Memoirs of a Millionaire Hippie
Michael Butler, 88, on Chicago politics and why Hair still matters
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The Victims Behind the Numbers
Chicago identified 21 people who were killed in the city last year but whose cases are not counted as 2014 murders by the Chicago Police Department. Independent crime experts and longtime current and former Chicago detectives we interviewed believe that all these cases should count, given the rules of the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting program. … Read more
New Tricks
One year after we reported that the Chicago Police Department was undercounting the city’s murders, the problem persists—and top brass are up to some
Three More Curious Cases from 2013
In reporting our latest investigation into the Chicago Police Department’s crime numbers, we found a few mysterious cases dating back to 2013.
Editor's Note: The Big Stall
CPD’s response to our latest investigation should trouble every Chicagoan who cares about transparency in government.
Illinois Supreme Court Unsurprisingly Kills Pension Reform Law, Tells State to Pay Up
Hopes for fixing the state’s massive pension shortfall—and its current budget shortfall—were unceremoniously dashed today. It’s a huge setback for reformers, but not a shocking one.
The ‘Silent Epidemic’ of Lead and Its Effects on Crime and Education
The effects of lead poisoning show up on rap sheets and grade books, and Chicago has long had some of the worst problems with it in America. The costs of remediation are substantial, but the savings could be much greater.
What a Legendary Woman's-Rights Advocate Learned from Bicycling
Frances Willard helped give women the right to vote and was the first dean of women at Northwestern. But she didn’t fully discover herself until she got on a bicycle.
This Week's 10 Must-Read Stories
Lead paint poisoning in the city, the political education of Bernie Sanders, and more
What Are the Beard Awards' Favorite Cities for Food?
Over the past decade, New York City has dominated the Oscars of food; Chicago, hosting them for the first time, is just ahead of San Francisco for its claim to be America’s second city of cuisine.