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1. "I Am Montana" is in its second week of performances at the Mortar Theatre. The production, which is a thinly-veiled look at mega-marts like Walmart, looks incredibly unsettling if the GIF at this link is any indication.2.

For all of us who have bought milk or Corn Flakes lately, the most relevant economic news this week will likely be data on prices. Both the consumer price index and the producer price index come out this week. 

The Chicago Police Department is asking prosecutors to see if two officers shown in a video on the city’s Northwest Side ought to face criminal charges.

One audience member threw up. Others made purely recreational trips to the bathroom. Eager-beaver volunteers sometimes had to be physically returned to their seats—or retrieved from the stage.Controversy over the arts, how to pay for them and whether they’re worth the price, may be rampant.

The death Thursday (March 24) of Lanford Wilson, 73, one of America's most distinguished playwrights, ended a career that began in Chicago 50 years ago and had long and strong local affiliations.

The idea behind a referendum is to give voters a direct voice in making their community better. These ballot questions can cover anything from stem-cell research to the fate of an empty lot. They may be binding or just advisory. Last month, referenda were on ballots in nine Chicago precincts.

In the critically acclaimed documentary Waiting for Superman, teachers unions are given a large slice of the blame for the systemic problems in America's public schools.It’s a narrative echoed in current public dialogue, and you don’t have to look very hard to find it.