Cook Co. Board Votes To Scale Back Stroger Sales Tax Hike
By a vote of 12-5, the Cook County Board of Commissioners voted yesterday to reduce the county sales tax by half-a-cent, thereby halving President Todd Stroger's controversial sales tax hike. Stoger has vowed to veto the measure, but a recent change to state law means only 11 votes are required to override the president.

Striking Graduate Instructors Reach Deal With Administration
University of Illinois graduate students that recently went on strike from their teaching assistant jobs reached a tentative agreement with the school's administration yesterday.  The union representing the instructors is set to hold a vote approving a new three-year contract that guarantees the continuation of tuition assistance and could return to work today.

Medical Examiner: Scott's Death A Suicide
Cook County Medical Examiner Nancy Jones said there is "no evidence" indicating Chicago school board president Michael Scott's death was anything but a suicide. Two police detectives present for the autopsy agreed with the suicide finding.

Burr Oak Cemetery Set To Reopen
Closed since July after four workers orchestrated an alleged grave-reselling scheme, Alsip's Burr Oak Cemetery will reopen to the public Thursday. During the first week, visitors may enter the cemetery only with a ticket issued by cemetery officials.

Image used under a Creative Commons license by Flickr user thomas.merton.