* New law allows schools to opt out of unfunded mandates; how will it work?

* New law costing McLean Co., election commission

* State, USDA announce expansion of conservation program

* Madigan Targets Meth Again

* Peoria home sales off again

The 988 homes sold - down from 1,336 in the third quarter in 2009 - marked the lowest third-quarter sales total since 1996, when 940 homes were sold.

* Springfield home sales remain stagnant

There were 278 home sales in the Springfield area during September, a 24.3 percent decrease from the 367 homes sold in Sept. 2009, according to the Capital Area Association of Realtors.

The drop-off year-to-date isn’t as precipitous, with 2,664 homes sold through Sept. in 2010 and 2,773 home sales over the same period last year. That’s a 3.9 percent decrease.

* Sun-Times, Tribune see print circulations slide, but online jumps

The Chicago Tribune’s Sunday circulation dropped 4.4% to 768,073 papers, while weekday circulation slipped 5.2% to 441,508.
Rival Sun-Times’ Sunday circulation declined 5.5% to 237,367 papers. Weekday circulation fell 9% to 250,747.

* Blago: I’m a Pauper

* SWANCC executive director resigns

The 47-year-old Beal was placed on paid leave from his $160,000-per-year job on Oct. 18 after an independent audit found a discrepancy that showed a “significant amount” of money unaccounted for in the agency’s financial records, according to SWANCC officials.

While officials won’t confirm how much money is unaccounted for, sources have said it could be as much as $400,000.

* Exec resigns after funds go missing

* Are emergency water supplies safe? Fed and states can’t tell for sure

* Chicago to Iowa City rail line gets $230 million federal grant

The new Chicago to Quad-Cities to Iowa City route would provide two daily round-trips. The project is expected to create 588 jobs per year for the four years of design and construction. The completed line is expected to increase business activity by $25 million per year, according to a release from Sen. Durbin’s office.

* Selection process opens for FutureGen carbon project

Communities have until next Monday to declare their intentions and until Nov. 15 to submit formal bids. An informational meeting for potential bidders, followed by a public open house, has been scheduled for Thursday in Springfield.

* ACT exams getting greater focus

* Chicago police make good on gang warning

This new approach has been used for up to 15 years in dozens of cities, including Boston, Cincinnati and Indianapolis. For now, Chicago is using its Violence Reduction Strategy only in the Harrison District on the West Side.

The concepts are the same in each city, said David Kennedy, the criminologist who designed the idea.

Gangs are responsible for most shootings and homicides, violence that is promoted and expected within the gang, Kennedy said. Yet much of the violence is not committed to protect the gang’s business — it’s often personal disputes and vendettas, he said. And if the entire gang has to endure an investigation every time there is a shooting, behavior changes, he said.

* Judge rules Chicago principal should be reinstated

* The Loop deemed ‘rattiest’ area of Chicago

Other neighborhoods where rat sightings were prominent include the South Loop, Lakeview/Wrigleyville, Lincoln Park and West Loop. At the bottom of the list of 21 Chicago neighborhoods in the survey were North Center and Lincoln Square.

* Chicago watchdog offers budget options, aldermen bite back

* True Chicago budget deficit over $1 billion a year, IG report says

* Tribune: Somebody nobody sent

* Oswego enrollment rises 3.7 percent

* Park City council adopts 1-cent gasoline tax

* Naperville proposes increasing tax rate

* Mundelein, Wheaton, Schaumburg win awards for community work

* Elgin police join forces with ICE to fight gangs

* Rockford police union grateful for show of support

* Rockford College enrollment up 6%; many reasons for increase

* Rockford City Council panel OKs Tapco building purchase

* State agencies discuss Terronez case

WQAD-TV Thursday night reported on its website that state officers are investigating allegations against Mr. Terronez, including one that he purchased alcohol for minors. The information was attributed to a “source close to the investigation.”

Additionally, Mr. Terronez was edited out of a television commercial supporting Illinois Supreme Court Justice Tom Kilbride, who is up for retention this year. According to a spokesman for Justice Kilbride,the decision was made because of the reports of a state police investigation of the prosecutor.

* E.M. police seek mediator to settle contract

* WIU student arrested for bomb threat

* Adams County departments, officeholders have mixed bags of budget cuts planned

* East Peoria issues ban on open burning

* Pekin mayor, council won’t talk about potential hog plant

* Bloomington property taxes to drop slightly

* Auditor race only contested McLean Co. race

* Eureka College to build student residence hall

* $11M plan at Eureka a record

* UI student senate to hold first-ever meeting of student body

* Decatur misses connection on high-speed rail route

* Costello: ‘Yes’ vote to health care is worth it

* St. Clair County joins lawsuit against FEMA

* Herrin approves final TIF plan

* Scott Credit Union will build $12 million headquarters in Edwardsville

* Collinsville OKs crime-free ordinance; tenants can lose lease over criminal activity

* News-Democrat: Contribute to fair tax sales

* Tuition increase likely at SIUC

* Alexander County Clerk Says Corruption Is Being Addressed

* Jackson Jr will not run for mayor

* Jesse Jackson Jr. Won’t Run for Mayor

* Jackson will not run for mayor

* Dart dances fine line between sheriff, mayor races

* Influential leader of UNO to co-chair Emanuel mayoral campaign

* Moseley Braun repeatedly way late in paying property taxes

* Mayoral Hopefuls Short On Budget-Cutting Ideas, For Now