Friday, Dec. 30:

• New: Ruben new president of Hartsburg State Bank

• New: Railers split pair to end holiday classic

• Multiple locations now accept unused medications

• Railers bounce back against Dunlap

• Sears lists 79 store closings: none in Illinois

• 2011 pictures of the year -- Album 3

• 2011 pictures of the year -- Album 4

• Sears lists 79 store closings: none in Illinois

• The 2011 stories of the year: the fight to save Logan Correctional

• Quinn: Cutting 1,900 jobs; Logan Correctional among 7 state institutions named

• Quinn's $376 million budget veto likely to be spent elsewhere
  7 proposed facility closures including Logan hang in the balance

• 'Save Logan Correctional Center' march Oct. 13

• Sea of red marches for Logan Correctional

• Sea of red marches for Logan Correctional:
       Album 1  |  Album 2

• Local leaders disappointed with governor's no-show at meeting

• Local leaders, community members, tell COGFA panel why Logan is important

• Commission to vote on Logan Correctional tomorrow morning

• COGFA votes to keep Logan Correctional open

• House, Senate vote: Logan and other facilities to stay open

• Saved! Budget deal will keep Logan open

• Historical society, Bennett calendars, Mount Pulaski Rotary, blood drive, Kristin Allen, Matthew Southerlan and Mount Pulaski State Scholars make Close Up

• Letter: Paramedic Association CEO recognizes Dr. Blaum's contributions

• Library notes

• Marriages

• Police reports

• Fire and rescue reports

• Home Country: Wisdom in the flames

• AP news

Thursday, Dec. 29:

• A look at some of Illinois' new laws

• Shelby off coroner's ballot

• Holiday partying carries responsibilities

• 2011 pictures of the year -- Album 1

• 2011 pictures of the year -- Album 2

• U of I recruit does in Railers at Collinsville

• Birth: Dalyla Jo Brown

• Police reports

• Fire and rescue reports

• Logan Lanes: Tuesday Super Trios

• AP news

Wednesday, Dec. 28:

• Union Pacific under fire to fix 5th Street rail crossing

• Tax increase, impact dominate Illinois Capitol in 2011

• Quinn hopes Sears won't close stores in Illinois

• Friday night fire displaces 7
  Family in immediate need of temporary shelter

• Illinois Lottery head says online ticket sales could come in following months

• Logan County FSA newsletter

• Police reports

• Fire and rescue reports

• Laura on Life: The definition of an adult

• Mayfield's Mutterings: Illini finally exterminate pesky Gophers
  By Jeff Mayfield

• AP news

Tuesday, Dec. 27:

• Friday night fire displaces 7
  Family in immediate need of temporary shelter

• Superintendent retiring from New Holland-Middletown

• CEL receives high return on parent survey

• AP list of top 2011 Illinois stories

• Illinois grappling with younger veterans' needs

• U of I not buying .xxx domain names

• Sears to close 100 to 120 Kmart, Sears stores

• Historical society, writing club, Bennett calendars, Mount Pulaski Rotary, blood drive, Draw 4 Carroll, Mount Pulaski State Scholars and Matthew Southerlan make Close Up

• Recalls announced

• Fire and rescue reports

• Logan Lanes:

• American Bowling League

• Split N Gutter League

• AP news

Friday, Dec. 23 and Christmas weekend:

• Mary Todd's Hallmark and YMCA help downtown Lincoln thrive

• WLB receives visit from military pen pal

• WLB receives visit from military pen pal -- album

• Farm Credit offering $1,000 college agriculture scholarships

• Piano students perform Christmas recitals

• Christian Child Care holds holiday luncheon

• Safe Ride program available this weekend

• Police seek information on Lincoln Depot vandalism

• Keep track of Santa

• Park district notes

• Dissolutions

• Home Country: Goodbye, geese

• AP news

Thursday, Dec. 22:

• Cooperative to renovate the 'twin sister' homes announced Wednesday

• From convent to farm life: Margaret Peifer's story

• WLB board reviews repairs and inspections

• Volunteers ask community to help in restoration of Allen Chapel

• Carroll Catholic pre-K decorates the principal

• David Upchurch joins LCU advancement team

• Fire and rescue reports

• Logan Lanes:

• Jay Bird League

• Tuesday Super Trios

• AP news

Wednesday, Dec. 21:

• LCHS building trades, new not-for-profit to be downtown renovation partners

• City Briefs: Gehlbach new city clerk, city finances and agreement on BlueStar

• Farm Bureau committees donate to county food pantry

• 49er Antiques and Collectables -- something special in an unexpected place

• Polar Express rumbles through CEL

• Polar Express rumbles through CEL -- album

• City FAQs focus on the holiday season

• Exodus of Illinois taxpayers means loss of $26B in tax revenue

• Quinn calls for pension system review after report involving ISU

• Police report

• Fire and rescue reports

• Book Look: 'Queen of Hearts'

• Laura on Life: 12 things for Christmas

• HOPE Mobile changes

• HOPE Mobile schedule for January

• Lady Eagles win against Springfield Trinity Lutheran

• AP news

Tuesday, Dec. 20:

• Illinois American Water tells council they need more money

• Residents honored by city council

• Residents honored by city council -- album

• Development partnership announces new officers

• Toys for Tots and parents prepare for the big day

• Toys for Tots -- album

• Emden couple cruises into Christmas

• Emden couple cruises into Christmas -- album

• Ruth Freesmeier wins $40 in thrift store gift certificates

• Sports commission website coming

• Historical society, writing club, Bennett calendars, Mount Pulaski Rotary, Draw 4 Carroll and Mount Pulaski State Scholars make Close Up

• Births:

  • Macy Marie Brady

  • Berclyn Alexander Lopez Jr.

• Police reports

• Fire and rescue reports

• Logan Lanes:

• American Bowling League

• Split N Gutter League

• AP news

Monday, Dec. 19:

• City and District 27 agree to work together on crossing guard issue

• LG Seeds donates $1,000 to Mount Pulaski FFA

• Mount Pulaski presents 3rd annual Christmas cantata

• Christmas cantata previews at St. John UCC

• Railers end skid, beat Taylorville 57-40

• Claim of misconduct in Blagojevich case

• Illinois ranks 3rd in teachers earning certification

• Railers end skid; beat Taylorville 57-40

• Lincoln Youth Wrestling results

• AP news

Saturday, Dec. 17:

• Shopping downtown can lead to the perfect gift

• Atlanta musicians band together

• Olympia South Elementary students display holiday artwork

• Olympia South students display artwork -- album

• Railers looking for wins and answers fall short to Jacksonville 38-36

• In the game of tax breaks for companies to stay, states play at their risk

• Letters:

• Thanks to citizens and leaders for support to keep prison jobs

• Grateful to Wal-Mart associate

• Home Country: Railsplitting tool has many lives

• Railers looking for wins and answers fall short to Jacksonville 38-36

• AP news

Friday, Dec. 16:

• Students skate circles around CEL gym

• Students skate circles around CEL gym -- album

• District 27 bands are sharing Christmas spirit

• Judges uphold Democratic-drawn congressional map

• Illinois unemployment drop marginal in November

• Robo-calls to cellphones dead in Congress

• Census: Half of U.S. is poor, low-income

• Police reports

• Fire and rescue reports

• Panthers get sweep on the road

• AP news

Thursday, Dec. 15:

• Central School staff band holiday tour -- album

• Competing plans work to roll back Ill. business tax increase

• Brady: Illinois at the bottom when it comes to business climate

• Recycling guidelines

• Blagojevich lawyers ask judge to endorse drug rehab program for former governor

• State police release 2011 statistics

• Fire and rescue reports

• Police reports

• Logan Lanes: Jay Bird League

• AP news

Wednesday, Dec. 14:

• City Briefs: Martinek resigns, pensions, police dept. location and more

• Paul Beaver announces new book will be available soon

• Area students send cards to troops

• LCU introduces Rochelle Cathcart, assistant professor of intercultural studies

• Illinois tax breaks could trigger demand for more

• Ill. tax talks far from over despite tax breaks passing

• Ill. could shoulder debt from faltering tuition program

• Fire and rescue reports

• Police reports

• Laura on Life: The blinding truth

• LC wrestling rankings

• Logan Lanes: Tuesday Super Trios

• AP news

Tuesday, Dec. 13:

• Keenan Leesman ALMH Employee of the Year

• Adams School presents holiday program

• Hartem FFA plans 2nd annual auction

• Crafters build gingerbread houses at the library

• Illinois' prepaid tuition program stops new contracts

• Extra Illinois session costs top $30,000 a day

• Illinois' prepaid tuition program stops new contracts

• Births:

• Landen Michael Lee Geriets

• Zaiden Michael Grieser

• Police reports

• Fire and rescue reports

• Flu facts

• CEL sweeps Hartem

• Logan Lanes:

• American Bowling League

• Split N Gutter League

• AP news

Monday, Dec. 12:

• Salvation Army scrambles to have a successful Red Kettle campaign

• Lincoln Area Music Society holds winter concert

• Winter coats from St. John UCC top 2,000

• Lincoln College Music Department's 'A Winter Music Concert' -- album

• Hartem Music Department presents 'A Winter Concert' -- album

• Postal Service closures will be 'a mess'

• Report: Ill. poverty remains worse after recession

• Rod Blagojevich's strangest moments

• Police reports

• Fire and rescue reports

• Lincoln Youth Wrestling results

• LC wrestling

• LCU men's basketball vs. Kuyper

• AP news

Saturday, Dec. 10:

• John Blackburn to be new Lincoln College president

• Downtown offers more great Christmas shopping opportunities 

• Railer skid hits 4 against Rochester

• Trend-adjusted APH yield endorsement gives farmers more

• Holiday season: a time of joy, free of fire tragedies

• Home Country: An old friend gets lost on a cold night

• Railer skid hits 4 against Rochester

• AP news

Friday, Dec. 9:

• Local 4-H'ers honored at 1st Lego League regional

• Appeal is Blagojevich's last hope to cut sentence

• Illinois turns to private sector to cover old bills

• ISP releases court decision preventing disclosure of firearm owners

• RMA streamlines Illinois acreage reporting dates

• Birth: Sophie LeAnn Awe

• Police reports

• Fire and rescue reports

• Logan Lanes: Logan Lassies

• AP news

Thursday, Dec. 8:

• Breaking news 1:20 p.m.
  Virginia Tech confirms police officer, 1 other person killed in shootings on campus

• Blagojevich begins bleak countdown to prison

• Ex-prosecutor says Blagojevich sentence stiff, but he has no one to blame but self, actions

• Blagojevich likely to lose $65,000 state pension

• District 27 holiday band concert -- album

• Madigan, attorneys general nationwide fight against robo-calls to cellphones

• Fed crackdown on online food stamp fraud empowers Ill.

• Illinois hunters bag 97,000 deer during firearm season

• Exports and tax cuts for middle class improve American economy

• Fire and rescue reports

• Lady Eagles results

• LCU falls to Eureka

• Logan Lanes:

• Jay Bird League

• Tuesday Super Trios

• AP news

Wednesday, Dec. 7:

• Breaking News 1:30 p.m.
  Blagojevich gets 14 years in prison for corruption

• City Briefs: Trash, derelict property and more

• Food pantry drive brings in $7,000

• Elks Lodge opens new restaurant

• Chris Huff promoted to office manager at development partnership

• St. Nicholas Day celebrated in Emden

• St. Nicholas Day in Emden -- album

• Blagojevich lawyer: Don’t punish him for state history

• 13th Amendment copy restored by conservator, to return to Lincoln Presidential Museum

• This day in history

• Humane Society tree of lights, live Nativity at Zion Lutheran, 'It's a Wonder-full Life,' Christmas cookie walk, park district's outdoor decorating contest, Joseph Ahrends and Dylan List make Close Up

• Police reports

• Fire and rescue reports

• Laura on Life: Thoughts on turning 50

• Logan Lanes: Split N Gutter League

• Zion Lutheran Lady Eagles win tournament

• AP news

Tuesday, Dec. 6:

• Council agrees on BlueStar; alternate energy provider question on March ballot

• Illinois AG, CUB push for $41.1 million electric rate cut for Ameren customers

• Chamber seeks nominations for Pride & Progress awards

• Candidates for election file petitions

• Illinois eyes less money from feds in future

• USDA FSA increases guaranteed loan limit for farmers

• November: an interesting month for weather in Illinois

• Multiple changes in teacher certifications in Illinois

• Police reports

• Fire and rescue reports

• CEL splits with Delavan

• Logan Lanes: American Bowling League

• AP news

Monday, Dec. 5:

• Development partnership director's first 100 days range from everyday business to extraordinary urgency

• Carroll Catholic Christmas Bazaar -- album

• Postal cuts to slow delivery of mail

• GED test dates for 2012 announced

• Any defiance could hurt Blagojevich at sentencing

• Farmers worry new labor rules will end teen jobs

• Reminder: Medicare open-enrollment period ends Wednesday

• Recalls announced

• Evan Cervi joins Prairie Engineers of Illinois

• Births:

  • Lillian and Jasmyn Adams

  • Colby Lee Bowman

• Police reports

• Fire and rescue reports

• Mayfield's Mutterings: Illini zig the Zags 82-75
  By Jeff Mayfield

• LC women's basketball

• LC wrestling

• LCU men's and women's basketball

• AP news

Saturday, Dec. 3:

• Creative bookkeeping prevented Illinois layoffs

• Lincoln Park District installs environmentally friendly parking lot

• Family Medical Center patients can access their health records online

• U of I reviewing policies on sex abuse reporting

• Indianapolis courts owner of Chicago exchanges

• Closing Illinois institutions: cost savings or cost shifting?

• Fall precipitation in the Midwest: from shortage in the west to surplus in the east

• Home Country: Night chat about the day job

• Logan Lanes: Jay Bird League

• AP news

Friday, Dec. 2:

• Christmas in the Chapel opens at LCU

• Carroll students prepare for Christmas bazaar

• Normal West edges Railers in OT 44-43

• Finger-pointing after tax deal flops in Ill.

• Caterpillar: Tax vote sign of Illinois' 'rudderless, dysfunctional business climate'

• Quinn: Sears help 'more than adequate.' But Ohio offers $400 million

• Pat Quinn calls it a Christmas tree, not holiday tree

• Police reports

• Fire and rescue reports

• LCU men's and women's basketball results

• AP news

Thursday, Dec. 1:

• Ron Keller included on panel to discuss Lincoln book

• St. Nicholas Eve in Emden on Monday

• Lawmakers want tax fairness, not one-at-a-time relief

• Relief sparse for most taxpayers

• Prosecutors: Blagojevich deserves 15 to 20

• Abe's law-office clock is ALPLM artifact of the month for December

• Letter: Keller compliments community and leaders in effort to save prison and jobs

• LJHS comes up 1 point short in sectional

• AP news