http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/chicago/ en-us Mon, 6 Jul 2009 16:28:15 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2286561/posts Charlie Barlow plans to room with one of his best friends next semester at the University of Chicago: Lauren "Lulu'' Danzig. The two are among 50 students who will take advantage of a new policy allowing male and female undergraduates to room together -- something that was forbidden throughout the 117-year history of the Hyde Park school. Sun Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2286561/posts#comment Mon, 6 Jul 2009 16:28:15 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2286489/posts Three years ago, City Hall approved giving $5.3 million in taxpayer funding to a labor organization so it could buy land from a client of Ald. Edward M. Burke's law firm. Burke (14th) was among 49 aldermen who approved the deal that allowed the Chicago Construction and General Laborers' Council to buy the 24-acre site from since-indicted Chicago developer Calvin Boender. Boender made a 37 percent profit on the land, which he had owned for about six years, city records show. Now, a federal investigation has the deal in the spotlight. Sun Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2286489/posts#comment Mon, 6 Jul 2009 14:44:40 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2286465/posts So when you think Independence Day fireworks audio productions do you think of John Mellencamp, Kid Rock, and Neil Diamond as the musical accompaniment? Apparently the City of Chicago did. Either that, or the City of Chicago didn't care enough about the patriotism inherent in an Independence Day fireworks show to make sure that the radio station they farmed the job out to bothered to include any patriotic songs in the program. Not only were there no patriotic songs in the program (unless you think "R O C K in the USA" is a patriotic song?) but someone forgot to... Publius' Forum http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2286465/posts#comment Mon, 6 Jul 2009 14:04:33 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2285510/posts A man was arrested just before Friday night’s fireworks display after attempting to bring a sawed-off shotgun into the Taste of Chicago, less than a week after a northwest Indiana man was arrested for carrying a loaded handgun near a Grant Park security checkpoint, police said. The latest arrest was made about 7:30 p.m. Friday at 300 E. Jackson Dr., according to police News Affairs Officer Gabrielle Lesniak, who said the man was arrested for attempting to bring a sawed-off shotgun into the Taste. STNG WIRE http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2285510/posts#comment Sat, 4 Jul 2009 17:21:55 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2283983/posts After watching the excellent new Johnny Depp movie "Public Enemies" -- the story of romanticized desperado John Dillinger's murder in Chicago with the help of the Outfit -- Wings and I realized something. We were hungry. So we walked over to Volare, the fine Italian restaurant at Grand and St. Clair on Wednesday evening, where three amazing things happened: 1. We had the most superb sausage and peppers in the universe. The sausage was beyond tasty, the peppers perfectly cooked, the sauce to kill for. 2. A group of people came in, the women in red dresses, the men in... Chicago Tribune http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2283983/posts#comment Thu, 2 Jul 2009 12:19:33 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2281613/posts Shootings claimed the lives of six men in the city over the weekend. The first shooting happened around 8:20 p.m. Friday, when Tijuan Edwards, 18, was talking to a 25-year-old man in the street at 1916 S. Trumbull Ave. when multiple gunmen approached on foot and shot both men. Edwards was dead on the scene, and the 25-year-old was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital with gunshot wounds to the left arm, chin and thigh, police said. CBS http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2281613/posts#comment Mon, 29 Jun 2009 13:23:10 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2281429/posts Of all the misguided schemes put forth lately to save newspapers (micropayments! blame Google!), the one put forth by Judge Richard Posner has to be the most jaw-dropping. He suggests that linking to copyrighted material should be outlawed. No, Posner does not work for the Associated Press (which also has some strange ideas on linking). He is (normally) considered to be one of the great legal minds of our time. Posner is a United States Court of Appeals judge in Chicago and legal scholar who was once considered a potential Supreme Court nominee. He is someone who should know better.... Tech Crunch / Slashdot http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2281429/posts#comment Mon, 29 Jun 2009 01:54:50 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2279715/posts Beyonce Gives Obama Girls Shout-Out at ConcertThursday June 25, 2009 Beyonce had some special guests at her concert in Washington, D.C. Michelle Obama brought daughters Malia and Sasha -- along with her friends from Chicago and some of her White House staff -- to the singer's show at the Verizon Center Wednesday night. Before she belted "Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)," Beyonce gave a shout-out to the first daughters, the Washington Post reports. "This is for Sasha and Malia -- and all my single ladies!" she said. This isn't the first time Beyonce has performed for the Obama... US Magazine http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2279715/posts#comment Fri, 26 Jun 2009 03:33:15 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2279436/posts CMR readers who know Chicago's Holy Name Cathedral might be interested in this historic photo from the Mass held there for the famous 1926 International Eucharistic Congress (click image for larger view). The extraordinary decorations include not only the banners, the draped fabrics and swags of flowers, but also the turning of the front rows of pews in choir arrangement. The photo also shows many of the features of the cathedral before its renovation in 1969, including the stone pulpitm, the high altar and some of the murals. Holy Name as it exists today is shown below. cmr http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2279436/posts#comment Thu, 25 Jun 2009 20:24:41 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2278949/posts Chicago has the dubious distinction of holding four places on a list of the 25 most dangerous neighborhoods in the nation.Using crime data compiled by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, NeighborhoodScout.com made a list of areas with the highest predicted rates of violent crime in the United States.The nation's worst neighborhood, according to the study, is in Cincinnati.The study's author, geographer Dr. Andrew Schiller, said the calculation gives people a better way to understand the "climate" of crime in particular in sections of cities."It's better to understand the climate rather than the weather. It's very important to have a sense... WTAE - ABC4 - Pittsburg http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2278949/posts#comment Thu, 25 Jun 2009 05:13:46 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2278516/posts There is a real emergency for a county hospital emergency room. The uptick in violence is literally draining the blood supply. And as CBS 2's Pamela Jones reports one specific blood type is running dangerously short. "I lost a lot of blood, so they had to give me a lot of blood for me to get back on my toes," said De'London Smith. De'London Smith was stabbed through the heart on Friday. He's still recovering at Stroger Hospital where he says blood transfusions saved him. "It gave me life again. Because from what I heard, I was dead," Smith said. CBS 2 - Chicago http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2278516/posts#comment Wed, 24 Jun 2009 17:58:37 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2277759/posts Cop taped beating Chicago bartender gets probation By DON BABWIN Associated Press Writer CHICAGO (AP) -- An off-duty Chicago police officer convicted of pummeling a female bartender half his size was sentenced Tuesday to two years probation and anger management classes for the videotaped attack that appeared worldwide on the Internet and cable news channels. AP http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2277759/posts#comment Tue, 23 Jun 2009 19:42:22 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2276390/posts [A]s Barack Obama deals with difficult problems ranging from health care legislation to upheaval in Iran, let me offer my Three Rules of Obama. First, Obama likes to execute long-range strategies but suffers from cognitive dissonance when new facts render them inappropriate. His 2008 campaign was a largely flawless execution of a smart strategy, but he was flummoxed momentarily when the Russians invaded Georgia and when John McCain picked Sarah Palin as his running mate. On domestic policy, he has been executing his long-range strategy of vastly expanding government, but may be encountering problems as voters show unease at huge... Washington Examiner http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2276390/posts#comment Sun, 21 Jun 2009 18:51:02 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2276190/posts The upside to Gerald Walpin’s firing as inspector general for the federal agency that oversees AmeriCorps is that he could appear in one of those “Organizing for America” ads that highlight Americans who have lost their jobs along with their health care. It’s just a thought. Walpin became the center of some media attention last week for suspending Barack Obama supporter Kevin Johnson, a former NBA star and now mayor of Sacramento, for irregularities in his use of federal money when he ran a charity. Walpin was asked by the board of the Corporation for National and Community Service to... Townhall.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2276190/posts#comment Sun, 21 Jun 2009 11:23:06 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2276244/posts It's amusing to watch the Washington political establishment feign shock, now that President Barack Obama's reform administration has used a clay foot to vigorously kick one inspector general and boot another out the door. One inspector general foolishly investigated a friend of the president. Another inspector general audited those juicy bonuses given to AIG executives as part of $700 billion federal bailout of the financial industry Chicago Tribune http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2276244/posts#comment Sun, 21 Jun 2009 13:22:57 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2276106/posts With Iranians demonstrating daily to protest their disputed presidential election, the Iranian-American community has also taken to the streets in major U.S. cities, including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Boston and Washington. Sheida Jafari was among several hundred Iranian-Americans who gathered last week in front of a Washington office that houses the Iranian Interests Section to protest what they viewed as rigged election results that gave a landslide victory to incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad over challenger Mir Hossein Mousavi. "For me, it's more about showing my solidarity with all my friends in Iran, my family in Iran, everyone who... The Washington Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2276106/posts#comment Sun, 21 Jun 2009 03:12:54 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2275758/posts HIGHLAND PARK, Ill. (AP) - The bride wore white—and a face mask. A Chicago couple married in surgical masks and latex gloves Sunday after learning less than 48 hours before that they both had swine flu. Ilana Jackson and Jeremy Fierstien went ahead with the ceremony after doctors assured them guests wouldn't be at serious risk. But to be sure, the 26-year-olds kept a 10-foot distance from family and friends at all times, even walking around the gathering instead of down the aisle at a Highland Park synagogue. Jackson says they'd joked about swine flu after both experienced vomiting, achy... Breitbart.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2275758/posts#comment Sat, 20 Jun 2009 10:35:21 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2274769/posts Should Daley have agreed to take full financial responsibility for the 2016 Olympics? -Yes -No chicagotribune.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2274769/posts#comment Thu, 18 Jun 2009 23:12:21 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2273691/posts The Twilight Zone” Greetings fellow South Florida riders, South Floridians, and Americans, here we are for another monthly installment of our Wheels on the Road political assessment. This month’s title is appropriate because Rod Serling could not have written this script any better. Everyday we wake up and have to ask ourselves, “Are we in some kinda parallel universe”? Actually Serling had an episode which fits appropriately. Therefore I googled up what has to be my favorite Twilight Zone episode, “To Serve Man”. Here is the synopsis of the episode, which was available upon search. “A race of aliens known... Atlas Shrugs http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2273691/posts#comment Wed, 17 Jun 2009 16:45:05 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2273643/posts With Chicago officials in Switzerland promoting Chicago's 2016 Olympic bid at an important site selection meeting, the Chicago Sun-Times has learned that President Obama is creating a new White House Office of Olympic, Paralympic and Youth Sport. According to the White House, 'this permanent White House office will promote the values of the Olympic Movement and encourage increased youth participation in athletics. The primary function of the Office will be to enhance awareness of the Olympic Movement through promotion of its fundamental principles at the federal level." From the White House... President Obama Announces New White House Office of Olympic,... Chical Sun Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2273643/posts#comment Wed, 17 Jun 2009 15:54:30 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2273591/posts Another “Friend of Barack” is under increased scrutiny these days, but only a mere handful of media reports have linked Obama with Allison Davis. Once upon a time, Davis, Obama and Rezko were as thick as thieves. Davis and Rezko relied upon their friend and politically ally, Barack, to promote their plans to redevelop dilapidated slums into affordable housing for low income residents of the former legislative district represented by State Senator Obama. Tax dollars were misspent and pocketed by the developers, while the minority tenants continued to live in substandard apartments. Obama managed to bob and weave throughout the... The Chicago Daily Observer http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2273591/posts#comment Wed, 17 Jun 2009 14:48:40 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2273458/posts A startling number of children are falling through the cracks at one Chicago Public School. More than half of the kids didn't even pass the eighth grade. As CBS 2's Jim Williams reports there is fierce debate about who's to blame. It is a debate that gone on for years in poor communities: do you blame the schools for the students' poor performance or do you blame their parents? The mother of a one student who failed eighth grade says she got no warning her son was struggling. The school says she was notified, and other parents insist she did... CBS 2 - Chicago http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2273458/posts#comment Wed, 17 Jun 2009 12:09:20 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2272483/posts Barack Obama isn't used to hearing boos. For all the young president's popularity, the response he got Monday from doctors at an American Medical Association meeting was a sign his road is only going to get rockier as he tries to sell his plan to overhaul the nation's health care system. The boos erupted when Obama told the doctors in Chicago he wouldn't try to help them win their top legislative priority—limits on jury damages in medical malpractice cases. But what could they expect? If Obama announced support for malpractice limits, that would set trial lawyers and unions—major supporters of... Breitbart http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2272483/posts#comment Mon, 15 Jun 2009 23:59:48 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2272158/posts As President Barack Obama flies Monday to Chicago for a midday speech on health-care reform, the round trip on Air Force One will run about $236,000, according to government estimates of the operating costs for one of the top symbols, and perks, of the presidency. But that does not include such expenses as Secret Service protection, motorcades and helicopter transports. After landing at O'Hare International Airport, Obama is scheduled to spend about 2 1/2 hours here. To avoid snarling traffic on the Kennedy Expressway, he likely will be taken from the airport by helicopter to a location near the Hyatt... Chicago Tribune http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2272158/posts#comment Mon, 15 Jun 2009 15:44:03 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2271555/posts After a June that opened with record chill following a spring characterized by clouds, sub-normal temperatures and deluges of rain, Chicagoans increasingly anxious for summery warmth, sunshine and rain-free days must face another meteorological disappointment. Computer models suggest below-average temperatures are likely to persist here through the week. In addition, persistent east winds blowing off the chilly waters of Lake Michigan will keep lakefront areas especially cool in upcoming days. A good deal of sunshine today and Monday is just a tease. Another storm system is headed toward Chicago and the Midwest. Chicago Tribune http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2271555/posts#comment Sun, 14 Jun 2009 15:14:37 GMT