Patch Flash: Marriage Equality Bill Moves to IL Senate

Marriage equality legislation in Illinois was approved Tuesday by a state Senate committee, advancing the measure toward a vote of the full Senate that is expected to take place on Valentine's Day.

The Illinois Senate Executive Committee voted, just as they had a month earlier, in favor of the bill, which would legalize same-sex marriage in the land of Lincoln. Nine committee members voted in favor of the bill and five against.

State Sen. Heather Steans, the bill's sponsor, told the committee Tuesday, "Same-sex couples want to marry for the same reasons we all do. Civil unions have created a second-class status," according to Chicago Pride.

The Skokie Police Department has been working around the clock with Chicago and other area detectives since Monday afternoon. The reason: The department believes it's nabbed a who it says is responsible for 15 armed robberies that occurred in eight different municipalities, spanning two counties.

An annual study of national driving patterns shows that Americans spent 5.5 billion additional hours sitting in traffic in 2011.

The Texas A&M Transportation Institute released a report Tuesday that found Americans are adapting to road congestion by allowing, on average, an hour to make a trip that would take 20 minutes without traffic. The Urban Mobility Report also says clogged roads cost Americans $121 billion in time and fuel in 2011. The study determined that Chicago ranked 8th on the list of most congested cities. The most congested city is Washington D.C. 

including Sun-Times Media, Walgreen's and Kmart, according to Crain's Chicago Business. 

Sun-Times Media, publisher of the Chicago Sun-Times and other suburban papers, warns that 274 jobs in Glenview, Tinley Park and Aurora could be eliminated due to consolidation. 

Northwestern University Athletics and the Chicago Cubs announced on Tuesday a multi-year event and reciprocal marketing partnership featuring Wildcats athletic programs at Wrigley Field, including baseball, lacrosse and five Wildcats football games. 

The dates for the five Wildcats football games are pending due to the scheduling of the Wrigley Field restoration project. Details on game dates, opponents and ticket information will also be provided at a later date.

It’s all a part of a massive shake-up under way in Wrigleyville. Along with the $300 million renovation project of the ballpark, the Cubs are vying for more night games at Wrigley, as well as games later on Friday afternoons and Saturday nights. 

Living in a home fit for a king is one thing, but what about living in a home fit for a king—of beers?

 The "Pabst Mansion," a gorgeous, eight-bedroom Glencoe, home recently hit the market for $6.95 million. The estate was built in 1936 for the late Pabst Brewing Co. Chairman and one-time President Harris Perlstein. 

Architect William Pereira designed the home for Perlstein, who merged his Chicago company, Premier Malt, with Milwaukee’s Pabst brewing company the year before Prohibition was repealed, according to Chicago magazine. Pereira, himself a Chicago native, went on the design buildings like San Francisco's iconic Transamerica Pyramid Center.