Weekend in Review: Police investigate suspicious death; Brady keeps GOP post

No suburban post offices late for Tax Day

Suburban taxpayers who are waiting until the last minute to file their taxes Monday will have to drive to Chicago to find a post office open late. A U.S. Postal Service spokesman said the service will not be extending hours at any of its suburban post offices to accommodate last-minute filers. Full story.

First-of-its-kind 'sober bar' to open in Crystal Lake

Some people don't understand the concept of a “sober bar” like The Other Side. “They say, 'You're going to open a bar without booze? What's the point?'” said Chris Reed, 22, of Algonquin, president of the nonprofit group behind the project, New Directions Addiction Recovery Services. “If you're choosing a sober lifestyle, this will be a healthy atmosphere. It's an important place for people in recovery.” Full story.

Trick to keeping suburban magic shop open may be fun

There's a trick to staying in business for 46 years selling exploding cigars, hand buzzers and magic routines. Learning a new trick or two through the decades is how PJ's Trick Shop in Arlington Heights has managed not to disappear. Full story.

Republicans keep Brady as state party chair

Illinois Republican Party Chairman Pat Brady survived another call for his job Saturday at a state central committee meeting Saturday in Tinley Park. About 75 people attended the meeting to call for Brady's ouster over his support for gay marriage. They erupted in anger when they learned Brady would keep his job. Full story.

Police investigate “suspicious” death after fire

Crystal Lake police are investigating the suspicious death of a man found Sunday morning inside his burning home. The man, whose identity is being withheld pending notification of family, was located about 7:33 a.m. laying on the floor inside his residence on the 1700 block of Moorland Lane. He was the home's only occupant, police said. Full story.

Durbin's growing war chest points to run for another term

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin is expected to make an official announcement about running for a fourth term in the coming weeks, and a look at the war chest of the Senate's No. 2 Democrat reveals he appears to be taking a 2014 bid quite seriously. According to a campaign disclosure report expected to be filed with the Federal Election Commission at midnight Monday, Durbin raised $727,081 in the first quarter of the year, which ended March 31. Full story.

Palatine to consider housing for people with disabilities

Motivated by the severe shortage of facilities and undeterred by resistance in two nearby suburbs, several organizations have banded together to propose a permanent supportive housing development in Palatine. Catherine Alice Gardens would replace the vacant warehouse at 345 Eric Drive near downtown and feature 33 studio, one- and two-bedroom leased, apartments for low-income individuals and small families with disabilities and mental illness. Full story.

Bloomingdale mayor still stinging over defeat

For the first time in 34 years, Bloomingdale Mayor Bob Iden's Monday nights will be free. And he's perfectly fine with that. He just wishes it was on his terms. Iden's 20-year mayoral run and previous 14-year tenure as a village board member came to an end Tuesday, during only the second challenge of his political career. Full story.

School for special needs students moving to Wheaton

More than 100 special needs students will be attending school in a new building this fall, as the Bartlett Learning Center is moving to downtown Wheaton. The new location, near the corner of Seminary Avenue and Main Street, was once part of St. John Lutheran School. It has newer classrooms, as the building was built in stages between the 1950s and 1990s. It also includes a full-size gym, stage and kitchen. Full story.

Libertyville teacher working with NASA in Greenland

Veteran Libertyville High School science teacher Mark Buesing didn't go to Florida, Mexico or anywhere remotely tropical for spring break. Instead, Buesing packed some cold-weather gear and headed to glacier-filled Greenland, where he's part of a NASA mission to study ice in both of our planet's polar regions. Full story.

Fire causes evacuation at Northbrook hotel

A fire Saturday morning in a mechanical room caused evacuation of the Crowne Plaza Hotel at 2875 Milwaukee Ave., Prospect Heights fire officials said. One person was taken to the hospital after the fire, which began at 6:37 a.m., but staff said the hotel was able to reopen shortly after the fire was extinguished. Full story.

Kane County write-ins fought the good fight

Running as a write-in candidate is a notoriously uphill battle, but two such candidates in Kane County — despite not winning their races — stood out for racking up an impressive number of votes. Patricia Graceffa got 428 write-in votes in her bid for a seat on the Sugar Grove library board, while Bill DiFulvio got 232 votes in his effort to get re-elected to the South Elgin village board. Full story. Round Lake trash transfer station moves forward

Dual approvals this past week by the Lake County Board and the Solid Waste Agency of Lake County have cleared the way for the next step in what could be a lengthy process to build and operate a garbage transfer station in Round Lake Park. In separate actions, both entities convincingly approved a host agreement, which outlines various control measures and fees to be paid, for what would be the first garbage transfer station in Lake County. Full story.

World & Nation

N. Korea takes hard line. Full story.

Rubio says immigration deal needs tough terms. Full story.

Regulations fails to keep pace with bus rider surge. Full story.

Close vote see on background checks on gun buyers. Full story.

Laws, rumors have ammo flying off store shelves. Full story.

Online insurance brokers see windfall in Obamacare. Full story.

'Django' stars, 'Avengers' win big at MTV Movie Awards. Full story. See images here.

'42' has big weekend at box office. Full story.

Sports

City, Cubs make $500 million deal. Full story.

Blackhawks not fazed by Blues. Full story.

Bulls just looking to get healthy. Full story.

Wild day just no good for Cubs. Full story.

Peavy strikes out 11 in Sox win. Full story.

Kind of a bummer Cabrera didn't win. Full story.

Scott beats Cabrera in playoff to win Masters. Full story.