CHICAGO BAR

May 19 2026WEATHER

Storm Alert: What Chicago Can Expect Next

Chicago is bracing for more weather surprises today. A storm watch keeps running until 5 p. m. Monday for the city and nearby parts of northwest Indiana. Earlier, a warning for fast winds and small hail ended just before noon, but the warm 78-degree afternoon could spark new storms. These storms mig

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May 15 2026FINANCE

Law Enforcement Leads Barnstable’s Salary Chart in 2025

Barnstable’s public payroll list shows that most of the town’s highest paid workers are police officers. The leading name on the 2025 list is Lieutenant Jason Laber, who earned a total of $314, 202 after more than 25 years with the department and a promotion in 2024. Following him are six othe

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May 11 2026WEATHER

Chicago’s Sunday to shine with sun and wind, warmer days ahead

Chicago wakes up to a pleasant Sunday, thanks to mostly bright skies and a gentle breeze keeping things fresh by the lake. Clouds may drift in later, but temperatures will stay mild. Most spots outside the lakeside zone should reach the mid-60s, making Mother’s Day nice for outdoor plans. Monday ke

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May 08 2026WEATHER

Cold Start, Warm Future: Chicago’s May Weather Mix

Chicago woke up to a chilly shock, with some spots dipping below 30°F. A frost warning covered almost every county except Cook. The National Weather Service said the day was unusually cold for May. Highs should climb into the low 60s, but showers may appear. A storm expert noted that not everyone w

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May 08 2026CRIME

Remembering a Chicago Officer: A Community in Mourning

Chicago came together last week at St. Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Church to honor Officer John Bartholomew, a 10-year veteran who was killed in the line of duty. The visitation wasn’t just a gathering—it was a sea of blue ribbons tied to trees and lampposts, a sea of small flags fluttering in the wind,

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May 04 2026SCIENCE

Breeding Better Barley: A Look at the Genes That Fight Early Sprouting

Barley doesn’t always wait to be harvested. Sometimes, rain before cutting triggers premature sprouting in the field, turning starch into sugar and ruining quality. Scientists have now found small genetic differences that help some barley plants resist this problem, called preharvest sprouting. Inst

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Apr 30 2026BUSINESS

IBM Brings New Tech Hub and 750 Jobs to Chicago’s South Side

Chicago is getting a major tech boost with IBM’s plans to open a new innovation center at the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park. The company will add 750 full-time jobs over five years, covering fields like cybersecurity, AI, and data science. The state has already poured $500 million into

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Apr 27 2026BUSINESS

Napa’s Wine Scene Shifts: A Tasting Room Closes, Spirits Rise

Barber Cellars in Petaluma has announced that its downtown tasting room and cheese shop will shut down on June 5, after eleven years of serving guests with wine, food and laughter. The owners said the decision came from financial pressure in the current wine and tourism market, as well as personal h

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Apr 22 2026POLITICS

Why Michelle Obama’s Hair Was Never Just About Hair

Barron Trump’s turn to register for military service under new rules didn’t come as a surprise—nearly every American man his age faces the same requirement. But unlike his father’s comments about Olympic teams and college sports, this shift quietly folded into a much bigger conversation about milita

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Apr 18 2026POLITICS

Trailblazing Illinois Lawmaker Who Crossed Aisles

Barbara Flynn Currie, who served in the Illinois House for forty years, died at 85. During a 2016 vote on Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s pension plan, she became the only Democrat to hand a handshake to three Republicans who defied their party and overrode Governor Bruce Rauner’s veto. Her career began

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