Chicagoans have become such pantywaists that the Roykos, Sandburgs and Algrens no longer would recognize the place. Chicago, the city of stooped shoulders.

A former Chicago zoning official has pleaded guilty to bribery conspiracy, admitting he took thousands of dollars in payoffs over three years for overlooking city code violations and other favors.

Several members of a French union joined dozens of union activists from the Chicago region on Friday to protest outside the Lisle headquarters of Molex, an electronics parts manufacturer that a year ago announced plans to shutter the French factory.

The electric company must replace a set of downed power lines.