Then vs. now: A look at what the country was like the last time the Dow topped 13,000 — On May 19, 2008, American Idol was still the No. 1 show on television, gas prices were actually higher than they are today and Senators Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton were still battling over the Democratic nomination for president.
What were you doing the last time the Dow closed above 13,000?
INTERACTIVE GRAPHIC — A look at Illinois’ high rate of long-term unemployment: In 2000, the number of Illinois workers unemployed for more than six months was around 36,000. A decade later, that number skyrocketed to 254,000. Our latest interactive graphic looks at the average duration of unemployment in five Midwestern states.
Have you been unemployed for longer than six months since the recession hit?
More pols convicted in Chicago area than anywhere in U.S., study finds: If you’ve suspected Chicago is the corruption capital of America, now you have some proof. A study being released today says the number of public corruption convictions in the Northern District of Illinois was higher than in any other federal court district in the entire country from 1976 through 2010.
Credit: chicagopublicmedia / Flickr
From Forbes / Chicago Tribune —
Chicago 6th most miserable city in the U.S.:
The Windy City is a cultural and financial center, but its residents must endure gridlock traffic, high property taxes and brutal winters. Commute times to work average 31 minutes, eighth worst in the U.S.
