Dawn Patrol: Mayors group reverses stance on tax; Bears draft cornerback
DuPage mayors group reverses income tax support
The DuPage Mayors and Managers Conference will remain neutral on the state legislature's plan to make the 5 percent income tax hike permanent, after a Daily Herald report this week outlined efforts to trade future “political leverage” for support of extending the tax increase. Previously, 13 board members voted 9-4 in favor of pledging the agency's support in return for a larger cut of the taxes generated and more say in other legislative issues affecting municipalities. Full story.
Court to rule on red-light cameras
The state Supreme Court will rule later this month whether red-light cameras are legal, as part of a lawsuit brought by a handful of drivers who got tickets in Chicago. The plaintiffs argue the 2006 state law that allows the suburbs to have the cameras is illegal. Full story.
How to fund Route 53 extension?
Officials are trying to figure out how to pay for a proposed extension of Route 53, though the tollway has yet to decide if it will adopt the pricey project. Tolls on the proposed roadway, which would lengthen Route 53 north 12 miles from Lake-Cook Road to connect with Route 120, would pay for only a fraction of the cost, leading to an estimated gap of $2.47 billion. Full story.
36 years for Craigslist rapist
A 45-year-old Woodstock man will spend 36 years in prison after being sentenced for raping a Chicago woman in late 2012. Charles Oliver, convicted by a jury last February for raping a 22-year-old woman he met on Craigslist, was described by McHenry County Judge Sharon Prather as a true “predator.” Full story.
Aurora baby born 17 weeks premature gets to go home
A baby born 17 weeks premature is now home in Aurora after spending nearly four months in Edward Hospital's Newborn Intensive Care Unit in Naperville. Michael Matthew Newson was born Jan. 12, weighing 1 pound, 8 ounces, and was 13 inches long. “It's phenomenal,” mom Lea Newson said Thursday as the family prepared to leave the hospital with Michael. “We're all just like, 'Wow. This is really our baby now?' Now that he's going home today, we are just so excited.” Full story.
Weather
Cloudy and 65 degrees to start the morning. A thunderstorm could roll in this afternoon, with temperatures reaching 75 degrees later. Cooler and 51 degrees overnight. Full story.
Traffic
Construction continues on Route 120 in McHenry between IL Route 31 and North River Road. People should expect heavy delays in the area. Full traffic.
Bears draft Virginia Tech cornerback
The Bears selected Virginia Tech cornerback Kyle Fuller last night with the 14th overall pick in the NFL draft. Fuller, a 5-foot-11¾, 190-pounder, has 4.49 speed. Team GM Phil Emery said Fuller was “a player that was universally loved in our building and the highest- rated corner on our draft board.” Read Bob LeGere's take here.
Cubs salvage one game in Crosstown series
The Cubs got home runs from Starlin Castro and Anthony Rizzo and a grand slam from Mike Olt en route to a 12-5 victory over the White Sox in the fourth and final game of this year's Crosstown series. But the Sox take the bragging rights this year, having won the first three games. Read Bruce Miles' take here and Scot Gregor's take here.
Hawks face Wild in Game 4 tonight
The Blackhawks, fresh off a 4-0 shutout loss at the hands of the Minnesota Wild in Game 3, need more offense — from all four lines — heading into tonight's game at the Xcel Energy Center. “We're looking for balance and a little more threat to score on all the lines,” coach Joel Quenneville said. Read Mike Spellman's take here.