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Fran Spielman has been covering and analyzing Chicago mayors and city government since Richard J. Daley. Her City Hall beats have included Mayors Michael Bilandic, Jane Byrne, Harold Washington, Eugene Sawyer, Richard M. Daley and Rahm Emanuel.
Spielman joined the Sun-Times in 1985 after ten years at Chicago radio station WIND. When owner Westinghouse Broadcasting sold the station, she saw the opportunity to pursue her primary journalistic goal to work for a major newspaper.
She had started at WIND right out of Northwestern University--as a sports reporter, morning news producer, then full-time reporter--after covering football, basketball and tennis for the Daily Northwestern.
During her decade in radio, Spielman freelanced for the Chicago Daily News, at Crain’s Chicago Business, for “The Chicago Bear Report” and as a principle anchor and reporter of Channel 11’s Emmy Award winning sports show, “Time Out”.
Spielman is a member of the Chicago Journalism Hall of Fame. In 2009, she received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Chicago Headline Club. A decade earlier, Spielman received the Dante Award from the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans.
Hotel, residential and office space planned for land around Union Station
Preliminary plans call for 330 hotel rooms and 404 residential units to be built above Union Station, as well as an adjacent office building.
Emanuel has Hollywood connection thanks to Ari, but Vallas has Sean Penn
Vallas was working on education reform in Haiti after a devastating earthquake when he was introduced to Penn and invited to join the board of JP/HRO.
Rahm joins parade slamming Trump policy to separate families at US-Mexico border
The mayor’s broadside came one day after retiring U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez compared Trump’s actions to the tactics Adolf Hitler used in Nazi Germany.
Emanuel says Amazon ‘really liked’ two Chicago sites
Amazon is evaluating 20 finalist cities for the 50,000-job economic prize known as HQ2; the city and state have offered $2.25 billion in incentives.
Red Line train attack suspect denied bail, 67-year-old woman to lose left eye
A 67-year-old woman is expected to lose her left eye after a man punched her in an “unprovoked” attack on a Red Line train in Rogers Park.
Rahm sends message to mayoral rivals — adding another $850,000-plus to war chest
Emanuel reported another $853,100 in contributions late Friday, leaving his campaign fund with roughly $7.4 million.
Convicted felon charged in attack on 67-year-old woman on Red Line train
Derrick McMath, 28, of southwest suburban Worth, was charged Saturday with felony aggravated battery.
Mayor Emanuel taps Mike Madigan ally Silvana Tabares for 23rd Ward seat
The move is certain to please Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s close ally, embattled Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan.
Lightfoot wants Emanuel to condemn FOP for trying to derail consent decree
“At some point, you have to draw the conclusion that maybe he agrees with them . . . His silence speaks volumes,” Lori Lightfoot said of the mayor.
Musk explains why he chose Chicago; says O’Hare express will be done in 3 years
Musk said he envisions no problem at all attracting enough riders to have a one-way fare of $20 to $25 cover daily operating costs.
Mayoral challengers, academics raise caution flags about Musk’s O’Hare Express
“If you’re drilling, there’s definitely gonna be costs, environmental impacts …” said Ald. Scott Waguespack. “You can’t drill in a vacuum.”
Elon Musk chosen to build, operate O’Hare express dubbed ‘Tesla-in-a-tunnel’
The system would include 80 to 100 electric cars, holding up to 16 people. They would depart “as frequently as every 30 seconds” during rush periods.
Emanuel responds to Quinn’s term-limits petition — with a one-liner
“Right now, I think Amy would like to sign the petition. That’s all I’m gonna say,” Mayor Rahm Emanuel joked referring to his wife, Amy Rule.
Ald. Sposato proposes ‘Lightfoot rule’ — 2-year ban on seeking political office
Newly confirmed Police Board member Paula Wolff told Ald. Nick Sposato Sposato she’d be “delighted” to sign a pledge not to seek office for two years.
Indicted Ald. Cochran telling colleagues he’s changed his mind, intends to run
Three City Council colleagues, including Ald. Derrick Curtis (18th), say Cochran told them he has changed his mind and intends to seek a fourth term.
