Recent Work

 Kindergartner Nya Wallace works on a lesson during the second day of a longer schedule at Genevieve Melody Elementary School in Chicago, Ill., on Tuesday, January 10, 2012. Andrew A. Nelles/For The Chicago News Cooperative

 World War Two veteran Gordon Schnulle of Elgin, Ill., who served in the Marine Corps, salutes during the Pillars of Honor event at Gail Borden Public Library in Elgin, Ill., on Sunday, January 22, 2012. | Andrew A. Nelles~For Sun-Times Media

 Patrick Yasutake, 17, of Glen Ellyn, Ill., performs during the pre-show rehearsal at Hemmens Auditorium in Elgin, Ill., on Sunday, January 29, 2012. | Andrew A. Nelles~For Sun-Times Media

 South Elgin's Savanah Uveges (4) advances through a patch of sunlight during the first quarter at St. Edward High School in Elgin, Ill., on Saturday, January 7, 2012. | Andrew A. Nelles~For Sun-Times Media

 Elgin's Cortez Scott (13) and Derek Moorman (21) react after their win at The Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates, Ill., on Saturday, January 21, 2012. | Andrew A. Nelles~For Sun-Times Media

 Elgin fans rush onto the court after their victory against Larkin at Elgin High School in Elgin, Ill., on Wednesday, January 11, 2012. | Andrew A. Nelles~For Sun-Times Media

 Elgin's Devin Gilliam (20) battles with Huntley's Troy Miller (20) during the fourth quarter at The Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates, Ill., on Saturday, January 21, 2012. | Andrew A. Nelles~For Sun-Times Media

 Elgin's Kory Brown dunks during the fourth quarter at The Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates, Ill., on Saturday, January 21, 2012. | Andrew A. Nelles~For Sun-Times Media

 St. Charles North's Jason Weinzirl (15) collides with Larkin's Shaquille Mosley (25) during the first quarter at St. Charles North High School in St. Charles, Ill., on Tuesday, January 24, 2012. | Andrew A. Nelles~For Sun-Times Media

Huntley's Brandon Mabry (right) wrestles with Woodstock's Kenny Robson in the 170 pound consolation match at Huntley High School in Huntley, Ill., on Saturday, January 28, 2012. | Andrew A. Nelles~For Sun-Times Media

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