Metro & Tri-state Alderman gets powder-filled letter Chicago's 'North Side rapist' gets 90 years Wardens don't care that you used to be the governor Emil Jones III inches closer to dad's Senate seat Daley: School funding suit better than boycott Ex-North Side pastor jailed over church theft Chicago area jobless rate hits 7.5% Marijuana hunt is on in National Lakeshore Bond set at $2M for man accused of shaking child Man killed in West Side shooting Truck crashes after driver falls asleep behind wheel Man charged for fatal stabbing in Round Lake Beach Tempel Steel expanding in city, leaving suburb Daley not sold on lowering drinking age

STNG Video View more local videos Chicago 24/7 Crime Alderman gets powder-filled letter Man killed in West Side shooting Two men, one boy shot on Far South Side Wardens don't care that you used to be the governor Chicago's 'North Side rapist' gets 90 years Bond set at $2M for man accused of shaking child Man sentenced to four years for raping female friend Education Lawsuit: Funding system violates civil rights Past 'separate and unequal' lawsuits failed

Sports 1st: Bears 7, 49ers 3: Follow tonight's game here Kyle Orton finds Rashied Davis with a touchdown pass after a nice kick return by Danieal Manning. The Bears' defense bent but gave up just a field goal on S.F.'s first drive.

Cracked molar, emotions can't stop Big Z, Cubs Carlos Zambrano earned his 13th victory on the fourth try and also homered to lift the Cubs to a 3-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds. Zambrano (13-5) allowed a run and six hits in seven innings. The Cubs’ ace had two no-decisions and a loss in his previous three starts, giving up 17 hits and 15 earned runs in 15 1-3 innings.

Hammon, other mercenaries spoil Olympic purpose Jay Mariotti: She fought tears as the ``Star-Spangled Banner'' played, placing a hand over her heart while swaying nervously. Here was a ponytailed young woman from the plains, as quintessentially American as the fashion labels and junk food and MTV vibes so evident in China, fulfilling a childhood dream as she stood for the national anthem at the Olympics.

Lifestyles Feds release online database with death rates Need a new car? Check out consumer safety ratings. Feeling chest pain? Now health-care consumers can review hospital mortality rates for heart attacks, heart failure and pneumonia. On Wednesday, the federal government released an online searchable database of hospital death rate estimates at more than 4,300 hospitals nationwide.

Compare hospitals for yourself
At Home Interior Affairs: Chinese design, American Style Weather's seedy side brings avalanche Religion Family of alleged McCormack victim sues archdiocese Ex-North Side pastor jailed over church theft Horoscopes Holiday Mathis horoscopes for August 21 Georgia Nicols horoscopes for August 21 Astrological topics

Entertainment Backstreet's back — but now there are four

They may be older, wiser and short one original member, but the Backstreet Boys are still a hot ticket. Reserved seats for their concert at Ravinia are sold out, and the remaining lawn tickets are going fast.

Backstreet's back — but now there are four Books Southern exposure Memoirs of a fortysomething Olympic hopeful Obama book falls victim to booksellers' rivalry Classical Beaux Arts Trio bows out in style Stage Latin music stars put on explosive performances Chat live with Hedy Weiss and guest Chicago Dancing Festival celebrated at Harris

Business Abbott Labs cutting jobs Abbott Laboratories plans to cut 1,000 jobs, including some in Lake County, as part of a restructuring of its diagnostic business, which has been growing. Once the plan is implemented over the next three-and-a-half years, it will streamline global manufacturing operations, the company said in a regulatory filing Tuesday. North Chicago-based Abbott said cuts will be made globally, but declined to say how many jobs will be cut locally.

Chicago area jobless rate hits 7.5% Tempel Steel expanding in city, leaving suburb
Ex Motorola, Procter & Gamble execs heading to Sears Bay Harbour wins bid to buy Steve & Barry's You, too, can sell Chicago Sears marketing chief leaves