Dawn Patrol: Woman killed in Palatine crash; strip club owners charged

<h3 class="briefHead">Breaking news</h3>

A 24-year-old woman was killed after she was hit by a vehicle near the intersection of Quentin Road and Peder Lane in Palatine Thursday afternoon. The as-yet unidentified woman was pronounced dead at Northwestern Community Hospital at about 6:30 p.m, authorities said. Police have been unavailable for comment regarding the incident.

An SUV traveled about 5 miles in the wrong direction on the outbound Stevenson Expressway before crashing into another car at a Lake Shore Drive connecting ramp in Chicago at about 3 a.m. Friday. The drivers of both vehicles were taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital with injuries that didn't appear life-threatening, officials said. Alcohol is said to have played a part in the crash.

<h3 class="briefHead">Blackjacks owners accused of hiding income</h3>

The operators of the Elgin-area Blackjacks Gentlemen's Club were charged with federal tax offenses and operating three illegal gambling websites, federal officials announced yesterday. Anthony Buttitta, 42, of St. Charles, and Dominic Buttitta, 69, of South Barrington each were charged with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States by obstructing the Internal Revenue Service and one count of operating an illegal gambling business, according to the Office of U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald. Officials said the men underreported $3.7 million in income they collected from dancers and made $400,000 in profit from the illegal websites. Full story.

<h3 class="briefHead">Hawthorn Woods vows to fight mall plan</h3>

Village board members in Hawthorn Woods officially opposed a major commercial development proposed for the southeast corner of Rand and Old McHenry County roads in unincorporated Lake County. Board members on Thursday voted 6-0 in favor of a resolution against the 800,000-square-foot shopping mall development on the Hawthorn Woods and North Barrington border. Residents were more than happy to join the fight. Full story.

<h3 class="briefHead">Cary native places third on "Jeopardy!"</h3>

If Anne Rozek would have bet all of her winnings on "Jeopardy!" she would have finished second. Instead, the 19-year-old Cary resident played it safe with her wager during the "Final Jeopardy!" round and placed third. Rozek, 19, a junior at Eastern Illinois University, was featured on a "Jeopardy" episode that aired Thursday afternoon for its College Championship. Full story.

<h3 class="briefHead">Old Kane jail could become Ravinia-like facility</h3>

Kane County officials are looking to turn the old jail site and adjacent 700-acre campus into a conglomeration of big-ticket venues. Plans include a Ravinia-type concert venue, a privately owned conference center/hotel, and at least two high-profile sports uses for the land -- running meets and mountain biking. Full story.

<h3 class="briefHead">DCFS report suggests murder suspect a victim of the system</h3>

A report from the Department of Children and Family Services inspector general reveals details of the troubled past of D'Andre Howard, the man charged in the murders of three members of a Hoffman Estates family in 2009. The report uses the case of Howard and others to recommend changes to the way DCFS handles cases of older wards. Full story.

<h3 class="briefHead">Biggert now unopposed in 11th Republican primary</h3>

The Republican primary race for the 11th Congressional District is now uncontested after two candidates were removed from the ballot for not having enough valid signatures. Longtime U.S. Rep. Judy Biggert will now run unopposed in the March 20 primary. Full story.

<h3 class="briefHead">Murder suspect turned over to Schaumburg police</h3>

A Hanover Park man wanted in a decade-old murder now is in custody after being extradited from Mexico. Jose Camacho, 43, has been on the run for years and was turned over to Schaumburg police yesterday. Authorities say he killed Flavio Venancio, 25, in an alcohol-fueled rage. Venancio's body was found May 25, 2001, in a pond near the Schaumburg train station. Full story.

<h3 class="briefHead">Youngest candidate leads 10th Democrats in fundraising</h3>

Ilya Sheyman of Waukegan is 25 years old - just old enough to run for Congress - but leads his Democratic primary opponents in fundraising this quarter with $178,904, according to federal records. Brad Schneider of Deerfield is second with $134,262. Incumbent Bob Dold, a Republican, has outraised both of them combined with $355,831. Full story.

<h3 class="briefHead">Naperville police arrest 3 on heroin charges in one week</h3>

Naperville police have charged three people within the past week for selling heroin, authorities said. A monthlong investigation led to the arrests Tuesday of Brandon Bolton, 24, and Carly Cooper, 21, both of the first block of Madison Avenue in Aurora. Both were charged with unlawful delivery of a controlled substance. On Wednesday, a 17-year-old Naperville high school student, Brittany Hursh, 17, of the 2100 block of Snow Creek Road, was charged with one count of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance. She is accused of selling heroin in a parking lot near Route 59 and 75th Street in Naperville, police said. Full story.

<h3 class="briefHead">Suburban groundhog calls for an early spring</h3>

Not that we've even had a proper winter in these parts, but yesterday morning Woodstock Willie did not see his shadow. Which means an early spring - hooray! Full story.

<h3 class="briefHead">Ergo, today's forecast</h3>

That probably explains today's forecast: 45 degrees. And foggy, but still 45 degrees. In February. It's cloudy, foggy, and about 33 degrees right now, but the sun will come out later, burn off the fog, and temps will climb to about 45 degrees. Temps will dip below freezing overnight, and some snow - or a snow and rain mix - will fall on Saturday. Full weather.

<h3 class="briefHead">Traffic</h3>

Slippery conditions are greeting motorists this morning, and causing spin outs in the Northern and Western suburbs. Lake-Cook Road was closed for about an hour early Friday near Arlington Heights Road in Arlington Heights, but it has since been cleared. Now, accidents have been reported on Roosevelt Road and Main Street in Lombard, at Lake Street at the Elgin-O'Hare Expressway near Hanover Park, and Route 173 and Delaney Road near Wadsworth. People should slow down until the sun comes up and the fog burns off. Today is the last weekday for drivers to avoid Benton Street in Aurora. It will be closed until Monday due to the Downer Place Bridge Project. <http://www.traffic.com/Chicago-Traffic/Chicago-Traffic-Reports.html>

<h3 class="briefHead">A great night for the Bulls - and for Derrick Rose</h3>

The Bulls haven't lost back-to-back games in nearly a year, and they kept that streak alive last night by squeezing past the New York Knicks 105-102 at Madison Square Garden. But wait, there's more! Basketball fans have voted Chicago Bull and reigning MVP Derrick Rose - who, by the way, scored 32 points during the game - to the NBA All-Star Team for the second year in a row. He received 1.5 million votes, third among all players. Full story.

<h3 class="briefHead">The Hawks? Let's just say they didn't play like the Bulls</h3>

Goalie Corey Crawford plays his worst game of the year as the Oilers crush the Blackhawks 8-4 in Edmonton. Tim Sassone reports.