Dawn Patrol: Quick hits as you head out the door
<h3 class="briefHead">Breaking news</h3>
Emergency crews are on the scene of a freight train derailment between Elgin and Bartlett Thursday morning. Some reports indicated two trains may have struck one another. Metra's Milwaukee District West Line was shut down in both directions. Full story.
<h3 class="briefHead">Daily Herald Cook of the Year: 'I'm just thrilled'</h3>
Just thrilled someone liked her food, that is. Four finalists in Daily Herald's Cook of the Year competition faced off last night in front of more than 200 guests, and Penny Kazmier of South Barrington took home the honors. The 47-year-old beat out a pool of nearly 100 contestants to win first place and more than $4,000 worth of prizes. Kazmier says winning Cook of the Year might persuade her to start her own catering business, something the mother of four has always considered. Full story.
<h3 class="briefHead">ComEd filled campaign funds during rate hike debate</h3>
As ComEd pushed for legislation in Springfield that would likely lead to rate hikes, the utility company flooded campaign accounts. "This money flowed into campaign coffers not during the middle of any tight election campaigns but in the middle of a hard-fought legislative battle," said Brian Gladstein, executive director of Illinois Campaign for Political Reform. Lawmakers voted to override Gov. Pat Quinn's veto of the legislation last week, which was debated for months. Full story.
<h3 class="briefHead">Quade out, Sandberg not being considered for Cubs job</h3>
Ten minutes after Theo Epstein announced that Mike Quade would not return as manager, the new Cubs' headman made a call to Ryne Sandberg telling him he was not on the list for the job. "He wished me good luck and said he hoped I got a chance somewhere soon," Sandberg said. Reports suggest Sandberg will interview for the St. Louis Cardinal's vacancy, while Epstein looks to bring in someone with managerial experience at the major league level. Full story.
<h3 class="briefHead">Hultgren ramping up offensive: Walsh cries foul play</h3>
As Congressman Joe Walsh's legal team preps for a pretrial conference in his child-support suit next week, his primary election opponent, Congressman Randy Hultgren, has taken a poll that among other issues, looks at how Walsh's personal past might cost him politically. "If he raises his voice and calls into question who I am as a father, I'll punch him in the face, figuratively speaking," said Walsh, of McHenry. Full story.
<h3 class="briefHead">Barrington H.S. students charged in iPhone thefts</h3>
Two Barrington High School students have been charged with stealing six iPhones from classmates' backpacks left in a gym lock room. The students, age 17 and 18, were each charged with six felony counts of theft. Police said one of the students hid in a bathroom stall while a teacher checked the locker room before locking the door. Full story.
<h3 class="briefHead">Man lands plane while having heart attack</h3>
A 65-year-old man was able to safely land his homemade airplane in a Hebron farm field Tuesday afternoon while having a heart attack. Steven R. Nusbaum's son was monitoring the flight and raced to his father's aid when he saw him put the plane down in a field. Paramedics administered CPR and a shock at the scene. Nusbaum was listen in critical but stable condition. Full story.
<h3 class="briefHead">Coyote kills dog in Aurora</h3>
Aurora animal control officials are urging residents to take extra precautions after a coyote killed a small dog Tuesday. Officials said they received six reports of coyote sightings this week, most in far southeast-side neighborhoods. "This is the time of year when Mom kicks her young out and gets ready to breed for next year," said Randy Johnson, who is helping oversee animal control. Full story.
<h3 class="briefHead">Does reality TV hurt girls?</h3>
Are reality TV shows bad for girls? A new study by the Girl Scouts Research Institute found reality TV – shows like "Teen Mom," "American Idol," and "Jersey Shore" – can be educational, but they also can hurt girls' relationships and self-esteem. "They're obsessed with beauty, or obsessed with finding a man," says the director of a documentary playing tonight in Hoffman Estates. Full story.
<h3 class="briefHead">Bettendorf Castle visitor claims harassment by neighbor</h3>
"All was not well in the kingdom of Concord Avenue" according to a federal lawsuit filed in yet another twist in the ongoing saga of Bettendorf Castle in Fox River Grove. A neighbor of the castle, Diana Durso, is accused of harassing visitors after taking down their license plate numbers. Durso is among about 20 residents of Concord Avenue who have opposed castle owner Michael Strohl's plans to turn his home into a space for tours. Full story.
<h3 class="briefHead">Memorial service held for Wendell Jones</h3>
One of Wendell Jones' daughters, Janell Chandler, said her dad often had the same response if anybody asked how he was doing. "'If I was any happier I'd be delirious,'" she recalled him saying. In keeping with that spirit, the laughs far outnumbered the tears Wednesday night at a memorial service for the former Palatine mayor and state Senator. Full story.
<h3 class="briefHead">Weather</h3>
It's a rainy start to the day and cooler temperatures on Thursday. Morning temperatures are in the mid-40s, expected to rise to a high of 51 degrees this afternoon under mostly cloudy skies. Low temperatures will drop into the low 40s tonight. Tomorrow, forecasters are calling for sunny skies and a high of 52 degrees. Full weather.
<h3 class="briefHead">Traffic</h3>
Metra's Milwaukee District West Line was shut down in both directions following a freight train derailment around 5:30 a.m. Commuters were advised to seek alternate routes to work, and Metra was recommending use of either the Union Pacific West or Union Pacific Northwest lines. Major expressways were clear in the early morning despite the falling rain, making the roads slick. Construction continues today on the outbound lanes of I-290 between North Avenue and York Road. And ongoing construction also continues on both sides of the Jane Addams Tollway (I-90) between Belvidere/Genoa Road and Route 20. Full traffic.