Chicago Sun-Times

Ricketts: New Wrigley Field revenue needed for Cubs to stay

Wed, 01 May 2013 21:59:28 -0500

Cubs’ Chairman Tom Ricketts spoke so softly Wednesday when he uttered the dreaded “M” word, that some in the audience wondered if they’d heard him correctly. “If it comes to the point that we don’t have the ability to do what we need to do in our outfield, then we’re going to have to consider moving,” said Ricketts as he made a pitch for a planned $300 million Wrigley Field renovation. The city’s mayor says he’s not worried.

Slain police officer’s son wounded in shooting this week

Wed, 01 May 2013 21:42:27 -0500

Nearly three years after Chicago Police Officer Michael Bailey was murdered, just as he was on the verge of retiring, his son was in a hospital Wednesday, recovering from a gunshot wound to his side. Michael Bailey Jr., 30, was in a car at about 4:30 p.m. Tuesday near 55th and Union in Englewood when he was shot by someone in another vehicle, police said.

UNO charter teachers vote to unionize

Wed, 01 May 2013 21:32:27 -0500

Teachers at one of Chicago’s largest charter-school networks — run by the United Neighborhood Organization — have voted to organize into a union.

Madigan muscles through pension-reform; unions balk, Senate reception uncertain

Wed, 01 May 2013 21:53:11 -0500

ANALYSIS: SPRINGFIELD — There’s a political axiom at the Statehouse that embodies House Speaker Michael Madigan’s record-setting tenure as the Illinois House’s overlord: Never bet against the speaker. And so it goes with the pension-reform package that the Southwest Side Democrat muscled out of a House committee on Wednesday — putting it on a clear track toward Gov. Pat Quinn’s desk.

Senate passes ‘puppy lemon’ legislation

Wed, 01 May 2013 21:37:49 -0500

If the state protects consumers who unknowingly buy “lemon” cars, why shouldn’t the same safeguards exist when putting down big money on Fido, Murph or Fluffy at a pet store? State lawmakers took a serious look at that question Wednesday.

FBI: 3 removed backpack from Boston Marathon suspect’s room

Wed, 01 May 2013 15:32:28 -0500

Three college friends of Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev removed a backpack containing fireworks emptied of gunpowder from his dorm room at the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth three days after the attack, according to charges filed Wednesday.

Mayor’s floor leader blasts Catholic Church over water squabble

Wed, 01 May 2013 17:38:03 -0500

Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s City Council floor leader lashed out at the Catholic Church on Wednesday for rejecting the mayor’s compromise offer on water fees for nonprofits even after, the alderman claimed, failing to clean its own house on the priest sex abuse scandal. “They’re clearly not owning up to the fact that there are people out there damaged by the church and they’re talking about free water. Really?” said Ald. Pat O’Connor (40th).

Thousands march to mark May Day

Wed, 01 May 2013 21:30:40 -0500

Thousands of May Day protesters marched through downtown Wednesday afternoon, calling for support for everything from workers rights to immigration reform.