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By Amanda Paulson Amanda Paulson – Mon Apr 18, 4:22 pm ET Chicago – The man Mayor-elect Rahm Emanuel has selected to lead the Chicago Public Schools has a track record of improving graduation rates and test scores in his current job in Rochester, N.Y., but has also had conflicts …

Posted by Greg H. at 4/15/2011 12:34 PM CDT on Chicago Business You might call it Amazon Tax II — a proposed sales tax “simplification” measure with potentially massive financial implications. Chicago-area officials say the bill could cost them hundreds of millions, and maybe billions, of dollars a year. But …

So the day after the “Mini White House Inaugural” was reported, the Emanuel team refused to notify NBC of rare one-on-one interviews allotted to our competitors. The TV business is competitive, but typically politicians and public figures who are involved with big events grant the same access to all-comers. When …

April 15, 2011|By Divina Mims, CNN A Chicago police sergeant is facing brutality charges stemming from an October incident caught on surveillance tape showing him repeatedly slapping a unresisting, handcuffed man across the face. At a hearing Friday, a bond $20,000 was set for Sgt. Edward Howard Jr., 48, on …

We’ve hit what I call the “FOIA Stone Wall.” “FOIA” stands for the Freedom of Information Act, one of the most important tools in a reporter’s toolbox when it comes to finding out what government knew and when it knew it. Authorities, by law, are obligated to respond. But in …

Associated Press A Chicago alderman says he has come up a plan that could produce more revenue for the city. Alderman Joe Moreno says owners of gas-guzzling cars should pay more for city vehicle stickers. At the same time, owners of electric cars and hybrids should see the cost of …

BY STEVE WARMBIR Staff Reporter A young, once rising figure in the Illinois Republican party has quit the committee that runs the state party after the Sun-Times revealed the man’s ties to an Outlaw motorcycle gang member and a convicted wholesale drug dealer. Craig Pesek, 34, is a key supporter …

Yesterday, the ACLU of Illinois released a new report detailing the threats to privacy Chicagoans face under the watchful eyes of that city’s growing surveillance camera system. The report is the first large-scale, independent study of the city’s integrated surveillance system — a system former Department of Homeland Security Secretary …

Kyle Hillman: Always Bet on Money It is one of those bills the average person finds hard to believe. In a state controlled by Democrats at all three levels, the corporation still finds a way to win. This wackiness can’t be blamed on a Republican overreach, like we’ve seen on …

The Huffington Post Jen Sabella For years, the Chicago Reader’s Mick Dumke has been reporting on everything from the city’s misuse of TIF funds to its lack of recycling. Shedding light on the city’s shortcomings is definitely a way to get on Mayor Daley’s nerves (as most Chicago journalists know) …

By Bob Okon bokon@stmedianetwork.com Mar 31, 2011 2:19AM Radiation believed to be from the Japanese nuclear disaster has been found in Will County, state officials said today. State emergency management officials emphasized that the radiation is at levels so low that it poses no risk. “These findings are not surprising …

Posted by Kristen Mack and Hal Dardick at 2:01 p.m. Mayor-elect Rahm Emanuel is looking for private donors to bankroll his inauguration, offering potential donors yet another way to show their appreciation as he prepares to take office next month. Individuals who give $50,000 can garner “co-chair” status on Emanuel’s …

By John Byrne Tribune reporter Owners of gas-guzzling cars in Chicago could see city sticker shock to go with the pain at the pump if an alderman’s plan to increase the cost of the annual stickers is approved. Ald. Joe Moreno, 1st, hopes to raise about $21 million per year …

An Arlington Heights police officer responding to an underage drinking complaint let a 20-year-old felon and two drunk teenage boys go without question – despite the fact that they were toting around a possibly unconscious underage girl. Minutes later the three males were caught raping the girl in a laundry …

Send Your Tips To Pam Zekman April 11, 2011 10:00 PM From 2 Investigators CHICAGO (CBS) — The movie industry has brought millions of dollars to the Chicago area, shooting scenes all over the city and suburbs. One or more Metra employees may have tried to get a piece of …