Enforcement of Landscape Ordinance Comes at a Bad Time

by KATIE FRETLAND

For the owner of a Humboldt Park auto repair shop who lost 25 percent of his sales this year, paying $50,000 to fix up the parking lot of his business to comply with the city’s landscaping ordinance would be difficult. Joe D. Perrotta, co-owner of King Transmission at 4152 West Grand Avenue, said he had never [...]

White Women Influencing Shift to Minority-Majority Nation

by JAMES WARREN

Sarah Elder is obvious evidence of a rotten economy, laid off as a social worker at a Park Ridge residential facility for foster children. But as she makes ends meet, working at a North Side bakery cafe while taking classes at night, Ms. Elder, 26, is a member of a little-known, declining demographic in the Chicago [...]

Budget Woes Have Schools Expecting the Worst

by CRYSTAL YEDNAK

In Elgin on Monday night, it is not going to matter who is bluffing, winning or losing in the heated debate under way in Springfield over the state’s gargantuan budget hole. The legislature may argue for months over Gov. Patrick J. Quinn’s proposed $1.3 billion in education cuts and his plan to raise state income taxes, [...]

What to Do With an Empty Storefront? A Makeshift Art Gallery

by KELLY KLEIMAN

As the recession takes its toll on retailing, empty storefront windows throughout the Chicago area are turning into “pop-up” art galleries, the result of an opportune alignment of interests among artists, landlords and chambers of commerce. The temporary galleries, which have also sprung up in New York, Paris and other cities, provide a showcase for many [...]

Karma Stops White Sox GM From Enjoying Rival’s Misfortune

by DAN McGRATH

Minnesota’s Joe Nathan has been one of the American League’s most dominant relief pitchers over the last five seasons. If the elbow injury that recently sidelined him requires season-ending surgery, the balance of power will shift in the American League Central and the White Sox will benefit. The Twins are the defending division champions and [...]

Carp Solution Could Provide Financial Benefits

by DANIEL LIBIT

Proposals to block Asian carp from invading the Great Lakes have largely focused on the costs and inconvenience of closing off Chicago-area waterways into Lake Michigan. But now business and environmental groups are exploring a possible upside: a broadly based infrastructure investment that would benefit much of northern Illinois. Construction, jobs in the freight sector and [...]

Shaq Attacks Art World in 'Size DOES Matter'

NBA basketball player Shaquille O'Neal curates an art exhibition called "Size DOES Matter."

Thursday's Art Notes

A roundup of arts headlines.

JFK Condolence Letters Reveal How a Nation Grieved

For the first time, some of the condolence letters sent to First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy after President John F. Kennedy's assassination in 1963 have been published. Gwen Ifill talks to historian Ellen Fitzpatrick about the letters and her book.

Kansas City Plans Massive School Closures as Budget Fix

Facing a $50 million deficit, the Kansas City, Mo., school board voted this week to close 29 of the city's 61 public schools. Ray Suarez talks to Superintendent John Covington about the board's decision.

White House, High Court Dustup Over State of the Union Continues

The White House struck back at comments made by Chief Justice John Roberts, who criticized the president for using his State of the Union pulpit to voice disapproval of the high court's ruling on campaign finance. Judy Woodruff gets two views on the strains in the relationship and the impact it could have going forward.

News Wrap: U.S. Home Foreclosure Rate May Be Slowing

In other news Thursday, home foreclosures rose by 6 percent in February, the smallest amount in four years. Also, partial election results show the Iraqi prime minister running neck-and-neck with a challenger.