Chicago Daily Observer

Congressman Luis Gutierrez decides he’ll run for reelection after all, leaving Manny Flores with a big decision.

BP America said today it will not immediately increase the amount of pollution it dumps into Lake Michigan from its Whiting oil refinery, saying it will…

On December 8, 2006, the FBI and federal prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald announced the arrest of Derrick Shareef, a 23-year-old convert to Islam. Though black, Shareef had not converted to the Nation of Islam but to mainstream Islam—“the religion of peace.” He was arrested in the parking lot of the East State Street Wal-Mart in Rockford, Illinois, after he attempted to purchase a handgun and grenades from an undercover FBI agent. Shareef intended to use the weapons to launch an assault on CherryVale Mall, the largest shopping center in the Rockford area, at the height of the Christmas shopping season.

At the time of Shareef’s arrest, Fitzgerald and others had claimed that he had acted alone. But Shareef turned out to be the tip of the iceberg. The FBI used his arrest to gather the information necessary to obtain an arrest warrant for Paul Hall, a.k.a. Hassan Abujihaad—another ... Read More...

It is just a few weeks before candidates start passing petitions to get themselves on primary ballots. In many districts potential candidates who were expected to file won’t – while surprise entries emerge. Thus it always is as the first stage of speculation gives way to facts on the ground. Here are five districts to keep an eye on:
14th. This is retiring former Speaker of the House Denny Hastert’s district. The Republican battle to replace him is shaping up as one between east and west. While both Dairy Magnate Jim Oberweis and State Senator Chris Lauzen reside in the eastern part of the district, Lauzen has a huge grassroots army in the east where his senate district lies. Oberweis, no slouch at grassroots politics himself, is strong throughout the district. Oberweis has vastly more money than Lauzen. Oberweis is in the unusual position of being the establishment candidate ... Read More...

Rudy Guiliani opened his campaign office today in suburban Lisle, Illinois. At the same time, lots of new videos available on Rudy’s YouTube Page.