DA G COUNT ADDRESSES "LEP" SPLIT IN NEW SONG ENTITLED "MIA"

CURIE HIGH SCHOOL FORFEITS ALL WINS AND CITY CHAMPIONSHIP

The Chicago Public Schools investigation into Curie has revealed that seven basketball players were ineligible since the beginning of the basketball season. The players were not named. According to a release sent out by the CPS, Curie will forfeit all 24 wins including the city championship. The CPS will not name a city champion this season. The CPS says Curie is eligible to compete in the state tournament, which begins Monday, since the state and the CPS have different eligibility requirements.

CHICAGO UNSIGNED HYPE INTERVIEW W/ "SPRKS"

Chicago EST.1837 recently caught up with young rising Hiphop artist "Sprks"

1. How old are you? When did you fall in love with Hip Hop?

I'm 21 years old, and I fell in love with hip hop when I was around 6 or 7 years old listening to master P, do or die and twista, and outkast.

2. Who are some of your musical influences?

Im real big on outkast, the lyrical content they have influences me. Im also influenced by twista, kendrick lamar, and flo rida.

3. What obstacles have you encountered being a serious artist?

As an artist its an obstacle everyday because somebody always wants your spot but the biggest obstacle I faced is taking a lost financially. Working with people who say they have the means and connects to get you where you need to be, but when it comes down to it they can't deliver.

4. What can we expect from Sprks music brand in 2014?

It's going to be alot of networking and a different sound. My mixtape Transition will be dropping this year, so expect good music and alot of work being put into shows and videos.

5. How do you feel about the Chicago music scene?

I think Chicago is putting in work right now from drill music to acid rap. Its a sound here that's not coming from anywhere else, and I know the spotlight is on us.

6. If you could sign with a label, or stay independent, which? and why?

That's a hard question. Im all about making music, I haven't really thought to hard about a specific label. I do like Grand Hustle and TDE though. I feel like both camps have good quality artist that put out good quality music, and I feel that one of them would be a good place for me, but im also not against the idea of staying independent.

Keep up with Sprks and his grind.

@SprksLightinUp

www.darealsparks.com

soundcloud.com/sparkslightinup

FIRST CONCEALED CARRY LICENSES GET MAILED OUT

Illinois' first concealed carry gun licenses — about 5,000 of them — are being printed and mailed today, Illinois State Police officials said in a morning press conference.

Officials said they have received more than 50,000 applications. Those being mailed today were early approvals, mostly for applicants who were fingerprinted as part of their concealed carry training.

So far, 300 applications have been denied. Another 800 were opposed by law enforcement officials and are still under review.

To ensure that the applications are not denied unjustly, Gov. Pat Quinn has appointed a seven-member panel of federal prosecutors, FBI agents and judges to review objections raised by law enforcement.

(link below)

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-illinois-first-concealed-carry-licenses-in-the-mail-5000-of-them-20140228,0,696877.story

KANYE WEST ANNOUNCES YEEZUS TOUR DOCUMENTARY

There will soon be a movie based around the tour which will see theatrical release, eventually. The film was directed by famed music video director Hype Williams and you can watch the the trailer at his website right now.

http://www.kanyewest.com/

WELCOME TO CHICAGO REVOLT NATION TOUR

This film was not produced by Revolt TV Network. The video was produced by Urban GrindTV with the express purpose of welcoming the REVOLT TV Network to Chicago and to show Revolt some of what CHICAGO has to offer! All rights are property of Urban Grind TV with the exception of Sean "Puffy" Combs introduction.

PRESEASON ALL ACCESS (BTS) WITH THE CHICAGO FIRE

Preseason All-Access Episode 3 takes you behind the scenes of the team's involvement in the 2014 Desert Diamond Cup and into the locker room and on the bench with Frank Yallop during the Fire's 2-0 win over FC Tucson.

THIEVES USE NEW DEVICE TO BREAK INTO VEHICLES

A mysterious device is being used by criminals to easily break into locked cars across the country, including here in Chicago. It has police stumped, CNN is reporting.

In Chicago, surveillance video shows a thief pointing a small box-like device at a car door. Within seconds, the car unlocks, the alarm is disabled and the thief simply opens the passenger door and easily takes the valuables. The device is believed to be some sort of electronic hacking mechanism that overrides the car’s computer system. Thieves across the country have been using it.

(link below)

http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2014/02/27/car-thieves-break-into-cars-by-hacking-them-with-black-box/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

KING LOUIE "TONY"

Directed by Hi-Def and Nick Brazinsky. Produced by Block On Da Trakk.

Watch the video below.

EDWARD GOREY RETURNS WITH NEW HOMETOWN ART EXHIBIT

Edward Gorey was born in Chicago and spent a sizable chunk of his formative years in the Windy City, his work has never been recognized with its own exhibition. That is, until now.

Beginning earlier this month and continuing through June 15, the macabre creations of the late Gorey are front and center for two concurrent exhibitions at the Loyola University Museum of Art (LUMA) in Chicago.

(link below)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/25/edward-gorey-chicago-exhibition_n_4849202.html?ir=Chicago

PBS COVERS DRILL MUSIC

This week, WTTW — Chicago’s PBS station — ran a rather in-depth segment on Chicago’s Drill music scene.

CHICAGO ACTOR "HAROLD RAMIS" DEAD AT 69 (GHOSTBUSTERS)

His best-known film acting roles are as Egon Spengler in Ghostbusters (1984) and Russell Ziskey in Stripes (1981); he also co-wrote both films. As a writer-director, his films include the comedies Caddyshack (1980), National Lampoon's Vacation (1983), Groundhog Day (1993), and Analyze This (1999). Ramis was the original head writer of the television series SCTV (on which he also performed), and one of three screenwriters for the film National Lampoon's Animal House (1978).

IHSA BANS HIGH SCHOOL TEAMS FROM STATE PLAYOFFS

Three of the top boys basketball teams in the Public League this season, Bogan, Uplift and Hyde Park, have been declared ineligible for the Illinois High School Association playoffs for playing too mant games.

The IHSA announced the ruling in a written statement Monday afternoon. Bogan and Hyde Park were the top two seeds in the Class 3A Vocational Sectional, while Uplift was seeded second in the Class 3A Antioch Sectional. The state playoffs begin March 3.

(link below)

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/highschool/chi-boys-hoops-bogan-hyde-park-uplift-booted-from-playoffs-20140224,0,530140.story

LIFE OF GLO GANG EP.2

Episode 2 of Chief Keef's 'Life Of Glo Gang' vlog where Sosa comes home from rehab and Blood Money hits the studio. Filmed By: @BHughesStudios

JIMMY FALLON TO TAKE POLAR PLUNGE WITH MAYOR EMANUEL IN CHICAGO

Chicago kids - you made this happen! Mayor Emanuel challenged you to read more than 2 million books as part of our Rahm's Readers Summer Learning Challenge last summer and you read 2.1 million! So now not only are the Mayor, Library Commissioner Brian Bannon and Israel Idonije jumping in Lake Michigan - Jimmy Fallon is joining in the fun! Well done kids!

CURIE DEFEATS WHITNEY YOUNG AFTER FOR 4 OT'S TO WIN CHICAGO CITY CHAMPIONSHIP

One of the biggest games in CPS history featured Whitney Young against Curie on Friday night at Chicago State. This obviously was headlined by the top two prospects in America in Whitney Young’s Jahlil Okafor and Curie’s Cliff Alexander.

With key stars watching from the bench in key moments, unheralded Kamar Marshall made a three to win the CPS title for Curie 69-66 after 4 overtimes.

DLOW "DLOW SHUFFLE"

Chicago's own DLow has released an official video for his single 'DLow Shuffle'. DLow and Lil' Kemo bop throughout the halls of Whitney Young High School directed by Will Gates and KB for Open World Films.

LUCKI ECKS "BOOMING"

Directed by Point & Shoot. Produced by Plu2o Nash.

Lucki Eck$ IS working on the follow up to his critically acclaimed 2013 debut, Alternative Trap. ECKISM coming soon.

50 CENT AND G UNIT PART WAYS WITH INTERSCOPE RECORDS AFTER 12 YEARS

50 Cent announced today that he has signed an exclusive worldwide distribution and services agreement with Caroline/Capitol/UMG. The superstar recording artist transitions to independent status after a successful twelve years at Shady/Aftermath/Interscope, during which time he sold more than 30 million albums. 50 Cent's highly successful catalog, including Get Rich or Die Tryin', The Massacre, Curtis and Before I Self Destruct, will continue to be marketed and released by Shady/Aftermath/Interscope. The artist's first album under the new agreement will be Animal Ambition, scheduled for release on June 3rd. Album pre-orders will begin on March 18th.

BANDMAN KEVO "BALLER IN ME"

New Music From Bandman Kevo!

Twitter: @Bandmankevo

IG: Bandman_Kevo

CHICAGO SLANG

Chicago Magazine published an article, "Top 40 Chicago Words Our Contributions to the English Language". According to the magazine these words purportedly originated in Chicago and express Chicagoness- whatever that is.

http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/July-2010/Top-40-Chicago-Words-Our-Contributions-to-the-English-Language/index.php?cparticle=2&siarticle=1#artanc

Chicago slanguage: Our city's contribution to the English language

Here is a list of real Chicago slanguage below

http://www.chicagonow.com/interesting-chicago/2014/02/chicago-slanguage/

THE OTHER MAYOR OF CHICAGO

J.B. Pritzker

This billionaire power broker doubles as a down-to-earth guy—and he just may turn Chicago into a tech hub after all.

When you try to analyze Pritzker’s clout in Chicago, you start to realize that it’s rooted in a rare ability to straddle different, sometimes conflicting, worlds. He’s Silicon Valley, where he grew up, but he’s also as Chicago as the el. He’s a businessman, but he’s also a politician. He’s a billionaire, but he’s Everyman. He has a likable, almost childlike, enthusiasm—a poignant quality given that his childhood demanded a strength well beyond his years.

(link below)

http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/March-2014/power-jb-pritzker-profile/

CHICAGO TO HOST FORBES INAUGURAL REINVENTING AMERICA SUMMIT

More than 300 prominent industrial executives, entrepreneurs, academics and elected officials are expected to participate in Forbes’ inaugural “Reinventing America Summit” in Chicago from March 26-28. The event will bring together leaders of the next industrial revolution for a non-partisan discussion about the role of heartland innovation in the U.S. economy’s recovery. Participants include Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Forbes Media Chairman and Editor-in-Chief Steve Forbes, Ford Motor Company Executive Chairman Bill Ford, Continental Resources Chairman and CEO Harold G. Hamm, Equity Group Investments Chairman and Founder Sam Zell, Honeywell CEO David Cote, Indiana Governor Mike Pence, and North Dakota Governor Jack Dalrymple, among many others.

(link below)

http://www.worldbusinesschicago.com/news/chicago-host-forbes-reinventing-america-summit?utm_source=WBC+Newsletter&utm_campaign=2a8c4b21a4-Newsletter_2_19_2014&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_bc9af49a97-2a8c4b21a4-209973217

HOMEWOOD-FLOSSMOOR HIGH SCHOOL HEAD COACH SUSPENDED FOR RECURITNG PLAYERS

An entire top ranked suburban prep girls’ basketball team and its coach have been suspended over association violations. The Homewood-Flossmoor High School Girls’ Basketball team and highly regarded head coach Anthony Smith were suspended after an internal investigation and a lawsuit filed by one of it’s current players, the Illinois High School Association announced today.

Four of his starters from last year’s Bolingbrook team transferred to H-F. Two more girls who played on Smith’s elite summer team also moved into the H-F district to don the Vikings’ red-and-white uniforms. Three of the girls who transferred listed the same house in Flossmoor as their new address on paperwork filed with H-F Community High School District 233.

Smith has denied recruiting players. But an unnamed player who was bumped from the starting lineup by the transfers sued District 233, opening a window to a world in which student-athletes vie for a relatively small number of college scholarships, outside leagues and showcase events can overshadow traditional high school sports programs and parents are willing to spend thousands of dollars and even uproot their families to further their kids’ ambitions.

(link below)

http://wgntv.com/2014/02/19/top-ranked-prep-team-coach-suspended-stripped-of-all-wins/

RONDONUMBANINE "RN4L2" MIXTAPE

RondoNumbaNine’s second installment of his Real N**** 4 Life series.

KANYE WEST "QUALITY OF LIFE" SPEECH (MONTREAL)

KANYE WEST delivered an insightful stream of consciousness during his YEEZUS show in Montréal. Throughout the 20 minutes of his speech, the Misunderstood Mogul voiced his desire to improve the "Quality of Life" via greater contributions to society.

TRIO OF DRUNK MEN CAUSE $700,000 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO TRUMP HOTEL

After they were cut off at the bar for appearing too drunk, a trio of suburban men turned on a stairway water valve in the posh Trump International Hotel & Tower, flooding two elevators and causing $700,000 in damage, prosecutors say.

Two 25-year-old suburban men, Carl Koenemann and Benjamin Nitch, were arrested Sunday night and charged Tuesday with felony criminal damage to property. CBS Chicago reports a third man, 24-year-old Daniel Maradei, was arrested Tuesday and also charged with felony criminal damage to property.

The men were caught thanks to surveillance cameras and their paper trail: police were able to find the men by a credit card they had used at the 16th floor bar.

(link below)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/19/trump-tower-water-damage_n_4815938.html?utm_hp_ref=chicago&ir=Chicago&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

STUDENTS INJURED IN EXPLOSION AT NORTH RIDGE HIGH SCHOOL

Four students were injured, three them seriously, after a fire at a North Side high school. The incident happened at Northside College Prep at 5501 N. Kedzie shortly after 10:30 a.m. A Chicago Public Schools spokeswoman said there was fire in a science lab. Fire alarms were sounded, and students were evacuated from the school. Images from Chopper 2 HD shows several emergency vehicles on the scene and hundreds of students standing outside.

Spencer Tweedy, a student at the school, said that when the fire alarms went off that most students assumed it was a fire drill, but then quickly realized there had been an explosion. One critically injured student was transported to Mt. Sinai Hospital.

(link below)

http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2014/02/19/three-injured-after-explosion-at-chicago-high-school/

UIC STUDENT FOUND DEAD AFTER A WEEK IN DORM ROOM

University of Chicago investigating how a dead body remained undiscovered in a dorm for days.

A University of Chicago junior was found dead in his dorm room this weekend after students on his floor complained of "foul odors," the Chicago Tribune reports, raising questions of how long his body remained undiscovered.

According to the Tribune, Nicholas Barnes had last used his dorm access card eight days before his decomposing body was found Saturday afternoon. UChicago informed students of Barnes' death in an email from the school's Vice President for Campus Life and Student.

CHIEF KEEF "BACK FROM THE DEAD 2" COVER ART

While we wait on Bang 3, Keef decided to share the artwork for his other upcoming project — Back From The Dead 2. No word on when we can expect BFTD2 to impact, but our guess is soon.

Keef’s recently been in the studio with Kanye West, Young Chop and Travis $cott working on new music, presumably for BFTD2 and Bang 3. Keef’s sophomore LP, Bang 3, is scheduled to drop March 3rd.

SHOWYOUSUCK "FLIP PHONE'

Featured on the album OMPP4:Slice After Death available on ShowYouSuck.com

directed & edited by: Chris Beauchesne

Illustrations by: Benjamn Marasco

TY MONEY F/ CHIEF KEEF "NO HOBBY"

Ty and Keef team up for “No Hobby,” a new release from Ty Money’s forthcoming mixtape, Turn Up Ghod, hosted by DJ Victoriouz, DJ Bandz and DJ Twin. Dropping on March 3rd.

THE GUYS "FLEE"

The duo of Fya Starta and Smelly LP form The Guys.

Together, The Guys have released tracks that sound like early '00s Just Blaze NYC mixtape jams, salutes to Death Certificate-era Ice Cube, straight-up ZMoney imitations, and, now, Chicago bop tracks.

LIL HERB "WELCOME TO FAZOLAND " MIXTAPE

Welcome To Fazoland: The Motion Picture. Herb shows and proves with 17 brand new tracks featuring the likes of Lil Bibby, King Louie, Lil Durk, Lil Reese, Da Internz, Honorable C-Note, DJ L and more.

Download Mixtape | Free Mixtapes Powered by DatPiff.com

NEW DCFS BOSS PLEADS GUILTY TO STEALING FROM SOCIAL SERVICE

Gov. Pat Quinn’s new director of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services pleaded guilty to stealing from clients of a West Side social service agency and later became embroiled in a child-support battle over a daughter he said he never knew he’d fathered, records show.

(link below)

http://www.suntimes.com/25572557-761/new-dcfs-boss-pleaded-guilty-to-stealing-from-social-service-agencys-clients.html

CHIEF KEEF TALKS REHAB, BANG 3 & MORE

"It's like being locked up," Chief Keef, 18, tells Billboard, in his first interview since he entered rehab. "And when I'm locked up, I don't want anybody to come see me. I won't let my family come here. I haven't seen my 2-year-old daughter."

"I'm 18 now, but I feel like I'm 30,' Keef says. "I partied like a motherfucker — guns, girls."

Keef's 2012 debut, "Finally Rich," only sold 50,000 its first week, according to Nielsen Sound-Scan, peaking at No. 5 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. It went on to sell 217,000 copies altogether.

(full interview below)

http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/the-juice/5908374/chief-keef-talks-rehab-bang-3-album-learning-how-to-surf

UIC FACULTY SET TO GO ON STRIKE

On February 18, the tenure track and non-tenure track faculty who make up the University of Illinois-Chicago faculty union UICUF Local 6456, a member of the Illinois Federation of Teachers and American Federation of Teachers, will walk out of the classrooms and onto the picket line for a two-day strike. Barring a dramatic change-of-heart by university administrators at the bargaining table the weekend, it will be the first faculty strike at a major research university in the US in a very long time.

To understand why they're striking, it’s useful to know a bit about UIC. It is, indeed, a major research university, but “large, struggling under-funded research university” would be more accurate. We’re more like Wayne State, Temple, or Brooklyn College, say, than Berkeley or Michigan, or even the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

(link below)

https://www.jacobinmag.com/2014/02/faculty-on-strike/

CHICAGO NEW HOTSPOT FOR TECH STARTUPS

The Near West Side, an old warehouse and food-distribution district, is known for Greektown, upscale restaurants that line West Randolph Street and Oprah Winfrey's Harpo Studios. Now more tech startups are joining, attracted by proximity to the West Loop and, perhaps more than that, Google Inc.'s new regional headquarters, which is being constructed in a former cold-storage facility on West Fulton Market Street.

(link below)

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20140215/ISSUE01/302159985/chicagos-new-hotspot-for-tech-startups#

KING LOUIE AND CHICAGO ARTISTS TONY COLLINS LACUNA ARTIST LOFTS EVENT RECAP

King Louie and Chicago artist Tony “720″ Collins joined forces for a one of a kind art exhibition at the Lacuna Artist Lofts. 720 did a full installation based on the music and life of King Louie. Check out the recap from Potent Vision above.

VINTAGE KANYE WEST COLLEGE DROPOUT INTERVIEW

Vintage Interview Of Kanye West Debuting ‘College Dropout’ 10 Years Ago.

EPISODE 4 OF NOISEY'S WELCOME TO CHIRAQ DOCUMENTARY

In the fourth episode of Noisey's Chiraq, they catch up extensively with Lil Durk, the next superstar of the Drill scene and go to a show with fellow 300 / OTF member Lil Reese.

COMCAST AGREES TO BUY TIME WARNER

Comcast said Thursday it had agreed to buy Time Warner Cable for $45 billion in a deal that would combine the two biggest cable companies in the United States.

The two companies expect the merger to take effect by the end of the year, but regulators are likely to take a close look at the potential impact on consumers. To address those concerns, Comcast said it was prepared to divest about 3 million subscribers. But it would still have about 30 million customers. Comcast Cable CEO Neil Smit will lead the merged company.

The proposed deal ends months of jockeying for control of Time Warner Cable, the second biggest U.S. supplier of cable television, with about 11 million subscribers in cities such as New York and Los Angeles.

UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO FRONT RUNNER TO HOST BARACK OBAMA'S PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY

The University of Chicago may be touted as the clear front-runner to host Barack Obama’s presidential library and museum, but universities from the East Coast to Hawaii aren’t ready to cede the race: They’re putting up a fight to claim a piece of the president’s legacy — and the cash that comes along with it.

(link below)

http://www.politico.com/story/2014/02/president-obama-library-location-103341.html

17 YEAR OLD TEEN CHARGED WITH MURDER IN VIRAL ROBBERY VIDEO

A 17-year-old has been charged as an adult with murder, in connection with the robbery of an off-duty Cook County Sheriff’s sergeant Monday night that left another suspect dead.

Devante Graham of the 10300 block of South Corliss faces one count of first-degree and one count of armed robbery, according to Cook County State’s Attorney’s office spokeswoman Tandra Simonton.

About 9:55 p.m. Monday, three males tried to rob the sergeant as he was pumping gas at a Citgo station in the 700 block of East 103rd Street, according to Chicago Police and Cook County Sheriff’s spokesman Ben Breit. They demanded the sergeant’s wallet, which he gave them. One of the suspects then pulled a handgun and aimed it at the sergeant, according to police. The sergeant then pulled his own gun and shot the suspect in the head, killing him.

(link below)

http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2014/02/13/teen-arrested-charged-with-murder-in-robbery-of-off-duty-cop/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

CHICAGO BEARS HIRE MATERIAL ARTS COACH

The team has hired martial arts expert Joe Kim to help develop hand technique and skill development, multiple outlets reported Tuesday. Kim reportedly will work with all of the Bears position groups to help improve players' ability to block or escape blocks.

The Bears will become the ninth NFL organization Kim has worked for since Bill Belichick's Cleveland Browns brought him in for the 1992 season. Kim most recently worked with the Kansas City Chiefs from 2010 to 2012, according to the official website of Kims Martial Arts School in Avon, Ohio. Bears general manager Phil Emery worked with the Chiefs as director of college scouting from 2009 to 2011.

In addition to Cleveland and Kansas City, Kim has worked with the Dallas Cowboys (1998), Miami Dolphins (2001 to 2006), Green Bay Packers (2005), Denver Broncos (2007), Buffalo Bills (2009) and New York Giants (2010).

CIVIC GROUP PROPOSES CLOSING PARTS OF 20 CHICAGO STREETS

The idea of car-free streets might seem pointless to some, but if selected thoughtfully they are just the kind of peaceful havens that are in too-short supply in Chicago, a civic group says.

That group, which for years has advocated pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly Chicago streets, is releasing a proposal Wednesday for 20 car-free areas and public plazas across the city.

"Chicago's shortage of parks and playgrounds away from the lakefront is well documented," said Ron Burke, the group's executive director, "but the city also comes up short for open space in the form of car-free public plazas and streets."

(link below)

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-car-free-streets-met-0212-20140212,0,4141283.story

(full list below)

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-full-list-active-transportation-alliance-20140211,0,5780952.story

LIL HERB- "WELCOME TO FAZOLAND" COVER ART

Lil Herb

Welcome To Fazoland. Hosted by Don Cannon. 2/17/14.

ZMONEY "DOPE BOY MAGIC"

4EVERPAID AND EMG PRESENTS Z-MONEY NEW SINGLE "DOPE BOY MAGIC"

PRODUCED BY J NEAL FOR JNEALPRODUCTIONS

DIRECTED BY J HUSTLE FOR MYVISIONFILMS

PELLE ESCOBAR- "ESCOBAR"

Chicago west side rising unsigned hype releases his Stack Or Starve Approved single

Pelle Escobar - Escobar

BEST OF THE 2014 CHICAGO AUTO SHOW

SUPER BOWL IN CHICAGO

Following the success of Super Bowl XLVIII -- the NFL's first open-air cold weather Super Bowl -- a slew of northern and northeastern cities are hoping to score some of the economic action that was initially estimated to pump $500 million into the New York/New Jersey metro area last week (though actual numbers could be shaping up to be much lower).

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel recently voiced his desire to see not just a Super Bowl in the Windy City but other NFL-related events like the draft.

"We’ll work on both," Emanuel told the Tribune in an interview. "There’s something to the draft and there’s something to the Super Bowl. I compliment the NFL for deciding to change to cold-weather cities."

(link below)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/09/next-super-bowl_n_4757020.html?&ir=Chicago&ncid=tweetlnkushpmg00000059

NATO 3 CHICAGO TERRORISM TRIAL UPDATE

Jurors in Chicago on Thursday evening were sent to answer the question of when a planned protest becomes conspiracy to commit terrorism in a trial viewed as test case for Illinois terrorism laws. Known as the "NATO 3," Brian Church, 22, of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.; Jared Chase, 29, of Keane, N.H.; and Brent Vincent Betterly, 25, of Oakland Park, Fla., are accused of plotting to attack President Barack Obama's campaign headquarters, Mayor Rahm Emanuel's home and police stations with Molotov cocktails during the 2012 NATO Summit in Chicago summit. The defendants have all pleaded not guilty to terrorist and other charges. If convicted, each could face decades in prison.

Prosecutors said the proof of the trio's intentions comes from undercover police officers who infiltrated the group. The officers testified that the men discussed making acid bombs one of the defendants described as, "Put it in a bottle, shake it up and toss it, pressure builds and bam! Acid shoots everywhere," Biesty said in court. But in the first of three defense closings, Church's attorney Michael Deutsch told the jury that the state "has not proved their case. He said the three men were just "talking to impress the undercover police officers."

(link below)

http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/NATO-3-Trial-Winds-Down-243891721.html

RODGER PARK MCDONALD'S GUNMEN TARGETED RAPPER IN GROUP

A masked gunman opened fire at a group of people standing outside of a Rogers Park McDonald's about 3:30 p.m. Wednesday. The shooting left the teen dead with a gunshot wound to the head. Three other teens were injured in the shooting at 6740 N. Clark St.

An Uptown rapper, one of the three teens injured, might have been the target of the shooting, a police source said.

The police source said the rapper — who posted provocative online music videos taunting rival gangs in recent months — was a promising lead in determining the motive of the brazen attack that shocked the surrounding community.

"That’s a pretty strong lead," the source said. "It plays into what we think that’s about."

Some of the rapper's lyrics reference the ongoing feud between Howard Street's LOC gang and Morse Avenue's ICG gang.

(link below)

http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20140206/rogers-park/rogers-park-mcdonalds-shooter-might-have-targeted-rapper-group-source

LILI K "PRIMETIME"

Harold Green’s Flowers for the Living is back for round two. Lili K's rendition of Janelle Monae’s “Primetime.”

HOW ANTI-GANG EFFORTS ARE IMPACTING CHICAGO

The low point so far in Chicago's closely watched battle with street gangs may have been the day that Michelle Obama came home for the funeral of a teenage honor student.

A year ago, the city's bloodiest January in more than a decade had just ended. On Feb. 9, 2013, the first lady stood in a church mourning 15-year-old Hadiya Pendleton, who had been shot dead in a gang dispute she had nothing to do with. It happened just a mile from the Obamas' Chicago house.

Since then, the number of homicides and other violent crimes that turned Chicago into a national symbol of gun violence has fallen sharply.

The city led the nation in homicides in 2012 with more than 500. It ended 2013 with 415 homicides — the lowest total in nearly half a century but still far more than any other U.S city, including the much larger Los Angeles and New York.

The overall crime rate fell last year to a level not seen since 1972, and the number of shooting incidents involving victims 16 and younger dropped 40 percent in 12 months, city officials say.

(link below)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/07/chicago-violence-gangs_n_4745040.html?&ir=Chicago&ncid=tweetlnkushpmg00000059

CHICAGO CAB COMPANIES SUING CITY

Yellow Cab and several other big taxi companies are suing the city, calling Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s proposed ordinance regulating ride-sharing companies discriminatory and helping to create an “exclusionary, elitist taxi system.”

“It is discriminating against taxi owners who have played by the rules, paid their taxes and complied with safety and licensing requirements, while the city at the same time is allowing unregulated companies (that) provide identical service to make up their own rules,” said Michael Shakman, an attorney for the cab companies and independent cab operators, in announcing the federal lawsuit Thursday.

(link below)

http://www.suntimes.com/news/25422632-418/cab-companies-sue-city-over-rules-for-ride-sharing-companies.html

BAD GIRLS CLUB CHICAGO SEASON PREVIEW

Yesterday, Oxygen gave us our first glimpse at the seven young women that will represent our city on "Bad Girls Club: Chicago." In a new preview, we meet the ladies who were filmed while living together under one roof in a Highland Park mansion for three months.

TREE "LIKE WHOA"

Chicago artist/producer Tree is back with “Like Whoa” another joint from his very-solid EP, MCTREEG EP.

CHICAGO COPS ARE RETIRING FASTER THEN THE CITY CAN HIRE NEW ONES

By fall 2011, months after taking office, Mayor Rahm Emanuel said he had fulfilled a campaign pledge to move some 1,000 cops to beat patrols to beef up the Police Department's front lines in the fight on crime.

But in the more than two years since then, those numbers have plunged by hundreds of cops, the city's own data show.

According to the data obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request, the department had 7,078 rank-and-file officers and supervisors assigned to work in its 22 patrol districts as of Dec. 8, a decline of 10 percent, or 779 beat officers, since fall 2011.

(link below)

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-chicago-police-staffing-met-20140206,0,7386109.story