* Phones ring, no one answers: Layoffs close jobs program offices

For two weeks, no one’s been answering the phones in the Clinton and Monroe counties’ WorkNet Center offices — despite stacks of joblessness claims caused by the worst recession in decades.

The reason for the locked offices: St. Clair County still hasn’t hired people to replace the case managers who had once worked there.

* Shifting Demographics Change Suburban Schools

The face of suburbia is changing—and so are schools there. For decades, Chicago has educated the vast majority of the region’s low-income, minority, and immigrant students. But that’s shifting, and education issues once considered “urban” are increasingly showing up in suburban schools. It’s placing cultural, academic and financial demands on districts that at one time catered to mostly white, middle-class kids.

* New kiosks to accept credit cards at CTA park-and-ride lots

* Small loss to Chicago parking meter a big deal to Evanston driver

* New CTA Park and Ride boxes could mean more walking

* CTA’s online Bus Tracker rolls into sight at Wicker Park shops

* Former CME chairman of 1970s accused of embezzlement

* Judge’s blood-alcohol was .107 percent, but he’s fighting test

* Lake County judge’s DUI results are released, and trial is delayed

* In collar counties, subdivision development skids to a halt

* Top schools should share what works

This area can take pride in having four schools among 37 statewide recognized by U.S. News & World Report magazine as among the best in the nation.

Bloomington High School, Blue Ridge High School in Farmer City, Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley High School in Gibson City and Tri-Valley High School in Downs each received a bronze medal rating from the magazine in its “America’s Best High Schools” article.

* Mokena trustees move further to trim spending

* District 308 board approves safety work

* District 150 property tax rate will go up

* District 150 teachers avoid School Board meeting

* Peoria County to get mental health court

* Rochester school officials prepare for budget shortfall

* Bloomington council votes 5-4 to raise tax levy

* Pontiac high school board OKs higher tax levy

* Suburban Chicago teachers in class after strike

Hundreds of teachers in a suburban Chicago school district will be back in class after more than a week on strike.

Teachers in Prairie Hills District 144 went on strike Dec. 3 because they couldn’t reach an agreement with district officials during contract negotiations. The points of contention were salaries, health insurance and retirement benefits.

* Auditor tells Bloomington its cash reserves are too low

* SJ-R Opinion: City needs plan to help older neighborhoods

* We can do more for the homeless