Free Republic

Private Firm Would Jack Up Rates For Residents, Watchdogs Warn _________________________________________________________ If the parking meter deal put a bad taste in your mouth, try swallowing this: Chicago is considering leasing its water system to help fix the budget. The new boss could charge whatever they want for water, CBS 2's Roseanne Tellez reports. Could it happen here in Chicago? It already has nearby. Homer Glen in Will County relies on Lake Michigan water, but the supply comes from a German-owned firm. Locals say there's a lot more than water going down the drain. It's a vital resource you can't live...

Watch live coverage from Copenhagen starting at 1:45 a.m. Friday as Chicago and the other bid cities present. Chicago will be the first to present to the International Olympic Committee on Friday. Watch that live on-air on Channel 7 and online on ABC7Chicago.com, starting at approximately 1:45 a.m. ABC7Chicago.com will also carry presentations of the other three bid cities, Tokyo, Rio and Madrid. Online coverage will also include live video of the gatherings in Chicago and other cities around the world. Starting at 4:30 a.m., watch Channel 7 for an expanded ABC7 News This Morning.

Updated 7:30 AM CDT, Mon, Sep 28, 2009 President Obama will travel to Copenhagen to make a pitch for Chicago’s Olympic bid, White House officials have confirmed to NBC News. Obama will leave for Denmark Thursday night, hours after his wife Michelle departs for the vote. The president made the final decision Saturday night after returning from the G20 summit in Pittsburgh. The announcement ends months of speculation of whether the president would lend his considerable fame to the pitch. The president has dropped hints all month long that he may attend the event. Last week he sent an advance...

We will soon learn if Chicago receives the honor of hosting the 2016 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games. Winning the Games will be a testament to our city's vitality and global leadership, and will offer an unparalleled opportunity for economic stimulus and community development. But these benefits will only be realized if we host a Games that respects community needs, is fully transparent in its contracting and hiring and is accountable to the citizens who will live with the Games' infrastructure and financial legacy for coming decades.