* Trade show exhibitors like McCormick Place changes

* US poverty on track to post record gain in 2009

* Crisis ‘hollowing out’ middle-class work force

Health care, the energy sector and finance and accounting are the hottest areas for jobs, according to John Challenger of employment experts Challenger, Gray and Christmas. Though government data doesn’t yet reflect recent layoffs for teachers, education also remains a relatively secure profession, Challenger said, if only because “there’s always going to be children to educate.”

But workers in the housing industry face a longer wait to rebound, he said. The average Chicago area real estate broker has taken a 43 percent pay cut and now earns less than government program eligibility interviewers, whose pay they easily doubled five years ago; real estate appraisers are down 26 percent, and construction workers make 27 percent less.

* Chicago stats: Jobs and wages 2005-2009

* Lower yields, higher corn prices seen

* Small nonprofits at risk of losing tax-exempt status

* Get ready for big tussle over TIF

Now that Mayor Daley has announced he won’t seek a seventh term in the February election, the TIF issue is ripe for debate. Several aldermen who have expressed interest in a mayoral run support tapping the TIF reserves.

A top officer with the Service Employees International Union, which is expected to be active in raising money and volunteers for a candidate, said business interests will do everything they can to keep TIF subsidies.

* Daley’s TIF program could save the city’s bacon—if he can bring himself to raid it

* Daley’s grand schemes may soon fade away

* One more legal worry for Vrdolyak

A bank is foreclosing on two law-office buildings owned by Edward R. Vrdolyak, but lawyers for the former Chicago alderman say it isn’t a case of the man known as “Fast Eddie” being slow in paying up.

* Bankruptcy entangles county commissioner

* Pay the IRS, or give to pols?

* Pilsen man at parade charged with threatening Ald. Danny Solis

* McHenry prosecutor indicted in political misconduct probe

Bianchi, of Crystal Lake, and administrative manager Joyce Synek, 62, of Woodstock, are both charged in the 26-count indictment, made public Friday. The felony charges carry a potential five-year prison term.

In February 2009, Bianchi’s former secretary, Amy Dalby, was charged with stealing documents from Bianchi’s office and handing them to a political opponent. Her attorney then sought a special prosecutor to look into her claims that she did political work for Bianchi during office hours at his behest.

In May 2009, Dalby pleaded guilty and was sentenced to probation. Last September, retired McHenry County Judge Henry Tonigan III was appointed as a special prosecutor to look into Dalby’s claims.

* McHenry prosecutor ’stunned’ by indictment against him

* Krug: Indictments an embarrassment for all

* Cop Shot by Man Who Carjacked 2 Drivers

* Chicago Police Supt. Jody Weis rips his critics

On Wednesday, thousands of rank-and-file officers are expected to protest his leadership outside police headquarters.

* Deputy chief probation officer of the Cook County Juvenile Court retires after 32 years

* Death of Petersburg police chief a suicide

* Cook County Board to Consider Lobbyist Ordinance Amendments

* Cook Co. board member: Board of Review probe completed

* Asian carp reflect the sensitivity of lake invaders

* Carp hype questioned

* Daley Wades Into River Reversal

The idea to re-reverse the river, and undo one of the Chicago’s true engineering marvels has been floated by environmentalists and some state politicians who say restoring the flow to its natural order would help naturally clean the river and the lake, and even help the Asian carp situation.

* Field Museum looks to shed 10% of staff

* Kennedy confirms owner’s interest in selling Mart

Crain’s reported that executives with New York-based Vornado have been dropping hints along Wall Street and among potential buyers of its interest in selling the Mart division, citing sources and securities analysts. Those clues have already yielded one $1.25-billion bid for the Mart that collapsed last month by New York real estate investor Charles Cohen, CEO of Cohen Brothers Realty Corp., Crain’s reported.

Mr. Kennedy did not dispute any facts in the Crain’s story, but he said the headline of the online version of the story overstated the case because Vornado is not actively looking for buyers.

* Metra still in talks over independent watchdog

* State’s woes put Metra’s plans at risk

About $29 million in federal funding has been earmarked to pay for the next step in improving the Union Pacific Northwest line and three other commuter rail projects. But unless the state can match those funds dollar for dollar, Metra will lose access to the money.

* Kadner: Bad transit planning is bad for business

Chicago Metropolis 2020, organized by the Commercial Club of Chicago, has released a new study that says the region is losing jobs and money because the state has failed to adequately invest in public transportation.

Specifically, the study calls for doubling the Illinois motor fuel tax from 19 cents to 38 cents per gallon, which some people would claim is not a tax.

It also calls for consolidation of the Chicago Transit Authority, Metra and Pace and the elimination of 1,403 township governments into “more cost-effective county transportation departments.”

* Kendall Historical Society divided over closing of site

* Kendall County joins water planning group

* D204 board members go on retreat

* Danville teachers strike

Late-night negotiations Sunday did not produce a contract, and the Danville teachers’ union has gone on strike.

A one-line message atop the school district’s website on Monday says, “School is closed due to a teachers strike.”

Negotiators for the school district and Danville Education Association met late into the night on Sunday in the hopes of reaching a tentative deal and averting a strike. By 10:30, they had been bargaining with the help of a federal mediator for seven hours with only a few small breaks to eat or stretch their legs.

* Millburn seeks tax hike, Gurnee seeks bond issue

* HUD OKs demolition of Jericho Circle

* Chicago-area oil pipeline leak may be solved soon

* Oil Spill Deadline Extended Until Tuesday

* EPA: Ill. oil pipeline leak slowing, size unclear

* Free medical coverage through Avon Twp.? It’s complicated

* $322 million in state plan for area road work

* RR Star: No time to waste; city budget needs attention

* RR Star: Death penalty for Katie Stockton no answer

* QC Times: Casino sale will mark end of Q-C era

* Wind debate blowing throughout local communities in Adams County

* Congerville dedicates first public park

* Herald & Review: Tenaska won’t wait forever for Illinois

* Mattoon council hopes to finalize deal with public works employees

* Chatham zoning board to rule on storage facility

* Land use director has big plans for Fairview — and she wants your input

* Southern: Declining enrollment at SIUC needs regional solutions

* Tribune Co. bankruptcy trustee objects to separate firm for special committee