The 2010 North American Bed Bug Summit is under way in Rosemont, Illinois, where some 400 exterminators, entomologists, researchers and hoteliers have gathered to discuss bloodsucking insects with experts. Bed bug hysteria has officially reached its apex.

White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel is already polling Chicago about a mayoral run.

Chicago mayor Richard M. Daley announced today that he won't seek another term for the office he's held since 1989. How modest! So: Will Rahm Emanuel leave the White House to run for this vacant office in 2011? Probably.

A reader who lives near William DeJean, the nutty Chicago dentist who's randomly running "Hillary 2012" ads on TV in New Orleans, sent in a photo of DeJean's office window, showcasing a Hillary Clinton cut-out and Bill Clinton rubber mask.

American politics makes such little sense nowadays that any random jumble of words you put together is likely to describe a real-world situation. For example: Some Chicago dentist is currently running "Hillary 2012" TV ads in New Orleans. It's true!

How fun was former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich's corruption trial, which ended with the jury deadlocked on 23 of 24 charges? So fun they're going to try again in January—but without his brother Robert, whose charges were dropped.

The Great Lakes $80 million Asian carp genocide has apparently failed, so officials want to install barriers on the "carp highway." Good luck.

Thought you were safe in the big city? Think again: Not only was an alligator found under a Datsun in New York, another one (pictured) is living in the Chicago river. Your so-called "modern art" museums won't save you now!

[Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's daughter Annie looks like she's about to go toe-to-toe with the paparazzi, who were staking out the family's Chicago house the day after Blago's near acquittal. Image via AP]

We like to make fun of old people because they don't know how to use the Internet. But a new study suggests young people don't really know how the damn Google machine works, either.

Rod Blagojevich probably never imagined that when he hired R. Kelly's former lawyer to close out his corruption trial that it would turn into a circus. Never! But Sam Adam Jr. made a scene, and said he'd go to jail.

JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon—who was once President Obama's favorite banker but is now a persona non grata at the White House—is selling his Chicago home. In it, we find oriental rugs, a mysterious portrait, and fake books.

[Artist Tony Tasset unveiled this alien-like sculpture of a giant eyeball in a Chicago park. Godzilla has already challenged it to a fight in the World Cup for Monsters. Image via Getty]

Illinois hair crook Rod Blagojevich's hatred of the Chicago Tribune is well known—he even urged Tribune boss Sam Zell to fire the editorial page editor. But did you know Blago's wife hates the press even more than he does?

Did you feel sorry for Rod Blagojevich, who just wanted to sell one measly U.S. Senate seat to pay his kids' college tuition and meet mortgage payments? Don't. He also blew $400,000 on clothes as Illinois governor.

A taped conversation played during Rod Blagojevich's corruption trial reveals that he considered naming Oprah to the Senate. "Nobody would assail this pick," he said. "She's a kingmaker…she made Obama." Shoulda picked her! She would have called off the cops.

Great news, Chicago! The Supreme Court has struck down your handgun ban. Everyone go buy like ten. And no other state or locality better think about the outright banning of handguns, because this Supreme Court will strike those down too.

Chicago has been soaked with rain for the last week or so, but the storms provided a gift for the rest of us—a gorgeous, slowed-down video of lightening striking three buildings at the same time. Video inside.

A mutant Asian carp was caught Tuesday in a waterway just six miles from Lake Michigan, after authorities started an $80 million campaign to annihilate the fish population. The carp "are like cockroaches," and could destroy the Great Lakes' ecosystem.

Fifty-four people were shot in Chicago between Friday night and Monday morning. Ten of the victims were killed, including two boys, between 16 and 20, who were found lying face down, naked, on the South Side early Monday morning. [Sun-Times]