SPENZO "WIFE ER"

Rising Chicago rapper Spenzo is back with an official video for his single “Wife Er.” This song appears for free on his In Spenzo We Trust mixtape but you can support him by buying it iTunes also.

ONLY 1% OF CONCEALED WEAPON APPLICATIONS HAVE BEEN CHALLENGED

Even though local police departments can object when they believe applicants for concealed carry permits pose a threat to the public, less than 1 percent of the 33,631 applications in Illinois have been challenged, according to figures released Thursday.

A state licensing board composed of a former judge, two former prosecutors, three former FBI agents and a psychiatry professor will consider the 236 objections that police have filed since the new concealed carry law took effect this year.

(link below)

http://www.suntimes.com/25287211-761/police-object-to-very-few-concealed-carry-applications.html

JUSTIN BIEBER F/ CHANCE THE RAPPER "CONFIDENT"

Chance and the Biebs got together on “Confident” at the beginning of December and it was just a matter of time before the collaboration got a visual component. Shot in Los Angeles while Chance The Rapper was in the midst of a move, Justin Bieber does his best impression of Michael Jackson in the somewhat-theatrical music video that tails Bieber as he lusts after a girl buying Takis.

SHOWYOUSUCK "80'S BOOBS"

Official video for "80's Boobs" off ShowYouSuck's debut EP, Dude Bro. The song was produced by J. Arthur of theWHOevers. Video directed by Addison Wright.

CHANCE THE RAPPER DEBUTS NEW MUSIC WITH JEREMIH LIVE

Chance The Rapper performed a secret show for DePaul students at Lincoln Hall. During his set, he brought out Chicago heavy hitter Jeremih to premiere some of the new music they’ve been working on.

PROBCAUSE TO TOUR 40 CITIES WITH CHERUB

ProbCause is set to embark on a tour with Cherub, that touches 40 US cities. Official send off show is Feb.28th.

MAP OF CHICAGO FROM 1833

In 1833 in Chicago, the mail came once a week from Michigan to the 350 residents of what was a four-square block hamlet. In 1833, Chicago stood on the American frontier.

The Chicago of 1833 basically encompassed about half of what The Loop is today. Back then, there would be no debating which neighborhood you lived in. And there was only one way to cross the Chicago River. The nation’s first skyscraper, Home Insurance Building, was built in 1884 at LaSalle and Adams streets. It was a forest bordering farmland 50 years before. The city rose and fell and rose again after the Great Chicago Fire in 1871. The city’s population grew to 4,000 people in 1840 and 300,000 before the fire destroyed much of the city. Its population peaked in the 1950s at 3.5 million people, according to U.S. Census data. It now consists of 2.7 million residents covering 234 square miles.

(link below)

http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2014/01/28/what-chicago-looked-like-in-1833/

JALEN BRUNSON AND TYLER ULIS THE STATES TOP POINT GUARDS PUT ON A SHOW

The state's top two point guards lived up to the hype, and No. 5 Stevenson withstood a furious comeback to defeat No. 2 Marian Catholic 76-66 at Glenbard East's "When Sides Collide" in Lombard.

Brunson, a junior, scored a game-high 32 points, while the Kentucky-bound Ulis had 23 points and nine assists for Marian (15-2), which trimmed a 55-38 deficit to 66-63 with 1 minute, 26 seconds to go.

(link below)

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/highschool/chi-jalen-brunson-stevenson-top-tyler-ulis-marian--20140125,0,2358676.story

UFC CHICAGO RECAP

Former lightweight champion Benson Henderson won a disputed split decision over Josh Thomson in a five-round lightweight fight at UFC Chicago on Saturday night, likely ending Thomson's career.

Henderson (20-3) received winning scores of 48-47 and 49-46, and the other judge scored it 48-47 for Thomson (20-6). The announcement drew boos from the United Center crowd.

(link below)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/26/ufc-chicago_n_4669646.html

BARRINGTON HIGH SCHOOL GRAD PRODUCES NEW AL CAPONE FAMILY TV SERIES

Barrington native Curtis Leopardo’s new reality TV show — featuring all of the cheesy melodrama of a family somewhere between the Kardashians and the Sopranos — will premiere at 9 p.m. Jan. 28 on the Reelz channel.

“The Capones,” which follows Al Capone’s descendants as they run a pizza restaurant in Lombard. Leopardo, who previously produced two reality shows and worked on several feature films, said his idea for “The Capones” came to him in Los Angeles, although he had long known Dominic Capone, a relative of the notorious Chicago mobster who died in 1947. Dominic Capone immediately shared Leopardo’s enthusiasm for the project.

(link below)

http://newssun.suntimes.com/entertainment/25141869-421/bhs-grads-tv-show-about-the-capones-premieres-jan-28.html

1893 WORLD'S FAIR EXHIBIT AT THE FIELD MUSEUM

The Field Museum, Wonders of the 1893 World's Fair exhibit. Chicago was the second largest city in the US in 1892 and had been rebuilding since the Great Chicago Fire 22 years prior. This was a time the city was on the world stage for all the right reasons and people were able to see its true beauty.

(link below)

http://chicagoist.com/2014/01/24/revel_in_the_white_city_field_museu.php#photo-1

ILLINOIS MEDICAL MARIJUANA RULES

The Illinois Department of Public Health on Tuesday unveiled their proposed rules for the state's medical marijuana pilot program -- including several proposals that are receiving significant backlash from marijuana advocates.

Among the proposals are that medical marijuana users would need to pay a $150 annual fee to participate in the program by getting a special photo ID, in addition to agreeing to be fingerprinted, undergoing a criminal background check and relinquishing their right to own a gun, the Associated Press reports.

(link below)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/22/illinois-medical-marijuana-rules_n_4645188.html?utm_hp_ref=chicago&ir=Chicago&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

SHOOTING REPORTED AT THE CAMPUS OF OKLAHOMA

A shooting has occurred on the University of Oklahoma campus, officials with the school said. "Shooting on campus. Avoid Gould Hall. Seek immediate shelter in place," the university tweeted just before noon central time on Wednesday. No other details were immediately available. Gould Hall is home to the school's architecture school. University of Oklahoma is in Norman, Okla., about 20 miles outside of Oklahoma City. The report comes after two campus shootings in the past two days. An unknown gunman wounded a student sitting in the parking lot at Widener University in Chester, Pa., on Monday. Tuesday, a teaching assistant was killed by a fellow electrical engineering undergrad at Purdue University.

BULLS 3RD MOST VALUABLE NBA FRANCHISE

The Chicago Bulls, at $1 billion, are the NBA's third billion-dollar team. Four years of league-leading attendance and control of player costs have turned the Bulls into a solid cash cow.

The magazine estimated that the average franchise is now worth $634 million, up a remarkable 25 percent from just a year ago. Profits doubled to an all-time high of $23.7 million per team.

Franchise values have soared in recent years thanks to the anticipation of a business that will continually grow -- including national television rights deals that are currently being negotiated for beyond the 2015-16 season -- as well as unprecedented turnover. More than 30 percent of the league's teams have changed ownership groups since 2010.

Kobe Bryant was the top earning NBA player last season, pulling in $64.5 million in salary and endorsements, followed by LeBron James ($61 million), Derrick Rose ($38.6 million) and Kevin Durant ($31.8 million).

(link below)

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/10332246/forbes-new-york-knicks-nba-most-valuable-team

A.P.C KANYE WEST FALL 2014 CAPSULE COLLECTION

Kanye was recently over in Paris with A.P.C. founder Jean Touitou to unveil their Fall 2014 capsule collection.

(link below)

http://www.highsnobiety.com/2014/01/18/apc-kanye-fall-2014-capsule-collection/

DLOW & LIL KEMO ON GOOD DAY CHICAGO

DLow & Lil Kemo Bring "DLow Shuffle" To Good Day Chicago

EPISODE 1 OF NOISEY'S WELCOME TO CHIRAQ DOCUMENTARY

In the first part of Noisey's 8-part documentary Chiraq, they head to Englewood, one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in the city of Chicago, to meet Chief Keef, arguably one of the biggest rappers in the drill scene.

PURDUE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL SHOOTING

A shooting occurred at Purdue University in West Lafeyette, Ind., today and one person is in custody.

Purdue campus police said the shooting occurred at the electrical engineering building Tuesday afternoon.

One person is in custody and the police are continuing to search the area, although they have finished clearing the engineering building, according to the university.

The shooting triggered a "shelter in place" text message alert for the rest of campus, the school told ABC News affiliate WRTV.

The school has not yet provided details on whether there were any injuries.

TAJ GIBSON HITS GAME WINNER AGAINST LAKERS

The Lakers and the Bulls provided an entertaining and back-and-forth game in Chicago on Monday night.

ACCORDING TO A RECENT STUDY 92% OF CHICAGO BLACK TEENS ARE UNEMPLOYED

According to the Chicago Urban League, the unemployment situation for African American teens has gotten to the point of near hopelessness. The study, released and reported by MyFoxChicago, says that a stunning 92% of all teens in the city of Chicago are currently unemployed.

The study cites the steep decline in the number of available jobs in the city and the fact that adults are now taking the jobs that were once available for teens, such as flipping burgers and washing cars.

The study says that across the nation, 17 percent of black males between the ages of 16 and 19 had jobs, but the numbers dropped in Illinois to 12% and down to 8% in Chicago. This creates an economic crisis of major proportions, since joblessness is a consistent factor in the high rate of violence in the city.

“Black teens, especially males, are the most neglected group of people in America,” says Dr. Watkins. “If they were white, this would be recognized as the crisis that it is. An idle mind is the devil’s workshop and nothing good happens when we condemn our children to sit around with nothing to do.”

(link below)

http://www.kulturekritic.com/2014/01/news/urban-league-study-92-black-teens-chicago-unemployed/

CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO USE "TIF" FUNDS FOR TEACHERS

Chicago Public Schools said it will tap into $21.5 million in surplus tax increment financing funds to hire extra teachers for arts and daily physical education classes.

Last week, the financially strapped district announced that it planned to finally comply with state requirements for daily physical education for kindergarten through 12th grade. Officials said how the extra gym classes would be paid for was still being worked out.

Now officials say TIF money allocated by the city in November will be used to pay for 84 physical education teachers and 84 art teachers for schools in need. Many of those same positions were cut earlier this school year by principals facing declining enrollment and cuts to their budgets.

(link below)

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/education/ct-chicago-physical-education-hires-met-20140120,0,6366143.story

CHICAGO PROSPECT TYLER ULIS RETURNS HOME TO OHIO

Tyler is originally from Lima, Ohio but moved to Chicago a while back.

Tyler Ulis returned to Ohio for the 2014 Flyin to the Hoop event in Dayton, Ohio last night. Tyler Ulis put on a show in front of his future coach, John Calipari, who was on hand to watch the Marian Catholic star. The future wildcat led his team to a close victory over Ohio State commit AJ Harris and Dayton Dunbar.

CHICAGO HIGH SCHOOL PROJECT CLIFF ALEXANDER DOMINATES MONTVERDE

Elite high school basketball players get a handful of moments to showcase their skills in front of a national television audience. Monday in Springfield, Mass. Curie’s Cliff Alexander had his chance and the 6-9 senior stepped up and owned the moment, convincing several national analysts that he is the best college prospect in the nation. Alexander scored 30 points, grabbed 13 rebounds and blocked five shots as he led the Condors to a 73-69 win over Montverde, Fla. the No. 1 team in USA Today’s national rankings.

Montverde, which has seven players signed with DI schools, had won 23 consecutive games heading in and led Curie 59-47 early in the fourth quarter. That’s when the Cliff Alexander show began. “I told the guys we were playing with house money,” said Oliver. “Just go out and try to make a run.”

2 CHARGED IN SLAYING OF TYRONE LAWSON

Two men charged in the fatal shooting of a teen-aged boy outside a high school basketball game at Chicago State University were ordered held without bail today.

Michael McNabb, 32, of Chicago, and Stephen Gilbert, 29, of Alsip, were each charged with first-degree murder Friday night in the Wednesday night slaying of 17-year-old Tyrone Lawson, officials said. McNabb and Gilbert might be related, police said. They appeared in bond court this morning, and their next hearing is set for Jan. 22.

The shooting happened outdoors, just outside the CSU gymnasium near 95th Street and King Drive, about 9:20 p.m. Wednesday after Simeon High School defeated Morgan Park. Lawson, a student at Morgan Park, was pronounced dead at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn.

(link below)

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-2-charged-slaying-tyrone-lawson-teen-killed-basketball-game-20130118,0,5219280.story

FRENCH MONTANA F/ JOHNNY MAY CASH "PARANOID"

French Montana tabs Chicago rising talent and hook king, Johnny May Cash of Young Chop's 8tmg crew for this remake of his popular viral single.

NIPSEY HUSSLE HAS TOUR BUS SHOT AT IN CHICAGO

According to All Hip Hop, rapper Nipsey Hussle’s tour bus was shot at a total of six times during the Proud 2 Pay Tour’s stop in Chicago. It has been reported that Hussle nor anybody in Hussle’s camp have been injured. Police have presently made no arrests in the shooting.

(link below)

http://thesource.com/2014/01/19/shots-fired-at-nipsey-hussles-tour-bus-in-chicago/

BUMP J "N****S SWEET" DJ V-DUB EXCLUSIVE

CHICAGO TIES NEW YORK IN AAA FIVE-DIAMOND RESTAURANTS

Chicago restaurants are swimming in diamonds — AAA five-diamond ratings, that is. The city now has as many top-ranked restaurants from the travel industry organization as New York. Seven Chicago restaurants earned a five-diamond rating: Acadia, Alinea, Arun's, Everest, Grace, Sixteen and Tru.

STEVE HARVEY BOPPING WITH DLOW AND LIL KEMO

Steve Harvey, at his Steve Harvey-est, sort of does the Dlow Shuffle with Dlow and Lil Kemo on the teevee.

CHICAGO UNDER THE GUN (DOCUMENTARY)

Documentary by the Chicago tribune showing the violence plaguing the city

A look back at the impact of gun violence on Chicago's neighborhoods in 2013. Narration by Rick Kogan. Video and photography by the Chicago Tribune's photo staff.

CHELL H "DA FACT OF THE MATTER IS"

Another new visual and single from the 1st lady of Chicago, Chella H. Directed by popular Chicago director AZae Productions.

TV SERIES CHICAGO PD DRAWS MIXED REVIEWS

"Law & Order" creator Dick Wolf knows a thing or two about crime procedurals. His latest, "Chicago PD," premiered to mixed critical reviews, but that may not hurt it one bit in the ratings. "PD" is a spin-off of "Chicago Fire," which was also met with a tepid critical response, and has grown into a show powerful enough to spawn this spin-off.

Writing for The New York Daily News, David Hinckley called this Wolf's "best-focused" work since the original "L&O." Entertainment Weekly's Samantha Highfill said that it was good for what it is. "If you like procedural cop shows, you will enjoy it," she wrote. "Even if you don’t like procedural cop shows, you still might enjoy it. It certainly isn’t boring, but it also hasn’t found its groove just yet."

"Chicago P.D." continues on Wednesdays at 10 p.m. EST on NBC.

(link below)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/09/chicago-pd-premiere_n_4566185.html?utm_hp_ref=chicago&ir=Chicago

DERRICK ROSE BEGINS TRAVELING WITH BULLS

Rose is out for the season after surgery to repair the torn right meniscus he suffered Nov. 22 in Portland, Ore. For the first time since that injury, Rose joined his teammates on this two-game trip that continues on to Washington.

"The crutches are gone," coach Tom Thibodeau said. "He’s moving around a lot better. So it’s time."

(link below)

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/breaking/chi-derrick-rose-traveling-with-bulls-20140115,0,1574005.story

CAP 1 "CAVIAR DREAMS" MIXTAPE

Cap 1 out of Chicago by way of ATL signee of Street Execs home to 2 Chainz and Travis Porter releases his latest mixtape to show you he's not to be underestimated.

DWOLO F/ SHOWTIME GMG "DONT GIVE A DAMN"

Chicago Est.1837 2k13 breakthrough artists final list maker Dwolo drops the second visual from his latest project "The Basem3nt Files" EP which features Showtime of Twista's Get Money Gang Entertainment.

FREDO SANTANA "OVA HERE'

Fredo the new CEO of his own company offers us a new visual from his latest project Trappin’ Ain’t Dead.

MAC MILLER AND ROSTRUM RECORDS PART WAYS

Mac Miller and Rostrum Records, have officially parted ways after their original contract has expired.

Speaking with MTV, Mac made sure to say no love was lost on the separation and that the independent label is still close.

Rostrum is my family. That is forever. No matter what, we will always work together. We moved mountains and I can only see them continuing that tradition. I am grateful for everything I learned and am always here for whatever.

Rostrum Records Founder and President Benjy Grinberg added the following.

Mac is an incredible artist and has a bright career ahead of him. We are proud of the historic run that we had together and we will continue to support him in any way that is needed. We wish him nothing but the best in the future.

LIL BIBBY STOPS BY HOT 97 MORNING SHOW

While out in NYC promoting his latest offering, Free Crack, rising Chicago unsigned hype Lil Bibby dropped by Hot 97's morning show to speak on a few topics from violence in Chicago to musical influences as well as his mixtape, Free Crack.

CITY COUNCIL TO WEIGH INDOOR BAN ON E-CIGARETTES

Smokers who’ve switched switched to electronic cigarettes might have to take their new habit outside with traditional smokers, if aldermen approve new limits on e-cigarettes on Wednesday.

The full City Council is expected to debate the mayor’s plan at Wednesday’s meeting, and some aldermen have been having a hard time swallowing the proposal, saying there’s no clear evidence the vapor from e-cigarettes is harmful like second-hand smoke, or even how it compares to smoking traditional tobacco products.

(link below)

http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2014/01/15/city-council-to-weigh-indoor-ban-on-e-cigarettes/

THE BOY ILLINOIS TALKS NEW CHICAGO MOVEMENT

Rising Chicago artists The Boy Illinois talks his background, touring, relationship with lupe and the new Chicago movement.

5 TIPS ON SUCCESSFULLY RELEASING A MIXTAPE

1. Choose a DJ

When starting out, especially if it’s your first mixtape, choose a DJ who is on the come-up as well and who truly believes in your music. Or you can go the latest route used by emerging Atlanta hip-hop artist, Rich Homie Quan, and host your own mixtape.

2. Find a Studio

Find a studio that you are comfortable recording in, and once you have blocked time, make sure that you come prepared. Write your rhymes at home and be ready to go when you arrive to the studio.

3. Mix

Have your mixtape cleaned up and mixed by a professional engineer who knows what he is doing. Make sure that the sound is clear and crisp and that the sound levels are balanced throughout your mixtape.

4. Hire a Graphic Artist

When hiring a graphic artist for your mixtape cover, you need to make sure they understand your music and brand and that they can bring your ideas to life or that they can bring forth their own creative cover ideas that will represent you and your mixtape effectively. So, with that being said, here are three tips to consider when hiring a mixtape cover graphic artist:

Versatility: When selecting a graphic artist, make sure that they are versatile, creative, and have a range of design skills, because you want someone who can convey your individuality and the themes and messages of your music, not someone who has a one-size-fits-all approach to designing mixtape covers.

Track Record: Request to see work they’ve done in the past. Additionally, when you’re hiring for services, such as PR, marketing, or website design, check track records as well.

Professionalism: I know that the hip-hop industry can be a little casual, but business is business. Make sure you have a timeline for the work and ask that the graphic artist is being consistent with you and communicating effectively with you throughout the process.

5. Use Social Media to Gear Up for Your Mixtape Release

Engage: Follow other hip-hop artists, both up-and-coming and established, who have similar fan bases and followers. Additionally, follow DJs and other hip-hop influencers, such as hip-hop editors, bloggers, etc. Keep track of who’s mentioning you.

Get Fans to Promote for You: Constantly engage with your fans and include them on your journey. For example, you can ask fans for feedback regarding the title of your mixtape, which track to promote, mixtape cover art, etc. Join their conversations; don’t just always flood them with links pertaining to your music.

Plan: Plan a content strategy so you do not get distracted from the bottom line.

CARTEL WITH DEA TIES HAVE TAKEN OVER CHICAGO

The failure is as much Chicago’s as the nation’s. For this city has replaced Miami as the primary U.S. distribution point for illegal narcotics—mainly cocaine, heroin, marijuana, and methamphetamine—imported from Mexico.

In a 2010 report, the U.S. Department of Justice named the Chicago metro area the No. 1 destination in the United States for heroin shipments, No. 2 for marijuana and cocaine, and No. 5 for methamphetamine. Chicago is the only U.S. city to rank in the top five for all four major drug categories. No wonder Sinaloa boss Guzmán was quoted in a recent New York Times Magazine article calling Chicago his cartel’s “home port.”

While the amount of cocaine seized annually by law enforcement officials in the Chicago area has been declining in recent years, the amount of heroin has skyrocketed, rising sixfold from 2002 to 2012. Chicago’s rate of heroin-related emergency room admissions is three times the national rate.

(link below)

http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/October-2013/Sinaloa-Cartel/

CHICAGO CUBS REVEAL NEW MASCOT

The Cubs have never had a mascot before. (Although a fan certainly tried last year.) That all changes today.

SIR MICHAEL ROCKS "MEMO"

The first single off the forthcoming album "BANCO"

Directed by: Roberto Mario [SBHW Films]

PHA'TAL F/ YP "FYFR"

Pha'tal releases the much anticipated single "F***k Your Favorite Rapper" Featuring Chicago unsigned hype YP.

CHANCE THE RAPPER JOINS A ALL STAR CAST FOR COACHELLA 2014

The official lineup for the 2014 Coachella Valley Arts & Music festival has been announced.

The festival spans two weekends in April (11th -13th, 18th – 20th), with Chance performing on day three of each weekend.

JESSE JACKSON URGES FOR CHANGES IN COUNTY JAIL BOND PROCESS

In advance of a planned lawsuit against Cook County demanding changes in the way inmates are handled, community groups toured the county jail.

The costs of keeping these residents in jail — such as the 57 pretrial detainees who have been in the jail for more than five years — exceeds the cost of electronically monitoring them at home while they await a hearing by about $70 per day, per individual, Jackson added.

There are currently about 9,200 men and women in Cook County jail, a population Dart said should be closer to 6,000.

(link below)

http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20140109/little-village/jesse-jackson-urges-changes-county-jail-bond-process

DAWRECK F/ BUK OF PSYCHODRAMA "FIRE"

Chicago legends Dawreck of triple darkness & Buk Of the group Psychodrama link for this new visual & song.

ZMONEY "THE MOBB TAPE" MIXTAPE

20 brand new records from the 4Ever Paid stable, with appearances from ZMoney, Lil Boss Polo, KO The King, Yae Dot, Country Cool, Brickfare, Yung Boss, Young Sunny, Lil Dawg, Shorty 1Hunnit, Trey Dilla, Bank Roll, and many, many more emcees.

KING LOUIE "DRILLUMINATI 2"

Title track from Louie's most recent release, Directed by Hi-Def and Nick Brazinsky.

JOHNNY MAY CASH "DEATH ROW" MIXTAPE

Hosted by DJ Ben Staxx Young Chop's 8TMG continues its national buzz, as Johnny May Cash Releases his new project Death Row.

Download Mixtape | Free Mixtapes Powered by DatPiff.com

TARGET DATA THEFT UPDATE

Up to 110 million Target customers were affected, and now we've learned for the first time that online shoppers are also included.

Target customers whose information -- name, addresses, phone numbers and email addresses -- was stolen need not have shopped at the retailer's stores during the busy holiday shopping season, a spokeswoman confirmed Friday.

The information, said Target spokeswoman Molly Snyder, was collected during the "course of normal business," and could include online shopping.

Friday's latest disclosure by the Minneapolis-based retailer that hackers made away with the data of 70 million additional Target customers shows that the data breach late last year was far larger and broader than previously thought.

Target initially said Dec. 19 that debit and credit card information for 40 million customers was pilfered during the busy holiday shopping season between Nov. 27 and Dec. 15. About a week later, the retailer also reported that the hackers had accessed "strongly encrypted" personal identification numbers when they tapped into the retailer's systems.

(link below)

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/breaking/chi-target-data-breach-affected-70-million-customers-20140110,0,621285.story

CITY PLOWS THROUGH HALF OF ITS SNOW BUDGET

Chicago has spent $11.2 million — and plowed through half of its annual snow removal budget — since the New Year’s Eve storm that buried the city in 23 inches of snow before a record-setting cold snap.

The largest chunk of city spending — $7.2 million — paid for tons of salt spread on Chicago streets with precious little to show for it because of the Deep Freeze.

(link below)

http://www.suntimes.com/24881973-761/city-plows-through-half-of-its-snow-budget-after-brutal-storm.html

DREEZY F/ KATIE GOT BANDZ & SASHA GO HARD "ZERO"

Produced by. D.Brooks Exclusive, Dreezy recruits Katie Got Bandz & Sasha Go Hard for this new record to start this year off.

TINK "WINTER'S DIARY 2: FOREVER YOURS" MIXTAPE

New Mixtape from Tink - Winter's Diary 2: Forever Yours.

She doesn’t just rap, she doesn’t just sing — she does both. And does both well. On WD2 she flexes her R&B muscle and slows it down a bit.

Download Mixtape | Free Mixtapes Powered by DatPiff.com

FRANK THOMAS INDUCTED INTO BASEBALL HALL OF FAME

Frank Thomas, whose blend of skills as a slugger and selective, high on-base percentage hitter helped make him the greatest White Sox hitter of all time and one of baseball’s best right-handed batters ever, has been elected to the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.

Thomas received 83.7 percent of the vote from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America in balloting announced Wednesday, comfortably above the 75 percent needed.

(link below)

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/whitesox/24836891-574/frank-thomas-voted-into-hall-of-fame-on-first-ballot.html

FROZEN CHICAGO

With temperatures in Chicago hobbling above zero for the first time in 37 hours Tuesday afternoon, it appears some relief is finally within sight for the Windy City.

But while "ChiBeria" will soon be a thing of the past, we'll still have some incredibly remarkable photos to show for the bitterly cold, icy, undeniably unpleasant series of days.

(link below)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/07/frozen-chicago-photos_n_4556767.html

DWOLO "THE BASEM3NT FILES EP"

Rising artist Dwolo releases his long awaited ep for his fans.

"The Basem3nt Files" EP

Including The Singles "I Hate You" & "John Wayne"

Features From Twista's Artist "Showtime", SwizZz, & Johnny Maycash.

Download Mixtape | Free Mixtapes Powered by DatPiff.com

TWISTA "WANT MY LOVE"

Want My Love feat Dj Victoriouz produced by Lo the Producer.

Directed by Verluxe and Ms. London Charles makes her video debut exclusively on this jam, make sure to buy the exclusive Ep "Back to the Basics on Itunes:

CAP 1 "CAVIAR DREAMS" MIXTAPE TRAILER

Just a week a way. Cap 1 sets up to release his much anticipated mixtape, "Caviar Dreams" on 1/14/14.. This trailer shows his grind, present grind, and what Caviar Dreams means. Appearances by 2 Chainz and Kanye West.

FORMER CHICAGO BULL DENNIS RODMAN GOES CRAZY ON CNN

Things got pretty wild on CNN when CNN’s Chris Cuomo pissed off Dennis Rodman by asking him questions about US citizen Kenneth Bae who is being held captive in North Korea. Rodman rambled and roared and showed he had no idea what he was talking about before Charles Smith came in and saved The Worm by saying they weren’t there for “political aspects.”

JABARI PARKER BENCHED

The favorite to win the National Player of the Year award after non-conference play, Parker had easily his worst game of the season. He finished with just seven points on 2-for-10 shooting, turning the ball over three times and playing a grand total of 24 minutes. More importantly, Parker was glued to the bench for the final 3:35, a stretch where the Blue Devils had a chance to erase a 70-64 deficit.

Well, it seems that head coach Mike Krzyzewski was trying to drive a point home to Jabari Parker. As good as he is offensively, Parker’s been lackadaisical defensively. Part of the reason he got dunked on by Pat Connuaghton late in the game was that he was late on a rotation, trying to block a shot instead of take a charge.

“For any kid who is not playing well, you should try to find a kid that is playing well,” Coach K said after the game, and he does have a point. If Parker isn’t going to bring anything on the defensive end of the floor and he’s struggling shooting the ball, what value does he have on the court?

(link below)

http://collegebasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/01/04/should-coach-k-have-benched-jabari-parker-in-loss-to-notre-dame/

WHITNEY YOUNG SCORES BIG NATIONAL WIN OVER PRIME PREP

Jahlil Okafor and Paul White looked ready to roll tonight, and it resulted in a win against Prime Prep (TX) and their stud point guard Emmanuel Mudiay. Okafor finished with 24 points and 9 rebounds. White was equally impressive, and he is committed to the Georgetown Hoyas; the forward actually finished with more than Okafor, which shows how unselfish the Duke Blue Devils commit is.

(link below)

http://www.rantsports.com/prep-sports/2014/01/04/jahlil-okafor-and-paul-white-lead-whitney-young-over-prime-prep/