Tollway emergency program seeking sponsor

The Illinois Tollway is looking for bids for a corporate sponsor for its Highway Emergency Lane Patrol (H.E.L.P.) Program that offers roadway assistance to customers in need. The H.E.L.P. Program costs the Tollway about $2 million annually. “We are continually looking for new ways to …

District 227 cuts administrators

Rich Township High School District 227 to save $651,300 by consolidating 11 administrative positions into five. Supt. Donna Leak says the cut, along with last month’s teachers cut, will not adversely impact students. Yet, there will be fewer students taking fine arts and career tech education classes because the number of class periods has been reduced from seven to six and students can not fit those classes in their schedules.

Auto tech doesn’t duck rescue duty in sewer

When Maureen Kane stopped at Winston’s Market on Wednesday, customers were talking excitedly about babies being stuck in a sewer in front of the Tinley Park deli.

“I thought they were talking about baby babies,” the Tinley Park resident said.

The eight babies were ducklings, …

Illinois House honors Sox great Pierce

Former White Sox great Billy Pierce, a Lemont resident, was honored Wednesday by the Illinois House, which passed a resolution declaring it “Billy Pierce Day” in Illinois.

Pierce pitched for the Sox from 1949-61, winning 186 games while being named to the American League All-Star …

Busloads of protesters on their way to Chicago for NATO Summit

Look out Chicago. Here comes Occupy Wall Street. More than 40 protesters from the original occupation of New York’s financial district are due to be the first of 17 busloads of protesters from across the country when they arrive in Chicago Wednesday night. “Stay safe and kick some NATO ass!” one activist yelled as the bus left.

Medical examiner halts autopsies in drug, alcohol abuse deaths

A staffing shortage has prompted the Cook County medical examiner’s office to halt full autopsies in some cases where a person died from drug or alcohol abuse.

Occupy Chicago marches in Loop against evictions

About 150 people took part in a rally and march Wednesday morning in downtown Chicago, calling for a yearlong moratorium on foreclosure evictions in Cook County. Occupy Chicago organized the rally.

Makeover for path where L-Way student was killed; Saturday fundraiser set

The irony is not lost on JoAnne Mizwicki.

As the New Lenox Township woman and some friends prepare for a Saturday fundraiser in honor of her late son, Patrick Mizwicki, the Cook County Forest Preserve District has renovated a path at the forest preserve site …

Suit seeks to halt $118M jackpot payout to Chicago Heights workplace lottery pool

A dispute over who was participating in a workplace lottery pool that won the $118 million Mega Millions jackpot with a ticket bought at a Glenwood gas station earlier this month has resulted in a lawsuit.

Jose L. Franco and Marco Medina, both of Chicago, …

Family: Groom wanted in wife’s murder made odd phone call

A man wanted for the murder of his bride who was found stabbed to death Sunday in Burbank was “very possessive” and jealous and called a relative Sunday to say he left his new wife bleeding after a “bad fight,” the dead woman’s sister said …

95th Street in Oak Lawn reopens after gas main break

A gas main break at 8:53 a.m. Tuesday in Oak Lawn closed 95th Street between Harlem and Ridgeland avenues for about two hours, police said.

The eastbound lanes and one westbound lane were reopened by 10:50 a.m. after Nicor capped the gas leak in the …

Second driver in crash that killed Dolton man dies

A 24-year-old man involved in a wrong-way crash that killed a Chicago Tribune employee April 30 also has died.

The Tribune employee — 54-year-old Ronnie Head, of Dolton — was killed when the vehicle he was driving was struck head-on by a man driving in …

Crete man’s death in crash near Beecher ruled an accident

An autopsy Tuesday revealed that a Crete man died of multiple injuries from a crash Monday morning near Beecher, the Cook County medical examiner’s office said.

The man’s death was ruled an accident, according to the medical examiner’s office.

The motorcyclist was traveling west on …

Annual ecological festival at JJC is green and growing

JOLIET — What started as a tiny grass-roots ecology festival five years ago has grown like a weed with roots spreading throughout Will County. GR2012 on Saturday at Joliet Junior College promises an exciting and jam-packed day of speakers, films, vendors, exhibits and entertainment capped …

Bolingbrook drowning victim, 11, remembered as ‘a sweet angel’

BOLINGBROOK — Jordan Oliver was the baby of her family, a friendly girl who played on a traveling basketball team and loved to be outside.

Jordan, 11, died Tuesday night after slipping underwater in a pond at Indian Chase Meadows near Pioneer Elementary School.

“We’re …