* Zorn: Killings of students provides a grim tally

* Caterpillar institutes rolling layoffs

* Bloomington looking at many job cuts

* After Years of Shrinking, Union Ranks Edge Up

After years of decline, Illinois union ranks in 2008 grew by 97,000 workers. That’s according to a recent federal report.

* The Big Chill: Chicago’s Condo Market Is Now on Ice

* Family refuses to give up home without a fight

* Chicago Tribune names biz editor

* Railway agrees to quiet zones in suburban Chicago

U.S. Rep. Dan Lipinski helped broker an agreement with Canadian National Railway to establish quiet zones through Riverside, North Riverside and Berwyn.

A statement Monday from the Illinois Democrat’s office says Montreal-based CN will upgrade crossings so trains won’t blare their horns as they pass. It didn’t provide cost estimates.

* Chicago’s potholes: Lack of funding leaves gaping holes

* Early Voting Begins For House Seat Of Rahm Emanuel

* Quigley’s D.C. trip not a ‘victory lap’

* Durbin Defends Earmarks

* Lake Michigan shoreline: Sen. Dick Durbin, Mayor Richard Daley defend earmarks

* If she hit him, he probably deserved it

Obviously, what Eni Skoien allegedly did wasn’t very smart. Now she will need a skilled lawyer to get the protection order lifted.

That’s why violence is never a solution.

Still, in a situation like this, a few whacks might be the only way a woman can hold onto her dignity.

* Hispanics leaders: We can work with Burris

* Playing race politics as a zero-sum game

* Burris’ son got state job fairly, Quinn says

* Hiring of Sen. Roland Burris’ son: Review by Gov. Patrick Quinn’s office finds no misconduct

* Bensenville village president wins ballot fight:

* Judge says Geils can stay on ballot in Bensenville

* Candidates spending big bucks in Des Plaines mayoral race

* I competed with Sanchez to get city jobs: witness

* Chicago hiring fraud trial: Prosecutors rest their case

* Ill. Supreme Court removes Vrdolyak from attorneys list

* Vrdolyak’s name off Illinois attorneys’ roll

* Cleaning firm sues over loss of Soldier Field contract

* Art Institute pricing itself out of public domain