Dawn Patrol: Wheaton College child researcher charged with child porn

Wheaton College professor in court today on child porn charges

A Wheaton College professor and local church leader charged with two counts of aggravated child pornography is due in DuPage County bond court today. Donald Ratcliff, 60, of 1N54 Falcon Trail, Carol Stream, has performed academic research that focused on children. Carol Stream police said Ratcliff was arrested Thursday after a months-long child pornography investigation. Ratcliff is a professor of Christian education at Wheaton College, where he has been a faculty member since 2006. He also is a lay leader at Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Wheaton. Full story.

Suspect talks about Vernon Hills mom's slaying

On a videotape recording of his interview with a police detective, murder suspect Daniel Baker says he thinks he swung a bat twice but admits it could have been more. Baker, 23, of Deerfield, was near the end of a questioning session in which he admits beating Marina Aksman, 50, to death in her Vernon Hills home on April 1, 2010. The recording of the interview is being played this week in Lake County circuit court because Baker's attorneys want to have anything their client said to police about the murder barred from being used against him. Full story.

Lake County holds open house on Dimucci plans

Lake County officials will hold the first of three open houses about a controversial development plan near Hawthorn Woods on Saturday morning. The proposal concerns nearly 109 acres on the southeast corner of Rand and Old McHenry roads, owned by members of the Dimucci family. The events are designed to give “a broad amount of information about the project,” said Eric Waggoner, the county's planning director. Full story.

Woman gets 12 years behind bars for Aurora kidnapping

A Romeoville woman was sentenced to 12 years in prison for her role in kidnapping an Aurora woman, beating her and forcing her to eat dog feces. Monserrat Arreola, 25, of the 600 block of Montrose Drive, pleaded guilty this week to aggravated kidnapping before Judge John Walters. Her co-defendant, Jean Marc Faison, 26, of the 200 block of Trask Street, Aurora, was sentenced to 40 years in prison for his role in the kidnapping. Faison, Arreola and the victim were at the victim's house in Aurora Nov. 20, 2010, when Arreola attacked the victim for an unknown reason, authorities said. Full story.

How about a cold one at Schaumburg Starbucks?

Starbucks at Streets of Woodfield in Schaumburg wants to be among the first five stores in the Chicago area to try selling alcohol this spring. The others are in Chicago and Burr Ridge, Schaumburg Assistant Village Attorney Rita Elsner said. The Streets of Woodfield store wants a Class F liquor license from Schaumburg to sell beer and wine. Full story.

Duckworth, Krishnamoorthi ads take on each other, Walsh

In a way, Tammy Duckworth and Raja Krishnamoorthi are both playing the same card. In recent campaign ads that have landed in suburban mailboxes from Elgin to Addison to Elk Grove Village, both 8th District Democratic primary opponents say they're “the” candidate to beat Congressman Joe Walsh, the McHenry Tea Partyer. “It's one thing that really unifies Democrats — to take on the Tea Party,” said strategist Pete Giangreco. Full story.

Round Lake Park police dog earns his bones

Round Lake Park's police dog handler is crediting his partner for the quick capture of a man accused of attacking his wife in the couple's home and then fleeing. Detective Tony Colon said Blade, a 6-year-old German shepherd, needed no more than four minutes to find the suspect wedged under a backyard deck of another house about 6:30 a.m. Wednesday. Ryan Fecht, 19, of the 500 block of Fairlawn Drive in Round Lake Park, was charged with domestic battery, police said. Full story.

DuPage sheriff seeks help finding woman

DuPage County sheriff's officials are seeking help today in finding Burnessa Buchanan, 50, who left the area of Gary Avenue and Schick Road near Bloomingdale on Feb. 1. Buchanan was last seen later that day at 8:30 p.m. near 86th Street and Cottage Grove Avenue in Chicago. Anyone who has seen Buchanan is asked to call sheriff's deputies at (630) 407-2400. Full story.

Gov. Quinn lifts hold on hospital tax rulings

Turning up the heat on talks aimed at making sure nonprofit hospitals do enough charitable work, Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn stuck to his Thursday deadline and authorized the Department of Revenue to resume decisions that could strip some health care institutions of valuable tax exemptions. The Democratic governor's action came a day after negotiations failed to reach a compromise on how much charity care hospitals must provide to earn freedom from local taxes. Full story.

Hanover Park makes water rate hikes official

Just as the city of Chicago last fall announced it was charging more to supply water to its suburban neighbors, Hanover Park officials said they have no choice but to pass along costs to residents. The village board made it official last night, approving a four-year plan that calls for a 22 percent water rate hike effective May 1, followed by an 18 percent increase next year and 15 percent in each of the last two years. In addition, a flat $25 service charge will be added to each bill, which covers a two-month period. Sewer rates will increase by 4 cents in Cook County and 10 cents in DuPage County as well. Full story.

Kane County coroner's trial on hold

A new judge has been assigned to the misconduct case of Kane County Coroner Chuck West, who is accused of stealing a television from the home of a dead Carpentersville man in 2007. Judge John McAdams has been designated to take over for Judge Bruce Lester. West, who faces up to five years in prison if convicted, is due in court again April 18. Full story.

Prosecutor: Wheaton suspect's text says, ‘Yes, I did rape you'

One of three men accused of raping a 16-year-old girl in Wheaton last fall confessed in a text message to the victim, prosecutors said yesterday. “Yes, I did rape you. It was my fault,” Gyan Magar, 21, wrote, according to prosecutors. Magar, of Clarkston, Ga., appeared in DuPage County bond court, where Judge Elizabeth Sexton ordered him held on $2 million bail. His co-defendants — both Wheaton men — were arrested last week. Full story.

Weather

Partly cloudy skies with a high of 37 degrees will greet people early this morning. Temperatures will rise to about 48 degrees today, before it turns windy and cold, temperatures decrease to about 30 degrees, and snow begins to fall. About an inch-and-a-half of snow is expected to land before tomorrow morning in most areas, but Lake and McHenry counties near the border could see as much as 5-inches befor ethe storm moves on. Full weather.

Traffic

Delays are being reported at Lake Street and North West Avenue near Addison because of a crash, as well as Route 60 and Fairway Drive near Vernon Hills because of a seperate accident. People should also watch out for road construction on Route 134 between Route 120 and and Cedar Lake Road in the Round Lake area. Full traffic.

Another loss for Fighting Illini

University of Illinois basketball coach Bruce Weber should start preparing to circulate copies of his resume. Tim Hardaway Jr. had 25 points and 11 rebounds to help keep No. 13 Michigan in the Big Ten title race with a 72-61 win over the Fighting Illini last night in Champaign. Michigan (22-8, 12-5) led throughout in its first victory on Illinois' home court since 1995. Illinois is now 17-13 overall and 6-11 in Big Ten action. Full story.

Two Bears players told to hit the road

The Bears have released seven-year veteran offensive lineman Frank Omiyale and nine-year veteran nose tackle Anthony Adams, who was informed earlier in the week he was not in the team's future plans. Both moves were revealed by the team yesterday. Full story.