Dawn Patrol: Support for gay ex-church staffer; AWOL firms blasted

Fired music director finds support at Holy Family meeting

Colin Collette, fired as the longtime music director of Holy Family Catholic Community in Inverness, found a largely supportive crowd at a special Wednesday meeting that was described as being "bigger than at Christmas." And Collette, who is gay, ended the meeting by telling the crowd how big a loss it is to him - in a series of recent losses - not being a part of Holy Family. Full story.

Duckworth blasts companies that leave U.S.

U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth, a Hoffman Estates Democrat, yesterday compared companies that want to move some operations overseas to lessen their tax burdens to soldiers who abandon their units. "I'm an old soldier at heart and let me tell you, we have a word for people who abandon their nation, who change their allegiance. and there's nothing worse than a deserter," Duckworth said. Full story.

Fire causes $100,000 damage in Schaumburg

Fire caused an estimated $100,000 damage yesterday to a duplex unit on the 900 block of Walpole Lane in Schaumburg. Residents "believed they had put it out," but firefighters arrived to find smoke coming from the roof soffits and vents and called for a response, Schaumburg fire Capt. Frank Chambers said. No injuries were reported. Full story.

Round Lake Park issues community alert

Round Lake Park police say shots fired late Tuesday night likely involved gang activity. No one was injured but Police Chief George Filenko said yesterday it was the latest example of gang activity in the area. "You can't continue sweeping gang and drug problems under the carpet," he said. Full story.

$16 million upgrade considered for Addison golf course

DuPage Forest Preserve commissioners need to decide next week whether they want to move ahead with a proposed $16 million project to improve the Oak Meadows Golf Preserve property. Some commissioners say they need more financial details. Full story.

Libertyville trustee calls it quits on boyhood dream

As a boy, Jim Moran dreamed of being on the Libertyville village board. He got his wish in 2011 when he was elected a village trustee, He had planned on running next spring for a second term, but an opportunity too good to decline will take him outside the village limit and off the village board.

Moran isn't going far and will be moving less than a half mile outside town, but trustees are required to live in the village and he had to resign. Full story.

Shaq draws a crowd

More than 200 fans filled the Sears store at Woodfield Mall on Wednesday afternoon for a chance to meet, get an autograph or take a picture with Shaquille O'Neal, the 15-time NBA all-star, television host and occasional movie actor. After waiting in long lines, Schaumburg couple Janet and Chris Cotsiopoulos snapped a smartphone picture with O'Neal. "He seemed very personable," Janet Cotsiopoulos said. "He wasn't closed off." Full story.

Clearbrook sued

A Carpentersville man is suing Clearbrook, a nonprofit agency that serves developmentally disabled people, arguing he was fired in retaliation for questioning what he says is the facility's practice of disregarding training and state requirements. Darren Buchanan seeks unspecified damages and lost wages after his termination in March from the Mozart House in Arlington Heights, according to a lawsuit filed in Kane County. Full story.

Weather

Partly cloudy and 61 degrees this morning. Temperatures will rise to 71 degrees this afternoon before dipping to 55 degrees overnight. Full weather forecast.

Traffic

Construction is causing delays on Tyler Road between IL Route 64 and Kirk Road near St. Charles. People should seek alternate routes. Full traffic.

Baez, Rizzo go deep in Cubs win

Javier Baez and Anthony Rizzo hit back-to-back home runs as the Cubs roughed up Kyle Lohse and the Milwaukee Brewers 4-2 on Wednesday night. Starlin Castro, Rizzo and Baez, the nucleus of Theo Epstein's rebuilding effort, drove in all four runs against the NL-leading Brewers. Castro and Chris Coghlan contributed three hits each. Full story.