* McCormick Place Reforms May Be Working

* Audit: Tollway can’t explain ‘hardship’ breaks

* State audit finds flaws in tollway accounting

* Twelve states warned about faulty propane

* Illinois AG announces sweepstakes settlement terms

* White House to honor slain Wheaton soldier

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Robert Miller took over when his commander was wounded during a 2008 attack in Afghanistan, directing return fire and intentionally putting himself in the most dangerous position to protect his men.

His heroic actions helped save more than 20 fellow soldiers and Afghan army allies but cost the 24-year-old former Wheaton man his own life.

* Fallen Wheaton soldier to be awarded Medal of Honor

* Wheaton Soldier Receives Posthumous Medal of Honor

* Son of peace activist dies in Chicago shooting

* Student’s slaying may be tied to school fight

A cafeteria fight may have led to the murder of a 16-year-old Bowen High School student who was shot as he walked home Wednesday, the boy’s family said Thursday.

Sophomore Deantonio Goss became the first Chicago Public Schools student to be killed this school year, just two days after classes resumed at Bowen.

Goss and an 18-year-old friend were shot half a mile from the school — and just a couple of blocks from Goss’ home — around 3 p.m. in an alley in the 8600 block of South Saginaw, police said.

* CPS report card shows many schools struggling

An analysis of the grades shows that a disproportionate number of schools scored in the D range or worse, including 48 percent of elementaries and 68 percent of high schools.

* Many Public Schools Failing To Make Grade

* Illinois traffic fatalities drop 13 percent

* Illinois about average for eating fruit, veggies

* Pay decline for college grads easing, study shows

The highest average and median pay offers went to engineering majors. As a group, the average pay offer fell 1.7 percent to $58,669.

The average pay offer for liberal arts graduates fell 3 percent to $35,508. For sociology majors, it climbed 3.1 percent to $35,357. English majors saw a drop of 1.8 percent to $35,946, and for psychology majors, the average offer fell 6.7 percent to $32,260.

The average offer for business majors dipped to $46,672 from $46,735. For economics majors, it rose 4.2 percent to $51,698.

* 30-year mortgage rates rise slightly

* Attorney says Ryan’s wife has terminal lung disease

Lura Lynn Ryan isn’t expected to live more than a few years, attorney Dan Webb told Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer. […]

Pallmeyer set a Nov. 1 date to hear arguments on both the bail request and the primary legal question - whether a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that curtailed laws barring public officials from denying taxpayers honest services should nullify some of Ryan’s convictions.

If the convictions are tossed, Ryan could be let out for good - well short of his current release date of 2013.

* Lawyers pleading for George Ryan’s freedom

* Gov. Ryan Renews Appeals to get out of Prison

* George Ryan’s freedom bid cites Supreme Court ruling, wife’s health

* Prosecutors Oppose Ryan’s Request For Release

* Sun-Times: Crooked pols deserve tough punishment

* New Blagojevich Jury

Attorneys for Rod Blagojevich have yet to figure out exactly who will be representing the former Illinois governor in his next trial.

* Steger: The challenge of cleaning up Illinois politics

* Shakman: Stroger violated hiring ban 157 times

* Bevy of Stroger hiring violations: petition

* Two teens charged with burglarizing Ald. Freddrenna Lyle’s home

* FOP says cops eager to see Weis leave

“When he first came in, a lot of guys said, ‘This guy has potential to be a breath of fresh air.’ He had a contract. He could have run this department the way it’s supposed to be run. He didn’t. The impression of most officers is this department is run by the fifth floor (mayor’s office),” said Bill Dougherty, first vice president of the Fraternal Order of Police.

* Daley Hears from Public on $655M Budget Shortfall

Mayor Daley said budget cuts begin with all of the managers present at the hearing. They are taking a 10 percent pay cut, including Mayor Daley.

He said the city would not raise taxes or fees because people can’t afford it.

But according to some reports, he’s considering privatizing many more services and tapping into the city’s reserves.

* Cool view! Hancock ice skating rink opens Jan. 1

* Kadner: Maher should try truth in campaign

* Aurora may hike planning, engineering fees

* Crude oil leak is stopped in Romeoville

* Oil Spill May Cause Supply Problems Nationwide

* Mokena residents gear up for SD 159 referendum push

* Palatine officials fed up with state’s delayed payments

* DuPage water panel projects rate hikes

* DuPage zoning board delays prayer center vote

* Kane County 2011 budget hopes may rest with union negotiations

* Kane Co. juvenile jail needs new security gear

* Still work to do on Navistar plan

* Daily Herald: A business decision worth cheering

* Belvidere council OKs payment plan for liquor license

* [Freeport] Fire union ratifies deal

* [Stephenson County] Tax revenue down

* Elmwood celebrates fall

* 2 of 11 Danville schools meet state test standards

* Mattoon officials still weighing impact of employee union contracts

* District 150 moves to reduce overtime

* Decatur Township assessor seeks more money to retain temporary workers

* Macon County Board revamps planning commission

* Springfield welds shut five manhole covers after woman’s drowning

* Springfield financial health questioned

* Schoenburg: Former Williamsville president for Springfield mayor?

* Wife: Former school superintendent died doing what he loved best, educating

* Belleville alderman recovering from Moonlight Ramble bike crash has message to deliver

* To save $2,800, O’Fallon aldermen delay action on new office park

* Carbondale police receive award

* Johnston City discusses home rule with public

* In the ‘Newsroom’

* NIU enrollment falls slightly, applications up

* EIU says economy leads to drop in enrollment

* ISU enrollment remains stable

* UIS enrollment tops 5,000

* UIS provost Berman suggested for interim chancellor

* Southern Illinoisan: Tougher speeding fines don’t go far enough

* U of I Extension reorganizing programs