AltWeeklies Wire
A Former GM of Hoy Bets on New Mag for Next-Generation Chicago Latinosnew
Café bills itself as a "Latino lifestyle magazine," and the first issue came off the presses last week. It's a free bimonthly that the founders hope will go monthly next spring.
Chicago Reader |
Michael Miner |
10-27-2008 |
Media
Is the Midway Airport Lease Really a Good Deal for Chicago Taxpayers?new
Midway Airport is arguably one of the city of Chicago's better-run operations -- it is profitable to the tune of about $100 million a year. So why would the city be in such a hurry to pawn it off, railroading the $2.5 billion transaction through the City Council with little scrutiny or debate?
Chicago Reader |
Ben Joravsky |
10-20-2008 |
Policy Issues
Nonprofits in a No-Profit Economynew
As the Dow takes a dive, Chicago contemporary arts group Renaissance Society works on its first endowment.
Chicago Reader |
Deanna Isaacs |
10-14-2008 |
Economy
Will the Chicago Tribune Endorse its First Dem for President This Year?new
I'm not at all sure the Tribune will endorse the Republican ticket. There are good reasons why it might not -- but also reasons anyone who wants to respect the Tribune should worry about.
Chicago Reader |
Michael Miner |
09-29-2008 |
Media
Fact and Opinion: It's All Just Content Nownew
Internet values are seeping into print journalism, and internet values reward instant punditry, the more flamboyant the better. Simple, solid reporting is OK, but flamboyance is what attracts page hits, and page hits attract advertisers -- enough of them, in a theoretical tomorrow, to keep journalism afloat.
Chicago Reader |
Michael Miner |
09-22-2008 |
Media
Why is Sam Zell the New Whipping Boy for Anti-Corporate Media Crusaders?new
I admire a gallant crusade as much as the next guy, but StopBigMedia.com has the ring of an army raised to fight the last war. Why should anyone in Chicago take up arms against big media when big media's already falling apart on its own?
Chicago Reader |
Michael Miner |
08-11-2008 |
Media
Ken Ortiz Hopes No One in Chicago Will Ever Simply Demolish a Building Againnew

Ortiz is a contractor who takes down buildings and saves almost all the pieces. After doing construction for 25 years and throwing away "tons of good building materials," he delights in being able to save 23-foot-long two-by-sixes for reuse as two-by-sixes. And pretty much everybody else is delighted too -- environmentalists, preservationists, antiques dealers, even the folks who live around the houses he's taking down.
Chicago Reader |
Harold Henderson |
07-28-2008 |
Housing & Development
Murder on Sheppard Air Force Base?new
Four months ago Blanca Luna was found stabbed to death in her room on the base. Her family still doesn't know who killed her or why -- or what the military knows about it.
Chicago Reader |
Kari Lydersen |
07-07-2008 |
War
Chicago's TIF That Keeps On Takingnew
The city has found a way to extend the life of its oldest, fattest tax increment financing district.
Chicago Reader |
Ben Joravsky |
06-10-2008 |
Housing & Development
Wild Cougars are Moving into the Midwest -- and They May Be Here to Staynew
The numbers are not huge, but they do indicate an increase in cougars making their way back into the nation's corn and soybean belt, areas from which they were exterminated long ago. Now the Midwest is going to have to decide what to do about them.
Chicago Reader |
Stephen J. Lyons |
05-05-2008 |
Animal Issues
And All I Got Was This Lousy PhDnew
The University of Chicago's new funding plan has grad students questioning their future in academia.
Chicago Reader |
Deanna Isaacs |
05-05-2008 |
Education
Hell in a Cell: Inside Tamms Supermax Prisonnew
The prison near the southern tip of Illinois was built to punish disruptive inmates with temporary solitary confinement. Yet Reginald Berry spent the better part of eight years there -- and he was luckier than many.
Chicago Reader |
Jeffrey Felshman |
04-28-2008 |
Crime & Justice
15 Candidates! We Can Help: The Reader's Guide to the Big Showdownnew
AltWeeklies Award - Format Buster
Chicago Reader |
Ben Joravsky |
04-21-2008 |
Media
Tags: media
The Worksnew
AltWeeklies Award - Column-Political
Chicago Reader |
Ben Joravsky |
04-21-2008 |
Media
Tags: media
Courtsidenew
AltWeeklies Award - Column
Chicago Reader |
Steve Bogira |
04-21-2008 |
Media
Tags: media