Alex Kedler/Chronicle

E2 incident becomes blame game

City officials are calling the E2 stampede the largest loss of life and greatest tragedy to happen in Chicago since the crash of American Airlines Flight 191 in 1979, which killed 273 people.

Even a week after the horrific events took place, it’s still hard to grasp that 21 people were killed in a mad dash to escape chemical substances being used for crowd control. It’s even harder to fathom that security guards allegedly blocked the exit, which in turn caused the massive pile of bodies.

And to top it all off, the city of Chicago knew the club was dangerous, and ordered it to shut down.

But, even in the aftermath of such a gruesome and all-too-real incident, the parties involved have already begun pointing fingers and assigning blame. The city claims the club was operating illegally. A court order was issued last July to ban any use of the building’s second floor, where the incident supposedly originated.
Read more...

John West/Chronicle www.johnwestcomics.com

Freedom of expression not so free

New York University students, professors and poets held a poetry reading in the school’s Bobst Library on Feb. 12. The reading was held in protest of the cancellation of “Poetry and the American Voice,” a poetry symposium sponsored by first lady Laura Bush. Bush canceled the event when she learned that invited poets would be reading anti-war poetry.

White House officials released a statement that read, “It came to the attention of the first lady’s office that some invited guests want to turn what is intended to be a literary event into a political forum. While Mrs. Bush understands the right of all Americans to express their political views, this event was designed to celebrate poetry.”
Read more...

Americans prepare for attack

(U-WIRE) GREENVILLE, N.C.—There’s something almost surreal about the security precautions that top federal officials are suggesting Americans take against a potential terrorist attack.

Some are familiar: stockpiling of a three-day supply of water and food, a radio with extra batteries, a manual can opener, a first aid kit. But there’s also this added precaution: Government officials now recommend that families consider designating a room where they will gather in event of emergency. That “safe” room should hold a supply of duct tape and plastic sheeting, which people could use to seal off the room from a chemical or biological attack.
Read more...

U.S. Cellular Field will always have "Sox" appeal

I shouldn’t have been so surprised when I heard Comiskey Park was being renamed U.S. Cellular Field. After all, I ride past the United Center every morning, talking on my Sprint phone and eating my McDonald’s breakfast burrito.
Read more...

Check out this week's Photo Poll:
Question: How would you like to see your tuition money spent?