kPresident-elect Barack Obama took his first public steps toward building his new administration

kPresident-elect Barack Obama took his first public steps toward building his new administration Thursday, tapping fellow Chicagoan and U.S. Rep. Rahm Emanuel to be the White House chief of staff.

kIt isn’t hard to see why some have been tempted to make the comparison between Barack Obama’s family and another highly telegenic first family who fascinated and inspired the country nearly a half-century ago: the Kennedys.

kBarack Obama’s election as president and his appointment of Rahm Emanuel as chief of staff are hopeful signs for the struggle to heal the ailing Great Lakes ecosystem, advocates said Thursday.