The choice between paper and plastic could be a distant memory for Chicago shoppers if a proposal to ban plastic bags continues to gain momentum among aldermen.The proposal, introduced March 5 by Alderman Proco Joe Moreno (1st Ward), would ban plastic bags in retail stores to reduce waste in landfills and the Great Lakes, according to the ordinance. However, the legislation would require retailers to offer only paper or reusab...

Although apples Are out of season, “apple picking,” or the theft of smartphones, is on the rise in Chicago and around the country.Aldermen Bob Fioretti (2nd Ward) and Edward Burke (14th Ward) introduced an ordinance on Feb. 5 that would require all Chicago cell phones to be equipped with a “kill switch,” a feature that allows owners to disable their phone if they are stolen. After a smartphone is stolen, the victi...

Mixed media artists James Connolly and Kyle Evans discuss the meaning behind their project, Cracked Ray Tube, which is featured at Discarded: The Afterlife of Everyday Electronics, an exhibit curated by '1...

The Constitution states that the president “shall from time to time give to the Congress information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient.” Though its forms have varied across American history—written messages, radio addresses—the State of the Union is a hallmark of the presidency. It is an opportunity for the commander-in-chief to set s...