Free Republic

State and federal regulators Friday closed New City Bank, a small single-branch operation with a big political backer, Cook County Commissioner William Beavers (D-Chicago). Beavers, who was indicted on federal tax charges last month, was an investor and vice chairman of the bank at 900 S. Michigan. Beavers, a former city alderman, did not respond to a request for comment Friday evening. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. said it approved payouts of insured deposits at the bank of up to a maximum of $250,000 per account. The FDIC said it could not find a buyer to assume New City operations,...

A dispute over a $20 cab fare -- and an offer to pay it with marijuana -- leads to multiple charges against the players Friday, February 18, 2005 PAUL BUKER What started as a dispute with a taxi driver over a $20 fare escalated into a scuffle in the wee hours Friday morning in Corvallis and led to the arrests of two Oregon State football players. Jimtavis Walker, a transfer from Florida who was expected to be the Beavers' starting tailback in the fall, and Star Paddock, a walk-on deep snapper, were arrested at 5:10 a.m. at the apartment of...