Belleville News Democrat Utility in Illinois warns of possible cost-cutting BusinessWeek Ameren Illinois says it may have to implement a hiring freeze and other cost-cutting measures after the state Commerce Commission this week approved a much … CUB Commends Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) for Following Law, Slashing …

Economist (blog) New Poll: Illinois Senate, Governor's Races Show Little Movement In April Huffington Post (blog) A new poll released Friday by Rasmussen Reports showed little movement in the two ticket-topping races in Illinois .

Coming into the 2010 season there were high hopes for Dan Hudson, but through the first month he has not quite lived up to his billing. But should we be worried, or is it merely noise in what will otherwise be a very successful career?

Big Sean “Made” f/ Drake Producer: WrighTrax & Kanye West – FULL, CDQ, Tagged track off upcoming album, Finally Famous *Tibs Fav.™ More G.O.O.D. Music for ya ears this morning as Big Sean grabs Drake for a big record off his upcoming debut album, Finally Famous .

Recap for Friday – April 30th, 2010 Thursday, the Cubs were destroyed at the hands of the Arizona Diamondbacks, 13-5. Ted Lilly gave up six runs in five innings and served up three homers to Diamondbacks’ hitters. The lone bright spoke was an eighth inning grand slam from Kosuke Fukudome

“My love for ‘Anchorman’ is only rivaled by my love for ‘Black Dynamite.’” — Kyra Kyles, from the cubicle across from mine Oh, Kyra, I couldn’t disagree with you more on that. “Black Dynamite” is mildly amusing,  but also very obvious and a pretty weak satire.

“Get some culture. Get some sun. And if you want…

Drake “Find Your Love RMX” f/ Consequence Producer: Kanye West – FULL, CDQ, Unofficial *Tibs Fav.™ Consequence adds his own twist to the intro and first verse of Drake’s “Find Your Love”, just a little over a day after the release of the original.

Earlier this week, State Representative Deborah Mell announced on Chicago Tonight that she had proposed to her longtime girlfriend Christin Baker while they had dinner at the John Hancock Building. Then she made that same announcement on the floor of the House of Representatives in Springfield – less than a week after we all jumped on the bus to talk to our legislators about the Civil Unions Bill (Check out Pictures here and Video of the day here ). Mell read a prepared statement to other Representatives, in it saying that she and Christin are being forced to go to Iowa to get married because Illinois does not have marriage protection for same-sex couples

Everyone loves Lady Gaga….don’t they?  Take a listen to a brand new remix compliments of the guys from Electrolightz . If you love love love it, y ou can download your own version of it here and listen to it over and over and over and over again until your head explodes!   Why not make it a Lady Gaga Friday – there’s nothing else going on today! Thanks to my blog friend arjanwrites music for sharing this and many other treats on his blog, you should go check him out.

On last night’s WGN Evening News, I introduced you to the Chicago Area Theater Organ Enthusiasts (CATOE).

If there’s one show I wouldn’t want to miss this week (aside from Jonsi at The Vic of course, who I heard was beyond amazing) it’s Los Campesinos! at the Metro . The Welsh band with an excited Spanish name earns cred, if not for their equally animated indie pop music, then at the very least for their sense of irony. A 7-piece band who met at Cardiff University and formed in 2006 , Los Campesinos! bring together the elements I love most in indie rock today

Hello, fine readers. I will be heading to the Cubs game today. Thus, I will not be writing anything today.

Illinois passes another bill scaling back public records law Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press The Illinois Senate passed a bill on Thursday that will exempt the personnel records and evaluations of all public employees from the the state's …

Economist (blog) Rahm Emanuel for Illinois ' US Senator? ChicagoNow (blog) Mr.

Prosecutor: No murder charges expected in southern Illinois shooting WQAD By AP MURPHYSBORO, Ill. (AP) — A southern Illinois prosecutor says a woman jailed on drug charges won't be charged with murder in a man's shooting death ..

Illinois set to start private school voucher plan Examiner.com The Center for Education Reform announced yesterday that the Illinois State House is about to approve a plan that would allow up to 22000 students to attend … School Vouchers Measure Advances ChicagoNow (blog) Vouchers for CPS students advances in House Chicago Tribune (blog) Chicago School Vouchers Bill Heads to State House Chicago Public Radio all 9 news articles »

Illinois Dems Outraising GOP MyFox Illinois Today, we follow up with a look at the Illinois Democratic Party's fundraising.

Belleville News Democrat Panel rejects $162 million rate hike for Ameren's Illinois customers Belleville News Democrat SPRINGFIELD — By a vote of 3-2, the Illinois Commerce Commission has rejected Ameren Illinois ' request for a $162 … CUB Commends Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) for Following Law, Slashing … MarketWatch (press release) Illinois Commerce Commission cuts Ameren's rate request St

An off-duty officer fired a shot at a burglary suspect on the Northwest Side late Thursday, but no injuries were reported. The shooting took place a little after 11 p.m.