A Byrd in their hands
A class of fifth-graders from the area near Chicago's Cabrini Green work together to lobby for a new school

It's difficult to see it through the school's foggy, plastic windows, but there's a sign across the street announcing the building of a new Richard E. Byrd Community Academy.

It's been there for six years.
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Indie music store finds new home
Rent, space issues led to Crow's Nest's closing

After 10 years in the Chicago Music Mart at 1 E. Jackson Blvd., the Crow's Nest is gone, but not forgotten. The downtown location of the record store, known for its knowledgeable employees and specialized music selections, closed on April 2.
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South Loop gets taste of Southwest cooking
South City Tavern owners want to bring variety to 'up-and-coming' area

In a city known for its hot dogs, deep-dish pizza and beer, Chicago residents may crave a change from all that grease.

The South City Tavern at 1530 S. State St., which opened on April 20, has brought the essence of the Southwest to the South Loop. Described by manager Tim Heavey as a "cross between Texas barbecue and southern soul," the South City Tavern includes both a bar and restaurant area.
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FBI arrests suspect in string of bank robberies
Man charged with robbing nine banks in New York receives one more charge in Chicago

As Democrats across the nation eagerly search for a party victory on the presidential level, Barack Obama, the Illinois Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate, could be key in creating a Democratic power shift in the U.S. Senate-regardless of who wins the presidential election.

Obama, a 42-year-old African-American state senator from Hyde Park, beat six competitors in the March 16 primary election with an overwhelming 54 percent of the vote, setting himself up as one of the most visible and hopeful figures in Democratic politics nationwide.
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