* Foreclosures Up 35 Percent In Chicago

Chicago also had the third-highest number of homes repossessed by lenders during the quarter — 12,568 — behind the Phoenix metro area’s 14,317 and the Miami metro area’s 12,963, RealtyTrac said.

* Southwest Illinois home sales continue to struggle

The Realtor Association of Southwestern Illinois recorded 168 sales in September after reporting 196 in August. In Madison County, the Greater Gateway Association of Realtors recorded 194 sales in September and 190 for August.

Sales have been gradually falling in St. Clair and Madison counties since 2005.

* Three twisters confirmed, more wind on the way

* Rod Blagojevich loses bid to overturn his lone conviction

“Defendant’s motion is founded in substantial part on the well-known principle that if a lawyer cannot attack the law or the facts in a criminal prosecution, the only recourse is to attack the prosecutor,” Zagel said. “One aspect of the case that makes it clear that the defense had no attack on the law or the facts … is that defense counsel did not, and correctly so, choose to attack the evidence” of Blagojevich’s guilt on the lone count of conviction.

* Judge reject’s Blagojevich bid to nullify conviction

* Blago Retrial Delayed-Until After Chicago’s Mayoral Election

* Sun-Times: Cops make good on threat to gang-bangers

* CPS agrees to most Whittier sit-in demands, but not all

The parents wanted a library opened in the fieldhouse, but CPS agreed to find space inside the school for one. But Parents complained that space within Whittier is already tight.

* Whittier parents end sit-in but will continue to fight for library

* City may make cuts at Taste, other festivals

* City Council Committee To Discuss Cab Fare Hike

* Chicago to host gay travel convention in 2013

* Midlothian trustees don’t let all police and fire commissioners attend session

Citing the cost of $2,270 to send all three, trustees approved sending two commissioners, Marv Ruppert and Wayne Winterberg, at a cost of $960, but they won’t attend all of the sessions and won’t stay at the hotel where the conference is being held from Nov. 5 to 7 in Bloomingdale.

* Vote could change Chicago Heights governments

The key changes would be allowing voters to elect the city clerk and treasurer, rather than having the mayor appoint them, and the creation of a 7th Ward - the Roosevelt Ward, named after an elementary school in the proposed ward’s boundaries.

* Judge to rule on resolution, meeting recordings

A Lake County judge said Wednesday he will decide in three weeks if he will allow an Island Lake village board resolution concerning an employee’s pay status to be used at her trial. […]

Hyde, the wife of former Island Lake mayor Thomas Hyde, is charged with collecting more than $100,000 in pay for being the director of a village-run day care center for hours she did not work.

* Big fine? Work it off in Elgin

Since the year began, Elgin officials have handed out $21,345 in fines for violating the city’s animal control ordinance.

So far, the city has collected $6,820, or about a third of what’s been levied so far, said the city’s Corporation Counsel William Cogley.

Soon, if someone can’t pay a fine penalties under the city’s stronger animal control ordinance are $1,000 if a dog bites a human or another dog they will be able to work it off through community service at a rate of $10 per hour.

* Medinah residents learn about tax increase request

* Residents question traffic changes in downtown Lombard plan

* Engineering firm contributes to Gurnee schools referendum

A third construction-related business has provided $1,000 to backers of a Gurnee Elementary District 56 ballot question seeking permission to borrow $28.5 million mostly to build a new school in Wadsworth.

Black Engineering Co. Inc. of Lake Forest made the most recent donation to Citizens for District 56 Schools. Black’s $1,000 gift was logged Oct. 20, according to state campaign finance disclosure records.

* Prospect Hts. police chief resigns amid layoff talks

* Feds: Chicago-to-Q-C rail link to operate by 2013

* Quad Cities Amtrak route gets $230 million U.S. grant! Nothing for Rockford.

* ‘Troll’ promises jobs in Illinois Quad-Cities

* New $15M animated film to be produced in Rock Island

* Galesburg High students make pitch for penny sales tax

When Knox County voters go to the polls on Tuesday, they’ll decide on a penny sales tax to support public education. It would generate $3.7 million each year for school repairs and projects.

* Forbes ranks Quincy eighth in list of best small cities to raise family

Quincy ranked the highest among the top 15 cities in cost of living and commute time. Forbes ranked Quincy No. 4 in the nation in lowest cost of living and No. 7 in shortest commute time(s).
Dubuque, Iowa, was ranked No. 1 overall, followed by Manitowoc, Wis., Marquette, Mich., Midland, Mich., and Marshfield, Wis., in the top five. Twelve of the top 15 cities listed are from the Midwest.

* Sales tax increases on ballot for Fulton, Canton

* Danville mayor says office should have no raise for four years

* Several groups declare support for Macon County sales tax vote for schools

* Road Trip: Riding shotgun with the mayor of East St. Louis

* Benton hires new fire chief

* Jackson board passes $38.8 million budget

* Destination Development Clears Another Hurdle

The state made that easier Wednesday afternoon, by officially creating a STAR Bonds District. It will offer major tax incentives. Developers say they can now recruit potential businesses a lot more easily.

* Will Dart’s exit from mayor’s race benefit Emanuel?

* Sneed: The Dart file

* Brown: Dart’s decision boosts Emanuel, opens No. 2 spot

* Kass: Dart won’t run for mayor, and the Rahmfather gets stronger

* Dart Passes Up A Once-In-A-Lifetime Opportunity

* Dart’s Exit Changes Race: Rahm

* Emanuel gets huge mayoral boost from Dart’s departure

* Tribune: No Joe

* Claypool lays out Cook tax shift, blames Berrios, clout