The ordinance has the support of a majority of aldermen, and heads to committee this week before going to the full Council next week. The mayor, money, and changing times should be enough to push it through. Read more
Which isn't to say they don't like McDonald's: Americans' satisfaction with fast food restaurants of all kinds is increasing, according to the American Customer Satisfaction Index, despite the criticism directed at them. Read more
An investigation by the Pantagraph finds that Illinois taxpayers spend a surprising amount on coffee for their legislators—but is it strikingly high or shockingly low? Read more
The Mets' unlikely star is putting up the best numbers in baseball, and is coming off back-to-back one-hitters, the first time that's been done in 23 years. The research of a University of Illinois professor explains how he's mastered his mysterious pitch. Read more
Three Chicago aldermen went on a fact-finding trip to Copenhagen, along with Amsterdam one of the destination cities for civic pols looking to learn about sustainable city planning. Why are they so good at it? A long head start, for one thing. Read more
Whenever crime spikes, weekend shootings make the news. But what constitutes a peaceful Chicago weekend, and how many homicides makes an unusually violent one? Read more
A look at where misdemeanor pot busts occurred through the first few months of this year, from a high of 541 in the 28th Ward—40 percent higher than the runner-up—to a low of 15 in the 43rd Ward. Read more
After months of occasional debate and intensive reporting—and a couple weeks after Michael Bloomberg and Andrew Cuomo hailed such an idea—Mayor Emanuel backs a modified version of a proposed marijuana decriminalization ordinance. Read more
Foreclosures increased again in the Chicago area, threatening to push housing prices down even further, which are already at pre-2001 levels. Meanwhile, rent is going up—and rental incomes have vastly increased. Read more
Violent crime—in Chicago and elsewhere—tends to be limited to a proportionally small, socially-networked population. New technologies are beginning to illuminate the connections. Read more
