As the presidential primaries continue, an ongoing theme has been to bring about "change." For the gay and lesbian community, however, the next President could bring quite a bit of change in future legislation.

While many socially liberal candidates are in favor of "pro-gay" issues such as legalizing civil unions and abolishing the "don't ask, don't tell" military policy, others strategically shy away from an issue many Americans are passionate about.

The end of 2007 did however see the House of Representatives pass two key sexual orientation-based discrimination bills- the "Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act" in May and the "Employment Non-Discrimination Act" in November.

"These key events influence millions of gay and lesbian Americans", said Trevor Thomas, Deputy Communications Director of the Human Rights Campaign, America's leading organization advocating equal rights for the gay and lesbian community.

"We would like to see a president selected in 2008 that would help sign these bills into law," Thomas said.

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.

Rep. Fritchey Speaks Out on Moment of Silence

New Legislation Would Repeal Mandate, Prayer References

Chicago – State Rep. John Fritchey (D-Chicago) and State Rep. Roger Eddy (R-Hutsonville) today announced legislation amending a recent mandate requiring public school students to observe a moment of silent prayer or silence at the beginning of each school day. The announcement comes in the wake of widespread objections and a federal court ruling stating that the requirement is both unconstitutional and unenforceable.

By Meg White

We all know a lawyer joke or two. But which profession can attorneys deride? Apparently, politicians.

Candidates for Cook County State's Attorney were questioned by prosecutors in a forum hosted by the National Black Prosecutors Association and the National Hispanic Prosecutors Association at Quinn Chapel in Chicago last week.

In preparation for the Feb. 5 primary, the eight candidates gathered in the chapel at 2401 S. Wabash. Each tried to identify with the audience, mostly comprised of assistant state's attorneys, by emphasizing their experience with the law rather than politics.

"I am an insider, but I'm not a politician," said candidate Anita Alvarez, chief deputy at the State's Attorney's Office.

The other candidate who works for the office, First Assistant State's Attorney Bob Milan, took a similar route by identifying himself as a "prosecutor, not a politician."

By Keri Lynch

With tough budget and overtime sessions all summer, state Sen. John Cullerton (D-Chicago) said in some ways it's been a "horrific year." But he still had some positive things to talk about at a recent Town Hall meeting at the Center on Halsted.

"One of the most important issues in my district is the CTA, more important perhaps than the state budget," Cullerton said. "I'm the sponsor of a bill that, if it passes, will be a long-term solution to the RTA /CTA funding crisis."

Mass transit problems are partly due to incompetence and mismanagement of funds, Cullerton said. But raising fares will not solve the problem, he said, because fares cover the cost of just half of mass transit, so more money is needed.

"We've been funding the RTA through a sales tax," Cullerton said. "There's a 1 percent sales tax in Cook County and a .25 percent sales tax in the collar counties" (Lake, McHenry, Kane, Will and DuPage).

YearlyKos, held in Chicago this year, drew nearly 1500 bloggers, lurkers, candidates and political operatives -- many of them “Kossacks” (regular members of the DailyKos community). Four days of caucusing, workshops and panels at McCormick Place culminated in a big finale: a forum with all the Democrat presidential candidates except for Joe Biden.

   Finding methods that allow people to think about big numbers is a big educational challenge. Newspapers in the past portrayed the federal budget on their front pages in the form of a piechart.

   Why they don't still do that is a question I wonder about. Trying to describe the billions of dollars in the budget is difficult. As Illinois' flamboyant Senator Everett Dirksen once said, ""The favorite sum of money is $1 billion – a billion a year for a fatter federal payroll, a billion here,a billion there." But what does a billion mean to you as a voter? Watch this video and tell me if you don't think this is a brilliant visualization.

The Internet may encourage us to stay at our computers, but this week it will allow us to enter the world of the YearlyKos "live" from McCormick Place.

The DailyKos is an online community started by Markos Moulitsas Zúniga. It is decidedly political. It is decidely progressive and Democratic. Everyone who is old enough to vote, and those who can't vote but think about life in our country, will find something to engage them as this giant "Meetup meets Revival" meeting comes to town.

DailyKos, which went online in May 2002, has nearly 600,000 visitors a day; this is a website with some wallup.

By Dan Selecman

A proposal that would more than triple the fine cyclists face if they're caught riding on the sidewalks of Sheridan Road in Edgewater is being considered by the Chicago City Council. The ordinance, which would raise the fine from $50 to $250, was introduced by 48th Ward Ald. Mary Ann Smith.

The proposal seeks to reinstate a 2002 ordinance that ended less than a year after it took effect. It would affect Sheridan Road from Devon Avenue (near Loyola University) to Ardmore Avenue, several blocks to the south. Though it has yet to pass, signs warning of the bigger fine have already gone up on Sheridan Road.

The first increase, in 2002, began as a pilot, said Tom Samuels, a member of Ald. Smith's staff. He said the program started after pedestrians complained about increased bike ridership. The success of the program, Samuels said, led to the fine being decreased to $50, still twice the fine anywhere else in the city for bikers caught riding on sidewalks.

The Community Renewal Society Future Summit is a set of intergenerational conversations that focus on the critical role that younger leaders can, must and do play in shaping the region’s future.

What: Community Renewal Future Summit

When: June 21, 1:30 - 5:30 p.m.

Where: University of Chicago Graduate School of Business, 5807 S. Woodlawn, Chicago

Fees: $15 General Admission/ $7 student, senior and low-income admission