News Photography

Lawonda Billingsley leans against the counter at Respond Now, a place needy people go for help, with her daughter Chelsea while waiting to see a counselor about getting money for an apartment. She was going to be evicted soon and needed help. She had never asked for assistance before.

Elisha Pahnke with her baby, Dean, at the funeral for her husband, Shawn Pahnke, who was killed while serving in Iraq.

Nick Bilotta holds his father Paul's hand while walking during the annual St. Jude Memorial March for policeman who died in the line of duty.

Police investigate cars in the lot near the shooting at the Lane Bryant Store at the Brookside Shopping center in Tinley Park, Il on Saturday February 2, 2008. 

A man snowshoes by cars stuck in the northbound lanes of Lake Shore Drive near North Avenue after they were trapped by snow in Chicago, IL on Wednesday February 2, 2011.

 Malcolm Johnson listen as a drill instructor singles him out in his barracks at the Cook County Sheriff's Boot Camp near 26th and California in Chicago, IL on Tuesday August 18, 2009.

Ryan Bizahaloni hugs his son Nolan while he and other members of Company E 4th Reconnaissance Battalion leave the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Center at 2711 McDonough St. in Joliet, Il on Friday April 15, 2011. They are headed to Afghanistan  

Linda Broadnax, Tinley Park, wipes her eyes as President Barack Obama was sworn into office while watching the inauguration ceremony at Sonoma Coffee Cafe in Evergreen Park, IL on Tuesday January 20, 2009. 

Else Gonzalez, left, wife of new Mayor David Gonzalez, looks on as Wanda Rodgers cried while being hugged by Abdallah Abuzer after she was elected 3rd-Ward alderman of Chicago Heights, during an election night party at Club Reflections in Chicago Heights, IL on Tuesday April 5, 2011.

A homeowner in Oakfield, Wisconsin keeps guard over the remnants of his home after an F5 tornado virtually destroyed the town on July 16, 1996

U.S. Army Specialists Michael Kopecky, right, and Jason Cavanaugh, left,  Chicago, pause near the grave marker of Andrew Meari(Plainfield) after Memorial Day services during the 12th Annual Memorial Day Ceremony at the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, IL on Monday May 29, 2011. Meari was their best friend while they served in Afghanistan before he got killed.

Sports Photography

Chicago White Sox players, Mark Buehrle, center, Jermaine Dye, right, and other teammates celebrate their World Series win during a welcome home parade for the World Series Champions

Los Angeles' Chone Figgins breaks his bat in the 5th inning during the 1st game of the ALCS.

Hawk’s goalie Nikolai Khabibulin blocks a shot form a Nashville Predator player during their game at the United Center.

Cubs' Corey Patterson misses a ball in the ivy in center field  during the game against Cincinatti which they lost 8-3 at Wrigley Field. 

Kewanee(Wethersfield)(Coop) High School's Shelby Steger and Natalie Fargher console each other after their 4x400 meter relay during the IHSA state championship finals at Eastern IL, University in Charleston, IL. 

Sandburg High School softball players joke around with their trophy after they won the IHSA 4A Championship game at EastSide Centre against Fremd in East Peoria, IL on Saturday June 12, 2010. 

De La Salle High School student Elliott Brown, seated center, and other members of the varsity basketball team dress into sport coats and ties in the locker room at the school prior to their game in Chicago, Il on December 21, 2007. Their coach requires suits to be worn prior to each game. 

Montini's #11, Whitney Holloway leaps into coach Jason Nichols arms just before beating Hillcrest  during the IHSA Class 3A championship game at ISU in Normal, IL on Saturday March 6, 2010. 

Devin Hester of the Chicago Bears goes airborne while being blocked by #53. Malcolm Smith, of the Seattle Seahawks, as teammate. #21, Corey Graham looks on during their game at Soldier Field in Chicago, IL on Sunday December 18, 2011 

Ricky Manning Jr. stretches at Soldier Field during the NFC Championship game against New Orleans.

Alex Puhar and Chris Popovich  get covered with powder while sledding down the hill at Swallow Cliff North Forest Preserve with fellow Marist students near Willow Springs,  IL on Tuesday January 13, 2008. They had a half-day of classes.  

Runners participate in the Bank Of America Chicago Marathon near a mural in a hispanic area along 18th Street in Chicago, IL on Sunday October 9, 2011 

 Angel Cabral, Lemont High School, flexes after he beat Austin Teistma from Glenbrook South in the 285 weight Class 2A championship match at U of I in Champaign, IL on Saturday February 20, 2010. 

 Rosa Rubio, Oak Lawn, sits outside the ring at Windy City Gym in Chicago. She is the defending golden gloves champion, but cannot box due to a jaw injury.

  Courtney Pope,  a recent Lockport High School graduate,  swims during her club workout at the UIC Pool in Chicago, IL on Thursday July 1, 2010.   She is heading to the University of Illinois in the fall. 

Runners race during the 2012 Bank of America Chicago Marathon along South Michigan Avenue in Chicago, IL

Chris Harris looks towards a broken up pass by Brian Urlacher that was headed to Seattle's Darrell Jackson in the NFC playoffs.

Photos from November and December 2012

Alaina Bandy and her fiance look on as an ice skater makes his way around the rink at Millenium Park wearing a horse mask in Chicago.

Angie Margas votes while her son Danny looks on during early voting at the polling place at Orland Township Hall, 14807 Ravinia Avenue, in Orland Park, IL on Friday November 2, 2012.

Danielle Green-Byrd, who was injured while serving in Iraq, poses at the Orland Park vet Center in Orland Park, IL on Monday November 5, 2012. Danielle was a star basketball player for Notre Dame, who now wears a prosthetic left lower-arm and hand after being injured.

Boys soccer player of the year Zack Biel of Sandburg, at the school in Orland Park, IL on Friday November 9, 2012.

Members of Richards High School's girls chess club are from left,  Jessica Zavala, Juliet Lucente, Mady Doan, Caitlin O'Sullivan, Anne Sortino, Marial Rancel and Aminah Garcia; who are practicing at the school in Oak Lawn, IL on Wednesday November 14, 2012.

Del Pearson, the Chicago police officer who was shot on March 19, 2012, stands at his home with the police department's Blue Star award in Chicago, IL on Friday November 30, 2012.  The award is given to an officer who was wounded in the line of duty. He is going to be doing the coin toss for the Chicago Bears game on Sunday.

Michael Saldana, a member of the Marian Catholic High School Band, practices near statues in the band room at the school in Chicago Heights, IL on Monday November 5, 2012. The statues are used in their current "My Brother's Keeper" performance.

Will County State's Attorney Jim Glasgow, talks during election night at the IBEW Local 176 Hall, 1100 NE Frontage Road, Joliet, IL on Tuesday November 6, 2012.  Mary Parks was a witness in the Drew Peterson case.

Ruby Lofton, 2nd from left, and Lorraine Guerrero scream as CNN declares that President Obama wins his 2nd term during election night at the IBEW Local 176 Hall, 1100 NE Frontage Road, Joliet, IL on Tuesday November 6, 2012.

Dr. Phillip Kaufman, an eye doctor, looks down the barrel of the NXT Generation CrossBow, which is loaded with homemade ammunition, at his office in Crete IL on Thursday December 13, 2012.  It is one of the items on his annual list of dangerous Christmas gifts. The slogan on the box says, "Bring 'Em Up Right."

State Senator Toi Hutchinson, right, hugs her mom, Janice Heno, after a press conference where she kicked off her campaign to replace Jesse Jackson Jr. in Congress at Prairie Manor Rehabilitation and Healthcare in Chicago Heights, IL on Monday December 3, 2012.

Salvation Army Bell Ringer Stephanie Porche cries as she and Ernesto Corral share a "God Moment" while she was singing and collecting money for the army at the Sam's Club, 16100 South Harlem Avenue in Tinley Park, IL on Wednesday December 12, 2012.  He said he raises his arm to "give the Lord praise and surrender to him."

Firefighters work on the home that had a fire at 16552 W. McDonald Drive in Lockport, IL on Friday December 21, 2012.  No one was hurt in the fire.

Sean McPhearson, Boston, MA a cadet from the Naval Station Great Lakes, waves to his family via cellphone during a Christmas Day feast at the American Legion Post 615 in Tinley Park,  IL on Tuesday December 25, 2012.  There were about 20 cadets at the feast.

Ava Lovell,left, gets a hug from Sydney Glasscock,  right, a cadet from the Naval Station Great Lakes, after giving her a holiday card during a Christmas Day feast at the American Legion Post 615 in Tinley Park,  IL on Tuesday December 25, 2012.  There were about 20 cadets at the feast.

Sheddrick Taliaferro, a cadet from the Naval Station Great Lakes, talks to his family in Atlanta, GA during a Christmas Day feast at the VFW Post, 17147 S. Oak Park Avenue in Tinley Park,  IL on Tuesday December 25, 2012.

Photographs from October 2012

Connor Lindaur, center, holds a light during a candlelight vigil during the Will County Take Back the Night rally at First Assembly of God church  in Joliet, IL on Thursday October 4, 2012.  With him from left are his sisters, Taylor and Kailey Lindaur.

Lincoln-Way East student and Color guard member Michelle Lindeman adjusts her jacket with Staff Sgt. Gavin Wortman prior to the announcement that she will be a member of the 2013 U.S. Army All-American Marching Band during a ceremony at the school in Frankfort, IL on Monday October 15, 2012. She will join an elite group of musicians who will perform during halftime of the U.S. Army All-American Bowl at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.

Northeast Elementary teacher Leah Herman hugs Curtis Dennis Jr. as he arrives back for the first day of school at 91st and California Avenue in Evergreen Park, IL on Monday October 15, 2012. The school is part of Evergreen Park School District 124, which had a strike that just ended.

Former State Senator and U.S. Rep. Debbie Halvorson poses with the book she has written, "Playing Ball With the Big Boys," while at JN Michaels Restaurant in Matteson, IL on Monday October 22, 2012.

Liz Novak, left, Oak Forest, tosses leaves with her kids, from left, Audrey, Maylee and Hannah Novak, as they enjoy the warm temperatures while playing inside Yankee Woods in Oak Forest, IL on Thursday October 25, 2012.

A stranded passenger rests on seats at Midway Airport after his flight to Philadelphia from Chicago was cancelled due to Hurricane Sandy in Chicago, IL on Monday October 29, 2012.

A Chicago Police officer looks over the wreckage of vehicle after it was hit by a Metra train at 115th and Marshfield in Chicago, IL on Tuesday October 16, 2012.  The female driver who went around the gates was killed.

Richard Tolleson, who has lived in his home for 42 years, smiles while he talks about his problems at his home in Crestwood, IL on Tuesday October 16, 2012. The Village of Crestwood has labeled his house as uninhabitable and he has to leave. He's going to live where his wife is staying while rehabbing from an illness.

Former Chicago Bears quarterback Jim McMahon looks at a large bear sporting a Pete Roselle bandana after a press conference at the University of St. Francis in Joliet, IL on Wednesday October 17, 2012.

Former Rich Central High School girls basketball coach Bryan Craig, right, sits with his attorney, Steven Richards, left, in his attorney's office in Chicago, IL on Monday October 8, 2012.  He wrote a controversial book called "It's Her Fault," and lost his job.

Father Rick Frechette, from NPH in Haiti, greets Lucille Bartels before a church service at St. Elizabeth Seton in Orland Hills, IL on Saturday October 20, 2012.  He was at the church to say a mass for all the volunteers, she is one,  who've made burial palls for Haiti's unclaimed dead.

Michelle Reynolds, Chicago, takes photos of the waves as they hit the breakwater at Calumet Park near 95th Street at Lake Michigan in Chicago, IL on Tuesday October 30, 2012. The waves were very large due to the Hurricane Sandy storm.

Runners race during the 2012 Bank of America Chicago Marathon along South Michigan Avenue in Chicago, IL on Sunday October 7, 2012.

Esther Desir, a singer and medical worker from Haiti, speaks about her life during a visit to the Chicago area at Tin Fish restaurant in Tinley Park, IL on Friday October 19, 2012.  She was in town for an NPH convention and spoke with the paper after our trip their last February.

Dr. Subash Arora looks over Logan Bailey in a room in the Special Care Unit of the Family Birth Center  at Little Company of Mary's new West Pavilion in Evergreen Park, IL on Wednesday October 24, 2012. Logan is the first baby to have been brought into the center from the old hospital.

Frank Bilo, a Korean War veteran ad also a recipient of the Purple Heart, poses in his home in Burbank,  IL on Wednesday October 31, 2012.