Cars have sticker prices, ketchup bottles have nutrition-facts labels, and soon health plans will get coverage labels.

Do you get a little nervous whenever your doctor or nurse has to take your blood pressure? Is it too high or too low? Try these vegetables to improve your potassium levels. -Created by Shamontiel L. Vaughn (Source: CDC's Fruits & Veggies More Matters )

By Meteorologist Tom Skilling

   Winds blow into the city from the east and strengthen Saturday afternoon, a development all too common here in spring and one which is likely to send beach and lakeside temperatures tumbling 15 to 20-degrees below the near 70-degree levels observed Friday. The poorly timed temperature downturn is likely to lead to low 50-degree lakeside readings.
     If there's any good news in this, it's that the cool down is temporary. Strong warming appears poised to propel Chicago temperatures to some of the year's highest levels Tuesday and Wednesday with 80-degree readings for much of the Chicago area.  That's also the period in which an influx of the most humid Gulf air in 8 months arrives, including the first tropical-level 70-degree dew points since September 2. Moisture at that level threatens to activate clusters of thunderstorms which could be heavy or severe.  Repetitive outbreaks of severe weather could occur over three to four days to Chicago's west.
    Computer models are advertising eye-catchingly large atmospheric energy levels and impressive vertical temperature drops above Chicago between Monday and Thursday. Given the predicted presence of over an inch of "precipitable water" (evaporated water) in the atmosphere as well as 80-degree high temperatures Tuesday and Wednesday, the meteorological picture which is unfolding is of an atmosphere primed for strong thunderstorm development which could border at times on severe. Several models place potential rainfall in these storms in excess of 2 inches over the coming week, far more than the 0.77 inches considered "normal". It's a situation which will have to be monitored.

 
Friday brings May's warmest temperatures to the Chicago area

     Temperatures surged Friday to 68-degrees at O'Hare, 69-degrees at Midway and 70 at Chicago's lakefront--the city's warmest May 2011 readings to date. Gusty west winds defeated lake-cooling which meant that even lake-breeze-vulnerable Kenosha and Waukegan managed 68 and 69-degree highs.
     Still warmer readings occurred to Chicago's west, including 72-degrees at Orland Park, 71 Elgin and 70 at Gary, Kankakee, Rochelle and on Chicago's lakefront at Northerly Island.

 
Mammoth spring storm to spin-up in the Plains; sluggish trek across nation's midsection predicted next week

      A huge spring storm, nearly 2,300 miles across, takes shape across the Plains later this weekend and into next week. The system is to be a slow-mover, blocked to the north and east by a sprawling Canadian high pressure. 

   
The system's slow movement could keep southerly winds sweeping warmth, moisture off the Gulf and into the Heartland over 4 days

     The southerly winds generated by this storm could blow into the nation's mid-section over four consecutive days, maximizing the northward transport of warmth and moisture. Though east to southeast winds are to slice into the Chicago area off Lake Michigan Sunday and Monday, delaying the arrival of the warmest air here, more southerly winds Tuesday and south to southwest winds Wednesday appear likely to push temperatures into the 80s for only the second and third times this year.

 
Big temperature downturn predicted late week into following weekend

    The warmth won't last. A significant temperature downturn hits late next week and may spill into next weekend as well. 

Palatine junior Laura Schweikert attempted to pinpoint a reason for the success of her team, even though the Pirates don't have a so-called star athlete.

Bradley-Bourbonnais coach George Limperis held his breath and hoped his team held its lead Friday against No. 4 Stagg.

Sam Gewalt cracked a joke as her teammates squeezed into her tiny hospital room at the University of Chicago Comprehensive Cancer Center, taking the glowing orange medical device that was on one of her toes and placing it on one of her fingers, a la E.T.

How Lombard man, 24, went from family's hot dog stand to the big leagues

Andrew Belleson sat in front of the microphone, cleared his throat and called out the first line of the script in his deep baritone:

Considered by many the horse to beat, Uncle Mo is scratched from first leg of Triple Crown because of a gastrointestinal ailment. Picking a winner from among the remaining 19 horses is a daunting task.

Reporting from Louisville, Ky.

Bulls could see triumph in eyes as

David Haugh: Joakim Noah has been a teammate of Derrick Rose long enough to know what he saw before the Bulls' romp promised to make Friday a memorable one. "I knew before the game even started, I just saw in his eyes, he had it,'' Noah said of Rose. "I knew it was going to be ugly.''

Higher oil prices and fears about a slowdown in the recovery fail to deter employers, who add 244,000 new jobs to the economy in April across a wide spectrum of industries. The gains are tempered by a rise in the unemployment rate to 9%, up from 8.8%.

The American economy created a healthy batch of new jobs in April for the third straight month, allaying fears of a stall in hiring due to higher oil prices and concerns about an economic slowdown.

Media company's board dissolves 4-member executive council, puts L.A. Times publisher in charge

For the man who helped popularize home satellite dishes, the table is set at Tribune Co. and there's plenty on Eddy Hartenstein's plate.

Illinois boosts tax incentives in 10-year deal to keep smartphone company in Libertyville

Gov. Pat Quinn put up more than $100 million in financial incentives to persuade smartphone company Motorola Mobility to keep its corporate headquarters in Libertyville — the largest package he has offered a company to date and a signal of how badly the state wants to hold on to high-tech jobs.

A Ford Heights man kept an alligator in his home because “chicks dig it,” he told police who arrested him.

Illinois boosts tax incentives in 10-year deal to keep smartphone company in Libertyville

Gov. Pat Quinn put up more than $100 million in financial incentives to persuade smartphone company Motorola Mobility to keep its corporate headquarters in Libertyville — the largest package he has offered a company to date and a signal of how badly the state wants to hold on to high-tech jobs.

WASHINGTON — Katie McCormick Lelyveld, press secretary to first lady Michelle Obama, is leaving the post and returning home to Chicago, the White House announced Friday.

Shortfall shrinks, but Daley still leaving Emanuel to face $587 million gap

The big budget shortfall Mayor Richard Daley is bequeathing successor Rahm Emanuel isn't quite as bad as City Hall financial forecasters previously thought.

2 who faced gunfire that killed comrade among those recognized

Chicago police Sgt. Jason Kaczynski and Officer Kimberly Thorp were on desk duty, both recovering from medical issues, when the sound of gunfire ripped through the police facility on 61st Street last July.

The month of May includes several matches which should be considered as "must win" challenges for the Fire.  A home game against a struggling expansion side coming off of a Wednesday night match is the first of those scenarios.  The...

Maybe Jamal Crawford was discussing the March 11th game where the Bulls won by 18 when talking about the best punch.  Yeah..  That's the ticket.Derrick Rose went for a new career high scoring 44 points on 16/27 shooting, 4/7 on...

You Don't Stop to look around once in a while, you could miss it. Wow.  It has certainly been awhile since I was on here last. Thanks for coming back and sorry for the long hiatus.  Let's start at the...

Pet expert and dog and cat behavior consultant Steve Dale posts a You Tube video which shows the work of saving animals by American Humane Association Red Star Animal Emergency Services deployed in Tennessee.

We could all use a little bit more funny in our lives around this time of year. Any time of year, really. I'm not very good at the funny, though. So go and watch Nikol Hasler's very funny video with advice...

TimeThursday, May 19 · 5:30pm - 7:30pmLocationThe Young Branch Library7901 Sough King DriveChicago, ILCreated ByRon CarterMore Info"A Dialogue With Malcolm X" is a production of "The Black Eyes Project" and the "South Street Journal."This event dialogue will be hosted by...

by Eric Berman Song Of the Day - "Montezuma" by Fleet Foxes Could they be this generation's Crosby, Stills & Nash?...Not by a mile...and they're better for it.  They're more like the Beach Boys minus the Fun, Fun, Fun. Whatever...

Although most Bears fans are pleased with Chicago's draft picks this year, people may have reason to doubt their future success. Jerry Angelo's hand in drafting these players is the cause of this concern. The man can not consistently make...

Shamier Little is happy to have some company as she reaches for the top.

The three losses Providence has suffered this season say more about the strength of an incredibly talented conference than anything else.

Tim Barry went games without being pitched to and weeks without going deep.

Jordan Westerkamp will play football in the Big Ten, just like his father.

Saturday: 1 1/4-mile race, Churchill Downs, Louisville, Ky., all 125 pounds; post time is 5:24 p.m.

Internet: 7:05 p.m. Saturday; http://www.arenarush.com , niftytv.com.

After 2 seasons in lower league, he believes he's prepared to help Fire

It was Daniel Paladini's choice to take a two-year career detour and leave MLS to play for a lower-level professional team.

Sox's overall offensive problems lessen patience with slumping rookie

SEATTLE — After starting the season as a reserve, Mark Teahen made his fourth start in the White Sox's last seven games at third base Friday night and will continue to gain more playing time.

SEATTLE - Manager Ozzie Guillen is waiting for the fortunes of the Chicago White Sox to change, starting Friday night against Seattle and 2010 American League Cy Young Award winner Felix Hernandez.

Derrick Rose scored a career-high 44 points as the Bulls rolled the Hawks 99-82 to win Game 3 and take a 2-1 series lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Game 4 is Sunday in Atlanta.

Worried about how to pay for college? This free event is geared toward helping moderate to low income students find scholarships. Financing College: Tips on Identifying Gap Resources Illinois College Access Network Quarterly Forum - Thursday, May 12, 2011, 8:00-10:30...

An apparently suicidal and intoxicated man armed with a handgun was fatally shot by a Will County sheriff's deputy today after authorities said he pointed the weapon at officers who had responded to his Beecher residence.

Switching problems with CTA equipment during about 2 hours of the Friday evening rush led to some significant delays on five "L" train lines, officials said.

CBS Channel 2 News reports: Bond was set at $350,000 today for Damien Deanda, 39, of the 1500 block of North Windsor in Arlington Heights, accused of sexually assaulting three teen girls over the past year.

With the waistlines of Americans continuing to expand, the U.S. Coast Guard is implementing new rules on the number of passengers allowed on commercial boats, a change that could hit the bottom lines of some tour boat and water taxi operators in Chicago.

Outrage over the rising death toll has generated sporadic street protests, and a massive demonstration is set for Sunday in Mexico City to denounce the government's failure to stem the bloodshed.

Public dismay over Mexico's drug violence mixed with election-season jockeying have put President Felipe Calderon on the defensive amid finger-pointing over the carnage.

Investigators travel to Kentucky, where Gary father also faces charges

A Gary man who police say admitted he buried his 13-year-old son in a shallow grave was being held without bail on an unrelated larceny charge while local police traveled to Kentucky to investigate the boy's 2009 death, officials said Friday.

A man was shot to death during an apparent robbery in a convenience store he ran at Wabash Avenue and Jackson Boulevard for more than 20 years. His brother spoke through tears: "He did not deserve this."

WBBM-AM reports: Munster police said FBI agents and evidence technicians were at the Indiana home today of Dr. Promila Mehta-Paul, 70, an eye doctor who disappeared more than a month ago. Police did not say if there were any new developments but they’re “taking another look.”

As the shot clock ticked down to 10, Derrick Rose crossed his double between his leg and stepped back beyond the 3-point arc, giving himself just enough space to launch over Jamal Crawford.

How Lombard man, 24, went from family's hot dog stand to the big leagues

Andrew Belleson sat in front of the microphone, cleared his throat and called out the first line of the script in his deep baritone:

Media company's board dissolves 4-member executive council, puts L.A. Times publisher in charge

For the man who helped popularize home satellite dishes, the table is set at Tribune Co. and there's plenty on Eddy Hartenstein's plate.

Shortfall shrinks, but Daley still leaving Emanuel to face $587 million gap

The big budget shortfall Mayor Richard Daley is bequeathing successor Rahm Emanuel isn't quite as bad as City Hall financial forecasters previously thought.

Pakistani leaders claim they didn't know that Osama bin Laden was lurking around the house at the end of a narrow dirt road just north of Islamabad. They're chagrined. They're embarrassed.