AltWeeklies Wire

Heroin, LLCnew

The open-air drug market on the west side thrives in the same way that legal businesses do—by meeting demand, capitalizing on a cheap and plentiful workforce, and offering excellent customer service.
Chicago Reader  |  Mick Dumke  |  12-05-2013  |  Features

Addicted to Gunsnew

Is there a cure for Chicago's crippling dependence on firearms?
Chicago Reader  |  Mick Dumke  |  05-14-2013  |  Features

Anatomy of a Heroin Ringnew

Dana Bostic's gang-affiliated Chicago drug organization employed dozens of residents, served thousands of customers, established ties with Mexican drug cartels, and relied on violence to stay in business.
Chicago Reader  |  Mick Dumke  |  02-15-2013  |  Features

The Politics of Potnew

Are politicians too paranoid to decriminalize marijuana?
Chicago Reader  |  Mick Dumke and Ben Joravsky  |  12-05-2011  |  Drugs

The $78 Million Bagnew

That's what Cook County spent last year on weed (or to arrest and prosecute those possessing it).
Chicago Reader  |  Mick Dumke and Ben Joravsky  |  10-07-2011  |  Drugs

The Grass Gapnew

People all over Chicago smoke pot—but almost everyone busted for it is black.
Chicago Reader  |  Mick Dumke and Ben Joravsky  |  07-07-2011  |  Race & Class

Transparency in Chicago is a Big Jokenew

Mayor Daley has a laugh at reporters' expense, but that’s not who's losing out.
Chicago Reader  |  Mick Dumke  |  05-24-2010  |  Policy Issues

Mayor Daley Isn't Going Down Without a Fight, but He Rarely Ever Gets Onenew

These are the moments a City Hall reporter lives for: My girlfriend and I were having dinner at a downtown restaurant recently, and we couldn't help but overhear the couples in the next booth kvetching about Chicago's parking meter lease deal.
Chicago Reader  |  Mick Dumke  |  03-15-2010  |  Politics

During an Election It's Just as Interesting to See Who Doesn't Stop Bynew

On Sunday, the American Muslim Taskforce on Civil Rights and Elections cosponsored a campaign forum in a banquet hall on West Devon that got contenders for U.S. Senate, county board president, sheriff, judge, and water rec commissioner promising to look out for the rights and interests of Chicago’s Indian and Pakistani communities.
Chicago Reader  |  Mick Dumke  |  12-22-2009  |  Politics

Can Alexi Giannoulias Shake Off His Problems to Win Obama's Old Senate Seat?new

Victory in the race for state treasurer transformed Alexi Giannoulias into a promising young progressive with big prospects—until the media began reporting that his family's bank had given a series of loans to figures involved in organized crime or political corruption.
Chicago Reader  |  Mick Dumke  |  12-07-2009  |  Politics

Inside Chicago's Shadow Budgetnew

The Daley administration commands an off-the-books kitty of taxpayer money equivalent to a sixth of the official city budget. Now we've got documents that show what they want to do with it.
Chicago Reader  |  Ben Joravsky and Mick Dumke  |  11-02-2009  |  Politics

Rod Blagojevich's Book: Think Socrates, Not Icarusnew

The Governor isn't mythological material, though it contains plenty of myth. But it's a fine warning on the pitfalls of democracy.
Chicago Reader  |  Mick Dumke  |  09-21-2009  |  Nonfiction

Roberto Maldonado, the Real Estate King of the Chicago City Councilnew

The brand-new 26th Ward alderman owns more properties than any other council rep -- including ten in his own ward. That's a lot of potential conflicts of interest.
Chicago Reader  |  Ben Joravsky and Mick Dumke  |  08-24-2009  |  Politics

With 'The Waxman Report' Henry Waxman Shows 'How Congress Really Works'new

Assisted by Joshua Green, a senior editor at the Atlantic, Waxman has written an informative, fast-moving manifesto against the gut-the-government politics that have been in vogue since the Reagan administration.
Chicago Reader  |  Mick Dumke  |  08-24-2009  |  Nonfiction

Chicago May Have Leased out Its Parking Meters for a Fraction of Their Worthnew

The Daley administration hid its process for privatizing Chicago's parking meters from the public and the City Council. Now, three months into the deal, new evidence suggests the taxpayers were hosed out of billions of dollars.
Chicago Reader  |  Ben Joravsky and Mick Dumke  |  05-18-2009  |  Policy Issues

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