US rail lines in al-Qaida terror plans Jessica D’Onofrio, May 6, 2011 (CHICAGO) (WLS) — Information taken from Osama bin Laden’s compound after his death is revealing details of al-Qaida’s plans, including a potential plot against U.S. rail lines. That means tighter security on rail lines everywhere. An alert to …

Jake Malooley navigates the complex process of getting a handgun in Chicago. via How I bought my gun in Chicago – Arts + Culture – Time Out Chicago.

We’ve been proud to see small, neighborhood-based farmers markets spreading rapidly throughout the city over the past several years. But this is Chicago, and eventually a market would run into the harsh reality of city politics. We’ve discussed the bureaucratic obstacles to creative foodspaces before, but Gaper’s Block reports a …

Bin Laden death: Chicago police, security agencies step up vigilance May 02, 2011 By Jeremy Gorner, Jon Hilkevitch and Becky Schlikerman, Tribune reporterNuccio DiNuzzo, Chicago Tribune Guarding against reprisals in the wake of Osama bin Laden’s death, Chicago0area security personnel stepped up their vigilance Monday at high-profile spots: the Daley …

Chicago, Meet Your New City Council The Reader’s guide to the hacks, geeks, lawyers, and other assorted characters who will serve as aldermen under Mayor Emanuel By Mick Dumke and Ben Joravsky Four years ago we looked to the incoming Chicago City Council with great hope and expectation—at long last, …

We have good news and bad news regarding HB148, the 2011 Concealed Carry Bill. The good news is that this year’s concealed carry bill enjoys broad bi-partisan support from around the state. The reason for this success is that the bill has been carefully crafted to address some legislators’ concerns …

I concluded my last blog by stating that debt and financial hardship makes slaves of us all. No one proves my point any better than Illinois Governor Pat Quinn. http://www.myfoxchicago.com/dpp/news/politics/quinn-threatens-stop-cities-funding-borrowing-approval-chicago-taxes-illinois-20110429 The linked story from Fox Chicago tells of how Governor Quinn has threatened to withhold money from municipalities unless he …

Today I received my 2010 Congressional Scorecard from the Club for Growth. The scorecard is the Club for Growth’s rating system for legislators positions in regards to economic growth. The scale is simple. Zero is the worst possible score and 100 is the best possible score. Naturally, I looked up …

By Lynn Sweet on April 29, 2011 8:38 AM WASHINGTON — A factor in President Obama’s decision to address the “birther” question — and release his “long form” birth certificate — came when ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos asked him about it in an April 14 interview where Obama wanted …

First, MS-13 kingpins made their way into major U.S. cities. Today, Newsweek reports that 20,000 illegal alien drug dealers operate in 44 states. They engage thousands of American teens as sellers on our streets. Many turn to a life of crime because they can make $1,000.00 a week selling drugs …

Bill Conroy Narcosphere April 27, 2011 A high-level player with one of the most notorious narco-trafficking organizations in Mexico, the Sinaloa “cartel,” claims that he has been working with the U.S. government for years, according to pleadings filed recently in federal court in Chicago. That player, Jesus Vicente Zambada Niebla, …

House Minority Leader Tom Cross announced last week that he would support legalization, after speaking with a number of people who use medical marijuana — including a disabled veteran, FOX Chicago reports. State Representative Lou Lang, the sponsor of HB 30, was excited by the news. “The best prospects for …

Casey Chan The Adler Planetarium just renovated the Grainger Sky Theater with a big honking screen. The display will mimic being in space with a 8,000 by 8,000 pixel screen that’s supposed to deliver “the largest single seamless digital image in the world”. For reference, typical movie screens ‘only’ spit …