Prison closings have pitted unions against progressives, the result of decades of using prisons as a rural economic development tool—with only very modest results. Read more
Robin Kelly easily won Jesse Jackson Jr.'s old seat, aided by a low turnout and a big PAC ad buy that opponent Debbie Halvorson couldn't match. Read more
Even compared to the rest of Chicago's winter, February is the least cruel month in the city, as the homicide rate plunges to its lowest levels. Read more
Illinois lawmakers are dogpiling on a situation that seems paradoxical: property taxes going up when home values are down. As a result, they have introduced five different pieces of legislation calling for property tax freezes... Read more
Readers ask questions, and our real estate expert answers. This week, a reader named Chris from Uptown asks if he should take a loss on his condo and move now, when home prices and interest rates are still low. Read more
During adolescence, intellectual ability starts to take off around 15-16 years old... and it takes a decade for maturity to catch up. It's a perilous time. Read more
