Dawn Patrol: Guilty plea in street racing death; millionaire tax
Guilty plea in Gurnee street racing death
An Antioch Township teen pleaded guilty to aggravated driving under the influence yesterday in connection with a 2013 street-racing crash that left a 16-year-old girl dead. Jeremy Betancourt, 18, faces up to 10 years in prison, a spokeswoman for the Lake County state's attorney's office said. Sentencing is scheduled for June 30. Full story.
Illinois House gets millionaire tax plan moving
Illinois lawmakers chose to advance an additional income tax on millionaires over a broader shift of taxes toward the wealthy yesterday, setting the tone for months of debate over how much people should pay to help the state stabilize its finances. The House revenue committee voted 6-4 for Speaker Michael Madigan's plan to add a new 3 percent tax on income of more than $1 million, sending the measure to the full House where it could be debated as early as next week. Full story.
Statewide crackdown to honor Vernon Hills trooper killed in crash
Illinois State Police will be conducting road safety checks statewide today and Saturday in a special enforcement operation dedicated to fallen trooper James Sauter of Vernon Hills. Sauter, 28, was killed in the line of duty March 28, 2013, when his patrol car was struck by a semitrailer truck on the Tri-State Tollway near Willow Road. Full story.
Zion man charged in Waukegan bomb threat
A Zion man has been charged after walking into the secretary of state's office in Waukegan on Thursday morning and claiming he had a bomb, police said. The man did not have an explosive and no one was injured. Jose Gerardo Avila-Ramirez, 25 of Zion "entered the facility and yelled that everyone inside was going to die," according to a Waukegan Police Department news release. Full story.
Elgin councilwoman among 8 candidates for Farnham's seat
Elgin Councilwoman Anna Moeller is among eight candidates interested in the seat left vacant by Keith Farnham's resignation as state representative, officials said yesterday. Kane County Democratic Party Chairman Mark Guethle said local leaders are vetting the candidates and are trying to make a choice as soon as possible. Full story.
Weather
It will be breezy and chilly this morning will be a little rain on and off until about 10 a.m. Expect temperatures to be in the mid-30s when you walk out the door. The high will reach about 48 degrees this afternoon, when it is expected to be partly sunny.
Traffic
There are no major delays to report this morning.
Cubs' John Baker gets big-time validation with roster spot
Spring training always is full of good stories of players who make the team out of nowhere. Cubs backup catcher John Baker is one of those stories. Baker got word Wednesday that he had made it ahead of George Kottaras and Eli Whiteside. "It's pretty validating for me," Baker said yesterday. Full story.
Bruins get a little revenge on the Hawks
The last time the Blackhawks hit the ice at TD Garden in Boston, they scored a pair of third-period goals 17 seconds apart in Game 6 and, well … you know the rest. Last night, the Bruins got a bit of revenge on their home ice, thanks to a pair of third-period goals just 13 seconds apart that sealed the deal in a 3-0 victory for the red-hot Bruins, while the Hawks were shut out for the second time in less than a week. Full story.
Wisconsin routs Baylor 69-52
Frank Kaminsky scored 19 points and blocked six shots, and Wisconsin romped into the West Regional final with a dominant 69-52 victory over Baylor last night. Full story.