By Carlos Ardila

Caption: Shaky Grounds

An effort to curtail the rising crime wave associated with scrap metal scavenging might end up hurting undocumented workers and their families.

Starting Jan. 1, the new state law - Senate Bill 69 - will require scrap metal dealers to record the identity of anyone who intends to sell more than $100 in metal scrap.

The bill, which cleared easily both the Illinois House and Senate and was signed into law by Gov. Rob Blagojevich in July, will require all scrap dealers to maintain a detailed database for up to three years.

By Beth Palmer

Breanna Palmer is a 12-year-old black girl who loves dancing, make-up, fashion and music. She was adopted at age four by a white family in the Chicago suburbs. Although the majority of her new extended family is white, Breanna has an adopted black brother and numerous black and biracial cousins.

According to experts, transracially adopted children benefit from spending time with people who look like them, and for Breanna, the significance of being involved in black culture shows on her face, as she gets her hair braided.

Her almond eyes dance beneath long black lashes, even though her scalp throbs painfully from new crisscross braids. Breanna bubbled with excitement after her monthly two-hour visit with Tetie, an African American teenage hairdresser.

As they drove home, Breanna giggled when her white adoptive mother asked if she'd had a good time. She couldn't stop talking about how funny it was when Tetie's grandfather, a black pastor, complained about her older cousin's cooking.

"[Tetie's cousin] said with her hand on her hip, ‘Well why don't you get over here and do it yourself," Breanna said.

By Paige Gray

About 20 residents from Chicago’s North Side protested at the office of U.S. Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Chicago) last week, urging the congressman to denounce any threat of war with Iran. The event was organized by members of MoveOn.org, a non-profit political advocacy organization.

The group delivered a petition with nearly 600 signatures of Chicagoans opposed to U.S. engagement in Iran and asked Emanuel and other members of Congress to support H.R. 3119 and H.R. 64, resolutions that would discourage hostile action toward another Middle Eastern country.

"Iran discontinued its weapons programs in 2003," said Richard Stowell, a MoveOn.org member who helped organize the local event. “Intelligence reports are telling the administration they don't have weapons. It kind of takes the wind out of Bush's sails for a military strike."

By Nadia Beidas

An Iraq war veteran said the military paid her $100 on two occasions to wear her uniform to her high school and recruit students to join the military.

By Melissa Paulik

The prisoners were allowed to go outside once a day. This was their only chance to feel the sun on their skin and inhale fresh air. It was also Hayelom Ayele's one chance to escape his uncertain fate inside an Ethiopian prison in the late 1970's.

"I broke out of jail. Either I wait and be slaughtered or give it a try. And it worked," said Ayele with a smile.

By Carlos Ardila

The renovated Montrose train station is scheduled to open Nov. 26, a year after it was closed to the public. Before it shut down as part of the $530 million renovation project for the Brown line, the Montrose stop had a monthly rider ship of 55,000. Time will tell if all of those riders return - and if business will follow.

The renovation included new elevators and longer platforms to accommodate larger, eight-car trains. The new Sedgwick stop, which was partly closed for a year, was re-opened Nov. 12. The Montrose stop was a more significant renovation.

So far customers say they like the new look, according to the CTA tattler message board, a public transportation watchdog.

Margie's Candies at 1813 W. Montrose Ave., just under the Brown line tracks, managed to stay open during the entire year of construction. But it has not been easy - or good for business.

By Community Media Workshop

By Keri Lynch

Imagine quickly leaving home because of a sudden catastrophe or conflict, not knowing if you would ever be back.

Where would you go? What would you bring? What would you do for food and water? And what if you or a family member got sick?

Photos:Anna Johnson, Angie Rentmeester & Barbara Iverson

Few Chicagoans can relate to the experience of displaced persons or refugees, yet every year millions are forced from their homes around the world. Many spend time in refugee camps, where they receive basic services and remain relatively safe.

By Community Media Workshop

Media activists are mobilizing for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) hearing in Chicago to be held at Rainbow PUSH Coalition. The main issue being discussed this week is whether the FCC should allow greater media consolidation.

The FCC is considering whether or not to lift restrictions on cross-ownership of media outlets, which would allow large corporations to own more media outlets. Critics charge that lifting restrictions would further weaken local coverage and minority ownership.

But local groups are getting ready for the hearing.

By Keri Lynch

The billions of dollars spent on the Iraq War could instead be used to improve the lives of Americans, according to local MoveOn.org members.

About 40 people gathered during a busy lunch hour at the Thompson Center last week to discuss the cost of the war  and what else that money could be spent on here at home.

With financial problems facing Illinois schools, public transit and the healthcare system, state taxpayers' money could be put to better use at home, said organizer Richard Stowell. For example, the CTA is facing service cuts and fare hikes and 7 million Illinois kids lack health insurance.

As Stowell spoke, other organizers held up a giant check signed by "American Taxpayers." Illinois' share of the bill: $24.69 billion. That's $4.8 billion for Chicago alone, according to the National Priorities Project, which tracks spending of federal tax money.