In December 2009, ChicagoTalks wrapped up an investigation into problems with the Illinois General Assembly scholarships.  Over three days, we ran a series of stories that explained what the scholarships were supposed to be for but showed how they were being misused by Illinois state legislators. Our reporters created a database where readers could...
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Women and members of an organization against violence in inner-city neighborhoods gathered Tuesday to request a plan of action from Gov. Pat Quinn and Mayor Rahm Emanuel. The plan of action requested by the Women’s Council on Community Intercession included full funding for the Ceasefire program, a campaign that focuses its campaign to stop...
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Gov. Pat Quinn and Chicago’s main political heads welcomed Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti in a private ceremony at Loyola campus last Saturday and discussed the importance of Italian-American business partnership. Monti said he was proud to meet the international leaders in Chicago, because Chicago is a great city and it’s where President Barack...
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As Debbie Halvorson walked into the Fifth Quarter Restaurant in Homewood to greet supporters after her loss in Tuesday’s primary to incumbent congressman, Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., she said lightheartedly that she wanted a “nice, large beer.” “This wasn’t the ending we anticipated,” said Halvorson, as she thanked her supporters, staff and family for...
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Residents and smaller businesses will not be the only people to save money if the natural gas tax is eliminated. The farming and agricultural industry will reap a significant amount in savings, which makes Gov. Pat Quinn’s decision to abolish the natural gas tax practical. During his budget address, Quinn mentioned how his plan...
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Governor Pat Quinn wants to eliminate the natural gas tax to provide financial relief for some Illinois residents and businesses, but a taxpayer advocacy group charges that consumers using other forms of energy will be left out. “It will be a broad exemption that does not target those who are most in need…if that...
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Judy Lihota, president of the Calumet Ecological Park Association, has been fighting for more than a decade to preserve the natural environment in the Calumet region of Chicago on the South East Side. In 1990, former Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley wanted to bulldoze her house to build an airport. She lives in Hegewisch, the...
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Raul Montes Jr. said Monday he is a “grassroots guy” in his campaign for the 12th District Illinois senate seat. Montes, who spoke to a Columbia College journalism class, called himself the “underdog” in his race against Sen. Steven Landek, the incumbent. Landek held the 11th district seat, but is now running in the...
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As part of a broader 1 percent increase to education funding in a budget proposal characterized by deep cuts, Gov. Pat Quinn said he’d like to see an additional $50 million of funding for college scholarships in hopes of getting more Illinoisans into jobs. “Jobs follow brainpower,” said Quinn in his Feb. 22 budget...
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In his State of the Union speech, President Obama called for states to increase the minimum age at which students can drop out of high school, but people are questioning whether it will actually positively influence teenagers to stay in class. At least one student questions whether it will do much good. “Rather than...
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