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Chicago Tribune: Number of cranes at work in Chicago hits 8-year high
It’s not your imagination.
There truly is an extraordinary number of cranes in the air above downtown Chicago. Currently, 33 are busy constructing high-rise buildings, the largest number since the 2008 recession brought development to a halt.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced the record development activity Monday at the Streeterville site where a crane has been installed to build the city’s tallest luxury apartment/condominium tower to date, the 67-story One Bennett Park, at 451 E. Grand Ave. near Navy Pier.
DNAinfo: Chicagoans Cast Nearly 400,000 Votes Before Election Day, Officials Say
Chicagoans determined to cast their votes in the presidential election endured long lines throughout the city and shattered the early voting record set in 2008 by 25 percent, officials said.
With many polling places staying open more than a hour past the scheduled closing time of 7 p.m. Monday to ensure everyone in line could vote, 40,609 early ballots were cast, smashing the record for the most early votes cast on a single day, according to a statement from the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners.
In all, 325,112 early ballots have been cast in the election that features the presidential contest between Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton at the top of the ticket.
Chicago Tribune: Emanuel plan for plastic bag tax, 685 new parking meters clears first hurdle
Mayor Rahm Emanuel‘s 2017 budget cleared its first hurdle Monday, as aldermen gave preliminary approval to a plan that charges 7 cents for store-provided disposable bags, adds 685 new parking meters and raises parking fees at city airports.
The mayor’s $8.2 billion financial blueprint also calls for adding 545 new cops to the Chicago Police Department’s ranks next year, spending $36 million over three years to expand teenage mentoring programs, and lending $100 million during that same period to neighborhood businesses and projects through a new Community Catalyst Fund.
Sun-Times: Emanuel’s $8.2B budget, $50M revenue package clear first hurdles
Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s $8.2 billion 2017 budget sailed through a City Council committee on Monday along with the $50 million revenue package needed to help pay for it and the mayor’s promised police hiring surge.
Hours after the Finance Committee approved the revenue package by an 18 to 3 vote, the Budget Committee signed off on the spending plan, too.
BND: One place, besides bathroom, where your selfie shouldn’t tread
Proud voter that you are, it seems natural to document and share just like you do with every move by your dog and kid, right? Voter selfie.
Not so fast. Your right to self-promotion and self-expression should come second to the privacy of other voters.
“The real problem with selfies is that innocent bystanders trying to vote in peace and privacy could be in the pic, and that could be perceived as harassing or intimidating to some,” St. Clair County State’s Attorney Brendan Kelly said.