7 Jobs that Make the World a Better Place

Want to make a real difference in the world? Consider one of these seven "green" careers that help protect—and improve—our planet. Provided by Jobs at AOL.

The following story was provided by AOLJobs.com. By Debra Auerbach for CareerBuilder Have you ever had an itch to quit your job and instead do work that makes a real difference in the world? In honor of Earth Day on April 22, we've compiled a list of seven jobs that help people live a better life – from the buildings they work and live in, to the energy that fuels their homes, to the air they breathe.  1. Conservation scientist: Conservation scientists are hired to help preserve and protect natural habitats. They usually work with landowners and federal, state and local governments to find the best ways to use and improve the land while conserving the environment.* 2. Energy auditor: When a building is cooled or heated, it uses energy. …

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MAP: Flooded Roads Throughout Chicago Area

From interstates to local roads, our map provides updates on closures and high-standing water in your area.

From the Wisconsin border to the south side of Chicago and into the western suburbs, local roads, interstates and highways were closed Thursday because of flooding.  Click through the pins above to see which roads in your area — or on your route to and from work today — have been closed due to flooding or have high-standing water. Police are encouraging drivers to avoid roadways with standing water.  If you come upon an area with high-standing water or that is closed, add that information to our map by visiting this link. Otherwise, let us know about the closure by commenting below.  Drivers are asked to beware of high-standing water on roadways. The water on a roadway can be deeper than it appears and can cause a vehicle to stall or be …

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Skokie Man Led International Tax Fraud Scheme

A Skokie, Ill. man was sentenced to 85 months in prison after leading an international tax fraud scheme that shorted the U.S. Department of Treasury of more than $1.6 million.

SKOKIE, Ill. - A Skokie man has been sentenced to 85 months in prison and ordered to pay $1.6 million in restitution after directing more than 20 federal income tax refunds to his homeland in Romania, authorities said on Monday. Ovidiu Isac, 31, of Skokie, claimed refunds in the names of Romania citizens who had visited the U.S. on exchange student visas, authorities said. Isac will be subject to deportation after completing his sentence in the U.S. At least 470 false tax returns, typically claiming refunds between $4,000 and $7,000, were filed and resulted in a loss of more than $1.6 million to the U.S. Treasury during the conspiracy that spanned three tax years between 2007 and 2009.  The returns were filed in the names and social …

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Internet Tough Guy

11:06 am on Tuesday, April 16, 2013

The Treasury Dept has requested slots for an additional 1269 employees, but only 291 of those are agents and 193 of the agents are to be tasked with making sure people get proper tax credits. But, once again, what does this have to do with the article?   more ›

'America's Got Talent' to Hold Chicago Tryouts

NBC's top-rated summer show will be holding auditions in Chicago at McCormick Place on Jan. 26 and Jan. 27.

Last season, "American's Got Talent" had three unique finalists: A comedian, a family dog act and a one-of-a-kind musical instrument. The winner? A group of dogs that danced, performed jump rope tricks and even some gymnastics. "Chicago is an important city for 'America's Got Talent,'" said senior casting producer Jason Shuler. "We have had several top talent audition at our Chicago open calls. Among them are Chicago group Footworkingz and the piano player from Edon from our most current season." Notable winners who auditioned in Chicago: Neal E. Boyd from season three and Kevin Skinner from season four. The show will be holding auditions on Jan. 26 and Jan. 27 at McCormick Place, 2301 Lake Shore Dr. Entrances can be found at Gate 4 or …

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Hundreds Busted in Holiday Retail Theft Ring

More than 100 people were arrested in a complex retail theft scheme that involved operations in various counties and neighboring states, the Cook County State's Attorney announced Dec. 21. Old Orchard mall was among the few targeted.

Hundreds Busted in Holiday Retail Theft Ring

More than 100 people were arrested in a complex retail theft scheme that involved operations in various counties and neighboring states, the Cook County State's Attorney announced today. Malls in Skokie, Niles and Schaumburg were among the few targeted.

A holiday sting operation led to the arrest of more than a 100 "grinches" following a month-long undercover investigation, the Cook County State's Attorney announced today. According to authorities, thieves were targeting stores at Old Orchard Mall in Skokie, Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg, among others, and stealing mass amounts of designer clothing only to be sold at a reduced cost on the black market.  The investigation, dubbed "Operation Whoville," involved a series of separate covert undercover sting operations at six Chicago-area malls that included North Riverside, Orland Square, Woodfield, Gurnee Mills, Aurora Outlet Malls and Old Orchard, authorities said. Arrests were also made at stores on Michigan Avenue and State Street in …

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The Workout

Races and Rides and Triathlons, Oh My

From running races to bike rides and triathlons, the next few months are chock full of events.

While the skeptics still live in fear of one last cold blast, it looks like warm spring weather is here to stay. That means there's no excuse to stay indoors. It's time to get outside for golf, tennis, or a long walk in the woods. However, if you're looking for something a little more challenging than a stroll on the beach, you're in luck. This time of year there are dozens of organized athletic events nearby. Whether you want to run your first 5k or try a two-day, 200 mile bike ride, there's something for everyone. Thanks to the web, finding an event has never been easier. Check out sites such as Chicago Athlete, the Chicago Area Runners Association, Running in the USA, BikeRide.com and TriFind for comprehensive listings.  To get you …

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Carrie Porter

3:53 pm on Monday, April 9, 2012

Good to know! That sounds like a lot of fun. Does anyone else have rides to suggest?   more ›

The Workout

The Chicago Marathon: A Second Chance at 26.2 Miles

The Chicago Marathon sold out six days after registration opened, but don't let that stop you from running it.

October seems far away, particularly when we're still plagued by weather forecasts calling for a “wintry mix.” We can imagine, if we try hard enough, the thin warmth of spring, but the oppressive heat of summer and the perfectly balanced days of fall aren't even on our radar yet. But that didn't stop the Chicago Marathon, slated for Oct. 7, 2012, from selling out in record time when registration opened on Feb. 1. In fact, the 45,000 participant capacity was reached in a whiplash-inducing six days. Yes, it took less than a week for all those crazy runners to decide that sweating it out for 26.2 miles on the streets of Chicago was something they just had to do. I know at least a few runners who were on the fence about signing up. They …

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Chicago's Millenium Reserve to be Biggest Urban Park

Emanuel and Quinn plan to spend $18 million to improve 140,000 acres of under developed land on the city's south side.

Community Letters

Preview: Chicago-Area Municipalities Propose Solutions to ComEd Outages

The NWMC will host a press conference at 10 a.m. Tuesday regarding their concerns.

The above letter was submitted by the Northwest Municipal Conference, a regional association of Illinois governing bodies that represents more than one million residents. Stay tuned to Patch for more on the story. Like your local Patch on Facebook to join the conversation. 

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