Chicago City Colleges will train students for jobs in the casino industry if the plan to introduce casinos in the state gets approved. Chancellor Wayne Watson made the announcement after Alderman Tom Tunney (44th), owner of Ann Sather's Restaurants, suggested offering casino training if the casino plan gets Legislative approval.

A Chicago woman, who called 9-1-1 to complain about illegal fireworks in her area, said all she could hear on the other end was uncontrollable laughter. Brigitte Biver called 3-1-1 on the evening of July 4 but the operator transferred her to the city's 9-1-1 emergency center. But all she could hear was wild laughter on the other end.

A toddler plagued police with almost 300 calls to 911 from a deactivated cell phone last month. By law even deactivated cell phones must retain the capacity to dial 911. But, police could only trace the calls as far as the apartment building where the tot lived. After 287 calls, police decided to ask the child what she wanted. When the 4-year-old girl told officers that she wanted McDonalds they persuaded her to give them her address so they could deliver the food to her suburban Chicago apartment.

A San Jose, California resident ended long-time Japanese dominance in the annual Fourth of July Hot Dog eating competition Wednesday. Joey Chestnut defeated six-time winner Takeru Kobayashi in a record-setting time by hogging 66 hot dogs in 12 minutes.

Although Dawn Larson was born with a disorder that causes most people to stare at her, she never felt discriminated against. Born with Holt-Oram Syndrome, Larson has diminutive hands about six inches from her shoulder but she has led a very productive life. That is until she ordered food from McDonalds for her and her boys. In an interview with the Chicago Sun Times, she stated, "I drank my baby bottle with my feet. Nobody ever taught me how to do it, I just did it," Larson said. "I can ride a regular 10-speed bike. I can swim. It has not been a problem in my life at all. It didn't stop me from having four boys. I've never dropped one of them. "