Explore our content

PI Originals | All dates | All authors
All categories
PI Original
by Matthew Blake
7:12pm
Tue Oct 2, 2012
1 comment

Climate Change On The Election Backburner

Election 2012

Climate change is now a peripheral issue in American politics, mentioned elliptically by President Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney in their calls for clean energy investments. Meanwhile, the issue is almost nonexistent in the competitive Illinois races for Congress.

PI Original
by Matthew Blake
7:29pm
Fri Sep 28, 2012

The PI Week In Review

Week In Review

The week that was in Illinois politics and government (September 24-28).

PI Original
by Matthew Blake
12:24pm
Tue Sep 25, 2012

Pat Quinn's Roadmap Toward A Gambling Bill - And Lou Lang's Skepticism

Springfield

Gov. Pat Quinn vetoed legislation to expand Illinois gambling at the end of August, but he also may have laid the framework for compromise in the fall veto session. Quinn dropped his objection to slot machines at horse racing tracks and set in motion a plan to link gaming revenue with replenishing the state education budget.

PI Original
by Matthew Blake
10:15am
Mon Sep 24, 2012

The New Face Of Chicago Gang Violence

Crime

Like overall city violence, gang violence is on a long-term decline despite the uptick this year. Moreover, there are changes in what constitutes a gang and how gangs use violence. Gangs are not just more splintered, their leadership is increasingly younger and more fluid.

PI Original
by Matthew Blake
11:17am
Sat Sep 22, 2012

The PI Week In Review

Week in Review

The week that was in Illinois politics and government (September 17-21).

PI Original
by Matthew Blake
5:07pm
Fri Sep 21, 2012

City Watchdog Takes On Emanuel In Illinois Supreme Court

City Hall

The Illinois Supreme Court heard oral arguments yesterday in a case that will help determine what power the city of Chicago’s main watchdog has to investigate City Hall.

PI Original
by Matthew Blake
4:13pm
Fri Sep 21, 2012

Corporate Personhood And The Move To Overturn Citizens United (VIDEO)

Election 2012

The 2010 U.S. Supreme Court case Citizens United v. the Federal Election Commission did not just increase money in politics. It galvanized a fierce backlash to federal campaign finance laws that, thanks to the ruling, acknowledged “corporate personhood” – the idea that corporations have the same First Amendment, and campaign contribution, rights as individuals.

PI Original
by Progress Illinois
6:26pm
Thu Sep 20, 2012

Op-Ed: The Top Takeaway From the Teachers' Strike: We Need Collaboration to Fix Public Schools

Education

The following is an op-ed by Amy Dean, a fellow at The Century Foundation and co-author of 'A New New Deal: How Regional Activism Will Reshape the American Labor Movement'.

PI Original
by Matthew Blake
6:32pm
Wed Sep 19, 2012

Teachers Strike Over But Budget Problems Have Only Started

Education

The Chicago Public Schools management team breathed a sigh of relief yesterday as the Chicago Teachers Union House of Delegates voted to suspend the CTU strike and let their membership consider a new contract. But while teachers are expected to green light the deal, CPS does not know how to pay for it.