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.

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.

Lyons Township High School’s Alexandra Blaze, Class of 2013 and Western Springs resident, was named the 2012-2013 Student Representative to the Board of Education. She starts her one-year term in August.

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.

The Park Junior High girls seventh grade softball team were named conference champions of the North Division of the Lyons Township Elementary School Athletic Conference with a 9-1 record.

Employees at Ledo’s Pizza in Countryside thwarted an armed robber early Sunday, holding the 53-year-old man down on the ground until police arrived.

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.

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.

When Jacqueline Vasan bakes, she tries to use all-organic, locally grown ingredients in her products — but not because that’s the trend right now. The Western Springs resident is owner of Bread from the Heart, a small company incorporated just two years ago that sells various types of breads, flour and other baked treats.

Dave Hubinek spent several years driving a truck for FedEx, worked as a driver for contractors for two years and owned five trucks of his own for eight. But the difficult schedule left the 33-year-old Carol Stream resident wanting to spend more time with his family, so he sold his routes. His “entrepreneurial spirit” led him to start a taxi service, he said, which he currently still owns — but it didn’t turn out as well as he expected.

John L. Wilson Jr., the man charged with murdering 14-year-old Lyons Township High School freshman Kelli O’Laughlin, was found fit to stand trial today based on a report conducted by Cook County Forensic Clinical Services that claimed Wilson can be “lying and manipulative” and showed no psychotic symptoms.