http://www.Chicagoist.com/labs/contribute en-us Reader-submitted tips "> http://www.Chicagoist.com/labs/contribute/#1477757 Thu, 29 Jun 2006 18:15:52 -0600 Drinking game for tonight’s VP Debate thanks to Wonkette… http://wonkette.com/403206/palin-biden-debate-drinking-game-begins-now http://www.Chicagoist.com/labs/contribute/#1474903 Thu, 29 Jun 2006 18:15:52 -0600 Catch this yet? Sarah Palin Portraint at Old Towne Ale House http://www.Chicagoist.com/labs/contribute/#1474136 Thu, 29 Jun 2006 18:15:52 -0600 what’s going on in lincoln square/rockwell crossing? across the street from the rockwell stop there are candles lit and people crying. any news? http://www.Chicagoist.com/labs/contribute/#1472760 Thu, 29 Jun 2006 18:15:52 -0600 How likely is Chicago to get the 2016 Summer Olympics? Compulsive gamblers put the odds at 48% http://www.intrade.com/jsp/intrade/common/c_cd.jsp?conDetailID=476053 http://www.Chicagoist.com/labs/contribute/#1469209 Thu, 29 Jun 2006 18:15:52 -0600 http://www.flickr.com/photos/theamazingmatty/2883026900/ http://www.Chicagoist.com/labs/contribute/#1465049 Thu, 29 Jun 2006 18:15:52 -0600 Just a cool post I thought you guys would enjoy Just a cool post I thought you guys would enjoy http://www.Chicagoist.com/labs/contribute/#1465048 Thu, 29 Jun 2006 18:15:52 -0600 Just a cool post I thought you guys would enjoy http://www.Chicagoist.com/labs/contribute/#1460367 Thu, 29 Jun 2006 18:15:52 -0600 I heard on Chicago Public Radio this morning that Abby Ryan will no longer be doing traffic reports. Who will be semi-snarky to Lisa now? http://www.Chicagoist.com/labs/contribute/#1460097 Thu, 29 Jun 2006 18:15:52 -0600 In regards to Obama drinking game. Try this: during any Obama speach, you drink EACH time he utters “UM” or UH you drink! http://www.Chicagoist.com/labs/contribute/#1459480 Thu, 29 Jun 2006 18:15:52 -0600 What a pleasure listening to a sports show on the morning drive and actually hearing sports news and not uneducated blabbering about anything but sports. Good Riddance! http://www.Chicagoist.com/labs/contribute/#1458437 Thu, 29 Jun 2006 18:15:52 -0600 Meeks calls for ouster of CPS board, and/or revocation of Daley’s control over CPS http://pureparents.org/index.php?blog/show/423 http://www.Chicagoist.com/labs/contribute/#1458329 Thu, 29 Jun 2006 18:15:52 -0600 This is why: http://www.timeout.com/chicago/articles/art-design/52101/sphere-of-influence http://www.Chicagoist.com/labs/contribute/#1458236 Thu, 29 Jun 2006 18:15:52 -0600 There’s a giant red ball in front of the church on wacker and wabash http://www.Chicagoist.com/labs/contribute/#1456773 Thu, 29 Jun 2006 18:15:52 -0600 I am originally from Las Vegas but recently moved to New York for a job transfer. Now my job wants me to relocate to Chicago. I have grown to really enjoy the city life of NY so far. People tell me Chicago has some similarities to NY but it very different. Could you tell me what those are? http://www.Chicagoist.com/labs/contribute/#1456193 Thu, 29 Jun 2006 18:15:52 -0600 Applicants who are rejected from other departments are routinely hired by the CPD: http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/1150415,CST-NWS-board08.article http://www.Chicagoist.com/labs/contribute/#1452807 Thu, 29 Jun 2006 18:15:52 -0600 http://www.chicagotribune.com/anews/local/chi-latin-04-both-sep04,0,4670365.story Park district board breaks the law and caves in to Latin School. http://www.Chicagoist.com/labs/contribute/#1452353 Thu, 29 Jun 2006 18:15:52 -0600 Metra First Class? Some Northshore customers get a special car of thier own; http://www.suntimes.com/news/transportation/1141589,CST-NWS-clubcar03.article http://www.Chicagoist.com/labs/contribute/#1450042 Thu, 29 Jun 2006 18:15:52 -0600 http://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/tlg/817257391.html Havent’ seen your normal craglist weird stuff… but this should be on the list!!! http://www.Chicagoist.com/labs/contribute/#1449207 Thu, 29 Jun 2006 18:15:52 -0600 DNR closing 11 state parks, laying off 39 ———————————————————————————————————————— By Chris YoungSTATE JOURNAL-REGISTERPosted Aug 28, 2008 @ 03:02 PMLast update Aug 28, 2008 @ 03:25 PM ———————————————————————————————————————— The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is closing 11 state parks and laying off 39 employees to cope with severe state budget cuts. “This is a tough day for DNR and Illinois,” Department of Natural Resources spokesman Chris McCloud said today in announcing the closures of 11 state parks. “These are not decisions we wanted to make, but they are the consequences of a struggling economy.” A total of 39 DNR workers are being laid off, 36 of whom are fulltime employees. McCloud said the cuts are the result of $14 million in cuts made to DNR’s operating budget as a result of the budget passed by the Illinois General Assembly earlier this summer. “The DNR sustained a 24 percent cut to its operating budget that comes from general revenue funds,” said McCloud. “That’s the fund where salaries come from for 320 state parks, natural areas, state forests and other public properties throughout Illinois (managed by DNR). Jonathan Goldman, executive director of the Illinois Environmental Council, said state parks had about 45 million visitors last year and the resulting loss in economic activity probably will outweigh any savings. “It’s shameful,” Goldman said. “This seems kind of pointless.” Goldman said vital maintenance will suffer and parks will be hard to reopen after being shut down. “Physically, they can be reopened,” Goldman said. “The issue is more of political will.” McCloud said DNR tried to address the pressures on the state’s general revenue fund. “I think it’s important to point out that in fiscal 2009, DNR attempted to move toward even greater budgetary self-sufficiency by proposing several modest fee increases to move away from a very strained general revenue fund and on to a more reliable funding source,” said McCloud. “These proposals, however, were overturned in the budget lawmakers sent to the governor in June.” The following sites are scheduled to close Nov. 1: Castle Rock State Park, Oregon Lowden State Park, Oregon Hennepin Canal Parkway State Park, Sheffield Illini State Park, Marseilles Channahon Parkway State Park, Channahon Gebhard Woods State Park, Morris Hidden Springs State Forrest, Strasburg Kickapoo State Park, Oakwood Moraine View State Park, Leroy Weldon Springs State Park, Clinton Wolf Creek State Park, Windsor Total Staff Reductions: 39 25 site technicians 4 park rangers 3 assistant site superintendents 1 office associate (part time) 3 office coordinators (2 part time/1 full time) 1 site security officer 1 natural resource coordinator 1 natural resource specialist http://www.Chicagoist.com/labs/contribute/#1449183 Thu, 29 Jun 2006 18:15:52 -0600 http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/Conventions/story?id=5668622&page=1 ABC reporter arrested on public sidewalk at DNC convention. http://www.Chicagoist.com/labs/contribute/#1449125 Thu, 29 Jun 2006 18:15:52 -0600 http://www.flickr.com/photos/87291240@N00/2804481159 New redline station opening on polk? http://www.Chicagoist.com/labs/contribute/#1443924 Thu, 29 Jun 2006 18:15:52 -0600 Had an iced Latte at Star Lounge on Chicago and like Rockwell/Campbell. The gal that made it took so much time to put it together. First it looked like coffee porn. Then when I drank it, it was like the first real latte I’ve ever drank - so frickin’ delicious. Do a Coffee porn article on this place. So good. http://www.Chicagoist.com/labs/contribute/#1443570 Thu, 29 Jun 2006 18:15:52 -0600 Saw the Stanley Cup and few hockey players outside Gibsons at noon today. http://www.Chicagoist.com/labs/contribute/#1443430 Thu, 29 Jun 2006 18:15:52 -0600 check out story on suntimes and tribune dot com about the graffiti couple busted here and in NYC. Ether (Jim Clay Harper) is from the Chicago area. http://www.Chicagoist.com/labs/contribute/#1443220 Thu, 29 Jun 2006 18:15:52 -0600 http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26340650 This is why the firm outing was cancelled yesterday… http://www.Chicagoist.com/labs/contribute/#1441185 Thu, 29 Jun 2006 18:15:52 -0600 Can this be for real???… http://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/roo/798219537.html http://www.Chicagoist.com/labs/contribute/#1439184 Thu, 29 Jun 2006 18:15:52 -0600 Kyle Orton is staring this year!!! http://www.Chicagoist.com/labs/contribute/#1438994 Thu, 29 Jun 2006 18:15:52 -0600 The “FBI, stop raping my wife” guy is back in town. He was in Federal Plaza this afternoon. His sign now says something about Obama saving (or was it sparing?) his children. http://www.Chicagoist.com/labs/contribute/#1434597 Thu, 29 Jun 2006 18:15:52 -0600 We found a young grey and white cat near Windsor and Clarendon (in Uptown) on Sunday. If anyone knows someone who lost one, please email me at the_EP@hotmail.com Please supply a photo or a very-detailed description (gender, age, markings, color of each paw, etc.). We have found a loving foster home. We just want to do what we can to find the original owner. The cat is obviously a well-loved pet. Someone must be missing it. :( http://www.Chicagoist.com/labs/contribute/#1433985 Thu, 29 Jun 2006 18:15:52 -0600 The portion of the Illinois Department of Employment Security website where you apply for benefits hasn’t worked in two days; to make matters worse, you also can’t apply in person because of this. WTF? http://www.Chicagoist.com/labs/contribute/#1432701 Thu, 29 Jun 2006 18:15:52 -0600 Anybody have info on a two car police response to the alley across from the Oakwood 83 on Montrose Ave? There was loud screaming around 3:25 am. http://www.Chicagoist.com/labs/contribute/#1430890 Thu, 29 Jun 2006 18:15:52 -0600 Hard Work Pays Off!!! Chicago is in the Top 5 of the Hardest Drinking cities. Forbes on-line just came out with the list http://www.Chicagoist.com/labs/contribute/#1430405 Thu, 29 Jun 2006 18:15:52 -0600 BELLS BEER IS OFFICIALLY BACK IN CHICAGO!!!!!!!!!!!! CHECK IT OUT AT YOUR LOCAL STORE!!! http://www.Chicagoist.com/labs/contribute/#1430303 Thu, 29 Jun 2006 18:15:52 -0600 I haven’t been able to find a job in over a year,yet i still maintain my lavish lifestyle http://www.Chicagoist.com/labs/contribute/#1430023 Thu, 29 Jun 2006 18:15:52 -0600 Obama is in a gallery at Superior and Franklin