Season chicken pieces with salt and black pepper on all sides. Heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in a skillet over medium- high heat. Cook chicken, 2 to 3 pieces at a time, until browned on all sides, about 15 minutes total. Set aside. Place tomatillos, jalepeno peppers, garlic, cilantro, and chicken stock in a blender and puree until smooth. Set aside.

Heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil over medium- low heat in a Dutch oven. Stir in onion, cook and stir until onion is soft and translucent, about 10 minutes. Stir in cumin, oregano, and bay leaf; cook 1 minute. Place chicken over onion mixture in the Dutch oven. Pour in tomatillo mixture. Bring to a boil, decrease heat to low and simmer, covered, until the meat is tender and falling off the bone, about 1 hour 15 minutes.

Stir in potatoes and cook, uncovered, until they are easily pierced with a fork, about 35 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste; serve garnished with sour cream.

Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F ( 175 degrees C) . Spray a 9x 13- inch baking pan with cooking spray. Combine flour, sugar, vegetable oil, eggs, salt, baking soda, vanilla extract, and cinnamon in a large bowl; mix well.

Stir in the chopped apples until just combined. Pour batter into the prepared baking pan. Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 1 hour.

Updated: March 23, 2009 Jade Goody became a bona fide media star in Britain after appearing on the reality show " Big Brother" as a kind of token low- life, a crude- talking, hard- drinking child of drug addicts. Following her appearance on the show, she never left the public eye. When Ms. Goody found out she had terminal cervical cancer in the summer of 2008 she turned her own death into a public event. The media carried daily updates on her deteriorating condition until her death on March 22, 2009. " I' ve lived my whole adult life talking about my life, " she told an interviewer from her hospital bed. " I' ve lived in front of the cameras.

And maybe I' ll die in front of them. " When she appeared on " Big Brother" in 2002, Ms. Goody, then 21, was heavily in debt and seemed an unlikely candidate for public acclaim. Audiences were at first repelled by her drunken, crass behavior, which included running around topless and lapsing into fits of bad temper, and by her willful ignorance. But the tide gradually turned, and the public warmed, however condescendingly, to her candor and lack of self- consciousness. The question of why, exactly, the story was so compelling - how to negotiate the line between poignant and voyeuristic, whether newspapers exploited Ms. Goody or she exploited them - twisted the media into knots, even as they continued to cover her. By the time of her death, Ms.

Goody' s story had so penetrated the nation' s consciousness that Britain' s prime minister, Gordon Brown, said that he was " deeply saddened" to hear that she had died. .

Impatient with the slow pace of international negotiations, the United States and a small group of countries & # 8212; Bangladesh, Canada, Ghana, Mexico and Sweden as well as the & # 8212; are starting a program that will address short- lived pollutants like soot ( also referred to as black carbon) , methane and hydrofluorocarbons that have an outsize influence on global warming, accounting for 30 to 40 percent of global warming. Soot from diesel exhausts and the burning of wood, agricultural waste and dung for heating and cooking causes an estimated two million premature deaths a year, particularly in the poorest countries Scientists say that concerted action on these substances can reduce global temperatures by 0. 5 degrees Celsius by 2050 and prevent millions of cases of lung and heart disease by 2030. The United States intends to contribute $ 12 million and Canada $ 3 million over two years to get the program off the ground and to help recruit other countries to participate. The United Nations Environment Program will run the project. Officials hope that by tackling these fast- acting, climate- changing agents they can get results quicker than through the laborious and highly political negotiations conducted under the .

2011 Global Talks in Durban At the 2011 conference in Durban, South Africa. One of the issues left unresolved was the future of the , the 1997 agreement that requires major industrialized nations to meet targets on emissions reduction but imposes no mandates on developing countries, including emerging economic powers and sources of global greenhouse gas emissions like China, India, Brazil and South Africa. The United States is not a party to the protocol, having refused to even consider ratifying it because of those asymmetrical obligations. Some major countries, including Canada, Japan and Russia, have said they will not agree to an extension of the protocol next year unless the unbalanced requirements of developing and developed countries are changed. That is similar to the United States& # 8217; position, which is that any successor treaty must apply equally to all major economies. Expectations for the meeting were low, and it : the promise to work toward a new global treaty in coming years and the establishment of a new climate fund. The deal on a future treaty renewed the Kyoto Protocol for several more years.

But it also began a process for replacing the protocol with something that treats all countries & # 8212; including the economic powerhouses China, India and Brazil & # 8212; equally.

The future treaty deal was the most highly contested element of a package of agreements that emerged from the extended talks among the nations here. The expiration date of the protocol & # 8212; 2017 or 2020 & # 8212; and the terms of any agreement that replaces it will be negotiated at future sessions. The delegates also agreed on the creation of a fund to help poor countries adapt to & # 8212; though the precise sources of the money have yet to be determined & # 8212; and to measures involving the preservation of tropical forests and the development of clean- energy technology. The reserve, called the Green Climate Fund, would help mobilize a promised $ 100 billion a year in public and private financing by 2020 to assist developing countries in adapting to climate change and converting to clean energy sources. 2010 Global Talks in Canc? n The United Nations conference on climate change in Canc? n, Mexico, produced only modest achievements but ended with the toughest issues unresolved. The package that was approved, known as the Canc? n Agreements, set up a new fund to help poor countries adapt to climate changes, created new mechanisms for transfer of clean energy technology, provided compensation for the preservation of tropical forests and strengthened the emissions reductions pledges that came out of the U.

N. climate change meeting in Copenhagen in 2009. The conference approved the agreement over the objections of Bolivia, which condemned the pact as too weak. But those protests did not block its acceptance. Delegates from island states and the least- developed countries warmly welcomed the pact because it would start the flow of billions of dollars to assist them in adopting cleaner energy systems and adapting to inevitable changes in the climate, like sea rise and drought.

But where the promised aid from wealthy nations & amp; mdash; $ 100 billion & amp; mdash; would come from was left unresolved. The E. Gets Tough With Airline Emissions In December 2011, the & # 8217; s highest court , setting the stage for a potentially costly trade war with the United States, China and other countries. A group of United States airlines had argued that forcing them to participate in the potentially costly emissions- trading system infringed on national sovereignty and conflicted with existing international aviation treaties. But in , the in Luxembourg affirmed an opinion issued in October by its advocate general, who had rejected their claim.

The court& # 8217; s decision came amid increasing pressure from some of the biggest trading partners of the 27- member bloc to suspend or amend application of the legislation to expressly exclude non- E. U. countries & # 8212; at least initially. Failing that, several governments have vowed to take their own legal action or retaliate with countervailing trade measures. Although airlines initially will receive most of the permits they will need for free, the European Union estimates that ticket prices could rise by as much as & # 8364; 12, or nearly $ 16, on some long- haul flights to cover the cost of additional permits required. Airlines for America, an industry lobby group and one of the plaintiffs in the case, said that its members would be required to pay more than $ 3.

1 billion to the E. U. between 2012 and 2020.

It said its members would comply with the system & # 8220; under protest, & # 8221; but would also review options for pursuing the case in Britain& # 8217; s High Court, which had referred the original complaint to the European court in 2009.

The European initiative involves folding aviation into the Union& # 8217; s six- year- old Emissions Trading System, in which polluters can buy and sell a limited quantity of permits, each representing a ton of carbon dioxide. The legislation mandates that airlines account for their emissions for the entirety of any flight that takes off from & # 8212; or lands at & # 8212; any airport in the 27- member bloc.

The goal, European officials have said, is to speed up the adoption of greener technologies at a time when air traffic, which represents about 3 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions, is growing much faster than gains in efficiency. The U. S. and Climate Change The United States has been criticized at the United Nations gatherings for years, in part because of its rejection of the Kyoto framework and in part because it has not adopted a comprehensive domestic program for reducing its own greenhouse gas emissions. President Obama has pledged to reduce American emissions 17 percent below 2005 levels by 2020, but his preferred approach, a nationwide system for carbon pollution, was passed by the House in 2009 but died in the Senate the next year. United States emissions are down about 6 percent over the past five years, largely because of the drop in industrial and electricity production caused by the .

In January 2011, the began . The immediate effect on utilities, refiners and major manufacturers was minor, with the new rules applying only to those planning to build large new facilities or make major modifications to existing plants.

Over the next decade, however, the agency plans to regulate virtually all sources of greenhouse gases, imposing efficiency and emissions requirements on nearly every industry and every region. A Draft Rule Stands in the Way of New Coal- Fired Plants , the E. A. unveiled a draft rule that would limit carbon dioxide emissions from new power plants to 1, 000 pounds per megawatt- hour. Recently built power plants fired by already easily meet the new standards, so the rule presents little obstacle for new gas plants.

But coal- fired plants face a far greater challenge, since no easily accessible technology can bring their emissions under the limit.

Coal- fired plants are a major source emissions associated with global warming. The new rules do not apply to existing plants. The declining price of natural gas has made it the fuel of choice in recent years for companies planning new plants. The E. A. & # 8217; s move follows a shift that is already unfolding in the electric power market.

The proposed rule is rooted in a 2007 directive from the Supreme Court instructing the E. A. to decide whether carbon dioxide was a pollutant under the . In late 2009, the agency declared that it was, and so had to be regulated. It took more than two years for the agency to work out the regulatory details. To open an avenue to companies still planning to build coal plants, for example, the E. A. said it would allow new ones to begin operating with higher levels of emissions as long as the average annual emissions over a period of 30 years met the standard. Environmental groups generally applauded the standards, although some expressed disappointment with the agency& # 8217; s decision not to regulate existing power plants for the moment.

Steps Toward a Response The debate over climate questions pales next to the fight over what to do, or not do, in a world where fossil fuels still underpin both rich and emerging economies. With the completion of the at the Earth Summit in 1992, the world& # 8217; s nations pledged to avoid dangerously disrupting the climate through the buildup of greenhouse gases, but they never defined . Nonetheless, recognizing that the original climate treaty was proving ineffective, all of the world& # 8217; s industrialized countries except for the United States accepted binding restrictions on their greenhouse gas emissions under which was negotiated in Japan in 1997. That accord took effect in 2005 and its gas restrictions expire in 2012.

The United States signed the treaty, but it was never submitted for ratification in the face of overwhelming opposition in the Senate because the pact required no steps by China or other fast- growing developing countries. It took until 2009 for the leaders of the world& # 8217; s largest economic powers to agree on a : an increase of 2 degrees Celsius ( 3. 6 degrees Fahrenheit) from the average global temperature recorded just before the Industrial Revolution kicked into gear. ( This translates into an increase of 1. 3 degrees Fahrenheit above the Earth& # 8217; s current average temperature, about 59 degrees. ) The Group of 8 industrial powers also agreed in 2009 to a , with the richest countries leading the way by cutting their emissions 80 percent. But they did not set a baseline from which to measure that reduction, and so far firm interim targets & # 8212; which many climate scientists say would be more meaningful & # 8212; have not been defined.

At the same time, fast- growing emerging economic powerhouses, led by China and India, opposed taking on mandatory obligations to curb their emissions. They said they will do what they can to rein in growth in emissions & # 8212; as long as their economies do not suffer. In many ways, the debate over global climate policy is a result of a Emissions of carbon dioxide per person range from less than 2 tons per year in India, where 400 million people lack access to electricity, to more than 20 in the United States. The richest countries are also best able to use wealth and technology to insulate themselves from climate hazards, while the poorest, which have done the least to cause the problem, are the most exposed.

Background Scientists learned long ago that the earth& # 8217; s climate has powerfully shaped the history of the human species & # 8212; biologically, culturally and geographically. But only in the last few decades has research revealed that on the climate, as well. A growing body of scientific evidence indicates that since 1950, the world& # 8217; s climate has been warming, primarily as a result of emissions from unfettered burning of fossil fuels and the razing of tropical forests. Such activity adds to the atmosphere& # 8217; s invisible blanket of carbon dioxide and other heat- trapping & # 8220; greenhouse& # 8221; gases. Recent research has shown that methane, which flows from landfills, livestock and oil and gas facilities, on the atmosphere. That conclusion has emerged through a broad body of analysis in fields as disparate as glaciology, the study of glacial formations, and palynology, the study of the distribution of pollen grains in lake mud.

It is based on a host of assessments by the world& # 8217; s leading In the last several years, the scientific case that the rising human influence on climate could become disruptive has become particularly robust. are inevitable regardless of human activity & # 8212; because of decades- long ocean cycles, for example. But centuries of rising temperatures and seas lie ahead if the release of emissions from the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation continues unabated, according to the , a group that shared the with former Vice President Al Gore.

In addition, a report released by the I. C. in November 2011 predicted that global warming will cause more dangerous and & # 8220; unprecedented extreme weather& # 8221; in the future. Despite the scientific consensus on these basic conclusions, enormously important details remain murky. That reality has been seized upon by some groups and scientists disputing the overall consensus and opposing changes in energy policies.

For example, estimates of the amount of warming that would result from a doubling of greenhouse gas concentrations ( compared to the level just before the Industrial Revolution got under way in the early 19th century) range from 3. 6 degrees to 8 degrees Fahrenheit. The intergovernmental climate panel said it could not rule out even higher temperatures. While the low end could probably be tolerated, the high end would almost certainly result in calamitous, long- lasting disruptions of ecosystems and economies, a host of studies have concluded. A wide range of and say that level of risk justifies an aggressive response. Other questions have persisted despite a pointing to human- driven warming.

The rate and extent at which sea levels will rise in this century as ice sheets erode remains highly uncertain, even as the long- term forecast of remains intact. Scientists are struggling more than ever to disentangle how the heat building in the seas and atmosphere will affect . The latest science suggests there will be more hurricanes and typhoons that reach the most dangerous categories of intensity, but

Bounded roughly by the Avenue of the Americas and the Hudson River, and by Houston and 14th Streets, the Village is a mash- up: bohemian but buttoned down, timeworn but modern, artsy but corporate: the place whose quaint of 19th- century town houses with Greater Manhattan& # 8217; s boxy grid at a 45- degree angle, in a manner at once confusing and symbolic. Names to Know Curious about how the Village came by its intellectual reputation? Check out the lives of , , , and . And don& # 8217; t forget , who in the late & # 8217; 50s wrote her urban planning critique, on Hudson Street. Where to Shop Wonder how turned into a tourist checkpoint? , , , and others, with their wall- to- wall customers, provide Exhibit A. Where to Call Home What makes an architect of Villages past and present? In the late & # 8217; 60s he designed , an affordable community for artists on and the Hudson River.

In 2002 he designed , a pair of sleek, expensive residential towers. Seeking residential possibilities? Look along the waterfront for ; on Greenwich Avenue and Hudson Street for ; on West Street for , a condo that takes up a block. If all this is making you hungry, there is at one end of the spectrum; at the other, the , a hotspot owned by the magazine editor .

Finding a School What about the schools? 41, on West 11th Street; P.

3 and Village Middle School on Hudson Street.

Private options include , a k- through- 12 school that costs $ 27, 000 to $ 29, 000 a year.

In With the New and . . . Iconic survivors include the , birthplace of the modern gay rights movement, and the , a longtime haven for jazz.

Most- mourned casualties?

Think Kim& # 8217; s Music and Video, , , and , the Lost Generation& # 8217; s watering hole. And, finally, biggest change in the past decade: the morphing of disused piers into .

Ole Miss vs. Vanderbilt Aug 30, 2003 Game Story NASHVILLE, Tennessee ( Ticker) - - Joe Nichols kicked a 54- yard field goal with 3: 53 left as Mississippi escaped with a 24- 21 victory over Vanderbilt in a Southeastern Conference game. Nichols, who also connected from 51 and 20 yards in the second quarter, capped a seven- play, 55- yard drive that gave the Rebels their first lead of the game and sent the Commodores to their 18th straight SEC defeat. Eli Manning of Mississippi ( 1- 0, 1- 0 SEC West) kicked off his senior season by completing 22- of- 33 passes for 275 yards.

His lone touchdown pass was a 23- yarder to Mike Espy with 9: 24 left that tied the game at 21- 21. Vanderbilt led 7- 6 at halftime and increased the lead to 14- 6 on a 50- yard TD pass from Benji Walker to Eric Davis with 9: 59 left in the third quarter. But the Rebels rallied to tie on a one- yard touchdown run by Vashon Pearson and a successful two- point conversion.

The Commodores ( 0- 1, 0- 1 East) took a 21- 14 lead early in the fourth quarter on a two- yard TD pass from Jay Cutler to Brandon Smith. Cutler completed 20- of- 32 passes for 248 yards and two scores. Ole Miss defeated Vanderbilt for the fourth straight time and handed the Commodores yet another close loss. Vanderbilt was 2- 10 last season and in six of those games had possession late in the fourth quarter with a chance to tie or take the lead with a touchdown.

The biggest and brightest full moon of the year will arrive Saturday night as our celestial neighbor passes closer to Earth than usual. http: / / bcdownload. gannett. edgesuite. net/ contentone/ 44692046001/ 44692046001_ 1622123436001_ ari- origin 07- arc- 154- 1336162235530. jpg? pub. Id= 29906170001 Mark Ruffalo talks about joining the super hero ranks, portraying the Incredible Hulk in one of the year' s most anticipated movie & # 34; The Avengers. & # 34; Ruffalo answers five questions with Bryan Alexander. Video produced by Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY http: / / videos. usatoday. net/ 29906170001/ 29906170001_ 1618171279001_ vs- 1618164851001. jpg? pub.

Id= 29906170001 USA TODAY' s Arienne Thompson takes a look at the hottest celebrity fashions of the week. http: / / videos. usatoday. net/ 29906170001/ 29906170001_ 1620843613001_ ari- origin 05- arc- 125- 1336137798142. jpg? pub.

Id= 29906170001 Family with four autistic kids says it' s their. . . All four of John & # 38; Nicole May' s sons, ages 2- 10, have autism.

Yet despite the struggles that come along with raising them, the couple says they wouldn' t have it any other way. By Maxine Park/ USA TODAY http: / / videos. usatoday. net/ 29906170001/ 29906170001_ 1573805661001_ Picture- 4. jpg? pub. Id= 29906170001 Analysis: How Mitt Romney will select a running. . . USA Today Washington Bureau Chief Susan Page explains how presidential candidates choose a running mate and what we can expect from Mitt Romney. http: / / bcdownload. gannett. edgesuite. net/ contentone/ 44692046001/ 44692046001_ 1613949857001_ vs- 1613923999001. jpg? pub.

Id= 29906170001 Analysis: GOP Vice Presidential possibilities to. . . USA Today Washington Bureau Chief Susan Page with analysis on who Mitt Romney might choose for a running mate. http: / / bcdownload. gannett. edgesuite. net/ contentone/ 44692046001/ 44692046001_ 1613869085001_ ari- origin 07- arc- 157- 1335803770034. jpg? pub.

Id= 29906170001 USA TODAY' S Arienne Thomspon talks to celebs at the White House Correspondents' Dinner and gets the scoop on what they' re wearing. http: / / videos. usatoday. net/ 29906170001/ 29906170001_ 1611262243001_ vs- 1611236023001. jpg? pub. Id= 29906170001 Ryan O' Neal talks about his life with Farrah. . .

Actor Ryan O' Neal talks to USA TODAY' s Bryan Alexander about his new book & # 34; Both of Us - My Life with Farrah& # 34; . Video produced by Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY http: / / videos. usatoday. net/ 29906170001/ 29906170001_ 1604049103001_ vs- 1603964371001. jpg? pub. Id= 29906170001 Singer Norah Jones ansers five questions for USA TODAY.

By Todd Plitt and Rene Alston http: / / videos. usatoday. net/ 29906170001/ 29906170001_ 1602417000001_ vs- 1602332255001. jpg? pub. Id= 29906170001 The Original Renaissance Pleasure Faire ? ? “ the world? ? ™s oldest ? ? “ presents its 50th season beginning April 7 and continuing each weekend through May 20 at the Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area in Irwindale, CA. http: / / videos. usatoday. net/ 29906170001/ 29906170001_ 1602247285001_ vs- 1602137209001. jpg? pub. Id= 29906170001 USA TODAY' s Cindy Clark takes a look at the trend- setting Kate Middleton, now Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, and some of her most fabulous outfits from the past year. http: / / videos. usatoday. net/ 29906170001/ 29906170001_ 1595505453001_ vs- 1595388769001. jpg? pub. Id= 29906170001 Carrie Underwood discusses the current American Idol singers, her newest album and being a part of the Grand Ole Opry. http: / / videos. usatoday. net/ 29906170001/ 29906170001_ 1593843561001_ vs- 1593733086001. jpg? pub.

Id= 29906170001 Supreme Court hears arguments over AZ immigration. . . Protestors rallied at the steps of the U. Supreme Court today, as the justices heard arguments in the federal government? ? ™s case against Arizona? ? ™s controversial immigration law, SB 1070. By Maxine Park/ USA TODAY http: / / videos. usatoday. net/ 29906170001/ 29906170001_ 1587417221001_ Picture- 1. jpg? pub.

Id= 29906170001 USA TODAY reporter Wendy Koch gives a tour of her newly constructed eco- friendly home in Falls Church, VA. http: / / videos. usatoday. net/ 29906170001/ 29906170001_ 1571373099001_ ari- origin 05- arc- 139- 1334852536888. jpg? pub. Id= 29906170001 USA TODAY' s Cindy Clark checks out the hot fashions celebrities showed off this week. http: / / videos. usatoday. net/ 29906170001/ 29906170001_ 1571775475001_ ari- origin 05- arc- 166- 1334879998678. jpg? pub. Id= 29906170001 Kevin Kline talks about his new film & # 34; Darling. . .

Actor Kevin Kline talks about his latest film, & # 34; Darling Companion& # 34; , his sixth film with director Lawrence Kasdan. Also in the film are Diane Keaton, Dianne Wiest, Richard Jenkins and Sam Shepard. Video produced by Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY http: / / videos. usatoday. net/ 29906170001/ 29906170001_ 1569928911001_ vs- 1569924628001. jpg? pub. Id= 29906170001 Kathy Griffin gives USA TODAY a tour of the set of her new Bravo talk show ' Kathy' . http: / / videos. usatoday. net/ 29906170001/ 29906170001_ 1569514416001_ ari- origin 05- arc- 169- 1334780833854. jpg? pub.

Id= 29906170001 Government regulators were warned more than 10 years ago about the locations of 464 forgotten lead smelting firms that operated in the 1930s to 1960s and may have deposited dangerous levels of lead contamination in nearby soil. http: / / videos. usatoday. net/ 29906170001/ 29906170001_ 1566049300001_ vs- 1566016003001. jpg? pub. Id= 29906170001 In hundreds of neighborhoods across the United States, children are living and playing near sites where factories once spewed lead and other toxic metal particles into the air. http: / / videos. usatoday. net/ 29906170001/ 29906170001_ 1560696304001_ vs- 1560520652001. jpg? pub. Id= 29906170001 Tests by USA TODAY in neighborhoods near former lead factories showed dirt so contaminated that children shouldn' t be playing in it. The soil tests revealed potentially dangerous lead levels in areas of all 21 neighborhoods examined in 13 states. http: / / videos. usatoday. net/ 29906170001/ 29906170001_ 1561050488001_ vs- 1561037882001. jpg? pub.

Id= 29906170001 Regulators investigating the forgotten smelter, Tyroler Metals, tested soil in 2003 and found high levels of lead indicating a possible fallout zone on a neighborhood. Yet they never told people living nearby or ordered any cleanup, USA TODAY found. http: / / videos. usatoday. net/ 29906170001/ 29906170001_ 1560898620001_ vs- 1560877936001. jpg? pub. Id= 29906170001 Historical fire insurance maps, called Sanborn Maps, help researchers discover what companies or factories operated many decades ago in regions across the country. http: / / videos. usatoday. net/ 29906170001/ 29906170001_ 1560791236001_ vs- 1560778544001. jpg? pub. Id= 29906170001 USA TODAY tested more than 1, 000 samples of soil in 21 neighborhoods near former smelting sites across the country by XRF ( X- ray fluorescence) and laboratory methods to see whether potentially harmful levels of lead are present. http: / / videos. usatoday. net/ 29906170001/ 29906170001_ 1560952018001_ vs- 1560947568001. jpg? pub. Id= 29906170001 Portland, Ore. : Multmonah Metal Co.

Works Portland, Ore. : Multmonah Metal Co. Works Portland resident Barbee Williams has owned a home next to an old smelter site for 22 years. Three tests showed lead levels over 1, 000 ppm in the soil of her yard. http: / / videos. usatoday. net/ 29906170001/ 29906170001_ 1565277123001_ vs- 1565202098001. jpg? pub.

Id= 29906170001 Chicago: Loewenthal Metals Corp. Chicago: Loewenthal Metals Corp. Loewenthal Metals Corp. operated a lead smelter during the 1940s along West Cullerton Street in Chicago' s Pilsen neighborhood, records show.

The former factory site is now a vacant lot in the middle of homes, and just down the street from a school. http: / / videos. usatoday. net/ 29906170001/ 29906170001_ 1560722787001_ vs- 1560695126001. jpg? pub.

Id= 29906170001 The area along Hiawatha Avenue, where Northwestern Smelting once operated, has been extensively redeveloped to include a light- rail line and a bike trail. USA TODAY sampled soil in the vicinity of the former site and found varying levels of lead. http: / / videos. usatoday. net/ 29906170001/ 29906170001_ 1560853511001_ vs- 1560838943001. jpg? pub. Id= 29906170001 West Allis, Wis. : Allied Smelting West Allis, Wis. : Allied Smelting Fred Kuolt who has lived in the suburban Milwaukee neighborhood of West Allis, Wisconsin, since 1950, remembers the horrible smells that used to come from Allied Smelting, making it difficult for his wife, Lorraine, to breathe. http: / / videos. usatoday. net/ 29906170001/ 29906170001_ 1560883835001_ vs- 1560860694001. jpg? pub.

Id= 29906170001 Philadelphia: John T. Lewis / National Lead Philadelphia: John T. Lewis / National Lead Federal officials have known about lead contamination in the neighborhood for decades, evaluating it as far back as the 1980s, records show.

The Environmental Protection Agency is currently deciding whether a cleanup of residents' yards is needed. http: / / videos. usatoday. net/ 29906170001/ 29906170001_ 1561011812001_ vs- 1561005828001. jpg? pub. Id= 29906170001 Carteret, N.

J. : U. Metals Refining Co. Carteret, N.

J. : U.

Metals Refining Co. Alex Marciniak remembers his grandmother complaining about the dust that spewed from the smelting plant across the street from her home in Carteret, N. J. http: / / videos. usatoday. net/ 29906170001/ 29906170001_ 1560793420001_ vs- 1560785860001. jpg? pub. Id= 29906170001 Philadelphia: White Brothers Smelting Co. & # 38; Thos. . . . Philadelphia: White Brothers Smelting Co. & # 38; Thos.

Lukens Metal Co. Soil testing by USA TODAY in yards and a grassy alley behind homes along Hedley Street found levels of lead contamination above the EPA' s hazard level of 400 ppm for bare soil where children play. http: / / videos. usatoday. net/ 29906170001/ 29906170001_ 1560864556001_ vs- 1560860768001. jpg? pub. Id= 29906170001

BALTIMORE ( AP) - The Pittsburgh Steelers had already accomplished their primary goals in the regular season, so the AFC North champions entered the finale against the Baltimore Ravens with a different objective: Stay healthy. The Steelers sustained a few injuries in their 27- 21 loss Sunday, but more important was the fact that several key players - including quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and wide receiver Hines Ward - were held out to allow their wounds to heal.

Minutes after the game ended, and perhaps well before then, the Steelers turned their attention toward the Jacksonville Jaguars, their opponent Saturday night in the opening round of the postseason. ' ' Ready or not, here we come, ' ' first- year coach Mike Tomlin said. ' ' That' s the reality of it. We' re a 10- 6 team, we won our division, we' ve got a home game versus the five seed and we look forward to preparing for that. ' ' Pittsburgh could have captured the No. 3 seed by defeating Baltimore, coupled with a loss by San Diego, but the Steelers downplayed that scenario earlier in the week. It wasn' t just idle talk. If this game meant anything to the Steelers, they probably would have played Roethlisberger, Ward, safety Troy Polamalu and cornerback/ kick returner Allen Rossum.

All were on the inactive list, nursing minor injuries. Playing for the first time since replacing Roethlisberger in a 38- 7 rout of Baltimore on Nov. 5, Charlie Batch went 16- for- 31 for 218 yards and two interceptions. Fifty- nine of those yards came on a touchdown pass to Santonio Holmes with 7: 13 remaining. That made it 27- 14, and after a successful onside kick, Batch threw a fourth- down TD pass to Cedrick Wilson with 3: 36 left.

But the comeback bid ended with an interception by David Pittman in the closing seconds. Musa Smith ran for 83 yards and a touchdown in his first NFL start, helping the Ravens ( 5- 11) earn their first victory since Oct. 14 and end a nine- game losing streak. ' ' I took a deep breath once we got that interception, ' ' Ravens receiver Derrick Mason said. ' ' All that frustration just came out. No matter how the season went, we were able to win our last game, and that' s good. ' ' Pittsburgh hopes to be playing well into January. The Steelers didn' t show much emotion in the rain while losing in Baltimore for a fifth consecutive season, but they should be far more inspired - and healthy - against the Jaguars. ' ' We played flat.

We really didn' t get anything going, ' ' Wilson said. ' ' We made a few big plays, but at the same time we really didn' t execute like we should have. ' ' Najeh Davenport, elevated to the starter' s role last week after Willie Parker went down with a season- ending broken leg, ran for 27 yards on 12 carries before leaving in the third quarter.

The Ravens, meanwhile, will enter the offseason without the burden of a franchise- record losing streak that included five defeats by at least 14 points. ' ' It was great, ' ' coach Brian Billick said of the victory. ' ' Hopefully, that' s a sign of things to come. ' ' Plagued by turnovers all season, Baltimore took advantage of one to go up 7- 0. Starting in place of Rossum, Willie Reid fumbled the opening kickoff and Devard Darling recovered at the Pittsburgh 35. Eight plays later, Smith scored from 2. One week earlier, Smith was third on the depth chart. But Willis Mc.

Gahee fractured two ribs last week in a loss to Seattle, and backup Mike Anderson was out with a hamstring injury. Pittsburgh' s first possession ended when Batch threw an incomplete pass on a fourth- down play from the Baltimore 32, and the Ravens moved 57 yards before Matt Stover kicked a field goal to make it 10- 0.

On the ensuing kickoff, Reid lost the ball after slipping on the wet turf. It was ruled a fumble, but a replay reversed the call. A 32- yard touchdown run by fourth- string running back Cory Ross made it 17- 0.

Davenport scored from the 1 with 10 minutes left in the second quarter, but Stover kicked a field goal just before halftime to make it 20- 7.

A 15- yard pass from rookie Troy Smith to Darling upped the margin to 20 points in the third quarter. ' ' We didn' t start fast. Hopefully this will be a good lesson for us heading into next week, ' ' Pittsburgh tight end Heath Miller said. ' ' We' ve got to start from the opening kickoff and be on top of our game. ' ' Smith, making his second NFL start, went 16- for- 27 for 171 yards.

Notes: Pittsburgh allowed six rushing TDs this year, three by Baltimore. . . . Steelers injuries included T Max Starks ( left knee sprain) , LB James Harrison ( shoulder bruise) , CB Bryant Mc. Fadden ( ankle) , Reid ( shoulder) . . . . Mason finished with a team- record 103 catches.

Rob Lowe is set to play Drew Peterson in an upcoming made- for- TV movie.

There' s just one problem. & nbsp; Rob Lowe is set to play Drew Peterson in an upcoming made- for- TV movie. There' s just one problem. & nbsp; Peterson isn& rsquo; t having it.

Lawyers for the former Bolingbrook cop fired off a cease and desist letter to Lowe and Lifetime Entertainment on Wednesday, threatening legal action if the plug isn& rsquo; t pulled on the production by the end of Friday. & nbsp; The counsel is reportedly concerned that the film, which is based on the non- fiction book & ldquo; Fatal Vows: The Tragic Wives of Drew Peterson& rdquo; by former Joliet Herald- News reporter Joe Hosey, is an unauthorized use of Peterson& rsquo; s name and likeness. & nbsp; Peterson' s attorneys allege that Hosey& rsquo; s work is " nothing more than a deliberate and calculated assemblage of falsehoods constituting a character assassination . . . to falsely and intentionally insinuate that my client is a despicable wife& nbsp; murderer. " & ldquo; First and foremost we want to make sure Drew gets an unbiased jury pool, & rdquo; Peterson& rsquo; s defense attorney, Joel Brodsky, told Chicago Sun- Times . & ldquo; But even after the trial, . . .

PHISHING FOR CREDITS Computer hackers have found a new target. Instead of stealing corporate funds, hackers are now phishing for carbon emission certificates.

News reports say hackers launched an impressive attack against numerous companies in Europe, New Zealand and Japan, stealing 250, 000 carbon credit permits from six companies worth more than $ 4 million. Under environmental cap- and- trade laws, companies get a certain amount of credits in an effort to mitigate greenhouse gasses.

Companies can then buy more credits from another company with a surplus for a higher cost. . . & nbsp;

You won' t see the big guy here very often, but that doesn' t keep hopeful sports fans from packing it in. But when the toothy- grinned former Broncos QB John Elway doesn' t show, diners console themselves with some of the best steak- house fare in town, . . . In the two buildings that once held the popular restaurant Somethin' Else, a group of veteran restaurateurs have opened a charming eatery to rave reviews. Fruition features well- crafted, elegant comfort food made from seasonal ingredients in compelling . . .

, wife of former President and founder of the drug and alcohol center in her name, has died, reports.

She was 93.

Ford, who served as the First Lady from 1974 to 1977, died Friday evening surrounded by family.

Ford wed the future president in 1948 and was a strong supporter in her husband' s campaign for Congress. Gerald, who died in 2006, served in Washington for 25 years before becoming the leader of the . During his presidency, Betty Ford made headlines as a proponent for breast cancer and an advocate for the Equal Rights Amendment. She was even named Newsweek ' s " Woman of the Year" in 1975.

One year after leaving the , Ford made headlines for a different reason when she checked into Long Beach Naval Hospital to be treated for alcohol and painkiller abuse. After struggling with her own addictions, in October 1982, she co- founded the Betty Ford Clinic in Rancho Mirage, Calif. , with philanthropist Leonard Firestone. The famous clinic has treated a long list of celebrities that includes rocker , country star and Community star . & # 160; View original at Related Articles on TVGuide. com Other Links From TVGuide. com

Power plant operators are nervously awaiting a new Environmental Protection Agency regulation, finalized last week, which requires more than 1, 000 facilities, including more than 500 coal- fired plants, to meet stricter emissions standards so as not to pollute neighboring states. & # 160; The regulation, called the Cross- State Air Pollution Rule, calls for plants to install scrubbers to lower particulate emissions in states that are downwind.

The EPA says the new rule will ultimately protect 240 million Americans in 27 states from smog and soot pollution and & # 160; prevent up to 34, 000 premature deaths, 15, 000 nonfatal heart attacks and 1. 8 million sick days.

But the rule, one of a slew of EPA regulations directed at smokestack industries in the coming months, will impose huge costs on power plant operators, say industry representatives. & # 160; " There are five or six other regulations coming down the pike that will have a huge impact on industry and on consumers and businesses, especially in parts of the country where we still have industrial manufacturing jobs, " said Jeffrey Holmstead , an expert in environmental strategies at the law firm of Bracewell and Giuliani. Industry studies suggest that the Cross- State Air Pollution Rule, when coupled with other EPA regulations, could force the closure of scores of coal- fired power plants, raise the price of electricity by as much as 23 percent in some areas, and cause 1. 4 million job losses by 2020. Environmentalists dispute those findings, suggesting that retrofitting scrubbers in hundreds of power plants nationwide will produce thousands of short- term jobs. John Walke of the Natural Resources Defense Council says the costs borne by utilities and electricity consumers will be made up by the recouping of lost productivity, illness and death caused by pollution. & # 160; " The happy news about EPA' s clean air protections will be to reduce premature deaths from heart attacks, and asthma attacks in states that are home to 240 million American, enabling people to go to work and school when they would normally have to stay home sick, " Walke said.

He adds that the cost to power plant operators of installing scrubbers, which can run into the millions of dollars, is not as burdensome as the industry contends. & # 160; The " transport" rule was first devised during the but was held up by court challenges. Because of those court imposed delays in finalizing the rule, Walke says power companies have had five years to capitalize the expense of installing scrubbers. But industry representatives contend the costs of the new regulations are much higher than EPA admits. & # 160; " Over the last 20 years we' ve seen manufacturing move to parts of the country where energy is affordable, so you don’ t see a lot of manufacturing in California or in the old industrial areas of New York, " Holmstead said. " It' s mostly in the Midwest and Southeast.

And the problem is all of the industries compete in the global market. As the EPA continues to regulate the cost of energy higher, they can' t compete in the global market place. " EPA' s lack of consideration of costs imposed by its regulations are the subject of considerable consternation on . House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton last week said that the accelerated rate of new regulations on energy and other sectors by the EPA " has turned regulation from a manageable tool into an unpredictable moving target that makes it difficult for companies to invest and create jobs. " The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy and Power last week approved legislation to hold the Obama administration to more transparency for the cost of EPA' s regulatory zeal. & # 160; The TRAIN Act, which has some bipartisan support, would require an interagency analysis of all the costs incurred by private industry because of EPA regulations. " It’ s absurd for taxpayer funded federal agencies to impose burdensome regulations on consumers and businesses without first determining how much it’ s going to cost and the potential consequences it could have on our overall economy, " said Rep. , R- Okla. Similar legislation is being considered in the Senate.

Clayton Morris joined FOX News Channel ( FNC) in 2008 and is the co- host of " FOX & Friends Weekend. " He also hosts a technology show called " Gadgets and Games with Clayton Morris" on FOXNews. com' s Strategy Room, which looks at the latest gadgets and gizmos on the market. Prior to joining FNC, Morris worked for FOX 29 in Philadelphia where he was the host of " Good Day Philadelphia. " Before that, he worked in Orlando on the launch of the WB Network' s nationally syndicated morning show " The Daily Buzz, " he was an anchor at WVVA- TV in Bluefield, West Virginia, and he was a political reporter at Montana' s CBS affiliate. Morris got his start in television as a producer for " Good Day L. A. " at KTTV in Los Angeles. He attended the University of Pittsburgh where he received degrees in U.

S. history and broadcast journalism.

Former Syracuse great Floyd Little has been a frequent visitor over the years to the Carrier Dome on fall afternoons to watch his alma mater play. Former Syracuse great Floyd Little has been a frequent visitor over the years to the Carrier Dome on fall afternoons to watch his alma mater play. The commute just got a lot shorter. Little, a three- time All- American, is returning to serve as special assistant to athletics director Daryl Gross, the school announced Thursday. Little will be responsible for development and donor relations, he will assist with student- athlete and team development and recruiting, and also handle special projects. " I have a great love for Syracuse and always have been an ambassador for the school, " Little said. " I think this is a great opportunity.

I talk about ' GPS, ' which is grace, passion and skill. My grace from God is to give so much in teaching. I think that I am a great teacher and I have a lot to give. " Little, a star tailback and kick returner, holds school records for career touchdowns ( 46) and career punts returned for touchdowns ( six) .

He finished fifth in Heisman Trophy voting in both his junior an. . .

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius is praising a recommendation from the Institute of Medicine that insurance companies be required to offer free contraceptives to all women in a report she called " historic, " suggesting she may make the recommendation an official policy.

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius is praising a recommendation from the Institute of Medicine that insurance companies be required to offer free contraceptives to all women in a report she called " historic, " suggesting she may make the recommendation an official policy. The prospect of free, government- ordered contraceptives and even agents to induce abortion, has ignited a national debate. Some are clearly pleased. " The request for the study actually came out of the health care legislation and I am pleased that the secretary has indicated that the department will implement it quickly, " said Rep. Lois Capps, D- Calif. " Currently, nearly one in three women finds it difficult to pay for birth control, & rdquo; Naral Pro- Choice America said in a statement. & ldquo; We are confident that the Obama administration will adopt. . . the recommendations. & rdquo; But Sandy Rios, a vice president for Family Pac Federal, a conservative political action committee, disagrees. " It' s feminist pork.

It' s a, it' s . . .

The top- ranked passing game in the NFL was no match for the Baltimore Ravens, who disposed of the Denver Broncos in typical lopsided fashion.

Ray Rice ran for 133 yards and two touchdowns, and the Ravens frustrated Denver quarterback Kyle Orton in a 31- 17 victory Sunday. Baltimore ( 4- 1) jumped to a 17- 0 lead and coasted to its third straight win, the first this season by double digits. The Ravens moved past idle Pittsburgh into sole possession of first place in the AFC North. The Broncos ( 2- 3) fell to 0- 5 against the Ravens in Baltimore.

In those games, Denver has been outscored 142- 56, including 60- 24 over the last two years. Orton completed his fourth straight 300- yard passing game with a 44- yard touchdown pass to Brandon Lloyd with 35 seconds left. It was of little consolation to the Broncos, who hurt themselves by losing a fumble and committing 10 penalties for 90 yards. What was billed as a duel between the best passing game in the league and the No. 1 passing defense turned into a mismatch.

Orton went 23 for 38 for 314 yards and two touchdowns, both to Lloyd. But Denver never got closer than 10 points after the Ravens went up by 17 with 9: 21 left in the second quarter. Baltimore' s Joe Flacco completed 14 of 25 passes for 196 yards and ran for a score. Unlike Orton, he was backed by a solid running game. The Ravens led 17- 7 at halftime after keeping the Broncos from crossing the 50- yard line until after the two- minute warning.

A 58- yard pass from Flacco to tight end Ed Dickson helped the Ravens move to the Denver 1 on their opening possession.

The drive fizzled when Willis Mc. Gahee was twice stuffed at the line and Jason Hunter sacked Flacco on fourth down.

Baltimore got it right on its second try, marching 73 yards to go up 7- 0. Flacco went 4 for 4 for 51 yards before sneaking in from the 1, his first touchdown since Oct. 26, 2008. The Ravens again forced a punt, then scored another touchdown.

After Denver' s Perrish Cox was called for pass interference in the end zone, Rice took it in from the 1. First- round draft pick Demaryius Thomas fumbled the ensuing kickoff when hit by Jason Phillips, a collision that forced Thomas from the game with head and neck injuries. Baltimore recovered at the 20, and a field goal by Billy Cundiff made it 17- 0. The Broncos finally broke through with 48 seconds left in the half on a 42- yard pass from Orton to Lloyd, who made a diving catch in the back of the end zone.

In the fourth quarter, after Rice scored on a 1- yard run, Matt Prater kicked a field goal for Denver to make it 24- 10. Mc. Gahee iced the victory with a 30- yard touchdown run with 5: 06 remaining.

NORWALK, Iowa & # 8211; & nbsp; Republican presidential candidate promised Wednesday that she would submit only balanced budgets if elected next year, but she stopped short of promising to veto any deficit budget presented to her by Congress. " I can' t control what the Congress will do. But I will guarantee you I will submit a balanced budget, " Bachmann said in answering a voter' s question during a campaign event in a backyard south of Des Moines. When asked a moment later if she would veto a deficit budget, she hesitated. " Well, I will work with them on it. I will do everything I can, " she said. " Most likely, I probably will. " The Minnesota congresswoman returned to Iowa, which has the nation' s first presidential caucuses, after voting Tuesday in Washington against a bill that would have raised the federal debt limit, but also included sharp spending cuts, a cap on spending and steps toward a balanced budget amendment.

Bachmann signed a pledge endorsing the so- called " cut, cap and balance" approach to the national debt Monday in South Carolina. Bachmann had previously refused to sign the pledge because she said it didn' t go far enough in dealing with the national debt. She signed after eight other presidential candidates, saying she agreed there needs to be a " fundamental restructuring" of government spending. Bachmann told the audience of about 75 Iowa Republican activists Wednesday that while she agreed with bill' s " cut, cap and balance" principles, she voted against it because she has taken a hard line against raising the debt limit.

She also said she had hoped the bill would have included language to repeal the federal health care law enacted last year. " I have a rock solid record of being a fiscal conservative, and a real fiscal hawk, " she said. Bachmann planned a full day of campaigning in Iowa after facing questions Tuesday about migraine headaches she suffers. The questions were prompted by a story published in The Daily Caller, a GOP- leaning website, which said Bachmann suffered from sometimes debilitating, chronic migraines. Her campaign issued a statement Tuesday saying Bachmann takes prescription medication when the symptoms arise, but the headaches would not impede her ability to serve as president.

At her Wednesday morning event, Bachmann stood in direct sunlight wearing long sleeves in temperatures approaching 90 degrees for more than 30 minutes. She sipped some water and later posed for pictures and shook hands for another 20 minutes. Asked by reporters afterward about her headaches, Bachmann responded briskly: " I keep a very rigorous schedule, and I feel great. " Bachmann, who is ramping up her effort to urge Iowa caucusgoers to attend an August straw poll, also visited a diner in suburban Des Moines, met with ministers and planned to conduct an event on .

HOBOKEN, N. J. & # 8211; & nbsp; receiver has pleaded not guilty to three disorderly person charges stemming from a June arrest in New Jersey. Hoboken police had suspected Britt was carrying a marijuana cigar.

Britt entered his plea Tuesday in Hoboken Municipal Court. He declined comment. A judge set a Sept.

20 trial date. The former Rutgers star has had a series of recent legal difficulties. Britt pleaded guilty last month to violations related to a speeding arrest in his hometown of Bayonne. He surrendered June 29 to Tennessee authorities on warrants alleging he provided inaccurate information on driver' s license applications.

A man filed a civil lawsuit against Britt on June 27 seeking damages from a Nashville bar fight.

Posh and bercomfy, this chic new hot spot has crushed velvet couches, hardwood floors, elegant wood furniture, and floor- to- ceiling windows.

Hipsters love the bar upstairs— it has incredible views and is dotted with tasteful photos of tatooed beauties. . . . Two large, Greek- inspired sculptures greet guests as they walk through the entrance of this exquisitely designed hotel. The rooms— with their platinum and champagne color palettes and textured wallpaper— start at 615 square feet and double in size for those . . .

On a quiet block near the Loop, this 45- story pink- granite building underwent a major renovation in 2008.

Here, suites offer stunning views of Millennium Park. Coveted whirlpools are only available in grand suites, housed on the top floor. Aria, an upscale . . .

At the ultrarefined Four Seasons, guest rooms begin on the 30th floor ( the hotel sits atop the tony 900 North Michigan Shops) , so there' s a distinct feeling of seclusion— and great views to boot.

The rooms look elegant: inspired by 1940s French decor and . . . This eco- friendly hot spot boasts a rich brown, purple, and green lobby that turns into a makeshift meeting room by day. The guest rooms are large; the brightly colored nature photographs breathe life into to soft browns and gray tones found throughout. . . . The lobby, decorated with glass sculptures hanging from the ceiling, is small, inviting, and bustling. The wooden wall sculpture lends a den- type feel, a surprisingly rustic splash in the otherwise modern setting.

The rooms are typically small in size, but . . .

Even though this hotel caters to business travelers, there is something refreshingly noncorporate about its guest rooms and lobby dressed in plucky blues and greens. Furthering the summer- in- Cape Cod feel are the rooms' white wooden lounge chairs and . . .

The Shriner greeting " Es Salamu Aleikum" ( " Peace Be To God" ) etched on foyer columns and the marble lions throughout remind us of the building' s past as the Medinah Men' s Athletic Club, a private men' s club. Lodging is found in two adjoining buildings. We . . . If you don' t get the hint from the bustling bar scene spilling into the lobby or the antique suitcases stacked as an art piece near the elevator, the James further announces its hipster pedigree when you enter your room. Preprogrammed alt- rock plays on the . . .

The 67- story Park Hyatt, which dominates the skyline high above the old Water Tower, outdoes its grand- hotel neighbors by going all- out with extras. Splash out on one of their enormous suites and you' ll discover TVs over the bathtubs and motion- sensor . . .

On weekend nights the Peninsula' s soaring lobby lounge becomes a chocolate fantasia, centered on an overflowing chocolate buffet. The hotel, committed to keeping its guests well fed and well rested, is also home to one of the city' s most creative . . .

The cosmopolitan Renaissance Chicago, situated on the south bank of the Chicago River, puts a premium on a good night' s sleep: there' s no missing the seven— yep, seven— fluffy white pillows on each bed. When you' re not catching some Zs, you can enjoy views . . .

Perched over Water Tower Place, Michigan Avenue' s best- known shopping mall, the Ritz- Carlton specializes in showering guests with attention. Amenities aren' t wanting: rooms are spacious, with walk- in closets and separate dressing areas. A fitness center, . . . With some of the best views in Chicago, the Trump International Hotel & Tower has attracted a crowd of power brokers, business travelers, and women in fur coats. The elegant guest rooms have muted gray walls, cream- color couches, and chocolate- brown . . .

Once a dreary Days Inn, this place has undergone a complete renovation that transformed it into a sleek, high- energy hotel— and the only one in Chicago directly overlooking Lake Michigan. The lobby is part lounge, part club scene, with velvety couches and . . . Bellhops dressed entirely in black, plus a welcome mat imprinted with " Well, Hello There, " are early indicators that this hotel is hip.

The couch- filled lobby ( nicknamed the Living Room) is a cozy meet- up space with a full bar for those seeking an . . . Gym rats don' t need to hoof it to the on- site fitness center, thanks to four Westin Workout Guest Rooms that come equipped with either a bicycle or a treadmill. Standard rooms— some with views of the Chicago River— have all the basics, including high- speed . . . Easily one of Chicago' s sleekest new editions, this ultrachic spot boasts one of the most happening outdoor bars in town. It announces itself with a massive lightening bolt out front, winged lighting sculptures in the lobby, and a sharp black- and- white . . .