Dawn Patrol: Winter storm warning ends at noon today
What's expected to be the heaviest snowfall this winter season caused flights to be canceled and many suburban school districts to close. National Weather Service meteorologists issued a winter storm warning starting from 6 p.m. Thursday and now extended through noon today, with heavy snow making travel "very difficult to impossible." Full story
Snowstorm could affect newspaper delivery times today
Due to the likelihood of heavy snow Thursday night, some copies of the Daily Herald might be delivered late today. Or you might not be able to find it easily under the snow. In anticipation of the storm, we started our presses early, so some of last night's late sports may not be available in time for the print editions. Full story
Traffic
Snow covered roads are making travel difficult in the suburbs this morning. Give yourself extra time if you have to drive this morning. Traffic report.
Report: Illinois to drop unpopular PARCC exams
Just three years after they launched, the use of controversial standardized tests known as Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers will be discontinued in Illinois, according to a report. PARCC exams were plagued by opposition since they were first implemented, with educators complaining they were too time consuming and didn't provide accurate data about students' performance. More than 20,000 students in Illinois already opted out of the tests on their own. Full story
District 94 teachers, board remain far apart on salary, benefits
West Chicago High School District 94 teachers say despite minimum progress in Wednesday night's contract talks with the school board, they'll try again on Monday. After nearly two years of talks, the two sides remain far apart on salaries, health benefits and other key issues that led the union first to declare an impasse and then last week to file a 10-day notice of its intent to strike, allowing the 194 teachers to walk off the job as early as Monday. Full story
Two arrested in Aurora on gun and drug charges
Two men were arrested in Aurora in separate incidents on charges of illegal weapon and drug possession Monday. Jermaine Bruce, 21, of Joliet was charged with armed violence along with weapons and drug charges. After police responded to a domestic disturbance call, Carlos Guzman, 26, was arrested on weapons, drug and battery charges. Full story
'Beam signing' held for new Arlington Heights police station
Arlington Heights Mayor Tom Hayes and village trustees signed their names to a steel beam Thursday before it was installed at the site of the new $27.9 million downtown police station. The ceremony, held at the construction site at 200 E. Sigwalt St., signified completion of the police station's steel structure. Full story
Megadeal lands Rolling Meadows grad NFL's richest contract
As expected, 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo has had his bank account transformed after transforming the 49ers in just five starts in 2017: On Thursday, Garoppolo signed a five-year contract worth up to $137.5 million, the NFL Network reported. The per-year average of $27.5 million is the richest in NFL history. Full story
Blackhawks lose to Dallas 4-2
The Hawks dropped their sixth straight at the United Center, making two terrible turnovers in a 4-2 loss to Dallas. Read beat writer John Dietz's full take here.