WBEZ 91.5 Chicago

The U.S. Department of Labor reported today that the nation's unemployment rate rose to a six-month high of 9.2 percent, up from last month's rate of 9.1 percent.

The state of Illinois and a major labor union are inching toward arbitration of a labor dispute - something Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn says he's "happy" about.Last week, Quinn cut $75 million worth of raises for some 30,000 union members.

Illinois' governor is suggesting he'll call lawmakers back to Springfield if legal developments go awry for a controversial construction plan.

Shipping may seem an outdated mode of transportation, but it's still by far the most efficient way to transport bulk material. Each year, over 100 million tons of iron ore, coal, limestone and other products travel through the Great Lakes navigation system by boat. Last November, radio producer Allison Swaim spent nine days aboard a bulk ore ship called the Calumet.

The Great Lakes form a sprawling ecosystem of nature and industry.  In a strong economy, ships can transport up to 200 million tons of cargo across these waters each year.  But now the shipping industry has declared a state of emergency.  The cause is a region-wide dredging backlog.&n

One of the state’s largest labor unions on Friday compared Gov. Pat Quinn to Wisconsin Gov.

Hundreds of city workers will avoid being laid off for the time being, as Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel on Friday announced $20 million dollars in cost saving measures after a labor concession agreement was allowed to lapse.Emanuel ordered a partial hiring freeze and said seven city-run health clinics