CHICAGO - Do bloggers need their own Norma Rae?

In a move that might make some people scratch their heads, a loosely formed coalition of left-leaning bloggers are trying to band together to form a labor union they hope will help them receive health insurance, conduct collective bargaining or even set professional standards.
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“I think people have just gotten to the point where people outside the blogosphere understand the value of what it is that we do on the progressive side,” said Susie Madrak, the author of Suburban Guerilla blog, who is active in the union campaign. “And I think they feel a little more entitled to ask for something now.”
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Others see a blogger coalition as a way to find health insurance discounts, fight for press credentials or even establish guidelines for dealing with advertising and presenting data on page views.

Family members say police used excessive force when they used a taser on a South Side man. But Chicago police say the man lunged at them. CBS 2’s Mike Puccinelli reports.

Police say he was conscious at the house and unconscious when he arrived at Saint Bernard Hospital where he was pronounced dead. His mom, Lula Johnson, says that’s not true. She said she watched her son die on her dining room floor.

Conditions conducive for hot days can make for cool beach waters. Chicago’s hottest days at the beach often coincide with days when beach water temperatures are unseasonably cold. This results from a process called “upwelling.”

Chicago police have issued a community alert after a man broke into a home and sexually abused a 7-year-old girl.

The break-in happened at about 5 a.m. Friday at a home in the 200 block of West Marquette.

Saturday afternoon, there was a vigil in the Englewood community. Organizers wanted to hold events to teach residents how to protect themselves.

A jury convicted Darryl Deshon Johnson of second degree murder this afternoon for the shooting death of a 15-year-old boy over a Chicago Bulls Basketball jersey last year.

Mayor Richard Daley said he’s confident in the safety of the city’s bridges even though he criticized the federal government for “not putting money into infrastructure.”
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He said the city’s movable bridges are inspected every two to three days by staff.

It speaks well for Chicago’s cultural vitality that a sizable number of recently released classical recordings involve musicians, composers and ensembles that are affiliated with local musical institutions, base their performance activity in the metropolitan area or got their start here.

Pride of place among these recent CD issues must go to a new Deutsche Grammophon album devoted to works by Osvaldo Golijov, the Argentinian-American composer-in-residence at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. His music bestrides the many cultural influences that inspire him, giving each work a strong autobiographical flavor, like an aural diary.

CARPENTERSVILLE, Ill.
Ten years later, the 31-year-old construction worker no longer feels welcome — even though more than 40% of Carpentersville’s 37,000 residents are Hispanic.

“I’m thinking of moving,” said Delgado, a legal U.S. resident applying for citizenship whose Chinese-American wife is a U.S. citizen. “I think it’s stupid to deal with all this stuff.”
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Humpfer claimed rental housing was overcrowded and ambulance bills were high because illegal immigrants were taking advantage of the health care system.

Those who support the measure also have complained about strained schools, increased crime and even public urination.

1. Turn off incandescent lights. They produce more heat than light.
2. Cook with small appliances. Slow cookers, microwave ovens and electric frying pans.
3. Use vent fans properly.
4. Keep vents clear.
5. Max out the cool night air.
6. Set the ceiling fan properly.