Do you believe in the American Dream? Study finds little chance for some

A majority of children born into the poorest families remain in poverty as adults, according to a national study conducted by Harvard University researchers that questions whether the American Dream is a myth. 48 minutes ago

Read story

Featured

Friday's high school playoff scores

Here are Friday's high school sports playoff scores for games involving area and regional teams:

BND VIDEO

MORE > Photos Videos Submit a Photo

BND GALLERIES

MORE > Photos Videos Submit a Photo

Metro-east News

Caseyville Police Chief Jose Alvarez outside his office at the police station.

Caseyville chief, mayor return to their corners; next bout March 19

Jose Alvarez is still the Caseyville Police chief, at least until March 19, which is when the Village Board meets.

Crime

Highland man gets 90-year sentence for molesting martial arts students

A Highland man convicted in federal court with the molestation of three of his martial arts students was sentenced to 90 years in prison on Friday.

Hot Topics

Highland man gets 90-year sentence for molesting martial arts students

A Highland man convicted in federal court with the molestation of three of his martial arts students was sentenced to 90 years in prison on Friday.

Sports

St. Louis Cardinals' Matt Carpenter, right, shakes hands with Chairman Bill DeWitt, Jr., left, as Sr. Vice President and General Manager John Mozeliak, center, looks on at a news conference at the team's spring training baseball facility, Saturday, March 8, 2014, in Jupiter, Fla. The Cardinals announced Saturday that they have agreed to a six-year contract extension with Carpenter for $52 million.

Cardinals, 3B Carpenter agree to $52M, 6-year deal

Matt Carpenter called agreeing to a new $52 million, six-year deal with St. Louis a no-brainer. The Cardinals are hoping their third baseman sticks even longer than that. 19 minutes ago

Features

Oscar Pistorius sits in the dock during his trial at the high court in Pretoria, South Africa, Friday, March 7, 2014. Pistorius is charged with murder for the shooting death of his girlfriend, Steenkamp, on Valentines Day in 2013.

Pistorius trial hears damaging testimony

In a day of potentially damaging testimony, a former girlfriend of Oscar Pistorius said at his murder trial Friday that he once shot his gun out of a car sunroof and later cheated on her with the woman he killed last year. And a security guard recalled...

State|Region

Fire marshal: Change clocks, change batteries

The Illinois state fire marshal is urging residents to change smoke alarm batteries Saturday as Daylight Saving Time begins.

Nation|World

A Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777-200 carrying 239 people lost contact with air traffic control early Saturday morning on a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing

Missing Malaysia Airlines 777 reported crashed at sea

Malaysia Airlines confirmed Saturday that had lost contact with a flight carrying 239 people that was in route to Beijing. The flight was scheduled to land in Beijing at 6:30 a.m. local time, and air traffic controllers lost contact with it at 2:40...

Opinion

Free will cost state taxpayers

The pay-it-forward interest-free loan concept has caught the fancy of many state lawmakers, including in Illinois. It's a feel-good, utopian-sounding idea -- which should be enough to make lawmakers run the other way.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?