Politics
When a prominent company profits in the middle of a Great Recession, the right thing to do is share the joy around. The wrong thing to do is lay off a thousand workers during the holidays to ease up funds for a future acquisition. This is the story of a company that went wrong.
Politics
Last weekend, LGBT activists crashed Valentine's Day services at Holy Name Cathedral to protest Rome's stance on gay marriage. Is it right to demand religious tolerance by disrupting someone else's right to worship? And why do my fellow queers care so much about a single religion's definition of God
Politics
Here is a list of resources I've found that Chicagoans and anyone else can use to figure out the best way for them to offer indirect and, in some cases, direct aid to people affected by the disaster.
Politics
Ever wonder why NORAD tracks the whereabouts of Santa Claus every Christmas Eve? Turns out the internationally popular North American Aerospace Defense Command holiday tradition got started simply because of a careless cold war-era typo.
Politics
On July 6th, I reported on potential violence along the lakefront during Chicago's Independence Eve fireworks. The next day, in consultation with my Chicago Now editor, I filed Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests on several city agencies. Now thirty days later, here's what I've heard back.
Politics
Today, as I continue to ask my readers and social-media friends to keep the eyewitness accounts coming, I did what any self-respecting traditional news-gatherer would do. I filed FOIAs regarding the alleged Independenc Eve fireworks violence.
Politics
Yesterday's post on alleged gang violence during Chicago's Independence Eve fireworks generated a lot of local attention and concern. That post compared official reports of a relatively 'peaceful' July 3rd fireworks display with reports from the blog, Second City Cop, and several Twitter members ind
Politics
On Friday night, when Chicago's Independence Eve fireworks went off a full half-hour early--for the second time in two years--I had a feeling of foreboding. Last year the reason for jumping the fireworks gun? Guns literally: gang violence, including four shootings--one fatal--after the display, that
Politics
For the second time in two years, Chicago's Independence Eve fireworks started early. Last year's reason? Gang violence, including four shootings--one fatal--after the display, that marred the evening and marked a controversial start for then-new Chicago police superintendent Jody Weis. This year, C
Politics
You could use the same words to describe a lot of politicians, especially in this Land of Lincoln we've got going here. But I'm pretty sure Rod Blagojevich is batshit bonkers. Here are the rules to follow for other willing politicos to bring out their own inner, batshit Blagos.
Politics
If you want to succeed in American politics these days, there are three rules you should probably never break: don't disappoint Oprah; don't pick a podunk running mate; and don't screw the news media. Someone should tell that to official Illinois state idiot, Rod Blagojevich.
Politics
Yesterday, while I was engrossed along with the rest of the planet in the historic inauguration of President Barack Hussein Obama, I was stopped in my tracks by a visit to the White House homepage. It's nifty, new, and finally Web 2.0.