WBEZ 91.5 Chicago

Keith Koeneman discusses his new book, First Son: The Biography of Richard M. Daley, which chronicles the complex and often contradictory life of an American political legend.  Through more than 100 interviews, he tells an up-close, insider story of political triumph and personal evolution, highlighting Daley’s achievements and mistakes.

Karen Freeman-Wilson won the race for mayor of Gary, Indiana back in November; in the process, she made history. Freeman-Wilson is the state’s first African-American female mayor and Gary’s first female mayor.Freeman-Wilson was born and raised in Gary and attended Harvard Law School.

West suburban Naperville is ending it's red-light camera program. A split vote on Tuesday resulted in the council nixing the red light camera program.

Former Mayor Richard M. Daley wanted to make Chicago the greenest city in America. He got a lot of credit for being environmentally friendly but the record turned out to be mixed: more green roofs but still no city-wide recycling.

From the roar of planes overhead to the earth below the runways, airports have long been a point of contention between Chicago and its neighbors. In 1989, a group of suburban mayors declared all-out war with Chicago over the proposed expansion of O’Hare International Airport.

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel didn’t waste any time putting his picks in some of city’s top positions. Forrest Claypool is an old ally of the mayor’s and a longtime political player. Emanuel tapped him to run the Chicago Transit Authority.

Wednesday's City Council meeting was also the last for 13 aldermen. Their replacements, along with the new mayor, will be sworn in on May 16. Meanwhile, as the new 50-member council gets underway, Eight Forty-Eight wondered, who will be watching what they're up to? And how do they do it?