Legislation requires catastrophic insurance coverage for student-athletes

Legislation requiring high schools to offer catastrophic insurance coverage for their student-athletes is headed to Gov. Pat Quinn's desk.

Lansing man shot dead in Englewood

CHICAGO | A Lansing man, a relative of a prominent South Side anti-violence activist, was shot and killed Sunday in the Englewood neighborhood, police and a family spokesman said Monday.

Police: Whiting woman leads cops in pursuit into Hegewisch

BURNHAM | A Whiting woman is expected to be charged with fleeing and eluding after police said she led them on a chase from Burnham into Hegewisch early Thursday morning.

Illiana drama students take their show on the road

LANSING | A group of drama students at Illiana Christian High School are enjoying time off the stage together by forming a running club.

Dirksen Middle School students evacuated due to small fire

CALUMET CITY | Students at Dirksen Middle School had to be evacuated just before 9 a.m. Tuesday due to a small fire in a second-floor office that started in a desktop computer, Calumet City Fire Chief Bill Galgan said.

Actor Ed Asner released from hospital after leaving Gary stage Tuesday night

GARY | Actor Ed Asner was released from the hospital Wednesday night after being treated for exhaustion, according to his publicist. Asner left the stage during his performance Tuesday night in "FDR" at the Marquette Park pavilion.

Lan-Oak Park District again goes for 10-cent tax rate hike

LANSING | The Lan-Oak Park District is once again seeking a 10-cent increase in its tax rate that would generate $450,000 for capital improvements.

Lansing police arrest St. John man accused of selling synthetic pot

LANSING | A St. John man faces drug and weapons charges in connection with the alleged sale of synthetic marijuana at his Lansing convenience store, about two blocks west of Reavis Elementary School, police said.

Cal City man charged in Chicago bank robbery

A 29-year-old Calumet City man is in the Metropolitan Correction Center charged with robbing a Fifth Third bank at 3957 W. 26th St. in Chicago, according to the FBI.

Gun buyback in south suburbs nets 153 firearms

CALUMET CITY | A gun buyback program hosted by police in Calumet City, Chicago Heights and Midlothian on Saturday took 153 firearms off the streets, police said Monday.

92nd Street bridge to close Oct. 15 for two weeks

CHICAGO | Motorists who regularly use Ewing Avenue in the South Chicago neighborhood will be inconvenienced for about two weeks when the Chicago Department of Transportation repairs the bridge at 92nd Street.

Judge denies bond for teen charged in Lansing homicide

LANSING | A Cook Circuit Court judge denied bond for a 17-year-old Lansing teen charged with first-degree murder and concealment of a homicide in connection with the shooting death Wednesday of a Country Club Hills teen, police said.

Lansing police arrest 2 in child prostitution investigation

LANSING | Two men from Chicago and Ford Heights face charges following an investigation into alleged child prostitution at a Lansing motel, police said.

Police nab suspects in Burnham home invasion after chase

BURNHAM | Three south suburban men face residential burglary charges after leading police on a car and foot chase Friday from Burnham into Dolton, Burnham Police Chief Pete Belos said.

Cal City girl's stepfather held on $1M bond in connection with slaying

CALUMET CITY | The stepfather of a Calumet City teen found dead in a large Hammond trash bin last week is being held on $1 million bond in the Cook County Jail, the Cook County state's attorneys office said.

Indiana men face theft, drug charges in Lansing

LANSING | Two Indiana men face retail theft and drug charges after police found them parked at Kmart on Torrence Avenue with bags of heroin and a stolen bottle of pills, village police said.

One charged with felony in chase from Chicago to Merrillville

CHICAGO | The driver of a car who led police on a 35-mile chase on expressways from the Englewood neighborhood in Chicago into Merrillville is charged with felony aggravated possession of a stolen motor vehicle, police said Thursday.

Crash leaves pedestrian in critical condition

CHICAGO HEIGHTS | Chicago Heights police are investigating a Monday morning wreck that left a pedestrian in critical condition, according to a news release from authorities.

Bail denied for suspects in Cal City murder case

CALUMET CITY | Cook County Judge Darron Bowden denied bail for two cousins who stand accused in the January 2010 shooting death of a Gurnee, Ill., man, police said in a news release.

Burnham police seek help in death investigation

BURNHAM | Burnham police are asking for the public's help as they investigate the death of a woman whose bones were found in a field in December.

No bail for suspect charged with slaying of Lynwood man

MARKHAM | Cook County Judge Allen Murphy did not set bail Friday for one of two suspects charged with the slaying of a Lynwood man in November, the Cook County state's attorney's office said.

Autistic teen dies after being shot by Cal City police

CALUMET CITY | Calumet City Police Chief Edward Gilmore defended the actions of his officers Wednesday after they shot a 15-year-old autistic boy, who later died.

Body found in Chicago Heights ID'd as Steger woman

CHICAGO HEIGHTS | Police have identified a Steger woman as the person whose body was found lying facedown in the snow Friday next to a garage on Otto Boulevard.

Dolton woman faces DUI charge in fatal on overpass

DOLTON | A Dolton woman is in Cook County Jail with $500,000 bail on an aggravated DUI charge related to a hit-and-run accident on an overpass that killed a Harvey woman, the Cook County state's attorney's office sad.

Trustee: Sauk Village has lost its 'innocence'

SAUK VILLAGE | The discovery of two men shot inside a Brookwood Drive home has prompted one village trustee to speak out about crime in his community.

Burnham cops say man threw powder, gun, money from car during pursuit

BURNHAM | A man stopped for a seat belt violation fled from police Saturday night and threw white powder, a pistol and money out of the car before being arrested in Calumet City, Burnham police said.

TF South grads honor classmate who died in Vietnam

LANSING | A group of about 30 graduates of the 1960 class at Thornton Fractional South High School honored one of their classmates Friday by unveiling a plaque commemorating Albert Brose's service to his country.

Former Crete-Monee hoops coach gets probation in criminal sexual abuse case

JOLIET | A former Crete-Monee High School boys varsity basketball coach has been sentenced to four years probation for his guilty plea to two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, according to the Will County state's attorney's office.

Hammond man charged in Burnham bar shooting gets $5M bond

BURNHAM | A Cook County Circuit Court judge set a $5 million bond Wednesday for a Hammond man charged in connection with an Oct. 27 shooting at the Little Brown Jug tavern in Burnham.

Quinn, Preckwinkle promise $16M for high-speed Internet in south suburbs

SOUTH HOLLAND | South suburban hospitals, libraries and schools will benefit from a $16 million state-county investment in high-speed Internet connections, Gov. Pat Quinn and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle announced Friday at South Suburban College.

Chief: Off-duty cop kills suspect in Burnham tavern shooting

BURNHAM | Burnham Police Chief Pete Belos is praising the actions of an off-duty Harvey police officer who shot and killed a Burnham man who opened fire early Thursday at a Burnham tavern filled with about 20 people.

T'Wood freshman wants your Twinkies

SOUTH HOLLAND | A Thornwood High School freshman is known as the "Twinkie Girl" at school these days for her efforts at collecting and sending hundreds of boxes of the treats to soldiers overseas.

Charges filed in Cal City armed robbery

CALUMET CITY | A South Holland man is in the Cook County Jail on a $200,000 bond on charges of attempted armed robbery and armed robbery stemming from an incident Saturday, police said.

Valpo girl sets up website, fundraiser to collect school supplies

A 12-year-old Valparaiso girl who collects school supplies for disadvantaged children now has a website to make it easier for the public to donate to her cause.

It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

GRIFFITH | A Griffith man known locally for his themed Halloween displays won the 2011 Indiana State Fair giant pumpkin weigh off with the 1,160-pound pumpkin he grew in his backyard.

TradeWinds honors 5 clients for their work ethic

GARY | Five male adult clients of TradeWinds were honored Wednesday during a luncheon at the Majestic Star Casino Hotel for their work ethic and attitude at the nonprofit agency that serves developmentally disabled individuals.

Injured East Chicago senior will attend Sunday graduation

EAST CHICAGO | The 18-year-old senior from East Chicago Central High School injured last month in a car wreck will participate in graduation Sunday, rolling across the stage in a wheelchair, she said.

Hospitalized E.C. teen may graduate high school via Skype

An East Chicago Central High School senior who was hospitalized in Wisconsin after a car crash may graduate from high school June 12 via Skype, her mother said Tuesday.

Agency says Little Cal, Chicago rivers not intended for swimming

On the heels of an U.S. EPA decision to disinfect sewage discharged into the Little Calumet and Chicago rivers, the agency charged with that task backlashed Friday, saying the waters never were intended for recreational uses.

Incumbents turn back challengers in Whiting council races

WHITING | Whiting City Council incumbents handily defeated their opponents in Tuesday's primary election.

It's Stahura in a landslide in Whiting mayoral race

WHITING | Mayor Joe Stahura won his primary race Tuesday against challenger David Aguilera by 800 votes with all five precincts reporting by 6:30 p.m.

The right shade of green at Elliott

MUNSTER | Elliott Elementary schoolchildren on Friday got to see conservation firsthand with the planting of six red maple trees in the back of their school that will in time provide shade for classrooms and lower electricity bills.

Math counts for Wilbur Wright students

MUNSTER | Wilbur Wright Middle School's Mathcounts team placed fifth in the March 12 state finals at Purdue University-West Lafayette and one eighth-grader won an annual $2,000 scholarship from the college.

Griffith seniors get look at future careers

GRIFFITH | Thirty seniors from Griffith High School recently participated in a job shadowing day, spending time with mentors and experiencing a career firsthand.

One bald step for children

LANSING | Thornton Fractional South students and teachers stood in solidarity with cancer patients recently as they had their heads shaved to raise $15,000 for children's cancer research.

Munster teen headed to regional oratorical contest Sunday

MUNSTER | Munster High School junior Deepa Devanathan is headed to the regional finals Sunday in Kouts for the Department of Indiana American Legion high school oratorical scholarship competition.

Munster teams succeed at Constitution competition

MUNSTER | The Munster High School We The People team placed first at the state competition in Indianapolis recently while two teams from Wilbur Wright Middle School placed in the top five.

Cal City veterans come out on their day

CALUMET CITY | The community came out Thursday to thank veterans of all ages for their contributions to America.

Visclosky visits Highland school for lessons on Constitution

HIGHLAND | Warren Elementary School fifth-graders received a crash course in civics Wednesday from none other than U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky.

Two suspects in home invasion out of jail

MARKHAM | Two men accused in home burglaries and vehicle theft in the region over the past two months have bonded out of Cook County Jail, the jail's press office said.