John Arena

After months of uncertainty, the Portage Theater is under new ownership. The current tenants who run and manage the cinema received a letter Wednesday night from an attorney representing the new owner informing them of the change, effective Sept. 1....

With one metaphorical, magical swing of his gavel, Ald. Joe Moore, 49th, recently turned 96 hours into 48 hours and — zim zalla bim! — made a potential embarrassment for Mayor Rahm Emanuel disappear. Here’s the play-by-play: Several...

During a meeting at the Tribune with reporters and members of our editorial board today, Ald. John Arena (45th) observed that the city's parking-meter deal has become a cautionary tale for municipalities around the country looking to privatize different...

Posted by Hal Dardick at 3:06 p.m. The Chicago Federation of Labor today endorsed a hospital executive over the Democratic committeeman in the race to become the new alderman in Lincoln Park. Tim Egan, vice president of governmental affairs at......

Posted by Rick Pearson at 7:42 p.m. Candidates in Chicago’s 14 aldermanic run-off contests have reported raising $1.6 million in big-dollar contributions since the February election, including more than $200,000 from Mayor-elect Rahm Emanuel’s...

Then -- from Emanuel, Burke, big labor pour money into runoffs (April 1) Now -- from Stone, Lyle lose as Chicago City Council gets makeover (current) Then: Ald. Freddrenna Lyle, who has represented the South Side's 6th Ward for 13......

Posted by Cynthia Dizikes, Monique Garcia, Dahleen Glanton and Kristen Mack at 7:20 p.m.; last updated at 9:05 p.m. Long-serving 6th Ward Ald. Freddrenna Lyle conceded defeat tonight to challenger Roderick Sawyer, son of former Chicago Mayor Eugene...

Posted by Hal Dardick and John Byrne at 8:10 p.m. The candidate on the short end of a very close 45th Ward aldermanic election is going to wait until more ballots are counted Friday before deciding on a recount. Unofficial......

Posted by Hal Dardick at 3:01 p.m. John Arena appears to be the unofficial victor by a hair in his 45th Ward aldermanic contest against John Garrido after absentee ballots were counted today, but the final vote tally won’t be......

Posted by Hal Dardick at 8:48 p.m. The close results in the 45th Ward Chicago aldermanic election will go unchallenged. John Garrido said today that he won't ask for a recount against John Arena, who won the April 5 runoff......

Chicago's private parking meter operator could make $2 million per year in new convenience fees on top of investing the deposits made by drivers who pay by phone, under one new aspect of a complicated agreement Mayor Rahm Emanuel presented Wednesday to...

Many folks who park in a Chicago garage or lot will pay more come July under a new tax structure the City Council approved today despite objections from the hotel industry. Six aldermen, including Ald. Brendan Reilly, 42nd, who represents downtown,...