Dawn Patrol: Businesses cope with floods; Bears’ draft pick
Businesses still coping with effects of flood
Businesses up and down the Des Plaines River and throughout the region continue to clean up from floods that forced them to close last week. For some like Bob Chinn’s Crab House in Wheeling, the storm meant a flooded parking lot and $200,000 in discarded food. “It was a bad situation, but we’d rather be on the safe side,” said Deno Roumanidakis, the restaurant’s director of operations. “We just have not experienced anything like this in the 23 years I’ve been here.” Full story.
Bears take offensive lineman from Oregon
The Bears selected Oregon guard Kyle Long with the 20th pick in the NFL draft last night in an attempt to bolster an offensive line that’s struggled in recent years. Long is the son of former Raiders star Howie Long and the brother of St. Louis Rams defensive end Chris Long. “This is the type of athlete and player we have targeted,” said Bears general manager Phil Emery. “He’s a fast, tough, dynamic athlete. We thought he was the best offensive lineman at the Senior Bowl.” Full story.
Man says he was forced to kill Darien family
Jacob Nodarse said in DuPage County court yesterday that he was forced to kill three members of a Darien family in March 2010 by Johnny Borizov. Nodarse, who pleaded guilty but mentally ill to murder in 2011, took the stand in the trial of Borizov, who is accused of masterminding the murders. Nodarse said he believed he had no other options. “I was thinking about what was going to happen. Eventually, it came in my mind that I had to do this to save my family.” Full story.
Cameras in Kane County courtrooms?
As the Johnny Borizov trial continues in front of TV cameras in DuPage County, word is that Kane County courtrooms could soon be getting cameras, too. Chief Judge Judith Brawka told the Daily Herald that 16th Circuit gave their final approval for cameras in the courtroom, and she expects the state Supreme Court to issue a ruling on the issue in the next two months. The high court has allowed courtroom cameras on an experimental, circuit-by-circuit basis. Full story.
Weil Cadillac gets money from Libertyville
Weil Cadillac in Libertyville is getting economic incentives from the village that could be worth about $2.6 million. The arrangement will help the car dealership pay for half the cost of an extensive renovation that was finished in June 2006. It’s the maximum incentive available under a 10-year agreement. Full story.
Flight delays blamed on federal furloughs
With some 15,000 air traffic controllers across the nation off the job one day every two weeks as part of federal budget cuts, the Federal Aviation Administration said this week that its Terminal Radar Approach Control facility in Elgin along with others across the country would be severely impacted. And, the furlough days may have contributed to delays Wednesday and Thursday mornings at O’Hare International Airport. Full story.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Senate reached a deal on ending FAA furloughs. Full story.
State Senate Republicans push back on ‘free lunch’ argument
Illinois Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno is pushing a school transparency initiative aimed at demonstrating Chicago schools are better funded than others in the state. It’s an attempt to combat statements by Chicago Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan that Illinois is doling out a “free lunch” to suburban and downstate districts because the state pays toward their teachers’ pension costs. Full story.
Weather
Sunny and warm with a high of 66 degrees this afternoon. It will be only 38 degrees when you head out the door this morning, and drop back to 45 degrees tonight. Full story.
Traffic
Knollwood Park, Atwater Parkway and Kings Road remain closed in Fox Lake due to flooding. People are also urged to avoid Grand Avenue in downtown Fox Lake due to high water. More traffic.
Bulls take 2-1 series lead
The Bulls took a 2-1 series lead last night in their first-round playoff series against the Brooklyn Nets with a 79-76 victory. Carlos Boozer led the way for the Bulls with 22 points and 16 rebounds and Luol Deng had 21 points and 10 rebounds. The Bulls will host the Nets in Game 4 of the series Saturday. Full story.