Menard, Pulaski and Scott counties are among Illinois counties that employ the most government workers per capita in Illinois, according to 2016 Illinois State Comptroller financial reports.

Out of school districts in West Suburbs, Proviso Township High School District 209 paid the most in penalties since 2005 for spiking employee salaries to boost outgoing teachers' retirement benefits, according to data obtained from the Teachers Retirement System of Illinois.

With an effective property tax rate of 3.64 percent, Bureau County has the highest tax rate among Illinois counties, according to an ATTOM Data Solutions analysis of property taxes levied on single-family homes.

With the amount it's obligated to pay pensioners outpacing the funds it has on hand, 34 percent of the Melrose Park Police Pension Fund fund is funded, according to the latest data reported to the Illinois Department of Insurance Pension Division.

With the amount it's obligated to pay pensioners outpacing the funds it has on hand, 23.9 percent of the Melrose Park Firefighters Pension Fund fund is funded, according to the latest data reported to the Illinois Department of Insurance Pension Division.

Five offenders released on parole in November live in Illinois zip code 60534, according to Illinois Department of Corrections data obtained by West Cook News.

Village of Schiller Park Committee of the Whole President and Board of Trustees met Thursday, April 5.

Village of Schiller Park Committee of the Whole President and Board of Trustees met Thursday, March 22.

Village of Schiller Park President and Board of Trustees met Thursday, April 5.

Village of Schiller Park President and Board of Trustees met Monday, March 26.

Village of Riverside Board of Trustees met Thursday, March 15.

Village of River Forest Board of Trustees met Monday, March 12.

Village of Stickney Board of Trustees met Tuesday, May 1.

Westdale Park District Finance and Rules Committee of the Whole met Monday, April 2.

City of Northlake City Council met Monday, April 2.

Illinoisans of Italian, Mexican, French and Eastern European descent could be in line for top management jobs with one of the state's largest public pension systems if a bill becomes law.

At Larry's Barber College in Chicago, 40.3 percent of borrowers who started repaying student loans in 2014 defaulted on those loans by the end of 2016, according to a Higher Education Tribune analysis of the latest disclosure from the U.S. Department of Education.

Thirteen offenders released on parole in November live in Illinois zip code 60130, according to Illinois Department of Corrections data obtained by West Cook News.

With the amount it's obligated to pay pensioners outpacing the funds it has on hand, 42.4 percent of the North Riverside Police Pension Fund fund is funded, according to the latest data reported to the Illinois Department of Insurance Pension Division.

With the amount it's obligated to pay pensioners outpacing the funds it has on hand, 36.3 percent of the North Riverside Firefighters Pension Fund fund is funded, according to the latest data reported to the Illinois Department of Insurance Pension Divisi