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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Past Month is Rainiest April in 143 Years

Last night's rain broke the record for wettest April.

Last night’s rainfall propelled this April into the record books as the wettest in Chicagoland history.  The National Weather Service recorded .7 inches of rain at O’Hare, which brings the total for April to 8.54 inches and tops the previous record set in 1947 of 8.33 inches. It's the rainiest April in the 143 years that rainfall has been recorded in Chicago. Here are Chicago's top five wettest Aprils: 2013: 8.54 inches 1947: 8.33 inches 1975: 7.84 inches 1909: 7.73 inches 1983: 7.69 inches More precipitation could come tonight. The National Weather Service says there is a 40 percent chance of light snow tonight.  

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320 Days Without an Inch of Snow in Chicago Breaks Record

The snowless streak has broken a 1940 record of 319 days. No snow is expected in the immediate future.

With no snow in sight, Wednesday became the 320th consecutive day without at least an inch of snowfall in the Chicago area.  That breaks the record of 319 days previously set in 1940. Chicago is expected to continue to set new records with no snow in the forecast.  Only 1.3 inches have fallen so far this winter, according to the Chicago Tribune. That ties with 1889-1890 as Chicago's "most snow-deprived start."  Get breaking news alerts and follow us on Facebook for more news:

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OPRF Graduate Killed in Chicago's West Pullman Neighborhood

Ulysses "Chris" Gissendanner was shot and killed in Chicago on Jan. 2.

The Wednesday Journal reported that a graduate of Oak Park and River Forest High School, Ulysses "Chris" Gissendanner, 19, was shot and killed while driving in Chicago's West Pullman neighborhood on Jan. 2. Police do not believe he was the target of the shooting. Gissendanner was shot in the 12400 block of south Union Avenue at around 2:30 p.m. by an unknown offender, and was pronounced dead at Roseland Hospital. Gissendanner was driving to work from his aunt's house when he was shot. A musician, and a student at Daley College in Chicago, Gissendanner hoped to go into a career in business. Police do not have anyone in custody in connection with the shooting. To read the article on the Wednesday Journal, click here.

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Predict the Score: Chicago vs. Seattle

The Bears play host to the 6-5 Seahawks. Can you guess the score? Closest prediction to the outcome wins a Patch tote bag!

VIDEO: Obama Supporters Celebrate Win

McCormick Place is filled with celebration as the race is called.

LIVE from McCormick Place: Patch reports live from the Chicago celebration. Comments on this post are set for pre-publication review.

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Oak Park Man Pleads Guilty to $48.8 Million Bank Fraud

Bassam Hajyousif, of Oak Park, pleaded guilty today to defrauding a bank of $48.8 million dollars for two failed condominium conversion projects in downtown Chicago.

Bassam Hajyousif, 44, of Oak Park, entered a plea of guilty today in U.S. District Court for defrauding a bank of approximately $48.8 million dollars. A co-defendant, Romel Esmail, is a fugitive and is believed to be living outside the United States. Hajyousif and Esmail were accused of defrauding CIB Bank, formerly of Hillside, for two failed condominium conversion projects in Chicago's Loop between 1999 and 2003. According to Hajyousif's guilty plea, he and Esmail used CIB Bank to lend them funds to purchase and convert two properties—at 6 N. Michigan Ave. and 59 E. Van Buren—by falsely representing their sale price, their equity in the projects, and how the loan would be used, according to a press release from the U.S. Department of …

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Orionids Meteor Shower 2012: Tips for Watching in the Chicago Area

Shooting stars will be flying this weekend in the Chicago area. The Orionids meteor shower promises to be a show worth watching, according to info from the Adler Planetarium.

The offspring of Halley's Comet are about to put on quite a show in the skies around Chicago. Earth will pass through a stream of debris from Halley's Comet beginning Monday, which will give us the benefit of the annual Orionids meteor shower—though you probably won't see much until a bit later. According to Adler Planetarium, the shower is expected to peak in the Chicago area just before midnight Saturday, Oct. 20, and continue until just before dawn Sunday, Oct. 21. The moon sets early that night, which will keep the sky dark enough that—barring cloud cover—you should be able to see about a dozen meteors per hour, according to Adler's information. "Despite not being the most spectacular meteor shower, the Orionids have the most well …

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Patch to Open Soon on Chicago's North Side

Five new neighborhood sites in the city of Chicago will open later this month as Patch expands its Chicago-area offerings.

Patch is coming to the North Side of Chicago. Residents of Lincoln Park, Lake View, Roscoe Village, North Center, Bucktown, Wicker Park and Lincoln Square will be the first North Siders to get Patch's unique brand of news, conversation and community celebration later this month. Our web sites operate on the philosophy that an informed, engaged community is a better community. In the summer of 2010, Patch Media set up shop in the Chicago suburbs. Today, 62 Patch sites serve communities from the North Shore to the South Suburbs, from McHenry and Lake counties in the north to Kane, Will and Kendall counties in the west and southwest. For two years, Chicagoans have asked us, "When will Patch come to the city?" To meet the demand, in August, we…

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Twentieth Tale of the Tombstones Brings the Dead to Life

Tale of the Tombstones, the OPRF Historical Society's annual walking tour of the Forest Home Cemetery, paid tribute Sunday to some of the area's most notable and notorious deceased.

F. Murray lives across the street from history, but it's a rare day she takes the quick walk across to embrace it. Sunday she did, and it was worth the effort. The Forest Park resident was one of an estimated 400 to take the walk as part of The Oak Park River Forest Historical Society's 20th Annual "Tale of the Tombstones" walking tour at Forest Home Cemetery, 863 S. Des Plaines Ave. The tour highlighted six grave sites, each with a place in history. “[The walking tour] just reminds me about the historical value of the cemetery," Murray said. "You know, a lot of people say, 'You live right across the street from the cemetery,' and I say, Oh yes, it's gorgeous over there. Some things you just don't get a chance to see." Murray said this was…

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