Obama, Bid Team Make Final Olympic Presentation
Describing himself as a "passionate supporter" of the Olympics and as "a proud Chicagoan," President Obama told the International Olympic Committee early this morning that he looked forward to welcoming the world to the shores of Lake Michigan and America in 2016. He's already on his way back from Copenhagen.

Olympic Bid Too Close To Call
Will Chicago get the games? We will know by 11 am. But on the eve of the vote -- in which cities are eliminated in a tense 30-minute, secret ballot standoff -- the IOC's 106 members did not share who the favorite was.

Union Chief Wants School For Disruptive Kids
Marilyn Stewart, president of the Chicago Teachers Union, is calling for the creation of a special school for students in grades six through 12 who she calls "chronically disruptive."

White House Sending Envoys To Address Chicago Violence
President Barack Obama is sending Attorney General Eric Holder and Education Secretary Arne Duncan to Chicago next week to discuss the recent deadly beating of a 16-year-old honor student.

Hannig: IDOT Making Progress With Rail Opponents
Trying to overcome local opposition to the state's high speed rail plan, Illinois Department of Transportation Secretary Gary Hannig says he thinks his agency is making progress in talks with civic leaders in Springfield who have threatened to sue if the state goes forward with plans to build tracks along Third Street.

Cook County Commissioners Meet To Discuss Video Poker Ban
Cook County board members met yesterday to discuss a ban of video poker machines, which have already been outlawed in neighboring DuPage County. "It's important for people to speak out," said Comm. Bridget Gainer (D-Chicago), "and say this is not what we want in our neighborhoods."

Image used under a Creative Commons license by Flickr user R.P. Piper.