Dawn Patrol: Toddler found; 911 calls in stabbing
Breaking news
An amber alert for a toddler from Racine, Wisc., has been recalled after the toddler was found unharmed and the father was arrested in Chicago. The father, Iryin Vaughn, 25, is suspected of killing the child's mother in Racine late Tuesday night, Wisconsin authorities said. Racine police issued the amber alert for Iryana K. Vaughn, 2, after she was taken by Iryin Vaughn early this morning, authorities said. Iryin Vaughn was taken into custody at about 5:45 a.m. at a relatives house on Chicago's southeast side.
Naperville 911 tapes reveal pleas for help after bar stabbing
Police yesterday released 911 calls from Naperville bar goers at the scene of the fatal weekend stabbing, revealing desperate calls for help for Shaun Wild, the 24-year-old former elementary schoolteacher who died after an altercation at Frankie's Blue Room. At least 10 people called 911 during the chaos that ensued after the stabbing of Wild and two other men. The dispatcher in some calls asks if the person who did the stabbing was still there. Click here for the transcript and audio of some of the calls.
Naperville councilmen restrain from ‘knee-jerk reaction'
Naperville councilman Doug Krause reiterated his disdain for a newly passed liquor ordinance at last night's city council meeting, but he was the only councilman who wanted discuss pulling the ordinance back. The new law would allow bars to stay open past 11 p.m. and close their kitchens at 9 p.m. Krause called for a repeal Sunday after the weekend stabbing death of Shaun Wild at a Frankie's Blue Room, but his colleagues said it was too soon to tie the crime to the new law, pointing out the bar's kitchen was open when the murder occurred. Meanwhile, Frankie's owner issued a brief statement as the bar remained closed. Full story.
Legislators rarely know what potential laws cost
Only nine of the 650 bills passed into law last year in Illinois had financial information attached to show the cost or savings for taxpayers. That means more than 98 percent of the new laws were passed without any basic information about the toll they'd take on the state's finances. That's according to a report by the Illinois Policy Institute, a watchdog group on government spending practices. Full story.
Crazy temperatures make ice dangerous in suburbs
Mild temperatures, little snowcover and sunny days has experts urging skaters, fishermen and others to stay off the ice on lakes and rivers in northern Illinois. The warning comes less than a week after a Johnsburg man fell through the ice and died. Fox Lake Fire Protection District Battalion Chief Tom Preidis said local bodies of water are “honeycombing” as they melt, causing unsteady ice. Full story.
Rick Santorum has big night sweeping Minnesota, Colorado, Missouri
A resurgent Rick Santorum won Minnesota's Republican presidential caucuses with ease last night and was declared the victor in Colorado as well — a stunning sweep that raised fresh questions about front-runner Mitt Romney's appeal among the ardent conservatives at the core of the party's political base. Santorum also triumphed in a nonbinding Missouri primary that was worth bragging rights but no delegates. “Conservatism is alive and well in Missouri and Minnesota,” the jubilant former Pennsylvania senator and onetime student of Carmel High School in Mundelein told cheering supporters in St. Charles, Mo. Full story.
Cops: Men beat Roselle gas station employee, robbed store
Roselle police are asking for the public's help identifying three men who beat a gas station clerk during a robbery Jan. 28. Police have been waiting to release the information to prevent “spooking” the suspects but now hope someone may be able to recognize the men from their unique clothing, said detective Sgt. John Lawson. Although the clerk at the BP gas station at the corner of Lake Street and Springfield Drive was behind safety glass when the men entered the store Jan. 28, the men coaxed him out from behind the window, Lawson said. Full story.
Portion of Sen. Mark Kirk's skull replaced, ‘a milestone'
U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk reached “an important milestone” in his recovery yesterday as doctors replaced a large portion of his skull that had been removed to relieve brain swelling after his stroke. His surgeon called the procedure “a step toward the next phase, rehabilitation.” Kirk, 52, remains in good condition at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago. Full story.
Drug law will grant immunity to 911 callers during overdoses
Legislators hope a new law granting immunity to anyone calling 911 for a drug overdose will save lives by taking away the fear of legal repercussions. The law also grants immunity for anyone who arrives at a hospital suffering from an overdose. The law does not exempt anyone from drug trafficking charges if they have a quantity large enough that would lead to that charge. A study released in 2010 concluded there were more Illinois deaths from overdoses than car accidents. Full story.
Tattoo session ends with bullet, not ink
A 19-year-old Villa Park man who thought he was walking into an Addison residence to get tattooed for $150 ended up being shot and robbed. The victim had arranged for Dale L. Flagg, 22, of Naperville to provide the tattoo through a friend, but Flagg told him to “strip and hand over his money” when he arrived at about 9 p.m. Sunday, prosecutors said yesterday. Flagg shot the teen in the leg and he tried to escape, prosecutors said. Full story.
Wheaton expected to reach pact over Hubble pact today
The Wheaton Park District is expected to approve an agreement today with a development company to preserve the gym and ball fields at the former Hubble Middle School. The company seeking to build a Mariano's Fresh Market grocery store on the property at Roosevelt and Naperville Roads agreed with the park district to sell the portion of land back to preserve the facilities. Full story.
Weather
Winter mus have finally decided to show up because another chilly day is on tap today. It'll be cloudy with a high of only 28 degrees when you head out the door this morning, but it will climb to partly sunny and about 34 degrees before the day is over. Full weather.
Traffic
So far, nothing major is slowing down the roadways and everything is moving along well. No accidents to report or major hotspots showing up. Bridge work is continuing over the Fox River on Downer Place Road near Aurora, so people should try and avoid that area if possible. Full traffic.
Bulls say Deng should be an all-star
The NBA is set to name the NBA all-star reserves tomorrow on TNT, and the big question is whether Luol Deng will land his first fall-star appearance, according to beat writer Mike McGraw. The reserves are chosen by a vote of coaches in each conference, and winning is usually the most important factor in voting giving Deng a definite boost. Derrick Rose, the lone Bulls' all-star last year, was named to the starting lineup. McGraw examines the statistics of Deng and five other probable finalists for what appear to be four open spots. Full story.
Blackhawks' woes continue with sixth straight loss
Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman has a bigger problem than finding a trade partner. Bowman's Blackhawks is fading so fast in the Western Conference — after last night's 5-2 loss in Colorado — that a trade before the Feb. 27 deadline might not make that big of a difference now. You can only replace so many guys this time of year, and right now the Hawks have a roster full of dead weight. Full story.