* 2 Men Shot Outside Preckwinkle’s Office

* DEA: Chicago a Top Hub for Mexican Drug Cartels

* Slain Boy’s Mother Pleads For Leads

* Illinois soldier based in North Carolina killed on 9th tour

* Two events to honor fallen Antioch soldier

Richard “Joe” Jordan was one of those “shirt off his back” guys, always smiling and trying to help, according to friends.

That spirit will be rekindled Oct. 8 and 9 in Antioch with a pair of memorial events for the Army staff sergeant who died last March in a vehicle rollover while on duty in Iraq.

* Former Chicago Heights mayor honored

* Report criticizes response to fire that killed firefighter

The report cites several errors including ineffective fire control tactics, insufficient staffing and failure to recognize and react to deteriorating conditions.

* Homewood Fire Department assailed in report on firefighter’s death

* Corn crop in great shape

“As bad as last year’s was, this year is almost exactly 180 degrees,” said John Hawkins, spokesman for the Illinois Farm Bureau.

* Whittier Elementary School sit-in enters Day 6

Parents, children and activists have occupied a field house at Whittier Elementary School around the clock since Wednesday. CPS says the building is unsafe and must be demolished because there is no money for renovations, but protesters insist it could be converted into a library for less than the cost of demolition.

* Whittier Field House Sit-In Attracts Political Support

* NU med school gets $45M bailout

* School districts cut back on driver’s ed classes

* Laborers Union proposes $10 recycling fee

* Appeals court gives Chicago OK to take cemetery

The historical graveyard is at the center of both a runway under construction and a legal dispute between the city and relatives of people buried there.

The 2nd District appellate court’s decision Friday means Chicago can continue with relocating graves, although it’s possible families and St. John’s United Church of Christ in Bensenville, the landowners, will appeal the decision.

* St. Charles mayor optimistic about $30M bridge

* Parks’ shortfall at $22M; union concessions, fee hikes possible

* McHenry County College enrollment grows again, sets record

* Plans Back To Square One For DuPage Muslim Center

* Evergreen Park trustees reject settlement on retirement home

* Batavia considering rental-unit licensing

* Barrington Hills readies for final round of lighting debate

* Des Plaines approves firefighter raises

* Who wins in [Rockford] mayor vs. council squabble?

* Report: Crime in Rockford at 4-year low in 2009

* Freeport back in the black

* Ten E.M. employees to lose their jobs

* Quincy negotiates for lower electric rates at city-owned facilities

* Quincy teachers ‘overwhelmingly’ reject contract offer

* [Peoria] City manager worries linger as budget work looms

* Mayor: Eureka ‘dropped ball’ on boil order

* Danville school board to vote on union contracts

* Union group will protest at UI trustees meeting

* Springfield alderman recommends cutting his own county job

* Officials hope to revamp convention center; expansion plans on hold

* Prosecutors in vote fraud trial try to pinpoint exactly where ESL councilman lives

* Local mayors, legislators set to discuss regional issues

* Jordan to fill West Frankfort mayor post

* Southern: Get involved in region-wide planning for ‘destination’ success