Caucus Day

 Jan. 3, 2012 - Johnston, Iowa, U.S - Republican presidential candidate RICK SANTORUM exits the stage after speaking to supporters during his Caucus night event at The Stoney Creek Inn. (Credit Image: © Andrew A. Nelles/ZUMAPRESS.com)

 Jan. 3, 2012 - Johnston, Iowa, U.S - Republican presidential candidate RICK SANTORUM speaks to supporters during his Caucus night event at The Stoney Creek Inn. (Credit Image: © Andrew A. Nelles/ZUMAPRESS.com)

 Jan. 3, 2012 - Johnston, Iowa, U.S - Republican presidential candidate RICK SANTORUM speaks to supporters during his Caucus night event at The Stoney Creek Inn. (Credit Image: © Andrew A. Nelles/ZUMAPRESS.com)

 Jan. 3, 2012 - Johnston, Iowa, U.S - Zoey McCarty, 5, of Grapevine, Texas, holds a sign during Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum's Caucus night event at The Stoney Creek Inn. (Credit Image: © Andrew A. Nelles/ZUMAPRESS.com)

 Jan. 3, 2012 - West Des Moines, Iowa, U.S - Republican presidential candidate RON PAUL speaks during the ''Rock the Caucus'' event at Valley High School. Republican presidential candidates Michele Bachmann, Ron Paul, and Rick Santorum spoke to high school students during the program. (Credit Image: © Andrew A. Nelles/ZUMAPRESS.com)

 Jan. 3, 2012 - West Des Moines, Iowa, U.S - Republican presidential candidate MICHELE BACHMANN holds up an iPhone while speaking during the ''Rock the Caucus'' event at Valley High School. Republican presidential candidates Michele Bachmann, Ron Paul, and Rick Santorum spoke to high school students during the program. (Credit Image: © Andrew A. Nelles/ZUMAPRESS.com)

  Jan. 3, 2012 - West Des Moines, Iowa, U.S - Republican presidential candidate RON PAUL exits after the ''Rock the Caucus'' event at Valley High School. Republican presidential candidates Michele Bachmann, Ron Paul, and Rick Santorum spoke to high school students during the program. (Credit Image: © Andrew A. Nelles/ZUMAPRESS.com)

Jan. 3, 2012 - West Des Moines, Iowa, U.S - Republican presidential candidate RICK SANTORUM arrives at the ''Rock the Caucus'' event at Valley High School. Republican presidential candidates Michele Bachmann, Ron Paul, and Rick Santorum spoke to high school students during the program. (Credit Image: © Andrew A. Nelles/ZUMAPRESS.com)

Caucus

 Jan. 2, 2012 - West Des Moines, Iowa, U.S. - Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann tours businesses in West Des Moines on Monday. (Credit Image: © Andrew A. Nelles/ZUMAPRESS.com)

 Jan. 1, 2012 - Council Bluffs, Iowa, U.S. - Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney speaks at Bayliss Park Hall in Council Bluffs, Iowa on Sunday, January 1, 2012. Romney visited Council Bluffs, Iowa on Sunday concluding his public appearances for the day .(Credit Image: © Andrew A. Nelles/ZUMAPRESS.com)

  Jan. 2, 2012 - Perry, Iowa, U.S - Republican presidential candidate Rick Perry speaks during a campaign rally at Hotel Pattee (Credit Image: © Andrew A. Nelles/ZUMAPRESS.com)

 January 2, 2012. - Des Moines, Iowa, U.S. - Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul speaks during his ''Whistle-Stop'' tour at the Downtown Des Moines Marriott Hotel. (Credit Image: © Andrew A. Nelles/ZUMA Press)

 Jan. 1, 2012 - Atlantic, Iowa, U.S. - Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney exits after speaking at the Family Table Restaurant in Atlantic, Iowa on Sunday, January 1, 2012. Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney spoke to a large crowd of supporters and journalists during a campaign stop at the Family Table Restaurant in Atlantic on Sunday.(Credit Image: © Andrew A. Nelles/ZUMAPRESS.com)

Jan. 1, 2012 - Atlantic, Iowa, U.S. - Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney speaks at the Family Table Restaurant in Atlantic, Iowa on Sunday. Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney spoke to a large crowd of supporters and journalists during a campaign stop at the Family Table Restaurant in Atlantic on Sunday.(Credit Image: © Andrew A. Nelles/ZUMAPRESS.com)

Even More Basketball

 St. Edward's Rena Ranallo (2,) Alexandria Lee (50,) and Kelly Tripicchio (14,) celebrate after their victory at the Lisle girls basketball tournament title game at Lisle High School in Lisle, Ill., on Friday, December 30, 2011. | Andrew A. Nelles~For Sun-Times Media

Bartlett's Ashley Johnson (23) is guarded by Fremd's Sarah Macius (24) during the first quarter at Dundee Crown High School in Carpentersville, Ill., on Wednesday, December 28, 2011. | Andrew A. Nelles~For Sun-Times Media

Tons of Prep Basketball

 Elgin's Arie Williams (center) holds the team's trophy after their victory at Elgin High School in Elgin, Ill., on Thursday, December 22, 2011. | Andrew A. Nelles~For Sun-Times Media

 Elgin's Arie Williams reacts after their victory at Elgin High School in Elgin, Ill., on Thursday, December 22, 2011. | Andrew A. Nelles~For Sun-Times Media

 Elgin's Kory Brown reacts after their victory at Elgin High School in Elgin, Ill., on Thursday, December 22, 2011. | Andrew A. Nelles~For Sun-Times Media

 Elgin's Cortez Scott (13) fouls with La Lumiere's Aaron Emmanuel (5) during the fourth quarter at Elgin High School in Elgin, Ill., on Thursday, December 22, 2011.  Andrew A. Nelles~For Sun-Times Media

 Elgin's Kory Brown (22) passes past Neuqua Valley's Nathan Boudreau (55) during the first quarter at Elgin High School in Elgin, Ill., on Wednesday, December 21, 2011. | Andrew A. Nelles~For Sun-Times Media

 Bartlett's Mitch Reid (32) fights for the ball with Zion-Benton's Mario Burt (23) during the first quarter at Harry D. Jacobs High School in Algonquin, Ill., on Saturday, December 17, 2011. | Andrew A. Nelles~For Sun-Times Media

 Larkin's Quantice Hunter (1) shoots through Rockford East's C'Vontez Johnson (4, lower left) and Diante Hunter (25)  during the second quarter at Elgin High School in Elgin, Ill., on Thursday, December 22, 2011.  Andrew A. Nelles~For Sun-Times Media

 Neuqua Valley's Peter Catchings (44) looks for an opening past Harlan's Blaine Goodall (1) during the first quarter at Elgin High School in Elgin, Ill., on Tuesday, December 20, 2011. | Andrew A. Nelles~For Sun-Times Media

 Elgin's Gerardo Mojica (40) battles with Glenbard North's Ryan Krueger (20) during the second quarter at Elgin High School in Elgin, Ill., on Tuesday, December 20, 2011. | Andrew A. Nelles~For Sun-Times Media

Larkin's Ian Fluhler (12) is guarded by Romeoville's Nate Washington (11) during the second quarter at Elgin High School in Elgin, Ill., on Wednesday, December 21, 2011. | Andrew A. Nelles~For Sun-Times Media

Blackhawks vs. Flames

 Calgary's Jay Bouwmeester (4) pushes past Blackhawk's Jonathan Toews (19) during the second period at the United Center in Chicago, Ill., on Sunday, December 18, 2011. (Andrew A. Nelles For The Chicago News Cooperative)

Blackhawk's Jonathan Toews (19) and Calgary's Alex Tanguay (40) battle over the puck during the second period at the United Center in Chicago, Ill., on Sunday, December 18, 2011. (Andrew A. Nelles For The Chicago News Cooperative)

Calgary's Brendan Morrison (8) heads past the Blackhawk's Patrick Sharp (10) during the third period at the United Center in Chicago, Ill., on Sunday, December 18, 2011.(Andrew A. Nelles For The Chicago News Cooperative)

The Blackhaw's Bryan Bickell and Calgary's Cory Sarich fight during the third period at the United Center in Chicago, Ill., on Sunday, December 18, 2011. (Andrew A. Nelles For The Chicago News Cooperative)

Recent Work

 Illinois state trooper Deann Falat hands out candy canes to first graders at Meadowdale Elementary School in Carpentersville, Ill., on Tuesday, December 13, 2011. | Andrew A. Nelles~For Sun-Times Media

 Streamwood's Deja Moore (23) and St. Charles North's Lauren Durocher (24) battle for a ball during the second quarter at Streamwood High School in Streamwood, Ill., on Friday, December 9, 2011. | Andrew A. Nelles~For Sun-Times Media

 St. Charles North's Megan Booe (11) and St. Charles East's Laney Deckrow (24) fight for the ball during the first quarter at St. Charles North High School in St. Charles, Ill., on Wednesday, December 14, 2011. | Andrew A. Nelles~For Sun-Times Media

 Elgin's Arie Williams (10) works up the court during the first quarter at Elgin High School in Elgin, Ill., on Tuesday, December 13, 2011. | Andrew A. Nelles~For Sun-Times Media

Elgin's Devin Gilliam (20) and Central's Ryan Ritchie (23) loose control of the ball during the first quarter at Elgin High School in Elgin, Ill., on Tuesday, December 13, 2011. | Andrew A. Nelles~For Sun-Times Media

Florence and the Machine

 Florence and the Machine perform at the Chicago Theatre in Chicago, Ill., on Sunday, December 4, 2011.(Andrew A. Nelles/ For The Chicago Tribune)

  Florence and the Machine perform at the Chicago Theatre in Chicago, Ill., on Sunday, December 4, 2011.(Andrew A. Nelles/ For The Chicago Tribune)

 Florence and the Machine perform at the Chicago Theatre in Chicago, Ill., on Sunday, December 4, 2011.(Andrew A. Nelles/ For The Chicago Tribune)

Hospital Rally

Lesli Melendy, and her daughter Karly Melendy, 9, of Huntley, Ill., hold a sign during a rally in support of building Centegra Hospital in Huntley, Ill., on Friday, December 2, 2011. | Andrew A. Nelles~For Sun-Times Media

Business Portrait

Pablo Azar, director of the Allstate Innovation Lab, at the Allstate facility in Northbrook, Ill., on Thursday, November 17, 2011. (Andrew A. Nelles/ For The Chicago Tribune)

Story: http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-1204-allstate-innovation-20111204,0,5848846.story

Thanksgiving Dinner

Briauna Dandridge, 10, of Carpentersville, Ill., holds Samara Williams, 1, while eating during the annual Thanksgiving community dinner at Hemmens Auditorium in Elgin, Ill., on Thursday, November 24, 2011. | Andrew A. Nelles~For Sun-Times Media

Basketball Preview

Elgin senior Kory Brown is back to lead the Maroons after earning Courier-News and Upstate Eight River Player of the Year honors as a junior. | Andrew A. Nelles~For Sun-Times Media

More Playoffs

 Prairie Ridge's Andrew Lanza (54) celebrates after their 6A playoff game victory at Prairie Ridge HIgh School in Crystal Lake, Ill., on Saturday, November 12, 2011. (Andrew A. Nelles/ For The Chicago Tribune)

 Prairie Ridge's Sean Valentine (4) misses a catch in front of Nazareth's Phillip Gaspari (22) during the second quarter.( Andrew A. Nelles, Chicago Tribune / November 12, 2011 )

Prairie Ridge's Connor Greenwald (22) rushes up the middle during the second quarter.( Andrew A. Nelles, Chicago Tribune / November 12, 2011 )

Gallery: http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/highschool/ct-spt-1113-prep-foot-pr-naz-photo,0,4795997.photogallery

Veterans Day

 Elgin American Legion Post 57 member Rich Moen, of Elgin, Ill., participates during the Veterans Day ceremony at Veterans Memorial Park in Elgin, Ill., on Friday, November 11, 2011. | Andrew A. Nelles~For Sun-Times Media |

World War Two veteran Gordon Schnulle of Elgin, Ill., speaks to students during the Veterans Day ceremony at Hampshire Middle School in Hampshire, Ill., on Friday, November 11, 2011. | Andrew A. Nelles~For Sun-Times Media |

Clown

Kyle Barker puts on his clown makeup before the Ringling
Brothers Circus at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Ill. on Friday.
Baker, who is from the Elgin area, has been with the circus since
November 2009. | Andrew A. Nelles~For Sun-Times Media

6A Playoff

 Lakes' players including Ty Summers (right holding jug) dump a water jug on Direll Clark (25, center, left of jug, wearing helmet) after their 6A football playoff victory at Grant High School in Fox Lake, Ill., on Friday, November 4, 2011. (Andrew A. Nelles/ For The Chicago Tribune)

Lakes' players including Trevor Braverman (34, center) climb into the stands after their 6A football playoff victory at Grant High School in Fox Lake, Ill., on Friday, November 4, 2011. (Andrew A. Nelles/ For The Chicago Tribune)