Melissa Harris – Page 4

Taking nostalgia too far could have led to neglect. Instead, the new Wrigley Field is progress.

Wrigley’s transformation shows legacy businesses a way to modernize

June 15, 2018 at 4:42 p.m.

There are now two giant video boards in Wrigley Field. And I love them. They are, dare I say, classy. Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts has managed to begin transitioning the...

Moody's Investors Services, a credit rating agency, last week downgraded Chicago's debt to junk status.

Chicago’s junk status: The basics

May 23, 2019 at 3:28 p.m.

Moody's Investors Services, a credit rating agency, last week downgraded Chicago's debt to junk status. Most people can glean that this is bad news. Beyond that, it's easy to gloss...

"One would hope businesses would see this (Chicago) is where you want to cluster to be surrounded by companies engaged globally in food and agriculture," says former University of Illinois President Robert Easter, who chairs the FARM Illinois Leadership Council.

Agriculture, food groups plan “Davos” of industry in 2018 in Chicago

June 16, 2018 at 5:40 p.m.

Business and civic leaders are hoping to launch an annual agriculture and food business conference in 2018 that would draw industry leaders to Chicago, envisioning a gathering that offers the...

Jim Schultz is the head of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

Illinois’ economic development could get boost from CEOs, private nonprofit

June 15, 2018 at 5:27 p.m.

The Illinois General Assembly needs to pass a strengthened version of a pending bill that would privatize some of the state's economic development functions. By creating a private nonprofit to...

Angry readers: More taxes after work, more spaces after sentences

May 23, 2019 at 3:28 p.m.

My inbox has been deluged with reader comments. That's expected when one proposes that the state tax retirement income. But who knew people were so attached to putting two spaces...

Laurence Msall, president of the Civic Federation, says many retirees don't realize they're not paying state income taxes on their retirement income.

Want to fix Illinois’ pension problem? Tax retirement income

May 23, 2019 at 3:28 p.m.

There is a simple solution to Illinois' pension mess that too few people are talking about: Tax retirement income. Make it taxable just like any other income. Why? It is...

Obama still hasn’t picked Chicago

June 15, 2018 at 5:40 p.m.

The competition for Barack Obama's legacy is not over until he announces whether his primary residence will be here or in New York. The ability to shape public opinion does...

Mandate paid sick leave, Chicago

May 23, 2019 at 3:28 p.m.

Let's think of all the people who get paid when they don't work. Congressmen who don't show up to vote. Athletes who sit on the bench. Many departing top executives,...

Gov. Bruce Rauner's team this week distributed complaints from a survey of Chicago-based representatives of foreign governments.

Bruce Rauner’s next oath: First, do no harm.

May 23, 2019 at 3:28 p.m.

Gov. Bruce Rauner's decision this week to release the results of a survey of Chicago-based representatives of foreign governments is baffling. It's unclear how it's helpful for a sitting governor...

A row of houses photographed from Federal Hill Park on April 9, 2015 in Baltimore, Md.

The Baltimore I knew, and still love

May 11, 2019 at 2:20 a.m.

When my husband and I lived in Baltimore, we often left our back door unlocked. The people who bought the house after us left the door unlocked, too. I know...

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