Dawn Patrol: Students not prepared in Illinois
PARCC results: Most suburban students not ready for college
More than 70 percent of suburban students are not fully prepared for college, according to Illinois School Report Card data released yesterday. Only a third of Illinois students are meeting or exceeding standards in mathematics and English literacy, while 28.4 percent of students are "approaching" expectations, the results show. Full story.
Texas man charged with threatening suburban attorney
A 56-year-old Texas man was ordered held on $45,000 bail Wednesday after authorities say he sent threatening emails to his wife's divorce attorney. Michael Barry threatened the attorney with sanctions and criminal charges unless the attorney agreed to drop the estranged wife's divorce petition, said Cook County assistant state's attorney David Shin. Full story.
Algonquin man severely injured in crash charged with DUI
An Algonquin man involved in an Oct. 25 car crash on westbound Higgins Road in Hoffman Estates was ordered held on charges he was driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol. Prosecutors say Skylar Kendrick, 27, had alcohol and cocaine in his system when he struck another car while driving west on Higgins Road near Sutton Road. Full story.
No charges after Waukegan alderman killed sick raccoon with tire iron
A Waukegan alderman who beat a sick raccoon to death with a tire iron last month will not be charged with a crime, and some residents, including the woman who witnessed the beating, are not happy about it, the Chicago Tribune reports. Waukegan resident Carol Alleman spotted a raccoon behind her house acting disoriented and said she planned to keep an eye on it until an animal control officer could pick it up. She went into her house briefly, but when she came out she saw Alderman Larry TenPas "whaling" on the raccoon. Full Chicago Tribune report here.
Elgin pair arrested on cocaine charges
An Elgin woman and a Carpentersville man are in Kane County jail after Elgin police raided a residence on the 300 block of North Liberty Street and found them to be in possession of cocaine. According to an Elgin police news release issued yesterday, police decided to raid the residence after receiving many reports of drugs being sold there. Full story.
Rosemont pledges $500,000 to Moretti's to spur opening
Rosemont will give the owners of Moretti's $500,000 over the next four years to help pay for improvements of a new restaurant at a Higgins Road strip mall. They'll get the first $200,000 if they open by July 1, 2016, and if at least $1.5 million is spent on improvements to the restaurant space at 9515-9519 W. Higgins Road, according to an agreement approved Wednesday by the village board. Full story.
St. Charles singer in 'The Voice' finale
St. Charles North High School alumnus Jeffery Austin has made it to the finals of NBC's singing competition show "The Voice." Austin will sing with the other three finalists during a live show at 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 14. Viewer votes will determine who wins. The winner, announced Tuesday night, will receive a recording contract.
Weather
Mostly cloudy and 42 degrees. Temperatures will reach 58 degrees this afternoon before falling to 42 degrees overnight tonight. Full story.
Traffic
Roadwork has closed River Road in both directions between Kelsey and Roberts roads in Lake Barrington until Wednesday, December 16th. Full traffic.
Versatile Zobrist gets second base for Chicago Cubs
Here's the deal with playing for Cubs manager Joe Maddon: You're likely going to play all over the place and usually end up liking it. Ben Zobrist, who signed a four-year, $56 million contract with the Cubs Tuesday, knows this. He played for Maddon in Tampa Bay from 2006-14, and he played all four infield positions and all three outfield spots. Full story.
Imrem: Hoiberg has a challenge with Chicago Bulls
Daily Herald sports columnist Mike Imrem writes that the Bulls, who lost 105-100 in Boston last night, are playing and talking like a bunch of head cases in search of therapy. "The Bulls' confidence is somewhere off the side of the road in a brown paper bag, as evidenced by their performances with the game in the balance in the past three games: A combined deficit of 102-70 after entering the fourth quarters tied or ahead." Full column.