Dawn Patrol: Tee time in Medinah; animal odor in Elgin van
Ryder Cup golf finally tees off this morning
Twenty-four golfers, 12 for the U.S. team and 12 for Europe, begin their quest this morning to hoist the Ryder Cup at Medinah Country Club. The event is expected to have a worldwide television audience of about half a billion people in 183 countries as the 24 of the 35 top players in the world compete in a team format. “There's no good way to get prepared for it,” former U.S. Ryder Cup captain Hal Sutton said. “Something this big and this electric, you get caught thinking about the bigger picture. You want to stay out of that as much as you can.” Full story.
Speaking of golfing in the suburbs
You probably can't play at Medinah, but what about another of the scores of Chicago-area golf courses? What's your favorite? Michelle Holdway asks in Poll Vault.
Families smelled odor, but never imagined dozens of dead cats
Families who lived next door to the Elgin home where 43 dead animals decayed in a van in the backyard say they noticed a smell coming from the property but never expected yesterday's news. Police said along with the animals in the van, which were mostly cats, they also found two dead opossums in 60-year-old William Tinkler's home. One neighbor said she worried about the effect the smell would have on her young children, but never called police. Full story.
Facebook photos with booze sideline Glenbard South athletes
Twenty Glenbard South High School students won't be able to participate in a portion of their athletic seasons after photos surfaced on Facebook showing them at an underage drinking party. School officials said about 30 students attended the party and the 20 student-athletes who were caught will miss the equivalent of 20 percent of their seasons. Full story.
Boy playing with lighter sparks fire that torches home
A 4-year-old boy who was left alone in a bedroom late Thursday morning was sparking a fire while playing with a lighter that destroyed a Carpentersville home. Officials said the fire started on the bed, and while the boy's aunt was dragging the flaming mattress out of the house, flames spread throughout the home. The woman suffered burns on her arms while dragging the mattress and dropped it in the living room before safely fleeing the home with the boy. Full story.
Ex-Cub beaned in 1st at bat will finally get his 2nd
Former Cubs rookie Adam Greenberg, whose story of being beaned in the head by the first pitch he ever faced has gained national attention, will finally get a second at bat. The 31-year-old was unable to return to the majors because of symptoms caused by a concussion he suffered from the pitch, but was given a one-day contract by the Miami Marlins and will likely bat during a Marlins home game Tuesday. Full story.
23-year-old charged in Willowbrook drive-by murder
A 23-year-old Willowbrook man is accused of shooting 18-year-old Joshua Holmes six times during a drive-by in broad daylight Monday. Juan Cueller has been charged in connection with the murder, and his mother, Elva Hernandez, was charged with obstructing the investigation. Full story.
Weather
Another nearly perfect day today with sunny skies and a high of about 70 degrees. It will be about 55 degrees as you head out this morning, then dip back to 58 degrees overnight tonight. Full story.
Traffic
Construction continues at the intersection of IL-31 and IL-176 in Crystal Lake. The work will require intermittent closures for the start of the project but will eventually reduce lanes. Full story.
Time's running out on Sox
The White Sox aren't quite ready to make a concession speech. But they are running out of time and running out of excuses while continuing to play like it's the first week of spring training instead of the last week of the regular season, Scot Gregor writes. The Sox are not guilty of slacking off. They just can't seem to string big hits together, and it really came back to bite them last night in an agonizing 3-2 loss to Tampa Bay at U.S. Cellular Field. Full story.
Cubs swept out of Colorado
Pitcher Chris Volstad (3-11) allowed seven runs and 10 hits in three innings while Rockies Jordan Pacheco and DJ LeMahieu homered, leading Colorado to a 7-5 victory and a three-game series sweep. Full story.