Congressional candidates disagree over husband’s stock holdings

Rep. Judy Biggert has been a vocal champion for the Keystone Oil pipeline that President Barack Obama has, at least for the moment, killed. Biggert, R-Hinsdale, backs the pipeline to pump oil from Canada through Nebraska to Louisiana. “I support Keystone because it would create …

Legislators want to extend lottery game helping AIDS fight

Although dollars and cents have driven most of the conversation in Springfield this spring, two Illinois lawmakers say their push to extend an AIDs awareness lottery is a moral issue that is critical to funding the “front line” in the fight against the disease.

State …

Emanuel, Preckwinkle tout $20 million saved in city-county partnership

Chicago and Cook County will save $20.5 million this year by joining forces on everything from elections, some purchasing and revenue collection to custodial services and workforce development, but the next round of cuts will be tougher, officials said Tuesday.

“It is easy to migrate …

Sen. Kirk’s brain swelling subsides; doctors reattach skull section

Doctors on Tuesday reattached a 4-inch by 8-inch piece of U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk’s skull that was removed to ease swelling in his brain following his Jan. 21 stroke.

Company accused of racially hostile workplace offers apology

A top ThyssenKrupp Elevator Corp. official apologized Tuesday for the racially hostile work environment that existed at the company’s Westchester office, acknowledged the “distress and hurt” it caused African-Americans and promised “further measures” to sensitize employees and correct past “mistakes.”

Ald. Beale helped trim cab reforms after campaign fund-raiser

An influential alderman was accused Monday of working behind the scenes to soften the blow of Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s taxicab industry overhaul five days after principals of an industry trade group hosted a fund-raiser for the alderman.

The Jan. 12 fund-raiser for Ald. Anthony Beale …

The ‘blackface’ workplace: ‘I never felt more alone in my life’

Montrelle Reese said he “never felt more alone in my life” than he did when he worked as a sales representative for the Westchester office of Thyssen-Krupp Elevator. It wasn’t just the frequent use of the n-word by his white co-workers or even the blackface routine at a company meeting, he said. It was the fact that a racially hostile work environment more prevalent in the 1960s was “part of the culture,” he said.

Tobacco shop, wholesaler sue county over new tax

A Chicago tobacco shop as well as a local wholesaler are trying to stamp out a new Cook County tax on cigars, snuff and loose tobacco, saying the tax language on the books is so “unconstitutionally vague” that “you’d have to hire a fortune teller” …

Sen. Kirk upgraded to ‘good’ condition, watched Super Bowl

Sen. Mark Kirk’s condition has been upgraded from “fair” to “good.”

Doctors hope to be able to re-attach the 8-inch-by-4-inch section of his skull that had to be removed after he suffered a stroke two weeks ago.

Then the Highland Park Republican can begin physical …

Gov. Quinn signs bill to allow speed cameras near schools, parks

Gov. Pat Quinn on Monday ended months of deliberation and signed into law a measure allowing Chicago to install speed-enforcement cameras near schools and parks.

Kirk rests after stroke, his Senate projects don’t

The work goes on.

Sen. Mark Kirk might be in a hospital bed recovering from a stroke.

But his colleagues in the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives are moving forward with the issues he has championed, from getting tough on Iran to easing …

Romney rolls in Nevada

LAS VEGAS — Republican presidential front-runner Mitt Romney cruised to victory in the Nevada caucuses Saturday night, notching a second straight triumph over a field of rivals suddenly struggling to keep pace. “Thank you NV!,” his campaign tweeted as the results were announced. “Our message …

Mayor mum on alleged racially hostile workplace at ThyssenKrupp

Mayor Rahm Emanuel refused to weigh in Saturday night about allegations of racial discrimination levied against ThyssenKrupp, a German conglomerate that last week agreed to make Chicago its North American regional headquarters.

Emanuel poll shows Chicagoans happy with the job he’s doing

Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s latest internal polls show him still popular with voters all over town despite some controversial budget moves, according to information his political operation is providing to supporters.

Half the 600 likely voters surveyed last month thought the city was moving in the …

Both sides file lawsuits in flap over city pension fund investments

Five Chicago public pension funds have filed suit in Delaware to fire a controversial money management company created by a friend of President Barack Obama and a nephew of former Mayor Richard M. Daley to manage $68 million in government pension funds.

The money manager, …