Taras Kuzio

For Ukraine group leader Vyacheslav Kyrylenko told Channel 5 television on April 10 that Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko has chosen former Parliament Speaker Arseniy Yatsenyuk as his successor. It remains unclear if Yatsenyuk has gotten round to sending a "thank you" to the president for his endorsement.

A preliminary, and possibly premature, report of the 18-day Russian-Ukrainian "Gas War" of January 2009 might read as follows: This war should never have taken place. The conflict had little to do with the commercial disagreements between "Gazprom" and "Naftohaz Ukrainy"these were resolved by the "Memorandum of Agreement" signed on October 2, 2008, by Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart Yulia Tymoshenko.

Challenges Chicagoans to Protect Children; Announces more funding for summer jobs for youth and summer parks programs, and a new CPS program aimed at easing the transition to high school for 8th graders

Mayor Richard M. Daley used his annual City of Chicago address to confront the city's challenges: gun violence, especially against children; a national economy in recession and a school system that is progressing but needs to redouble its efforts to keep student achievement going.

With more than half-a -million new square-feet of green roofs installed in 2007, Chicago leads in becoming the greenest City in America. "Cities are no longer the enemies of the natural environment," says Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley of the news.

TORONTO, CANADA - With nearly 517,633 new square-feet of green roofs installed in 2007, Chicago is once again No. 1 on this year's Top 10 List of Best U.S. Green Roof Cities from Green Roofs for Healthy Cities' 3rd Annual Green Roof Market Industry Survey of corporate members. This is the fourth consecutive year in a row that Chicago has come in the top spot in the annual survey. The city beats out Wilmington, DE (No. 2 on the list) by more than 300 thousand square feet.

Steps Can Save Millions of Dollars, Improve Delivery of Services

Mayor Richard M. Daley announced today the city will implement a series of steps recommended by his "21^st Century Commission" aimed at better managing government and reducing spending.

Included among the proposals, which Daley said he has asked his senior staff to put in place, are: offering rewards to employees who generate ideas that improve services or generate new revenue; ...

Parkside of Old Town Provides Mix of Public, Affordable and Market Rate Housing

Mayor Richard M. Daley, joined by U.S. Senator Richard Durbin and Chicago Housing Authority officials, today dedicated Parkside of Old Town, a mixed income community that represents the first replacement housing to be built directly on the site of the former Cabrini Extension North high-rise buildings on the city's Near North Side.

Transit Officials Review Performance in Last Week's Blue Line Emergency

Mayor Richard M. Daley today challenged leaders of the Chicago Transit Authority to strengthen their focus on providing quality services to the riders of the system, particularly including emergency response procedures which did not work as well as possible during a stalled train emergency April 17 in the Blue Line subway.

Addresses "Livability Summit" in Phoenix

Local governments must cooperate regionally and develop working partnerships with business leaders, not-for-profits, interest groups and community organizations in order to create healthy, sustainable communities, Mayor Richard M. Daley will say in Earth Day remarks to be delivered April 22 to an audience of Phoenix, Arizona, business and civic leaders.

First time a technology magnet program has been put into neighborhood schools.

Mayor Richard M. Daley and Chicago Public School officials, continuing a push to increase and expand high-quality education options across the city, today announced a proposal to convert five existing neighborhood schools into magnet cluster schools with a focus on technology. The schools which would receive a new academic focus are Dumas Elementary, Dvorak Math and Science Tech Academy, Dunne Elementary, Nicholson Math and Science Elementary, and Spencer Math and Science Academy. It is the first time a technology magnet program has been put into neighborhood schools.

Special Outreach Program for Seniors and People with Disabilities also Announced

Mayor Richard M. Daley was joined today by Aldermen Danny Solis of the 25^th ward, Otis Damron, Internal Revenue Service Territory Manager, David Marzahl, Executive Director, Center for Economic Progress, Christine Cheng, Director of the Tax Assistance Program and other city officials at the Instituto del Progreso Latino, 2570 South Blue Island in the Pilsen neighborhood to remind taxpayers that they have until Tuesday, April 15^th to file for the Earned Income Tax Credit.

City Clerk del Valle Redesigns Motorcycle Tag

City Clerk del Valle in his first year in office dramatically redesigned the motorcycle tag, so it will actually fit on a motorcycle. The motorcycle tag is the vehicle sticker for motorcycle owners.

"This newly designed motorcycle tag is smaller in size and will be much easier for motorcycle owners to attach to their vehicles," said City Clerk Miguel del Valle.

Students May Be Eligible to Receive Up to $10,000!

City Clerk Miguel del Valle and the Tax Assistance Program have extended the dates for students to receive free assistance when filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. Prospective college students and parents are encouraged to visit City Clerk del Valle's office in Room 107 of City Hall, 121 N. LaSalle St., on Tuesday evenings from 5:30-7:30 p.m. to receive one-on-one assistance to complete the FAFSA form.