Dawn Patrol: Major crash in Hanover Park; hammer attack
Breaking newsAll lanes of Gary Avenue have been shut down in Hanover Park between Central and the Elgin-O'Hare Expressway this morning due to a major crash with injuries. More information will be released later this morning after the accident is investigated. COD unearths financial aid scamForty-four College of DuPage students and two organizers of a financial aid fraud ring used student aid for their personal use after dropping out of online classes they enrolled in last spring, college officials said. The matter is in the hands of federal investigators who say a loosely knit nationwide group is targeting community colleges. In total, $354,000 has been lost to fraud the past four semesters. Full story.Cops: Aurora man beat wife with hammerAn Aurora man is due in court today on charges that he struck his wife in the head with a hammer, causing massive head injuries, according to police. Camilo Rivera's children woke up to their mother's screams as he struck her while she was sleeping in her bed, police said. The 39-year-old victim was in critical condition last night. Full story.Hospital workers accused of stealing documents, threatening patientsA former Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital employee is accused of stealing confidential medical records and using them to harass former psychiatric patients. Michelle Morrison, 52, of Elk Grove Village wrote letters to former patients suggesting frontal lobotomies and threatened to expose sensitive medical treatment information to patients' families, friends and co-workers, according to prosecutors. Full story.Arlington Heights man injured in homemade firework mishapNo charges had been filed as of last night after an Arlington Heights man with hopes of obtaining a pyrotechnician's license suffered serious burns while attempting to build fireworks in his basement Tuesday night. Police said one of the powders ignited causing a #8220;flash fire,#8221; which burned the 22-year-old's hands and legs. Authorities found an application for a pyrotechnics license in the man's home, but he hadn't fill it out yet. Full story.Walsh criticizes GOP for not backing AkinIllinois Congressman Joe Walsh has denounced GOP Senate candidate Todd Akin's comments over #8220;legitimate rape#8221; but is questioning why Republicans are not standing up for him amid the political uproar. #8220;What he said was offensive, insulting and wrong, but I'm bothered by this rush to pile on,#8221; Walsh said Tuesday evening. Full story.Duckworth claimed two homeowner exemptionsWalsh's opponent, Democrat Tammy Duckworth, is also taking heat after the Daily Herald discovered she improperly claimed two homeowner exemptions at once over a period of several years. Duckworth says she repaid $1,928 is taxes she saved because of the extra exemption, and added $612 in penalties. #8220;They didn't think about it,#8221; Duckworth spokesman Kaitlin Fahey said of the issue. #8220;Taxes were paid out of escrow. This wasn't like beating the system.#8221; Full story.Family, police searching for missing St. Charles girl, 20Family members, friends and police are searching for a 20-year-old St. Charles woman who left home after an argument with family members Sunday and was last seen early Monday morning near Millennium Park in Chicago. Tanner Conroyd was hospitalized in a Normal, Ill., hospital Saturday and was taken back to St. Charles for further treatment, her father said. A security guard at the park spoke with Conroyd's family late Sunday and was concerned for her safety. Full story.WeatherSunny and warm today with a high of 89 degrees. It's about 68 degrees right now as you head out the door, and temperatures are expected back to 68 degrees overnight tonight. Full story.TrafficIntermittent closures continue at the intersection of IL Route 31 and IL Route 176 in Crystal Lake. This project will be in place until November of 2013. Full story. With Yankees sweep, Sox and Sale are for realIt was another great game from the White Sox' 23-year-old Chris Sale, who raised his record to 15-4 and lowered his ERA to 2.65 after pitching 7 innings and allowing 1 run on 3 hits while striking out 13 #8212; against the mighty Yankees. Sale has low-keyed his rapid rise and amazing success throughout the season, and shutting down a powerful Yankees lineup did nothing to change that. Scot Gregor reports.Cubs swinging and missing a lot latelyCubs hitters came up with nothing but air 13 times Wednesday in a 3-2 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park. That was 1 strikeout more than the dozen they managed in each of the first two games of this series, in which they were swept. Over their past six games, Cubs batters have struck out 66 times. It was 71 on the seven-game road trip to Cincinnati and Milwaukee. Full story.