Chicago Streamlines Online Services with $1.8 Million Web Site Makeover

For the past nine years, Chicago residents had to deal with a city Web site that was sluggish and clunky, leaving users with more questions than answers.

But, city officials promised, the new Web site unveiled March 12 will make it easier for residents to pay their city bills and parking tickets online, apply for city licenses, use social media tools and find services even if they don't know which city department offers them...