Dawn Patrol: Reward in store clerk slaying; $1 million lottery winner
Police offer $10,000 reward in slaying of store clerk
Bensenville police are offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the identification and arrest of the two suspects believed to be responsible for shooting and killing Hussein Saghir, a 36-year-old convenience store clerk. “It was just not fair the way this whole thing happened,” said Hanan Faraj, Saghir’s widow. “I just pray they do find these people, just to bring them to justice. It really shattered my life and my family’s life.” Full story with video.
$1 million lottery ticket was no joke
Two friends from the Northwest suburbs are celebrating their $1 million winnings from a scratch-off lottery ticket. Friends Athena Korines and Rob Devine have been pooling their money and buying scratch-off lottery tickets for fun for the past year and a half. “I thought it was fake ticket. I thought maybe it’s a joke ticket,” said Korines, 51, of Elk Grove Village. “I wasn’t a believer before. I’m a believer now.” Full story.
Defense in street race case tries to keep it to probation
The defense attorney for an Antioch-area teen who was charged in an illegal street race that left one person dead said his client should be sentenced to probation, not prison, because of “extraordinary circumstances” in the case. But in court yesterday, a Lake County prosecutor and judge blocked attorney Jed Stone’s push for a closed-door meeting to explain his request for Jeremy Betancourt, 18, saying the defense hasn’t responded to the plea deal already on the table. Full story.
Bus catches fire in Prospect Hts.
A Pace bus driver escaped uninjured after his bus caught on fire yesterday afternoon in Prospect Heights, authorities said. The bus didn’t have any passengers about 3 p.m. when the fire started. Full story.
Jury awards Lake County deputy $750,000 in discrimination case
A veteran Lake County sheriff’s deputy has been awarded $750,000 by a federal jury in a gender discrimination case, though it’s likely she will receive only the legal maximum of $300,000. Deputy Heather Aldridge sued the sheriff’s office in 2011, claiming she was subjected to unwarranted disciplinary warnings and other actions for years while working as a K-9 officer. Full story.
Fire leaves Elgin home uninhabitable
Elgin Fire Department officials are looking into the cause of a fire that left some $60,000 worth of damages to a two-story house last night. A passer-by noticed smoke and flames coming from the house on the 300 block of South Liberty Street and reported it to authorities at 6:37 p.m. The passer-by knocked on the doors and windows, but no one was home at the time. Full story.
Voting by mail gets started
As candidates for political office vie for position several weeks ahead of the March 18 primary election, voters could begin yesterday requesting ballots by mail to vote in advance. Until March 13, registered voters can apply to receive an absentee ballot from their county offices. Full story.
Auto show begins this weekend
Fuel-efficient cars and even trucks souped up with the latest in high-tech safety systems are some of the things to see at this year’s Chicago Auto Show, which begins Saturday at McCormick Place. Among the offerings are a remake of Ford’s beloved F-150 pickup truck, which has shed 700 pounds with an aluminum alloy makeover. “Consumers are so conscious of fuel economy nowadays,” said Colin Wickstrom, a Barrington dealer. Full story with pictures and video.
Weather
The cold continues today with a high temperature of 12 degrees this afternoon. It will be about 3 degrees below zero when you head out this morning, then dip back to 5 degrees this evening. Full weather.
Traffic
Construction continues on Rollins Road between Route 45 and Route 83 in Round Lake Beach. People should expect delays. Full traffic.
Let the Olympic Games begin
There’s some 3,000 skiers, skaters, sliders and others getting ready to put on a show for the next 16 days or so at the Olympics in Sochi, Russia. The opening ceremony officially kicks off the games today, although a few dozen athletes competed Thursday in a handful of events that started early due to a jam-packed schedule. Full story.