The foreclosure beast has a steady grip on Cook County homeowners. From January 1 to May 31 this year, 17,508 mortgage foreclosure cases were filed in the county. In the same period last year, 11,293 were filed, according to the Cook County Circuit Court clerk's office.

SHARM EL-SHEIK, Egypt— Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe sought a boost of political legitimacy at a summit of African leaders after his re-election was widely discredited as a sham. Mugabe's fellow leaders appeared unlikely to strongly criticize him, despite Western calls for them to condemn the longtime leader.

Sean Woods has been named as the new head men's basketball coach at Mississippi Valley State University. A former star at the University of Kentucky, Woods comes to Mississippi Valley from Texas Christian University, where he served as the director of basketball operations and as an assistant coach.

The first-ever Double Duty Classic will take place July 7 at U.S. Cellular Field. The game, named in honor of the late Ted “Double Duty” Radcliffe, will feature the White Sox-sponsored Amateur Elite City traveling team taking on the Midwest All-Stars, which feature some of the top inner city high school baseball stars from the Midwest.

Over the past 25 years, the number of violence-related disabilities has risen. While reports of murder frequently make the news, victims who survive violence--who may be left physically or mentally disabled, or both–-live on in silence.

GRAND BAHAMA ISLAND –Real Men Cook will unveil a multidimensional exhibit reflecting highlights of the 19-year-history of the Father's Day celebration in the Bahamas from October 16- 20 as part of its pre-20th anniversary celebration.

Food pantries and soup kitchens struggling to meet the needs of hungry Chicagoans now have more support. Jewel-Osco introduced its new Hunger Relief Grant Program, which will give much-needed funds to local pantries and kitchens in Illinois and Indiana.

A wildly successful local artist who isn't drooling at the chance of being signed and going major? That's J Hollins.

On June 28, last year's American Idol contestant Melinda Doolittle was in town to perform at the Sinai Health Institute's 15 Years of Going The Distance gala, which celebrated the hospital's presence in North Lawndale, and introduced its Bound for Glory mentorship program that will pair NFL alumni with at-risk youth.

Actress Bernnadette Stanis, who played Thelma Evans in the famous sitcom "Good Times," will be a very special guest during the African/Caribbean 16th International Festival of Life. Ephraim Martin, a native of Kingston, Jamaica, told the Defender that Stanis will spend many hours at the event serving as mistress of ceremony and autographing her newly released book, Situation 101.