Memorial Day

 Mia Seaton, 7, of West Dundee, Ill., places flowers on veterans graves during Memorial Day ceremonies at Bluff City Cemetery in Elgin, Ill., on Monday, May 30, 2011. | Andrew A. Nelles~For Sun-Times Media |

 Volunteer John Ceasario, of South Elgin, Ill., places flags on the graves of veterans at River Valley Memorial Gardens in West Dundee, Ill., on Friday, May 27, 2011. | Andrew A. Nelles~For Sun-Times Media

 American Legion member Marv Causey, of Elgin Ill., participates during Memorial Day ceremonies at Bluff City Cemetery in Elgin, Ill., on Monday, May 30, 2011. | Andrew A. Nelles~For Sun-Times Media

U.S. Army SFC. Miguel Valdiva, who was wounded in the 2009 Ft. Hood shooting, participates during Memorial Day ceremonies at Veterans Memorial Park in Elgin, Ill., on Monday, May 30, 2011. | Andrew A. Nelles~For Sun-Times Media

1A Soccer State Finals

 Marquette players including Nicki Wisnasky (#9, right) and Cassie McFadden (#19,left) celebrate after their 1A state title victory at Naperville Central High School in Naperville, Ill., on Saturday, May 28, 2011. | Andrew A. Nelles~For Sun-Times Media

 Marquette players celebrate after their 1A state title victory at Naperville Central High School in Naperville, Ill., on Saturday, May 28, 2011. | Andrew A. Nelles~For Sun-Times Media

 St. Edward's Monica Ramierez (4) and Katie Ayello (14) try to deflect the ball from Willows Academy's Kate Dunaway on Saturday in Naperville. | Andrew A. Nelles~For Sun-Times Media

Willows Academy's Justine Burgraff (4, left of center) celebrates scoring a goal with teammate Mo Brown (23, right of center) Saturday in Naperville. | Andrew A. Nelles~For Sun-Times Media

Gallery: http://couriernews.suntimes.com/photos/galleries/index.html?story=5649209

1A State Semi Finals

 Willows Academy's Keelin McNally (#19) and Herscher's Gabi Tobeck (#27) collide during the second period at Naperville Central High School in Naperville, Ill., on Friday, May 27, 2011. | Andrew A. Nelles~For Sun-Times Media

 Willows Academy's Becca Krupowicz (#20) goes in for a header over Herscher's Anne Rockert (#17) during the first period at Naperville Central High School in Naperville, Ill., on Friday, May 27, 2011. | Andrew A. Nelles~For Sun-Times Media

 St. Edwards's Corey Lepoudre jumps in between Alton Marquette's Cassie McFadden (left) and Nicki Wisnasky during the first half Friday. | Andrew A. Nelles~For Sun-Times Media

 St. Edward players react after goal keeper Paige Gannon was injured in a goal-scoring play by Alton Marquette during the first half of Friday's state semifinal game in Naperville. | Andrew A. Nelles~For Sun-Times Media

 St. Edward's Rena Ranallo (far left) and Marquette's Kateri Vaughn (18, left) and Nicki Wisnasky (far right) react after Vaughn scored a goal during the second half Friday. | Andrew A. Nelles~For Sun-Times Media

St. Edward's Katie Ayello (14) and Mallory Malone (10) react after their loss against Alton Marquette on Friday. | Andrew A. Nelles~For Sun-Times Media

Recent Work

 Cheyenne Sims, center, 18, junior, participates during a student walkout at Austin Polytechnical Academy Monday, May 16, 2011. Andrew A. Nelles/Chicago News Cooperative

 Michelle Hudson, center with sign, 16, junior, marches with fellow students during a student walkout at Austin Polytechnical Academy Monday, May 16, 2011.  Andrew A. Nelles/Chicago News Cooperative

 Principal Fabby Williams addresses students during a student walkout at Austin Polytechnical Academy Monday, May 16, 2011. Andrew A. Nelles/Chicago News Cooperative

Story: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/20/us/20bcaustin.html?_r=2&ref=chicagonewscooperative

 Streamwood's Nick Pryor (#21) tags out Elgin's Lee Jackson (#2) on a double play during the first inning at Elgin High School in Elgin, Ill., on Thursday, May 26, 2011. | Andrew A. Nelles~For Sun-Times Media

St. Edward's Zach Brewster (#24) fields and outfield ground ball during the seventh inning at Westminster Christian School in Elgin, Ill., on Thursday, May 19, 2011. | Andrew A. Nelles~For Sun-Times Media

Rammstein

 Till Lindemann, frontman of Rammstein, performs at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Ill., on Tuesday, May 10, 2011. (Andrew A. Nelles/ For The Chicago Tribune)

 Till Lindemann, frontman of Rammstein, performs at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Ill., on Tuesday, May 10, 2011. (Andrew A. Nelles/ For The Chicago Tribune)

 Rammstein performs at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Ill., on Tuesday, May 10, 2011. (Andrew A. Nelles/ For The Chicago Tribune)

  Till Lindemann, frontman of Rammstein, performs at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Ill., on Tuesday, May 10, 2011. (Andrew A. Nelles/ For The Chicago Tribune)

The crowd reacts as Rammstein performs at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Ill., on Tuesday, May 10, 2011. (Andrew A. Nelles/ For The Chicago Tribune)

LA Times Story: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2011/05/rammstein-is-ready-to-heat-up.html

Recent Work

Justin Howard, aka "Nordic Thunder," won the regional air guitar competition Thursday night at Double Door, advancing to U.S. Air Guitar Championship National Finals July 23 at Metro. Chicago was the first of 18 U.S. cities to host a regional event this year, with the winners of each advancing to the national finals. The winner there gets paid airfare to the 16th annual Air Guitar World Championships, Aug. 24-27 in Finland. (Andrew A. Nelles, for the Tribune)

Aaron Alonso, stage name "Dry Ice," jumps into the crowd while competing during the Air Guitar Regional Championship at The Double Door in Chicago, Ill., on Thursday, May 12, 2011. (Andrew A. Nelles/ For The Chicago Tribune)

 Aaron Alonso, left, stage name "Dry Ice," and Justin Howard, right, stage name "Nordic Thunder," wait backstage to hear the final scores. (Andrew A. Nelles/ For The Chicago Tribune)

 

Chicago Firefighters respond to an early morning garage fire on the northwest side of Chicago, Ill., on Sunday, May 1, 2011. (Andrew A. Nelles/Chicago News Cooperative)

HS Baseball

Larkin's Drew Shore (#18) throws a pitch during the first inning at Larkin High School in Elgin, Ill., on Wednesday, May 4, 2011. | Andrew A. Nelles~For Sun-Times Media

 

Streamwood's Zach Bucher (#15) is tagged out by Elgin's Javier Cardenas (#4) during the third inning at Streamwood High School in Streamwood, Ill., on Monday, May 2, 2011. | Andrew A. Nelles~For Sun-Times Media 

11 in a SUV

Tina Morton, of Chicago, Ill., who stated that she was the aunt of a passenger injured, takes a photo of the SUV her niece was in at the scene of a fatal two car accident near S. Kostner Ave. and W. 13th St. in Chicago, Ill., on Saturday, April 30, 2011. The SUV involved in the accident (foreground) rolled during the wreck, injuring all 11 people inside, 2 of the injured died. (Andrew A. Nelles/ For The Chicago Tribune)

Vehicles involved in a fatal accident today near the intersection of South Kostner Avenue and West 13th Street on the West Side. The SUV involved in the accident (rear) rolled during the wreck, injuring all 11 people inside, 2 of the injured died. The driver of the other vehicle (right) was not injured.(Andrew A. Nelles / For The Chicago Tribune / April 30, 2011 )