The 50 Most Powerful Chicagoans, Ranked
Who’s in charge here? The heavy hitters in our Power 50 know how to use their influence to make things happen in Chicago and beyond.
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How I Found My Power
Four of the Chicagoans in our Power 50 talk about the roots of their influence.
The Group Raising Hell About the L
Commuters Take Action cofounder Fabio Göttlicher wants you to know that Chicago’s public transit system is in trouble.
Why Is the City Council Passing Resolutions About Foreign Affairs?
The Chicago City Council has a long history of offering its opinion on matters beyond its jurisdiction.
La Salle Street Blues
As businesses desert the once-vibrant corridor, boosters worry the mayor won’t get behind a mixed-use revitalization plan.
Did the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre Spur Calls for Gun Control?
On February 14, 1929, seven gangsters were machine-gunned to death in a Lincoln Park garage, an act that so shocked the nation (“Machine Guns Used to Mow Down Victims,” read a headline in the Scranton Republican), it earned a nickname — and a place in the country’s criminal lore. Weary of the bootlegging wars that were a … Read more
Lincoln Owes His Presidency to Illinois
A brief history of how our state made Abe the right man from the right place to guide the nation through the Civil War.
Year of Fear
In his new book, sociologist Eric Klinenberg looks at what COVID exposed about America.
Someone Has to Wear the Jacket
The old Chicago phrase, “wear the jacket,” means to take the fall. We have a short list of some of the town’s great jacket-wearers.
How a U. of C. Professor Wound Up a Prisoner of Iran
Archaeologist Abbas Alizadeh traveled to Iran for work. He ended up arrested, accused of espionage.