Rebecca Freitag

Daley announces $168 million more in Neighborhood Stabilization Program money

Mayor Richard M. Daley announced recently that the city has received $168 million more in federal money from the Neighborhood Stabilization Program, more than any other local government in the nation. The money will be used to acquire and...

Unions strike against McCormick Place rules overhaul

The Manufacturing Technology show is one of the biggest trade shows every year in Chicago, but this year, that's not the news. The recent overhaul in rules for trade shows in Chicago has been predicted to be...

Illinois prison chief resigns amidst early-release controversy

Michael Randle, Illinois' prison chief resigned Wednesday amidst the controversy of the troubled early-release program for prisoners. He is leaving to "pursue a new opportunity," and will remain on the job until Sept. 17 to...

Daley defends Weis' meeting with gang leaders with a 'whatever it takes' attitude

Police Supt. Jody Weis met secretly with federal and local law enforcement agencies, west side gang leaders and families of victims recently to give them a “final warning” to put an end to the violence taking place across...

Brown 'vindicated' by 'Jeans Day' report

Dorothy Brown, Clerk of the Circuit Court, announced this week that her "Jeans Day" fiasco was "vindicated" with a report by the Cook County Inspector General Patrick Blanchard. "Jeans Day" was created by...

Mayor Daley looks into more privatization

Mayor Daley announced that the city will look into privatizing the recycling program and its lakefront festivals, even including the Taste of Chicago. The $655 million budget hole has the city council scrounging for ways to close the gap...

Fourth alderman calls it quits

Ald. Virginia Rugai of the 19th ward announced recently that she will not be seeking re-election. Rugai has been on the city council for 20 years and is still planning big projects before her time is up. She is...

Gov. Quinn's prison early-release program fails to deliver results

Almost half of the prisoners let out of prison on Gov. Quinn's "Meritorious Good Time" plan had violent histories, said a panel commissioned to evaluate the program, and they went on to commit more crimes. ...

Mayor Daley says McPier restructuring has "profound" impact on convention industry

Mayor Daley said this week that the legislation passed earlier this year that restructured the way Navy Pier and McCormick Place are operated has had a "profound and positive" impact on Chicago's convention industry. Daley...

Number of SNAP participants raises sharply

For the first time in Illinois, there were more than 780,000 families using food stamps in June. This number is an 11.9 percent increase over June 2009. According to the Illinois Department of Human Services, "SNAP applications...

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