* Fox Valley region at top of state in health study

* State health rankings: McLean Co. 15th, Woodford 3rd

* Winnebago County 77th in state in health quality

* [Southern Illinois] Region among state’s least healthy

* Vermilion ranks low for health

* Ald. Beale claims votes to break Wal-Mart stalemate

* Five [Chicago] schools get reprieve, won’t close

* 5 Chicago schools slated for closing or overhaul are spared

* CTA calls union proposals too costly

The union proposals would cost the CTA more money by bringing back conductors on trains, replacing some CTA managers with union employees and using union labor for some snow-removal work that the CTA now contracts out, board Chairman Terry Peterson said.

* CTA cuts: no progress, disagreement on call for meeting

The Rev. Jesse Jackson appeared with bus union members at the CTA’s 95th Street Red Line L terminal today and said he wanted a meeting with CTA leaders but hasn’t gotten any response.

* CTA makes plea to unions over service cuts

* Officials search for Asian carp in Chicago area

* A New Phase in the Asian Carp Hunt

* Search for Asian Carp Continues

Crews braved cold weather to use nets and electric prods in an attempt to see if the invasive species has made its way into the chicago Area Waterway System from the Illinois River.

* Madigan files suit against 2 Chicago modeling agencies

Ms. Madigan says she has received 13 complaints against Glamour Model Talent Inc., 820 N. Orleans St., and its president John Vuolo,and Latte Model & Talent Agency Ltd. and its owner Robert Owczarek.

* Lisa Madigan warns against refund anticipation loans

* Ill. AG sues Chicago modeling agencies

* State, developer close on [Abraham Lincoln] hotel sale

* Balancing budget Preckwinkle’s biggest challenge?

Deputy Commissioner Tommie Talley has five days to respond to the dismissal, then Water Management Commissioner John Spatz will make a final decision on his employment, department spokesman Tom LaPorte said.

* McHenry Co. OKs $4 mil bond issue for building expansion

* Geneva to activate red-light cameras

* To fix flooding issue, O’Fallon TIF will grow

* Groundbreaking for Mississippi River bridge attracts big names

With an overall cost of about $685 million, the four-lane bridge project will link St. Clair County to downtown St. Louis, diverting Interstate 70 traffic from the overcongested Poplar Street Bridge two miles to the south. The bridge project also calls for extensive reconstruction of bridge approaches in both Missouri and Illinois, as well as interstate interchanges in Illinois.

* Hold on Kokopelli sale ‘government at its worst’