A local man fled for his life when a bandit dressed all in black brandished a pistol and demanded his money Saturday night. The 50-year-old man told police he was walking home from work about 7:45 p.m. when he was accosted on McRoberts Street near Cass Street.

A Naperville businessman was charged in federal court last week with bribing "an agent of the city of Chicago" in an effort to land a restaurant franchise at O'Hare and Midway airports. Wafeek Aiyash, 50, of Naperville is accused of passing bribes in the amounts of $5,000 and $10,0000 at a time, in an attempt at winning the contracts.

Update: Five people are being treated by Glen Ellyn paramedics after a work crew struck and punctured a gas main causing a leak at College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn.

The speed limit on most of Laraway Road might go up. Although it's 40 mph now, it soon could become 45 mph, if the Will County Board makes that decision. During the Oct. 13 meeting of the board's public works committee, officials discussed the possibility of increasing the posted speed. As it stands, it is 40 mph from Route 52 on the west end all the way to Harlem Avenue on the east end.

Community college enrollment is skyrocketing statewide as more and more unemployed people head back to class and younger people forego going off to four-year institutions to save money. The Illinois Community College Board announced last week that fall full-time equivalency enrollment hit an all-time record.

Troy Township Supervisor Joseph Baltz and Shorewood Mayor Rick Chapman on Friday announced a voter revolt of sorts.

PLAINFIELD--With the task of trimming its $16 million deficit in the operating fund, Plainfield School Board will hold a special meeting Thursday to figure out how to do it.

U.S. Army Cpt. Gregory Baugh, of Plainfield, recently visited Thomas Jefferson Elementary School to talk about Afghanistan at its Veterans Day Assembly on Friday. Among the students were his sons Bryant, Logan and Luke.

HOMER GLEN -- The village's plan commissioners are stepping into the fray over the village's first major land purchase, saying they're "astonished" the village board hasn't yet asked for their opinion on the deal.

The village of Frankfort is spending $795,000 on a 3.5-acre parcel in hopes of future redevelopment of a prime downtown property.

MINOOKA -- By this time next year young students in Minooka preschool, early childhood and some kindergarten classes will have a place of their own.

As construction continues on a new elementary school on Cedar Road, Homer School District already is considering its next construction project.