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State Senator Dan Duffy R-Barrington has been a vocal opponent of red light cameras for a while. Now he’s stepped up his opposition to proposing a ban on red light cameras statewide, and has been successful in getting two Democratic Senators to sign on — State Senator Kwame Raoul, who …

With municipalities and police wanting an answer, DuPage County Board members in late 2009 were expected to decide whether to allow red-light cameras at county-controlled intersections. The vote never happened. Instead, the county put the brakes on discussions about the controversial devices. DuPage County could allow red-light cameras at the …

If you want to be on TV, don’t go to Los Angeles or New York. Come to Chicago, where your wish is certain to be fulfilled. In fact, you couldn’t avoid it if you wanted to, thanks to the nation’s most extensive network of police surveillance cameras. Anytime you walk …

Groupon co-founder Brad Keywell says he’s not political, but he’s happy to lead new council, offer input Melissa Harris Last week, Gov. Pat Quinn announced that Groupon co-founder Brad Keywell will lead his new Innovation Council. Coupled with Keywell’s plans to launch the first Chicago Ideas Week in October, the …

And the protests are spreading … stay tuned. via Daily Kos: Wisconsin protest — Walker says he won’t be ‘bullied’.

When random passengers step into Beth Melewski’s unmarked cab, interior disco lights start flashing and Melewski explains that they’ve stumbled into a game show. “You’d be surprised how few people go, ‘I’m going to be on TV!’” Melewski says. “The biggest reaction is usually, ‘Oooh, a woman cab driver!’” The …

By Ryan Haggerty Disgraced former Chicago police Cmdr. Jon Burge’s pension is once again in jeopardy, just days after the city’s police pension board allowed him to continue to collect the $3,039 a month in spite of his criminal conviction. The board’s controversial decision led Attorney General Lisa Madigan to …

CHICAGO CBS — A waste of taxpayers’ money. That’s how former employees are describing jobs and office activities in the Cook Country Treasurer’s Office. Investigator Pam Zekman and the Better Government Association continue their investigation into how Treasurer Maria Pappas spends your tax dollars. Pappas once ran her office from …

Not in my backyard. That is a phrase that we have come to know. It means that while I support the activity, I don’t want it anywhere near my neighborhood. This is often used in regard to urban renewal, and most recently, windmill projects. My use of this phrase doesn’t …

Illinois Supreme Court rejects challenge to his residency January 28, 2011 By Jeff Coen, Bob Secter and David Kidwell, Tribune reporters The ballot roller coaster for Rahm Emanuel finally stopped Thursday with the former White House chief of staff very much in the race for mayor and the Illinois Supreme …

Kurt Nimmo Infowars.com January 25, 2011 In Illinois, you need the permission of the state to record on the street. It is illegal make audio recordings of cops going about their duty arresting unlicensed street artists and other ne’er-do-wells. It is illegal to practice the First Amendment in Chicago. It …

BY ABDON M. PALLASCH Political Reporter Jan 24, 2011 12:09PM Rahm Emanuel was thrown off the ballot for mayor of Chicago today by an appellate court panel, a stunning blow to the fund-raising leader in the race. An appellate panel ruled 2-1 that Emanuel did not meet the residency standard …

Step aside, Gotham City. Chicago is the new center of the comic universe, a place where introspective everymen have replaced caped crusaders in tights. The Museum of Contemporary Art this month celebrated the city’s place as a hotbed of young cartoonist talent through “New Chicago Comics,” a look at the …

Radley Balko | January 23, 2011 The New York Times reports on the Illinois eavesdropping law, which allows for a felony charge and up to 15 years of prison for people who record police officers on the job. In addition to artist Christopher Drew—whom I’ve written about before and who …

By Mary Ellen Podmolik Posted yesterday at 8:36 a.m. Bank repossessions of foreclosed homes in the Chicago region soared almost 20 percent, to more than 45,000 properties in 2010, despite various government and lender programs designed to keep people in their properties and a slowdown in fourth-quarter activity due to …