Or rather their eggs. The Cicadas who have been flying around the suburbs these past several weeks are all dying. The Economist has a terrific short article and photo about Brood XIII – “Locals call them “locusts” but the Magicicada species of North America are as harmless as can be. Having fed on root sap during their underground life, mature cicadas have no need to eat and indeed no mouths. With no bite, sting or poison, they are gentle, even helpless.” The article also mentioned some ways of preparing the bugs which are described as ”mildly crunchy, with a woody flavour and notes of almond, or potato”. Full article – http://www.economist.com/world/na/displaystory.cfm?story_id=9340263

Wikipedia has more information – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magicicada and information about our specific Brood – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brood_XIII. I did not see any around Grant Park, but they were very abundant out by Oak Brook. Presumably Grant Park being relatively new land and with major construction of underground parking garages occurring periodically the Cicadas did not get a chance to take root (so-to-speak).

In this month’s edition of the Economist’s Chicago City Briefing:

The City of Chicago’s $5.5 billion dollar budget proposal is almost a quarter of a billion dollars in the red due to lower than expected real estate tax receipts. It is suspected that Mayor Daley may have to renege on a campaign promise not to raise property taxes. Otherwise, the city might close the gap with a combination of spending cuts, other tax increases such as cigarettes and layoffs of city employees.

The town of Bensenville has won a recent round in its fight to block the O’Hare expansion plans and the city has withdrawn the army of bulldozers and contruction equipment that was poised to demolish about 350 homes and empty businesses.

Elvira Arellano has been deported. She spent a year in sanctuary in Adalberto United Methodist Church on the Chicago West Side. Back in 2002, Ms. Arellano had been convicted of working under a false social-security number at O’Hare in 2002. She was supposed to appear before immigration authorities last year but instead hid out in the church for a year. She was arrested while speaking at a rally in Los Angeles.

The Chicago Reader has been sold to a Florida outfit – Creative Loafing. They intend to lay off Chicago Reader staff and cut the paper down to a single section from three. The sale includes the building on East Illinois Street near Snicker’s Deli.

The Chicago CTA is planning to raise fares and cut service. More information in the Chicago Sun-Times. http://www.suntimes.com/news/transportation/501808,cta080807.article

Each month’s edition of the Chicago City Briefing can be found here — http://www.economist.com:80/cities/briefing.cfm?city_id=CHI

In the July issue of the Economist’s Chicago City Briefing:

The “Chicago Outfit” – which began with Al Capone and is reputed to run much of Chicago’s black market - is on trial and it is thought to be one of the largest mob trials in Chicago’s history.

The John H. Stroger junior hospital closed a 26 bed ward in May and faces growing fiscal problems.

Almost 1000 pounds of marijuana were found on the South Side in a garage. The estimated street value is nearly three million dollars. 

Construction of a new runway at O’Hare will begin this summer and is expected to be ready in 2008. 

Click here to read the full newsletter – http://www.economist.com/cities/briefing.cfm?city_id=CHI

In this month’s Chicago City Briefing from the Economist –

• Chicago has won out over Las Angeles for country’s bid to be host for the 2016 Olympics. The final decision will be made in 2009 among other international cities likely to include Rome and Tokyo.
• The CTA’s construction projects this summer will delay commuters who use the Red, Brown, and Purple lines. Construction will continue through 2009.
• Donald Walsh, assistant deputy chief paramedic, “retired” on April 30th after being accused of racial discrimination.
• Virgin airlines has launches direct, non-stop flights between Chicago and London’s Heathrow airport. (Check out Virgin Atlantic’s amenities). Virgin originally pulled out of the Chicago market after 9/11.

For more information, see the briefing at http://www.economist.com/cities/briefing.cfm?city_id=CHI

This month in the Economist’s Chicago City Briefing there are articles about the $12m political hiring settlement, Barack Obama’s endorsement of Dorothy Tillman of the 3rd Ward, Anthony Abbate a police officer from Chicago who is facing a charge of aggravated battery, and more on the Chicago Spire.

“Mr Calatrava has won both notoriety and critical acclaim for his designs, most of which have been built in Spain and Switzerland. His first American commission, also in the Midwest, was for the Milwaukee Art Museum’s Quadracci Pavilion, which opened in 2001.”

Read more at — http://www.economist.com/cities/briefing.cfm?city_id=CHI

The Economist has published their monthly “Chicago City Briefing”. Topics include Daley’s re-election and challenges he is facing as he begins his sixth term, arrests made 2/21 for terrorist charges on the northwest side, Chicago’s Olympic Bid, and Aldermanic races in Chicago.

http://www.economist.com/cities/briefing.cfm?city_id=CHI

The Economist’s monthly Chicago City Briefing was published yesterday.

Highlights include the auction for the Chicago Tribune company, Obama and Daley’s mutual endorsement, the Chicago Architecture’s annual naming of the “Chicago 7″, and the Bears defeat of the New Orlean’s Saints.

To read the full city briefing go to:

http://www.economist.com/cities/briefing.cfm?city_id=CHI