DASHIELL BENNETT A new poll from Public Policy Polling shows that Ron Paul has taken the lead in the Iowa caucus race, while Newt Gingrich’s support is fading fast. A different Gallup poll shows Gringrich still holding the lead, but slipping, while The New York Times has Paul in the …

By Jason Grotto and Ray Long, Chicago Tribune reporters December 16, 2011 Robert Molaro’s short stint as aide to Ald. Ed Burke brought him windfall for life All it took for former state Rep. Robert Molaro to nearly double his public pension was spending one month as an aide to …

Bears receiver Sam Hurd is scheduled to return to court here this afternoon for a bond hearing on federal drug conspiracy charges. Authorities plan to transfer Hurd to Dallas to face one count of conspiring to distribute half a kilogram of cocaine or more. Hurd played for the Cowboys before …

By Paul Thomasch and Jennifer Saba NEW YORK | Thu Dec 15, 2011 10:14pm EST (Reuters) – Janet Robinson will step down as chief executive of the New York Times Co at the end of the month, as the company continues to struggle with advertising declines and a years-long slump …

A group of prominent architects of the Internet added their voices Thursday to those opposing legislation in the US Congress intended to crack down on online piracy. In an open letter to Congress, more than 80 engineers, inventors and software developers expressed concerns about the bills introduced in the Senate …

December 15, 2011 at 3:25 pm My Fellow Republicans and Conservatives, Because I passionately believe that Chicago deserves a real two-party system, I announced in early November my intention to run for committeeman of Chicago’s 42nd ward. My goal is to become the Chairman of the Chicago Republican Party and …

BY TIM NOVAK and CHRIS FUSCO Staff Reporters December 14, 2011 10:03PM More than seven years after her 21-year-old son David Koschman died as the result of a punch thrown by a nephew of then-Mayor Richard M. Daley, Nanci Koschman asked Wednesday for the appointment of a special prosecutor to …

By Joel Hood and Noreen S. Ahmed-Ullah, Chicago Tribune reporters December 15, 2011 More than 50 protesters took command of Chicago Public Schools’ board meeting Wednesday, shouting down board members in a dramatic show of force against proposed school closings, consolidations and turnaround projects. In a chaotic scene that echoed …

Posted 12/14/11 3:09 p.m. WLS Radio’s Bill Cameron Reports CHICAGO (WLS) – Mayor Rahm Emanuel wants big new powers to help stage the NATO and G8 summits here in Chicago next May. WLS Radio’s Bill Cameron reports from City Hall that the mayor is asking the aldermen to give him …

Link

Congress just passed the National Defense Authorization Act in a 283-to-136 vote. 190 Republicans and 93 Democrats voted for; 43 Republicans and 93 Democrats voted “against.” Prepare to be arrested, without charge, simply because someone “up there” believes you engage in “terroristy” stuff. Good luck proving them wrong. Link