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Clout Street
An inside look at the politics practiced from Chicago's City Hall to the Statehouse in Springfield, from Chicago Tribune reporters.
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Ald. Sandi Jackson resigns from Chicago City Council
After weeks of rumors and equally strenuous denials, Sandi Jackson resigned as Chicago's 7th Ward alderman Friday, the latest chapter in the...
Illinois credit rating takes hit after no action on pensions
SPRINGFIELD — One of the nation's leading credit-rating firms put Illinois on a negative watch list today because Gov. Pat Quinn and...
Emanuel to unveil new Chicago gun control ordinance
Mayor Rahm Emanuel today indicated he will put forward his own city gun control ordinance in the next few days after state lawmakers did not...
Ex-gang member 'Gator' Bradley asks aldermen for gun permit
Pardoned former gang member Wallace “Gator” Bradley told aldermen today he wants the right to own a handgun, even though he once...
New General Assembly sworn in as full plate looms
SPRINGFIELD --- A new Illinois General Assembly was sworn in today, and after the ceremony and celebrations are over, lawmakers will face...
Kelly wins lottery for top spot on ballot to replace Jackson Jr.
SPRINGFIELD --- Former state Rep. Robin Kelly of Matteson will get the first spot on the ballot in special Democratic primary for the seat...
McCarthy may turn to celebrities to remove snitching stigma
Gun violence on Chicago streets has become such a concern that Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy said today he's considering turning to...
Illegal immigrant driver's licenses bill sent to governor
SPRINGFIELD --- The Illinois House today approved a measure to allow illegal immigrants to get temporary driver's licenses, sending it to...
Quinn loses Hail Mary on pension reform
SPRINGFIELD --- The Illinois House adjourned this afternoon without even voting on Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn's desperation pension reform...
Crowded field to succeed former Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. in Congress
Twenty two candidates met a Monday deadline to file paperwork for a spot on the ballot in the special election to succeed former U.S. Rep....
No vote on Illinois House pension plan today
The Illinois House adjourned for the day without voting on a major government worker pension overhaul, casting grave doubt on the reform...
Driver's license plan for illegal immigrants advances
A bill to give illegal immigrants in Illinois a chance to get a special license to drive cleared another hurdle today, winning approval in a...
Quinn, leaders to meet this weekend in search of pension fix
Gov. Pat Quinn and legislative leaders plan to meet Saturday to try to come up with a compromise to fix financially broken government worker...
Ald. Mell indicates he's not retiring
Among the myriad political parlor games at City Hall, one of the longest running is the annual speculation about whether Northwest Side Ald....
Gay marriage, assault weapons ban votes delayed in Illinois Senate
The Illinois Senate left the State Capitol later today without voting on measures to legalize gay marriage and outlaw assault weapons,...
Trotter dropping out of contest to replace ex-Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.
State Sen. Donne Trotter has told several south suburban officials that he will officially end his bid for the Democratic nomination for the...
Quinn remains optimistic on pension reform
Gov. Pat Quinn said Thursday that he remains confident lawmakers can reach a deal to reform the state’s government employee pension...
Illinois credit outlook drops as talk of business taxes surfaces
A key rating agency dropped Illinois’ credit outlook from stable to negative Friday, a move that could make it more expensive to pay...
House ethics panel launches probe of Schock
WASHINGTON -- The House Ethics Committee revealed today that it is investigating the conduct of House Republican Aaron Schock of Peoria.
Emanuel not inclined to go back to free water for non-profit groups
Mayor Rahm Emanuel said Thursday that restoring free water service to churches and non-profit agencies as some aldermen suggest would...
Supporters say they're close to passing gay marriage in Illinois
SPRINGFIELD — Gay marriage supporters said today they have moved to “within striking distance” of collecting enough...
Most aldermen back proposal to restore free water to nonprofits
A majority of Chicago aldermen have signed on to a proposal to once again provide free city water to many nonprofit organizations across the...
Trotter still hopes for Dem backing in congressional race
State Sen. Donne Trotter said Wednesday he still hopes to win the backing of his party in the upcoming election to fill former U.S. Rep....
City Council approves $6.25 million settlement in Gold Coast drunk city worker case
The City Council today voted to pay $6.25 million to a man who suffered brain damage and permanent disability when he was hit by a drunken...
Chicago City Council approves bulk electricity buying plan 50-0
The Chicago City Council today unanimously voted to approve a deal for the city to buy electricity in bulk on behalf of residents and...
Chicago alderman wants crackdown on noisy garbage trucks
Spurred by complaints from weary residents awoken by noisy, middle-of-the-night garbage pickups, the alderman who represents much of...
Illinois Supreme Court rules Quinn can close state prisons
The state Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that Gov. Pat Quinn can move forward with the closure of several prisons and juvenile justice...
Illinois lawmaker pleads not guilty to fraud charges
State Rep. LaShawn Ford, the latest Illinois public official to face federal criminal charges, pleaded not guilty today to bank fraud...
Ald. Sandi Jackson says she won't resign 'unless something catastrophic happens'
Ald. Sandi Jackson told reporters today that she won't resign from the City Council unless "something catastrophic happens," that she's...
Concealed carry: Court strikes down Illinois' ban
The state of Illinois would have to allow ordinary citizens to carry weapons under a federal appeals court ruling issued today, but the...
Jackson Jr. seat candidate hits foe on gun charge
A Democratic state senator running for U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.’s old congressional seat suggested Monday that voters should...
Aldermen back $6.25 million settlement in drunk city worker case
A key City Council committee today endorsed paying $6.25 million to a man who suffered brain damage and permanent disability after a drunken...
Quinn hopes lawmakers to send him gay marriage bill next month
Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn today said he hopes state lawmakers send him a gay marriage bill when they meet again in January, but even the...
Emanuel declines to fire back at Preckwinkle
Mayor Rahm Emanuel today declined to directly challenge Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle's recent criticisms of his crime-...
Durbin says Trotter deserves no special treatment on O'Hare gun arrest
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin said Democratic state Sen. Donne Trotter, a candidate to succeed Jesse Jackson Jr. in Congress, shouldn't get any...
Preckwinkle blasts Emanuel, quickly backs off
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle on Thursday quickly backed off a public barb she tossed at Mayor Rahm Emanuel for his crime-...
State senator in O'Hare gun case freed on bond
A weary state Sen. Donne Trotter was released on $25,000 bond Thursday after spending the night in a Chicago police lockup on a felony...
New Illinois pension fix floated
SPRINGFIELD - As state government leaders struggle to reach agreement on pension reform, a bipartisan group of lawmakers is floating a...
Illegal immigrant driver's license measure sails through Illinois Senate
SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois Senate today approved legislation that would allow tens of thousands of illegal immigrants to...
Casino deal maybe not as close as Quinn, Emanuel say
Perhaps spurred by the excitement of being out in public for a rare joint appearance, Gov. Pat Quinn and Mayor Rahm Emanuel suggested Friday...
Illinois license plate fees to increase by $2 next year
Illinois drivers would have to pay another $2 for their license plate stickers beginning next year under legislation the Senate passed today...
Convicted former Rep. Mel Reynolds wants Jackson seat in Congress
Disgraced former U.S. Rep. Mel Reynolds said he will ask voters to focus on his congressional experience rather than his state and federal...
Illinois House, Senate pass dueling versions of CPS school closings measure
The Illinois House today voted to give Mayor Rahm Emanuel's education team another four months to come up with a list of school closings.
Emanuel on CTA increases: not fare hikes, Chicagoans can choose to drive
Mayor Rahm Emanuel had a message Monday for CTA riders upset about upcoming fare hikes: they’re not really fare increases, public...
Emanuel's budget passes City Council 46-3
The Chicago City Council today easily approved Mayor Rahm Emanuel's $6.5 billion budget for next year.
Cook County votes to cut pay for some political appointees
Cook County commissioners on Wednesday voted to end full-time pay and benefits for political appointees on a pair of panels, a change backed...
New Cook County budget includes $1-a-pack cigarette tax hike
The cost of buying cigarettes and guns in Cook County will rise next year after commissioners today voted 16-1 to approve County Board...
Foster headed back to Congress
Veteran Republican Rep. Judy Biggert conceded defeat tonight to former Democratic Rep. Bill Foster in a west and southwest suburban...
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Clout has a special meaning in Chicago, where it can be a noun, a verb or an adjective. This exercise of political influence in a uniquely Chicago style was chronicled in the Tribune cartoon "Clout Street" in the early 1980s. Clout Street, the blog, offers an inside look at the politics practiced from Chicago's City Hall to the Statehouse in Springfield, through the eyes of the Tribune's political and government reporters.
