Illinois Primary

Chicago’s Never-Ending Struggle To Be Seen As A World-Class City

In the past week, Chicago has been awash with members of the national political press corps, who waxed enthusiastically about its lakefront, deep dish pizza and friendliness.

Chicago Skyline/photo by Micki Maynard

Now, with the Illinois primary over (Mitt Romney won, by the way), all those journalists are on planes out of town.

And that might be the last time they think about Chicago until this fall’s general election – unless they’re back to cover the NATO summit in May.

The situation sums up Chicago’s challenge in being considered a world class city, writes Phil Rosenthal of the Chicago Tribune.

“We want the world to think well of us all,” he says in his column today. “A greater problem, perhaps, is that too many people don’t think of us, well, at all.” Continue reading →

FILED UNDER: Communities, Government, Industry, Politics, Chicago, Illinois primary, NATO, world class city

March 19, 2012 | 9:33 AM | By Dustin Dwyer

Midwest Memo: Patents Down In Illinois, A Casino Vote In Lansing And Ohio Drops Some Banks

Patently down The number of patent applications filed in Illinois dropped almost 6 percent between 2000 and 2010, according to the Chicago Tribune. The city of Chicago also didn’t grow its patent applications as quickly as other big cities. Patent applications are seen as one indicator of innovation in a region.

Casino vote City leaders in Lansing will vote on several items related to a proposed casino tonight. Partner station Michigan Radio has a preview of what the vote could mean for the $245 million proposal.

A send off The U.S. Postal Service is getting ready to shut facilities in Michigan, affecting 475 jobs. The plan is on hold until May to allow members of Congress a chance to come up with a new proposal. But a spokesman for the Service says something will have to give one way or the other. He told the Associated Press the Postal Service has “too much real estate for the amount of mail.”

Buh bye banks The Ohio Treasurer is ending the state’s relationship with two banks. Treasurer Josh Mandel says the banks have defrauded Ohio pensioners of millions of dollars.

How are they going to vote? The Illinois GOP primary is tomorrow. Partner station WBEZ has been tracking three GOP voters for months.

FILED UNDER: Midwest Memo, casino, Illinois, Illinois primary, Kewadin Lansing Casino, Ohio treasurer, patents, Postal Service

March 16, 2012 | 9:04 AM | By Dustin Dwyer

Midwest Memo: Ohio Loses Out, Big Money For The Recall And Indiana Makes A Whoopsie

Wah Wah Shell has chosen Pittsburg for a new $2 billion plant to process natural gas. The Wall Street Journal says the plant is expected to create thousands of jobs. Ohio leaders were hoping the plant would be built in their state.

Whoopsie Two weeks ago, a state press release in Indiana promoted the MBC Group as an example how the state’s new Right to Work law is creating jobs. One problem: the president of the MBC Group says Right to Work played no role in his company’s decision to expand.

Big money The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports on the “staggering” amount of money being spent on the Scott Walker recall campaign. The amount is more than double the amount previously spent on any statewide campaign in Wisconsin.

Calling all angels The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that angel investing in Wisconsin reached over $61 million last year.

Immigrant entrepreneurs Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel announced a series of workshops to help immigrants launch small businesses.

Primed for the primary Partner station WBEZ reports that Newt Gingrich was in Illinois yesterday. Other candidates will be in the state today, as the Illinois primary race gets going.

Damage done It’s only property A tornado ripped through the small Southeast Michigan village of Dexter yesterday. No one was hurt.

FILED UNDER: News, angel investing, GOP primary, Illinois primary, immigrants, Indiana, MBC Group, natural gas, Ohio, recall, Right to Work, Scott Walker, Shell, Village of Dexter