Dawn Patrol: Probation in fatal DUI; prison sold
Lombard trustees to split rest of village president's term
Two of Lombard's village trustees will split the rest of late Village President William J. Mueller's term. Trustees, who had been gridlocked at 3-3 for more than a month on who should take over, agreed to let Peter Breen serve as acting president until Jan. 16, 2013. Trustee Bill Ware will take over from Jan. 17, 2013 to May 2, 2013. Full story.
How much money does your town owe?
Many suburban residents are deeper in debt than they believe. Besides credit cards, mortgages and car payments, many suburban taxpayers are also on the hook for millions of dollars borrowed by the towns they call home. Municipal debt plays a significant part in the amount of taxes and service fees residents pay to their hometowns. Daily Herald analysis shows 72 suburbs across six counties owe nearly $4 billion combined. There are also six suburbs that have no debt, according to the most recent financial audits of those towns. Full Story
Naperville approves new Walmart site
Walmart is officially staying in Naperville, and city officials hope it will be the best-landscaped Walmart around. Council members Tuesday approved the final site plan for the proposed Walmart Supercenter at the southeast corner of 75th Street and Beebe Drive, but not without squeezing the maximum landscaping from the corporation. Councilman Grant Wehrli said he would like to see the store follow the lead of nearby Costco and Whole Foods by going “above and beyond” the city's landscaping requirements. Full story.
Government to buy Thomson prison for $165 million
The federal government has agreed to buy the Thomson Correctional Center in northwestern Illinois, which Democratic politicians say will bring up to 1,100 jobs to Illinois and alleviate prison overcrowding. The $165 million sale has been in the works for three years as some legislators have argued the prison would be used to house terrorism suspects. The Obama administration vowed that won't happen, and federal law prohibits any transfers from Guantanamo Bay. Full story.
West Chicago woman spots gold filling in skeletal remains
A West Chicago woman who is an avid collector of animal bones thought she had come across a nice addition for her collection while on a walk through the woods last week, but then she spotted the gold dental filling in a tooth. Police say the bones were accidentally dug up from an unmarked grave in Aurora and left in a pile of dirt in a lot in West Chicago. Officials estimated the bones at more than 100 years old. Full story.
SuperPAC edits ad after Duckworth complains of errors
A Washington, D.C.-based SuperPAC is making last-minute changes to a TV spot criticizing Democratic congressional candidate Tammy Duckworth after she refuted claims in the ad. A spokesman for the SuperPAC confirmed changes were being made to the commercial set to run on Chicago cable and broadcast stations criticizing Duckworth's time as director of the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs. Duckworth's campaign first became aware of the ad after it received a “tip” from a source at WLS-TV, spokeswoman Kaitlin Fahey said, that the ad did not pass muster from the station's legal department. Full story.
Weather
Wednesday will get off to a gloomy start with overcast skies and temperatures in the mid 60s, but bring a jacket as you head out the door because rain or a thunderstorm may hit by midafternoon or the evening rush. Full Forecast.
Traffic
Traffic on most major roads and highways was moving smoothly early on Wednesday. A resurfacing project in Downers Grove at 55th and Clarendon Hill Road may slow traffic in that area. That project is expect to continue through October. Full Report.
St. Charles woman gets probation in DUI crash that killed man
More than five years after a 23-year-old St. Charles woman was accused of driving drunk and causing the death of a motorcyclist in South Elgin, the woman was sentenced to two years probation. Erika Scoliere, who was 18 at the time of the crash that killed Frank Ferraro, was originally charged with aggravated DUI, reckless homicide and making an improper turn, but pleaded guilty Tuesday to misdemeanor DUI. Ferraro's mother and Scoliere hugged after the court hearing yesterday. Full story.
Lake Zurich H.S. bans grinding at dance, says students still buying tickets
Lake Zurich High School recently banned griding at Saturday's homecoming dance, but administrators say the ban has not slowed down ticket sales to the event. Administrators sent a letter stating that sexually suggestive moves on the floor won't be tolerated. “ ... Inappropriate behavior, including back-to-front dancing, will not be allowed,” the letter read. Lake Zurich joins other suburban high schools in trying to clamp down on grinding. Mundelein, Geneva and Maine West in Des Plaines are among those that have enacted rules for the dance floor. Full story.
Adam Greenberg strikes out in return at-bat, and loves it
Former Cub Adam Greenberg's second major league plate appearance went a lot better than the first one, even though he struck out. Returning to the big leagues seven years after he was beaned by the first big-league pitch he ever saw, Greenberg fanned on three pitches last night as a pinch-hitter for the Miami Marlins. Greenberg signed a one-day contract before the game and batted leading off the sixth inning against New York Mets 20-game winner R.A. Dickey. But he was more nervous about the Marlins' ritual for rookies. Full story.