The city of Chicago on Wednesday unveiled a crowdfunding campaign urging Chicagoans to help expand its basketball program targeted at at-risk youth. The Windy City... Joseph Erbentraut http://www.huffingtonpost.com/joseph-erbentraut/

In an age when cultural boycotts are searing weapons of mass rejection and historic flashpoints can be reignited with the faintest spark, institutions like the Middle East Music Ensemble at the University of Chicago provide safe haven from resentment. Roxane Assaf http://www.huffingtonpost.com/roxane-assaf/

-- Nearly one-third of 2012 high school graduates took Advanced Placement exams and about one in five received a passing score that could lead... AP http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-mcguinness/

WASHINGTON -- Former Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.) pleaded guilty in a federal courtroom Wednesday morning to using campaign funds to purchase an array of... Ryan J. Reilly http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ryan-j-reilly/

Ever wondered what HuffPost's front page would look like if we lived in a perfect world? Yup, we did too. So we came up with... Huffington Post http://www.huffingtonpost.com/chrisanderson/

A 21-year-old man has been charged in the shooting death of a Chicago teen who was killed Feb. 15, just hours after her little sister... Kim Bellware http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kim-bellware/

NEW ORLEANS -- Luol Deng scored 20 points and the Chicago Bulls snapped a two-game skid with a 96-87 victory over the New Orleans Hornets... AP http://www.huffingtonpost.com/joseph-erbentraut/

CHICAGO -- New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg waded deeper Tuesday into the Chicago-area election to replace former Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., defending his super... AP http://www.huffingtonpost.com/joseph-erbentraut/

Opponents to a racy River North billboard would not let the controversy blow over, and as of Tuesday, the raunchy ad starring an ex-porn star... Kim Bellware http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kim-bellware/

Known more for Smashing Pumpkins than smashing chairs, rocker Billy Corgan tag teams with a well-known furniture company in a new commercial to pump his... Kim Bellware http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kim-bellware/

WASHINGTON -- Former U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. and his wife are to appear in federal court to answer criminal charges that they engaged in... AP http://www.huffingtonpost.com/joseph-erbentraut/

JOLIET, Ill. -- A hearing is set to resume that will determine if former suburban Chicago police officer Drew Peterson gets a new trial on... AP http://www.huffingtonpost.com/megan-griffo/

CHICAGO — Ray Emery held the puck in his outstretched glove for one sweet moment, then let it fall to the ice. It was time... AP http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-klopman/

On Wednesday nights a group of trans and gender-nonconforming young adults makes a lengthy trek to the Broadway Youth Center in Lakeview. They gather for Trans Youth and Resource Advocacy (TYRA) meetings, a space for safety and discussion. Gideon Resnick http://www.huffingtonpost.com/gideon-resnick/

I couldn't help myself: Super Bowl Sunday I found myself mulling over the state of the union. Rebecca Sive http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rebecca-sive/

The more dramatic the movement, the harder it is to stay balanced; the higher the leap, the more difficult it is to land it gracefully. Those may sound like universal principles of motion, but you'd never know it from watching Ashley Wheater move. Johnny Nevin http://www.huffingtonpost.com/johnny-nevin/

The stepmother of Christian Choate was sentenced Tuesday morning to 35 years in prison in the 2009 neglect and death the 13-year-old boy. Kimberly Kubina,... Joseph Erbentraut http://www.huffingtonpost.com/joseph-erbentraut/

Over 200 people packed the Chopin Theater Tuesday night to hear about Tax Increment Financing (TIFs) and to organize themselves to do something about them. Tom Tresser http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tom-tresser/

This story is courtesy of the Better Government Association: Safety of ambulance fleet questioned after wheels, door fall off several vehicles. This is just the... http://www.huffingtonpost.com/joseph-erbentraut/

-- The U.S. Olympic Committee is looking for cities interested in bidding for the 2024 Summer Games. The USOC sent letters to the mayors... AP http://www.huffingtonpost.com/chris-greenberg/