The famous DJs and mashup kings pit the top songs of 2012 against each other in very different ways—one a lengthy party mix, the other a synthesis of the year's most popular music into its own pop song. Read more
The U. of C.'s admissions department received a lovingly detailed replica of Abner Ravenwood's diary, the fictional professor from the Indy movie. Where'd it come from? Probably somewhere from the surprisingly active community of Indiana Jones propmakers. Read more
Cook County's court system has long lagged behind the city in its use of data, frustrating journalists and open-data advocates. It's finally adopting an electronic case-management system, which may help with the court's problem with timely dispositions. Read more
A look at how Illinois has tried to pay for itself over the years—mostly income and sales taxes, though riverboats have kicked in. The real revenue expansion was from 1960 to 1970, when the state got an income tax and a corporate income tax to pay for the wave of baby boomers and new social programs. Read more
Was it arranged by God, as Reynolds claimed at the time? Not quite, though a Reverend was involved: Jesse Jackson urged Clinton to do it, with the support of Richard Durbin, Bobby Rush, and Danny Davis. Read more
A look at segregation patterns in Chicago in recent years actually suggests some good news, as cultural and legal barriers to desegregation have fallen. Plus: Cook County wetlands in hyperspectral glory. Read more
In May 2010, the Concord jazz label brought together three of its brightest players—the saxophonist David Sanchez, the vibraphonist Stefon Harris, and the trumpeter Christian Scott—for the first time for a trip to Havana, Cuba... Read more
A study by a U. of C. economist looks at how victims of Huntington's disease respond to their diagnosis in terms of education and job training—and suggests that more people are going to college in the U.S. because we're living longer. Read more
