Chicago, like the national government and governments throughout the country, has been cutting back on headcount throughout the Great Recession. Which neighborhoods is that hitting the hardest? Read more
On your agenda: Patrick Watson fills Lincoln Hall with his seductive falsetto… Gustavo Dudamel returns to symphony center… free Britten and Brahms, plus the weekend plans of the Wait, Wait!...Don’t Tell Me! producer Eva Wolchover Read more
It's pretty well established that lotteries are a regressive tax, though if Powerball gets big enough (it's not even close), it might eventually cross over into being progressive. Casinos, meanwhile, reach a different demographic. Read more
The Khan Academy, the Web's general store for teaching people about things, tackles the state's most critical fiscal issue—up until it comes to solutions, and then it vanishes like Squeezy. Read more
"A guide to this week's line-up of holiday events. From Unison's winter collection debut to the Renegade Craft Fair Holiday Market, we've got it covered." Read more
What did Illinois's senator and the Senate Majority Whip say about Social Security, Medicare, and entitlement cuts with regards to a grand bargain? It depends on who you ask. Read more
"I personally think that in terms of hands-on work, dealing with everyday people, nothing beats being an alderman. It’s close up and personal. But the Congress lets you shape the national discourse, have a say in where we’re headed as a country. John Stuart Mill called legislatures, 'national talking houses.' The Congress is a forum for moving the country forward." Read more
Part of a distressed sale—a foreclosure or a short sale—or a loan modification entails the mortgage lender forgiving some or all of a homeowner’s debt. Formerly, tax laws counted that forgiven amount as taxable income. But in 2007, President George W. Bush signed legislation that temporarily exempted forgiven mortgage debt from taxable income. That law expires December 31—unless Congress acts to extend it... Read more
Finding trends in Chicago crime is always tricky, but one thing seems clear over the past couple decades: murder victims are much more likely to be found outdoors instead of indoors, and in the public way instead of in a residence. Read more
