NATION IN BRIEF : ILLINOIS : Daley Decries Stories of Blackout ‘Chaos’

Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley downplayed the lawlessness on the city’s West Side that was triggered by the worst power outage in a decade. “There was no chaos. There was no rioting. There was no strong looting there. But you get the impression (from the coverage) it was like chaos out there,” Daley told a news conference. Police Supt. LeRoy Martin said 83 people had been arrested for burglary, mob action, looting, firearms violations, theft or property damage. “There hasn’t been widespread looting,” Martin said. “We’ve had more trouble with traffic.” Utility crews worked to restore electricity to the 17,000 customers still without power Monday.