Burr Ridge Middle School heads downstate

In its first year of Illinois Elementary School Association play, the Burr Ridge Middle School boys’ basketball team has made it to the state tournament. Twelve players and 15 cheerleaders boarded a school bus Friday bound for Monticello, where the state finals will be played …

Woman killed when Metra train hits car in La Grange

A Chicago woman died Friday night after a Metra train collided with her car at a crossing near the La Grange Stone Avenue station. No passengers were on the train at the time.

Senator Kirk moved into Rehab Institute; family offers thanks

U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk has been transferred from Northwestern Memorial Hospital to the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago to begin his physical therapy.

The Highland Park Republican is recovering from a stroke he suffered three weeks ago.

“RIC’s team of experts will spend the next few …

Durbin aims to please

James Durbin hit the ground running as he launched a tour supporting his recently released album “Memories of A Beautiful Disaster.” His recent performance at Austyn’s in Libertyville, was a fitting setting for this meat and potatoes performer. You’d be hard-pressed to find a more …

Bail lowered for Hinsdale-area man charged with abusing student

Sandburg High School teacher Steven Reynolds had sexual contact with a 17-year-old student in his Hinsdale-area home while his wife was out of town, prosecutors said Friday as Reynolds sought to lower his bail.

CHMS eighth-grader wins District 181 spelling bee

Paul Cumberland was in familiar territory when the championship of the Hinsdale-Clarendon Hills Elementary District 181 Spelling Bee came down to himself and Nick Speziale Feb. 9 at Clarendon Hills Middle School. The two students were down the same road about a week earlier during …

Snow makes its way back to the area Friday

Feeling a chill in the air? Snow will be back as soon as Friday when lake effect snow could hit the city and Northwest Indiana with six inches.

Catholic cemeteries offer to bury 300 bodies stacked at morgue

The Archdiocese of Chicago is offering to pay for up to 300 burials for the bodies being held at the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office.

Service News

Volunteers honored in Springfield Three west suburban men were among 16 volunteers honored in Springfield Jan. 28 for donating hundreds of hours of service to the Illinois Employer Support for the Guard and Reserve agency. The U.S. Department of Defense established the agency in 1972 …

Police: Man faked own kidnapping to take $1,000 from family

A Willowbrook man who wanted to get money from his family staged his own kidnapping to demand $1,000 ransom, according to police who later arrested him.

Durkin reacts to Quinn speech

Governor Quinn’s Feb. 1 state of the state address included some big plans for improving the state and its economy. But the speech left many Republican leaders with one big question. “I’ll wait to see what the governor has in the budget address,” State Rep. …

Faculty takes on students to raise money for a cause

About 200 people filled the stands of the Hinsdale South High School gym on Monday to watch members of the school’s faculty take on students in the annual students vs. faculty basketball game. The event, now in its fourth year, raises money for cancer research …

Kids rock out at Hinsdale South

Five local bands battled for bragging rights and prizes at the second annual Battle of the Bands at Hinsdale South High School on Thursday. “We had a packed house,” said Brian Ormiston, president of the Hinsdale South Foundation, which organized the event. Held in the …

School using grants to teach proper nutrition, exercise

Good nutrition and exercise are key to good learning, and Anne M. Jeans Elementary School is taking new steps to provide its students with both. The school recently received a grant from Fuel Up to Play 60, an initiative by the National Dairy Council, the …

Gower Middle School holds science fair

Caffeine affects plants in much the same way that it affects people. Or so it seems, according to Emma Axelrod’s entry in the Gower Middle School Science Fair. Emma created one of 23 entries in the Feb. 2 Science Fair, sponsored by the school’s Parent …