Dawn Patrol: Dead cats in Elgin van; 4-year-old girl saves mom
60 dead cats, 1 dead dog found in Elgin man's van
An Elgin city contractor's suspicion of possible animal cruelty at an Elgin residence yesterday led to the discovery of an estimated 60 dead cats and one dead dog in a van behind a man's home. The 60-year-old man, who was charged, told police he put the animal carcasses in the van in his backyard after they died, police said. He also said he owned 12 live cats that are now being treated for various infections. Full story.
4-year-old Aurora girl calmly calls 911 for mom
A 4-year-old Aurora girl displayed a sense of calm beyond her years when she called 911 to send for help for her mother, who was unable to speak because of sudden intense pain. The girl's mother has lupus and was stretched out on the floor unable to move. The girl knew to dial the number next to the picture of a police car and ambulance. “I didn't tell her what to do, she just did it,” said the girl's mother. Full story.
The real NFL refs are back in action tonight
The NFL and the referees' union have reached a tentative contract agreement, and the NFL said it plans to have the regular refs work tonight's Cleveland-Baltimore game. The deal was reached about three days after a missed call cost the Green Bay Packers a win on Monday night's final play, which drew an uproar from both fans and players throughout the league. Full story.
Teen holds up two runners on Hoffman Estates trail
A police search that included officers on bikes, helicopter support and at least one police dog came up empty in the hunt for a teenage suspect who robbed two runners on a Hoffman Estates bike trail Wednesday afternoon. The suspect approached two runners while he was riding on a bike on the Poplar Creek trail and threatened them with what appeared to be a handgun before stealing their cellphones, according to police. Full story.
Armed men tied up Palatine woman inside her home
Police are searching for two men who tied up a Palatine woman inside her home Wednesday morning and fled in her 2009 Cadillac Escalade. The 47-year-old woman was confronted by the armed suspects when she entered her home. Police said she was able to free herself after about 2 hours and call 911. Full story.
Wrecking ball strikes Wheaton's Hubble Middle School
A storied former school building in Wheaton where both comedian John Belushi and Watergate journalist Bob Woodward both studied is on its way down. Demolition crews have begun tearing down the former Hubble Middle School to make way for a Mariano's Fresh Market grocery story at the intersection of Roosevelt and Naperville roads. Full story.
Weather
Mostly clear but very chilly with a high temperature of only 66 degrees today. Temperatures will only be 50 degrees when you head out the door, but will dip to about 48 degrees overnight tonight. The good news is that temperatures could spike back up to about 80 degrees next week. Full story.
Traffic
Medinah Road between Irving Park Road and Lake Street will be shut down later this morning due to the Ryder Cup, but it's open with restrictions early this morning. However, people are urged to avoid the area. More closures.
Uh-oh, Sox are out of first place — feeling pressure?
The White Sox are always fielding the question about feeling pressure as they fight for the playoffs. “You've got to try to make it fun,” said Jake Peavy, who starts against Tampa Bay tonight. “That's the thing. We've got to play as loose as we possibly can, knowing what's on the line, and go out and do what we've done all year. We've really done well when we've had some adversity this year.” After seemingly having no fun at all in a 6-4 loss to the Cleveland Indians last night at U.S. Cellular Field, the Sox fell out of first place in the AL Central. Scot Gregor reports.