Chicago Tribune (Chicago, IL) articles from November 2007

Chicago Tribune (Chicago, IL) archives from November 2007

Courtship in the air on Iowa campuses.
November 1, 2007... Byline: John McCormick and Christi Parsons IOWA CITY, Iowa _ The epicenter of political activism in Iowa's largest college town is the retail level of a four-story brick apartment building at the corner of Gilbert and College Streets. ...

It's a dog's life.
November 1, 2007... The following editorial appeared in the Chicago Tribune on Saturday, Oct. 27: X X X This space tends to be a celebrity-free zone. We've gone 17 months without a mention of Britney Spears in an editorial. We've gone... OK, just six...

Q &A: Patriots coach has detractors but there's no denying success.
November 1, 2007... Byline: Dan Pompei CHICAGO _ Depending on your perspective, he is either the best coach in NFL history or he's Darth Vader in a hoodie. Bill Belichick lords over not only the Patriots, but the entire NFL with a loaded team that is the...

No-holds-barred city puts hold on bars.
November 1, 2007... Byline: Howard Witt HOUSTON _ In place of a badge he wears a plastic-coated ID card, and instead of a gun he packs a clipboard and a disposable pen. But Jeffrey Conn, slight of build and mild of manner, may just be the bravest enforcement...

Israel so far unable to separate itself from Gaza.
November 1, 2007... Byline: Joel Greenberg JERUSALEM _ Ever since it withdrew its settlers and soldiers from the Gaza Strip more than two years ago in a step it called "disengagement," Israel has been unable to separate itself from the impoverished coastal...

1 small space for test crew, 1 giant leap to Mars.
November 1, 2007... Byline: Alex Rodriguez MOSCOW _ Few endeavors can poke holes in the soft underbelly of the human psyche like long-duration space flight. Hurtling through space at thousands of miles per hour is disquieting enough. But other catalysts...

In Diyala, violence is quelled, fear is not.
November 1, 2007... Byline: James Janega BAQOUBA, Iraq _ Police chief Ghanem al-Qureshy bristles at rumors that his officers are in cahoots with the sectarian Mahdi Army. And he says he is certainly not hiring fighters from al-Qaida in Iraq as neighborhood...

Chicago Tribune John Kass column: Bad PR for officers claims wrong man.(Column)
November 1, 2007... Byline: John Kass Nov. 1--What do you talk about when you're driving your son to prison? Picture yourself on that highway, cutting through cornfields under blue Iowa skies, your son next to you in the quiet car, your boy about to...

Chicago Tribune Eric Zorn column: Finding moral high ground in gambling fray.(Column)
November 1, 2007... Byline: Eric Zorn Nov. 1--Is gambling wrong? I don't mean is it bad social policy. Or a perverse solution to government funding woes. Or a losing proposition in the long run. Or perilously addictive. Or a magnet for sleaze. I...

Chicago Tribune Around Town column: Butkus advises Bears' Urlacher to try to remain positive.(Column)
November 1, 2007... Byline: Fred Mitchell Nov. 1--Dick Butkus can relate to the awkward standoff between the Chicago media and Brian Urlacher, who has disclosed he is playing with an arthritic back. Butkus' Hall of Fame Bears career was cut short by knee...

$199 computer could crack 'digital divide': Price reflects Wal-Mart's purchasing power and manufacturer's use of open-source software.
November 1, 2007... Byline: Eric Benderoff Nov. 1--Scattered among the $500 to $1,000 desktop computers available at Walmart.com, one machine stands out. It doesn't have a unique design, but its price tag looks like a typo: $199. Prices for consumer...

Argonne plans double dose of computing.
November 1, 2007... Byline: Jon Van Nov. 1--Argonne National Laboratory, which serves as a lending library for scientific computing, is doubling down on supercomputers, installing two of the most advanced units International Business Machines makes and...

BRIEF: Daley unveils plan to acquire 37-acre site: Daley unveils plan to acquire 37-acre site.
November 1, 2007... Nov. 1--Mayor Richard Daley made a play for the Michael Reese Hospital and Medical Center site Wednesday, introducing a plan to acquire the 37-acre site by purchase or condemnation. The plan would enable Chicago's 2016 Olympic bid to expand...

'Bean' to get a companion: The 'Popsicle'.
November 1, 2007... Byline: Noreen S. Ahmed-Ullah Nov. 1---- Millennium Park, home of iconic pieces of public art such as "Cloud Gate" and the video gargoyles of Crown Fountain, will offer yet another cool installation this winter -- a multicolored wall of...

Candidates wrangle over Social Security: Candidates wrangle over Social Security.
November 1, 2007... Byline: Mike Dorning Nov. 1--WASHINGTON -- It's become one of the sacred laws of politics: Don't mess with Social Security. The wisdom of that admonition was strengthened further when President Bush in 2005 pushed a Social Security...

Rockets could draw Israel back into the Gaza Strip: Rockets could draw Israel back into the Gaza Strip.
November 1, 2007... Byline: Joel Greenberg Nov. 1--JERUSALEM -- Ever since it withdrew its settlers and soldiers from the Gaza Strip more than two years ago in a step it called "disengagement," Israel has been unable to separate itself from the impoverished...

Horses in Wadsworth crash to be put up for adoption: Minnesota owner must OK process.
November 1, 2007... Byline: Tara Malone Nov. 1--Belgian draft horses recovering from the overturning in Wadsworth of the tractor-trailer in which they were riding could be adopted or go home with many of the dozens of volunteers who rescued them from the...

BRIEF: Lincoln Park bank robbed 2nd time in week.
November 1, 2007... Nov. 1--LINCOLN PARK -- A Lincoln Park bank Wednesday was robbed for the second time in a week, possibly by the same man, law-enforcement authorities said. A man armed with a knife made off with an unknown amount of money from the North...

Ryan down to last appeal: Prison term set to start in 6 days.
November 1, 2007... Byline: Michael Higgins Nov. 1--A federal appeals court on Wednesday rejected former Gov. George Ryan's bid to remain free on bail while he asks the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn his corruption conviction. The ruling by the 7th U.S....

Chicago manufacturing index slides: Midwest indicator far short of forecasts.
November 1, 2007... Byline: James P. Miller Nov. 1--A key measure of Chicago-area manufacturing activity fell significantly short of expectations in October, according to a report issued Wednesday, a disappointing performance that indicates the Midwest's...

FCC prohibits cable-apartment contracts: Ban to have little effect on Illinois.
November 1, 2007... Byline: Jon Van Nov. 1--Contracts between cable TV operators and apartment building operators that limit competition were banned Wednesday by an order of the Federal Communications Commission. The order was welcomed by AT&T Inc. and...

Chicago Tribune Phil Rosenthal column: La Raza CEO leaves; will launch new firm.(Column)
November 1, 2007... Byline: Phil Rosenthal Nov. 1--Robert J. Armband has resigned as chief executive and publisher of Chicago's La Raza, the ImpreMedia-owned Spanish-language weekly newspaper, effective Wednesday. ImpreMedia on Wednesday named Mike Cano,...

Zoning issues crop up with tourism boom: Farmers looking to boost revenue have new demands to meet, from traffic to signage.
November 1, 2007... Byline: Carolyn Starks Nov. 1--When the future of traditional farming looked bleak, George Richardson became an entrepreneur, cutting an 11-mile maze through his McHenry County cornfield and inviting the public to pay to walk through it....

Go on a maps quest: Start at the Field, and take time to explore.
November 1, 2007... Byline: Trine Tsouderos Nov. 1--The published reference to map material in the Web edition that accompanies this story has been corrected in this text. The first map you'll encounter in the Field Museum and the Newberry Library's joint...

Long live the fish taco!: Our campaign is over. The rest is up to you.
November 1, 2007... Byline: Kevin Pang Nov. 1--On Sept. 20, At Play launched a campaign to bring fish tacos to Chicago. Thousands spoke, pumping fists into air and demanding these battered Manna from heaven (specifically, Baja California) be commonplace in...

Dress like Shaun: Dress like Shaun.
November 1, 2007... Byline: Trine Tsouderos Nov. 1--We got Shaun White on the phone before an Oct. 3 autograph session at the Burton store. In case that name doesn't ring a bell, White's the red-headed mop top who McTwisted his way to a gold medal at the...

Before the snow flies, get the board ...: Before the snow flies, get the board ...
November 1, 2007... Byline: Trine Tsouderos Nov. 1---- Opening a snowboarding store in Chicago is a little like opening a surf shop in the desert. It seems faintly ridiculous. And yet, there it is, next to Sur La Table on East Walton Street: the new...

LOVIN' from the OVEN: For a taste of Art Smith's hospitality, have a biscuit at his Table Fifty-Two.
November 1, 2007... Byline: Phil Vettel Nov. 1---- Everything you need to know about Table Fifty-Two is in the biscuits. Oh, sure, I could tell you about chef Art Smith's culinary pedigree -- one-time personal chef to Oprah Winfrey, best-selling cookbook...

Sparkling new top for champagne of a building: Sparkling new top for champagne of a building.
November 1, 2007... Byline: Blair Kamin Nov. 1--One of Chicago's Art Deco gems is the old Carbide and Carbon Building, a suave Roaring Twenties office tower whose dark green and gold palette is said to have been inspired by a champagne bottle. In recent...

BRIEF: Sister says signs felled in disappearance case.
November 1, 2007... Nov. 1--DUPAGE COUNTY -- As the search continues for a missing St. Charles man, someone keeps tearing down signs about him, the man's sister said. Stephanie McNeil, sister of John Spira, 45, who disappeared on Feb. 23, said she believes...

In Evanston, voices rise over City Council's high-rise dealings.
November 1, 2007... Byline: Deborah Horan Nov. 1--As plans for a sleek downtown spire move forward, an increasingly vocal group of Evanston residents is worried the City Council has conducted behind-the-scenes conversations with developers that may facilitate...

Wisconsin-Madison grads team up for business school: Wisconsin-Madison grads team up for business school.
November 1, 2007... Byline: Charles Storch Nov. 1--Thirteen University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Business alumni have anted up a combined $85 million for "unnaming" rights to the school. The 13, including two from the Chicago area, have taken the...

Chicago Tribune Market Report column: Rate cut boosts stocks; dollar falls.(Column)
November 1, 2007... Byline: Bill Barnhart Nov. 1--Stocks advanced Wednesday after the Federal Reserve cut its short-term interest rate target by a quarter percentage point, as expected, but hinted that a third straight cut at its next policy meeting in...

Schools ahead of the curve: One school focused on clear goals, another changed its culture and a school district doubled time devoted to math. The result: Test scores are soaring.
November 1, 2007... Byline: Mary Ann Fergus and Darnell Little Nov. 1---- Each week, Finkl Academy 3rd grader Amarilys Alvarez colors a graph red, yellow or green, depending on how well she has mastered key reading concepts. As the page grows increasingly...

Fed adds fuel to fire economy: Quarter-point cut in interest rate to help offset housing woes.
November 1, 2007... Byline: William Neikirk Nov. 1--WASHINGTON -- The Federal Reserve staged another pre-emptive strike against a potential economic slowdown on Wednesday, cutting short-term interest rates by a quarter percentage point to the lowest level in...

Torture issue imperils nomination: Torture issue imperils nomination.
November 1, 2007... Byline: James Oliphant Nov. 1--WASHINGTON -- The refusal of Michael Mukasey, the nominee for attorney general, to explicitly declare as illegal an interrogation technique known as "waterboarding" has placed his once-seemingly certain...

EDITORIAL: The Day of the Dead: The Day of the Dead.(Editorial)
November 1, 2007... Nov. 1--The Day of the Dead is a Mexican holiday that blends the Americas' indigenous cultures and the Roman Catholic faith that the Spanish brought to the New World. According to tradition, the souls of deceased loved ones come back on El Dia...

EDITORIAL: The unreformed death penalty: The unreformed death penalty.(Editorial)
November 1, 2007... Nov. 1--Taking a human life, deliberately and by premeditation, is one of the gravest choices entrusted to government. The federal government and 37 states allow courts to sentence criminals to death for the most heinous crimes. Given the...

EDITORIAL: The future of the tax-free Web: The future of the tax-free Web.(Editorial)
November 1, 2007... Nov. 1--Congress put a temporary ban on Internet access taxes in 1998 to nurture what was then a fledgling industry. The idea: an Internet free from a tax burden would grow more quickly, encouraging a more productive U.S. economy. The ban...

Aon to cut 2,700 in revamp: Insurance brokerage posts 92% profit gain.
November 1, 2007... Byline: Becky Yerak and James P. Miller Nov. 1--Aon Corp. said Wednesday that it will eliminate 2,700 jobs, or 6 percent of its worldwide workforce, as the Chicago-based insurance brokerage and consulting firm looks to cut costs in its...

Cheese costs put squeeze on Kraft: Net off 20%; market cheers strong sales.
November 1, 2007... Byline: Mike Hughlett Nov. 1--Kraft Foods Inc. managed Wednesday to beat Wall Street's third-quarter profit and sales expectations, even though it was battered by soaring commodity costs, particularly in its mainstay cheese business. ...

Trump Tower neighbor may win landmark status.
November 1, 2007... Byline: Karoun Demirjian Nov. 1--The former IBM Plaza building may be designated a landmark Thursday, as part of a deal under which a real estate company plans to convert the lower floors of the iconic modernistic tower in downtown Chicago...

Immigration raids harm children, report says.
November 1, 2007... Byline: Antonio Olivo Nov. 1--The federal government's escalating enforcement against illegal immigration is taking a heavy toll on children, a report released Wednesday argued. For every two adults arrested in workplace raids, one...

'Doomsday' looms: Come Sunday, riders could face dramatic changes in their lives.
November 1, 2007... Byline: Jon Hilkevitch and Richard Wronski Nov. 1---- Since becoming a regular user of mass transit in his high school days, George Abbott has measured every decision about where to live on how far he must walk to catch a bus or train. ...

Missing jogger's throat was slashed, autopsy shows.
November 1, 2007... Byline: Matthew Walberg Nov. 1--A missing Chicago Heights woman whose body was found in a south suburban forest preserve lake was beaten on the head and her throat was slashed, according to an autopsy Wednesday. Alma Mendez, 39, of the...

BRIEF: Decision on firing zoning chief put off.
November 1, 2007... Nov. 1--HINSDALE -- Hinsdale trustees Tuesday night declined to vote on a proposal to fire Zoning Board of Appeals Chairman Tom Nelson. Village President Michael Woerner announced the decision after trustees emerged from a closed session at...

State's audit of firm sought: Governor's office says files on firm have been released.
November 1, 2007... Byline: John Chase and David Kidwell Nov. 1--After months of legal wrangling with Gov. Rod Blagojevich's administration, Cook County prosecutors have sought a court order to obtain an audit of a politically connected state contractor...

BRIEF: Governor spreads word on heating bill grants.
November 1, 2007... Nov. 1--ILLINOIS -- Gov. Rod Blagojevich Wednesday urged people living in low-income households to apply for winter heating grants through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program before temperatures get much lower. The program makes...

Woman fatally shot while trick-or-treating with kids: Woman fatally shot trick-or-treating with 3 children.
November 1, 2007... Byline: Kristen Kridel and Jeremy Gorner Nov. 1--A woman was shot and killed Wednesday evening while trick-or-treating with three children in Chicago's Back of the Yards neighborhood on the South Side, authorities said. The woman was...

BRIEF: Gravel-pit firm offers to pay Cary homeowners.
November 1, 2007... Nov. 1--CARY -- If homes located near a proposed gravel-pit expansion in Cary sell below market value, the company doing the work has offered to make up the difference. McHenry-based Meyer Material Co. would pay homeowners differences...

HELPING OUT IN THE NORTHWEST SUBURBS: HELPING OUT IN THE NORTHWEST SUBURBS.
November 1, 2007... Nov. 1--Fundraisers --Reservations are due Thursday for the first annual fundraising dinner and silent auction to benefit Cohen's Judo Club's Elite Training Center athletes at 5 p.m. Sunday in Cafe Clemenza's, 1602 Algonquin Rd.,...

Cops to update parents on Net safety for kids: Cops to update parents on Net safety for kids.
November 1, 2007... Byline: Luke Mundo Nov. 1--A program for parents about Internet safety for children will be offered by the Orland Park Police Department this month. Web sites such as MySpace and Facebook are increasingly popular and some parents are...

SCHOOL NOTES: SCHOOL NOTES.
November 1, 2007... Nov. 1--BUFFALO GROVE DISTRICT 102 --The Holiday Boutique will be held from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Friday in Meridian Middle School, 2195 Brandywyn Lane. Call 847-353-5591, ext. 6090. GRAYSLAKE DISTRICT 127 --Nora L. Bowers, an English...

Kayak, canoe master: Indomitable paddling instructor who drew thousands into the water held safety in high regard, but also knew how to have a good time.
November 1, 2007... Byline: Trevor Jensen Nov. 1--A master of canoe and kayak, Marge Cline was one of the top paddling instructors in the country. A stickler for safety and proper technique in her classes, she thrived on the exhilaration of taking on a wild...

Butkus recalls battles with docs: Butkus recalls battles with docs.
November 1, 2007... Byline: Fred Mitchell Nov. 1--Dick Butkus thinks he knows why Brian Urlacher has been reluctant to talk to the media lately. "Maybe it's because people within the organization are saying: 'Hey, your back is fine.' Maybe it's something...

Sox say so long to Erstad, Myers.
November 1, 2007... Byline: Mark Gonzales Nov. 1--The White Sox declined to pick up the 2008 options on Darin Erstad and Mike Myers, but a decision on shortstop Juan Uribe could dictate the direction of the team's off-season mission. The Sox must pick up...

Newbie wideouts starting to catch on: Kamara, Tate experience growing pains for Irish.
November 1, 2007... Byline: Brian Hamilton Nov. 1--SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Along any learning curve comes a point where instructors remove the figurative training wheels. It was about then that Golden Tate, a freshman playing receiver for the first time in...

Sarkozy 'rupture' enraptures French: Popular president reinvents high office.
November 1, 2007... Byline: Tom Hundley Nov. 1--PARIS -- The marriage is over; the big question now is how long the honeymoon will last. Two weeks ago, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife, Cecilia, announced they had divorced. But despite this...

Kurdish soldiers in northern Iraq face loyalty test: Some wonder if the warriors called to duty are fighting for their country or for Kurds.
November 1, 2007... Byline: Christine Spolar Nov. 1--ROVIA, Iraq -- The Kurdish term pesh merga -- "those who face death" -- once telegraphed all one needed to know about the fighters born in the shadows of the Kandil Mountains. The Kurds of Iraq fought...

Hospital's residencies at risk: Poor review may end accreditation for Stroger program.
November 1, 2007... Byline: Judith Graham Nov. 1--Cook County's flagship public hospital doesn't provide enough clinical experience or medical oversight to young doctors specializing in obstetrics and gynecology, and its OB/GYN residency program should be...

Crash operates at full speed: 'Destructible Daytrip' innovative and stunning.(Dance review)
November 1, 2007... Byline: Sid Smith Nov. 1--The troupe known as the Chicago Dance Crash doesn't go in for soft, reassuring work or soft, reassuring titles. Case in point: Its latest full-length program is named "Destructible Daytrip," set to the music...

BRIEF: Check the smoke alarm; change the clock.
November 1, 2007... Nov. 1--CHICAGO -- Chicago firefighters will be going door to door in many city neighborhoods Friday to remind residents to change the batteries in their smoke alarms when they change the time on their clocks this weekend. Firefighters...

Daley floating revenue ideas: Mayor floating ideas for adjusting city's '08 budget.
November 1, 2007... Byline: Mickey Ciokajlo Nov. 1--Two weeks before aldermen are slated to vote on Chicago's 2008 budget, the outlook for Mayor Richard Daley's suggested tax hikes got muddier Wednesday as a flurry of new proposals were introduced and the...

Blackhawks score with seconds left to beat Dallas: Blackhawks score with seconds left to beat Dallas.
November 1, 2007... Byline: Chris Kuc Nov. 1--DALLAS -- There's something about the Dallas Stars and time winding down that brings out the best in Jason Williams. For the second time this season the Blackhawks winger scored the game-winning goal in the...

Chicago Tribune Rick Morrissey column: Bulls don't need Kobe Bryant.
November 1, 2007... Byline: Rick Morrissey Nov. 1--EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. Players don't get to vote on trades or other personnel moves. Generally, this is a good thing. If they did, soon-to-be AARP member Magic Johnson probably would be on somebody's...

Chicago Tribune Teddy Greenstein column: Ohio State QB cool customer, hot topic.
November 1, 2007... Byline: Teddy Greenstein Nov. 1---- He entered the game as a "manager"--football-speak for a quarterback who makes big plays as often as you see a full moon--and exited as a leader, an award candidate and an NFL prospect. But ask Ohio...

Not on the money: Bulls rally but drop 12th straight in New Jersey.
November 1, 2007... Byline: K.C. Johnson Nov. 1--EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Forget trading for Kobe Bryant. It might be time to find out what A.J. Guyton is doing. Not since the long-out-of-the-league Guyton led the Bulls in scoring on April 17, 2001,...

No contract extensions, plenty of Kobe rumors: No contract extensions, plenty of Kobe rumors.
November 1, 2007... Byline: K.C. Johnson Nov. 1--EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Luol Deng didn't sign a contract extension. Neither did Ben Gordon. And Kobe Bryant isn't a Bull. Now that the Wednesday deadline to reach extensions has passed, at least two...

Angelo spreads blame around: General manager defends Benson, says consistent play needed to resurrect season.
November 1, 2007... Byline: Vaughn McClure Nov. 1---- For a man facing the same scrutiny as his team, if not more because of a 3-5 start, Bears general manager Jerry Angelo was calm and unemotional Wednesday as he spoke with reporters after practice. His...

Big double-dipper against Stars: Hawks dump Dallas again, and Williams is reason -- again.
November 1, 2007... Byline: Chris Kuc Nov. 1--DALLAS -- There's something about the Dallas Stars and time winding down that brings out the best in Jason Williams. For the second time this season the Blackhawks winger scored the game-winning goal in the...

Western has its work cut out: Leathernecks must stop Salukis offense.
November 1, 2007... Byline: John Mullin Nov. 1--With last Saturday's victory over Illinois State, Western Illinois is within reach of the Gateway Conference championship, a loss to Northern Iowa the only smudge on their conference record (3-1). The...

Zou on top of his game: Chinese fighter ends Russia's win streak.
November 1, 2007... Byline: Neil Milbert Nov. 1--For seven days, 19 sessions and 22 bouts, Russian fighters ruled the World Boxing Championships at the UIC Pavilion. And then China's Zou Shiming stepped into the ring to fight Russia's David Ayrapetyan in...

Site of city casino anyone's bet: Power brokers and special interests to play high-stakes game over location if approved.
November 1, 2007... Byline: Kathy Bergen Nov. 1--With a downtown casino looking like a real possibility for the first time in years, the central city is starting to resemble a giant Monopoly board, with competing interest groups hoping the potentially...

Naperville train station scare a false alarm: Scare in Naperville led to evacuation; cops seek 2 men.
November 1, 2007... Byline: Joseph Sjostrom Nov. 1--A "suspicious" suitcase found Wednesday morning outside a Naperville train depot that led to evacuations and train delays was determined to not be harmful. Naperville police received a report at 10:39...

Pressure is building: Illinois has many ways of getting to quarterback.
November 1, 2007... Byline: Terry Bannon Nov. 1--CHAMPAIGN -- As the senior citizen of the Illinois defensive line, Chris Norwell has a good memory. "I remember my freshman year, we couldn't get any pressure at all," Norwell said. "We've come a long...