The CTU strike represents an important battle not just with the Chicago Public Schools and City Hall, but between unions and the school-reform movement as well. It's trench warfare fought bullet-point by bullet-point. Read more
A new web documentary delves anew into the city's violence-prevention organization, following Ameena Matthews as a dispute over money turns ugly, then violent. Read more
The Land of Lincoln has a long-held reputation for big government and big patronage in its biggest city. But the data is clear on one thing: we're far and away number one in the nation in little governments. Read more
From mile-long pig viaducts, to the shackling pen, to the pig wheel, and on to the scraper and the hog barbers: on the pork production line in Chicago's turn-of-the-century stockyards. Read more
Bill Clinton puts on a master class in public speaking, Joe Biden is ice cold, and the president echoes his 2008 acceptance speech, only his inspiration is Lincoln instead of MLK. Read more
Road diets, leading pedestrian intervals, the relationship between crime and crashes, cyclist education, and more: the city's first "pedestrian plan" details the many plans for Chicago's streets and sidewalks. Read more
The 17-year-old rapper went from mixtapes and house arrest to a Kanye remix and a major-label deal in the course of a few months. How? Through a CPS fan base, a viral video, and unremitting coldness that brought fear back to a genre that had grown numb to it. Read more
A crucial negotiating point between the CTU and CPS involves teacher rehiring and tenure. In the abstract, loosening restrictions might sound appealing, but a series of controversies over the firing of seemingly effective teachers has made negotiations much harder than they might look. Read more
As DNC speakers celebrate the economic mobility that brought them to the political stage, middle-class jobs are eroding during the recession, and are being replaced by low-wage jobs. The implications for the economic mobility of the next generation are worrisome. Read more
Chicago pols—and expat Deval Patrick—dominated the second night of the DNC. Pat Quinn and Rahm Emanuel got the undercard, while Patrick and Michelle Obama stole the show. Read more
