COFFEE MUGS
Love your mug? Tells us why
Coffee drinkers have two passions: their coffee and the mug from which they drink it. Share a photo of your favorite mug and tells us the story behind it by clicking here. Please include your full name and town of residence, and brief description of why you love your mug and how you got it. We will publish them in our online gallery.

• Photos: Favorite coffee mugs

VETERANS DAY 2009
Salute your veteran
Veterans Day 2009 is Nov. 11. Celebrate your veteran by sharing a picture and a story about him or her. To submit, click here. Please include your full name, along with the full name and town of residence of your veteran, and a brief description of your veteran's service to the country. We will publish photos in our online gallery.

• Photos: Saluting our veterans

• Area runners look for strong finish
• Pare down isn't fight song
• A title for Joe G.
• Clausen toughs it out after toe injury setback
• Healthy start, happy Deng

How moms make ends meet
Moms are cutting back on household spending, making more home-cooked meals, sacrificing quality for everyday value for themselves and making special shopping trips to save money, according to a survey on how the recession is changing family habits. While mom is buying herself lower-quality clothes -- if she's buying any at all -- and cutting back on the quality of cosmetics and health products she buys for herself, she's not scrimping on the quality of food or clothing for her kids, the survey showed.

• Participants also learn at school fundraiser
• ASTRO-GRAPH
• Humans, pets may pass MRSA to each other
• ASTRO-GRAPH
• 'Rent' speaks to audiences of all ages
• ASTRO-GRAPH
• ASTRO-GRAPH

Elgin cash will help get 2nd dealer to auto mall
The city of Elgin has agreed to advance more than $500,000 to Randall 90 LLC in the hopes of bringing a second car dealer to the Randall Rose Auto Mall on Randall Road just north of I-90.



• E. Dundee plans advisory vote on video gaming
• Elgin looking at business licenses
• Feds force Lawry's to hire male servers
• Strong economic reports lift recovery hopes
• Biz briefs: Center appoints aide to new entrepreneurs

Palin will talk to Oprah, but won't sign books in Chicago
Sarah Palin’s book tour is a gift for her base. No stops are planned in Seattle, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Los Angeles and other major cities and book-buying communities that are standard for authors on the road, but where the voters tend to be Democrats. Beyond a Nov. 16 television interview with Oprah Winfrey, nothing is scheduled for Chicago.
• The 'O' blog: Palin coming to 'Oprah'
• What should Oprah ask Palin?

• Ensemble keeps quips flying in 'Community'
• Drury Lane assembles a thoroughly delightful 'Millie'
• Janus version of 'Romeo & Juliet' is all-female

I expect my out-of-pocket health care costs to go up next year.
Yes
No