re-open them on Monday afternoons for most of the year and all day on Mondays when schools are not in session....
by HUNTER CLAUSS | Jan 18, 2012
Ald. Howard Brookins can remain on the March primary ballot for 21st Ward Democratic ward committeeman, a Chicago Board of Election Commissioners hearing officer determined today. The election board will now vote on whether to uphold the decision. Brookins’ position...
