Archive for February, 2011

A hearing may take place next week on proposed legislation that would create a new public body to decide on charter school applications, with the power to overturn a district’s decision not to approve a charter. Illinois law now allows up to 120 charter schools – 75 in Chicago (including five that must be...

Last year, Urban Prep, Chicago’s only all-male, all-African-American charter high school grabbed headlines when all 107 seniors in the school’s first graduating class were accepted to four-year colleges. That impressive feat was no fluke: The school recently announced all 104 seniors in the Class of 2011 have been accepted to college. Read More at...

Asian Americans were victims of Chicago racial politics that had to balance existing power of African Americans on one hand and emerging forces of Hispanics on the other. In the process, areas like Chinatown, where there is the greatest concentration of Asian votes, were chopped into four different wards, thereby disabling their chance at...

The 46th Ward Democrats strongly endorse James Cappleman in this election… Read More at press release

Prices have plunged, and mortgage interest rates, while slowly rising, remain near 5 percent, creating the best home affordability in decades for consumers who qualify for loans. There’s just one problem. It’s not just the borrower who has to be up to snuff, it’s the building, too, and in the Chicago area there are...

United Airlines and Quaker Oats. The fitness club at Union Station and the parent company of radio station WVON. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies. Dozens of housing developments. These companies and nonprofits were among dozens promised subsidies totaling nearly $1.2 billion in tax increment financing (TIF) over the last...

Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich will be the keynote speaker at a student political convention sponsored by the Junior State of America (JSA), the largest high school student-run organization in the country.   The two-day seminar in Chicago will host over 500 students from 13 states. JSA (www.jsa.org) strives to invite speakers who have applied...

Cook County Commissioner John Fritchey proposed an ordinance regarding streamlining the county IT. This is widely recognized as an ongoing issue in creating waste in the county. Fritchey estimated the savings from this at $5-10 million a year. Although it had 12 sponsors, and needed 9 to pass, it only received 8 votes and...

The home at 2860 W Giddings in Chicago’s Ravenswood Manor neighborhood is one of those detail-rich places that require a visit rather than just a video to appreciate. If you’re unfamiliar with Ravenswood Manor, a visit to this friendly neighborhood with a small town feel would be well worth your time.

Tuesday's municipal election resulted in a surprise victory for the 47th ward. Alderman-elect Ameya Pawar, an emergency management official at Northwestern, will become the first Asian-American elected to Chicago's City Council in May.