Sticking its collective thumb in Gov. Pat Quinn’s eye, the Illinois House passed a major expansion of gambling on Wednesday that would put five new casinos in Chicago, Rockford, Danville, Lake County and the south suburbs of Cook County and place slot machines at the state’s racetracks.

While high school students study for finals next week, they could also recycle their old textbooks.

Buglers Across America volunteers are now performing "Taps" at 3,000 services a month — 26 percent of all the military funerals in the U.S.

The final installment of our Costly Commute series follow Erica Urteaga of Bolingbrook, a busy 33-year-old mom who totes her four children around to various activities on the weekends, then visits family and friends in Chicago on the weekends. The cost of gas is something always on Urteaga's mind, so she relies on advance planning and car smarts to keep a tight budget.

Our complete series of stories and multimedia on the "Costly Commute," a multi-part series about the effects of rising gas prices on suburban residents.

Anyone who has ever vegged out on the couch has Eugene J. Polley to thank for facilitating their relaxation.

Although the primary protest against NATO occurred early Sunday afternoon and evening, traffic restrictions will still be in effect Monday.

When Patricia Withers left home Sunday morning, she also left her dependent 29-year-old autistic son behind with her husband, who had to fly back from his home in England. "Just in the event I get arrested," Withers said, "someone has to be here for him."

When Zaklina Trpenovski learned that President of the Republic of Macedonia Gjorge Ivanov was going to be in Chicago for the NATO summit, she thought it only natural to invite him to her church, Macedonian Orthodox Church Sts. Kiril and Metodij in Willowbrook.

With no major protests planned today in Chicago, downtown is quiet and emptier than usual.

Adler Planeterium, the Art Institute of Chicago and the Shedd Aquarium are some of the many museums closing their doors for the NATO summit.

Although NATO has dampened many people's plans, children at Montrose Harbor flew kites without fear during the somewhat controversial weekend.

Hinsdale was ranked the best western Chicago suburb to live in by West Suburban Living magazine, according to media reports.

As commuters boarded the Metra at the Lombard station earlier this morning, many said they were getting ready for the last "normal" commute until the NATO summit leaves downtown.

In a sea of red shirts and green hats, the National Nurses United descended on Daley Plaza to protest the economic policies they say benefit the wealthy at the cost of the workers of the nation.

Five Hinsdale Fire Department paramedics have been selected as the second runner-ups for the prestigious 2012 Dr. Joseph Hartmann Award of Excellence. Don Newberry, Andy Smith, Tom McCarthy, Doug Niemeyer and Michael Karban were honored for their response to an incident last year in which a man collapsed while marching in the village’s Fourth of July parade.

Patti Saltiel of Willowbrook used a sudden death in her life as a reason to become a better person, and a better mother for her children. She’s lost more than 60 pounds since Jan. 1, 2011 — the day she found out her only sibling, her 54-year-old sister Cathy, had died suddenly.

Jamal Oliver, the father of 11-year-old drowning victim Jordan Oliver, addressed the media around 4 p.m. Wednesday, within viewing distance from where his beloved daughter perished after a game with friends took a fatal turn the day before.