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)

8A Playoffs

 Lyons' players including Nicholas Demes (74) celebrate after their Class 8A playoff victory at Streamwood High School in Streamwood, Ill., on Saturday, October 29, 2011. (Andrew A. Nelles/ For The Chicago Tribune)

 Lyons' Michael Thomas (20, right) is hugged by Jemari Burks (10, left) after their Class 8A playoff victory. ( Andrew A. Nelles, Chicago Tribune / October 29, 2011 )

 Bartlett's Aaron Everson (27) runs in the team's second touchdown during the first quarter. ( Andrew A. Nelles, Chicago Tribune / October 29, 2011 )

Bartlett's Aaron Everson (27) slips past Lyons' Billy Cramsie (24) during the first quarter. ( Andrew A. Nelles, Chicago Tribune / October 29, 2011 )

Foreclosures Leave Pockets of Neglect and Decay

 Thomas Burton, 77, toured a foreclosed and vacant house, a mirror image of his own longtime home, on West Wilcox Street. Andrew A. Nelles for The Chicago News Cooperative

Thomas Burton, 77, outside of a foreclosed and vacant house, a mirror image of his own longtime home, on West Wilcox Street. Andrew A. Nelles for The Chicago News Cooperative

Story: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/28/us/foreclosures-lead-to-crime-and-decay-in-abandoned-buildings.html

U.S. Army Spc. Wayne Simmons, who returned home from being stationed in South Korea, hugs his daughter Pheonyx, 7, after surprising her in class Wednesday at Algonquin Lakes Elementary in Algonquin. | Andrew A. Nelles~For Sun-Times Media

Story: http://couriernews.suntimes.com/photos/galleries/8433749-417/soldier-stationed-overseas-gives-daughter-a-surprise-visit-at-algonquin-school.html

Theo Epstein

 Theo Epstein, President of Baseball Operations, during a press conference at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Ill., on Tuesday, October 25, 2011. Andrew A. Nelles for the Chicago News Cooperative

 Theo Epstein, President of Baseball Operations, speaks with Tom Ricketts, chairman of the Chicago Cubs, during a press conference at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Ill., on Tuesday, October 25, 2011. Andrew A. Nelles for the Chicago News Cooperative

Theo Epstein, President of Baseball Operations, greets fans including Ronnie "Woo Woo" Wickers, right, at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Ill., on Tuesday, October 25, 2011. Andrew A. Nelles for the Chicago News Cooperative

More Photos Here: http://www.chicagonewscoop.org/mcgrath-epstein-unfazed-in-debut-as-cubs-president/

New Forest Preserve

Valerie Blaine, nature programs manager for the Kane County Forest Preserve District, tells visitors about prairie plant life during Saturday's grand opening of Muirhead Springs Forest Preserve in Plato Township. | Andrew A. Nelles~For Sun-Times Media

 Larkin's Erik Rodriguez (10) battles with Bartlett's Fabio Aiello (7) during the first half at St. Charles East High School in St. Charles, Ill., on Saturday, October 22, 2011. | Andrew A. Nelles~For Sun-Times Media |

The Shady World of Immigrant Notarios

Mario De La Rosa at his home in Waukegan, Ill., on Tuesday, October 11, 2011. Mario de la Rosa was a victim of Margaret Carrasco, who is accused of posing as an immigration lawyer. Andrew A. Nelles for Chicago News Cooperative

CNC: http://www.chicagonewscoop.org/fraud-charges-expose-shady-world-of-legal-representation-for-immigrants/

NYT: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/23/us/fake-lawyers-and-notaries-prey-on-immigrants.html?_r=1&ref=chicagonewscooperative

Flight 191 Memorial

 Andrew Lux, of Lake Geneva, Wis., makes an imprint of the name of his grandfather, Captain Walter H. Lux, who was the pilot of Flight 191, at the Flight 191 Memorial at Lake Park in Des Plaines, Ill., on Saturday, October 15, 2011. Flight 191 crashed near O'Hare Airport on May 25, 1979, killing 273, after one of the airplane's engines separated from the wing. The memorial at Lake Park in Des Plaines, Ill. was unveiled for family of the victims Saturday.(Andrew A. Nelles/ For The Chicago Tribune)

 Flowers left during the unveiling of the Flight 191 Memorial at Lake Park in Des Plaines on Saturday. (Andrew A. Nelles, For the Chicago Tribune / October 15, 2011)

Link: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-memorial-to-273-plane-crash-victims-to-be-unveiled-20111015,0,3002141.story