Ask The Times: Pro se on rise

A : Yes, according to the Illinois Bar Association, which recently cited statistics in its publication Illinois Bar Journal, 65 percent of civil cases in 2015 outside Cook County had at least one party, usually the defendant, who represented his or herself. For certain types of cases, the percent climbs to 80 percent.

THEATER: – Our Town’ will be staged Nov. 8 to 12 at NIU

The Northern Illinois University School of Theatre and Dance will present the Thornton Wilder drama "Our Town," Wednesday, Nov. 8, through Sunday, Nov. 12. Directed by NIU graduate Bethany Mangum, the play will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday in the Diversions Lounge at Holmes Student Center, 340 Carroll Ave., on the NIU campus. Tickets wlll be $7, with reservations or additional information is available by contacting the NIU School of Theatre and Dance box office at 815-753-1600 or at niu.edu/theatre .