Dawn Patrol: West Chicago teachers, board reach deal to avert strike
West Chicago teachers strike averted
After nearly two years of increasingly tense debate, negotiators for West Chicago High School District 94 and its teachers union have reached a tentative contract agreement that averts a strike and keeps nearly 2,100 students in classes today. The union representing 141 teachers in the district had planned to walk off the job if the two sides failed to come to an agreement during a last-ditch negotiation session Thursday night, but an eleventh-hour deal reached after almost five hours of negotiations Thursday will keep the schools open. Full story
District 214's Schuler named national superintendent of the year
Northwest Suburban High School District 214 Superintendent David R. Schuler, known in education circles across the country for championing a college and career readiness initiative, was named 2018 National Superintendent of the Year by a national superintendents organization Thursday. Schuler was one of four finalists for the honor, awarded Thursday night, and is the first superintendent from Illinois to win the award in the 31 years it's been given out. Full story
Woman who drove getaway car pleads guilty in Rolling Meadows home invasion
The last of the four defendants charged in a 2016 home invasion in Rolling Meadows that injured the 75-year-old homeowner pleaded guilty Thursday to a lesser charge of robbery. In exchange for her guilty plea, Sarah Wendy, 24, was sentenced to 180 days in Cook County jail and two years' probation and will spend a year on intensive probation which includes zero tolerance for drugs or alcohol. In addition, she must pay $709 in fines and comply with all mental health evaluation recommendations, prosecutors said. Full story
McHenry County jail inmate's death under investigation
The death of a McHenry County jail inmate early Wednesday is under investigation, officials said. Jody T. Fortino, 48, was arrested on Feb. 7 and charged with several drug-related felonies. She was taken to Centegra Hospital - McHenry around 6 p.m. after complaining of abdominal pain; she was pronounced dead a few hours later at 1 a.m. Feb. 14. Full story
North Chicago man charged in Gurnee home invasion
A North Chicago man was arrested Wednesday in connection with a home invasion last month in Gurnee. Police said they identified Xzemenize Boose, 19, of North Chicago as one of the suspects in the incident and issued a warrant for his arrest on charges of home invasion, armed robbery and residential burglary on Jan. 31. He was arrested in Arlington Heights by members of the Lake County sheriff's warrants team without incident Wednesday, police said. Full story
Fire leaves Naperville home uninhabitable
A family of five was able to safely escape their Naperville home after it caught fire Thursday, officials said. No injuries were reported, and the Naperville Fire Investigation Team determined the fire started accidentally. The home was determined to be uninhabitable due to smoke damage. Full story.
Weather
Cloudy and 32 degrees this morning. Temps should hold steady in the low 30s throughout the day. Lows tonight in the teens. Full weather.
Traffic
No delays to report on the area roads early. Work is scheduled to cause restrictions on Butterfield Road in both directions near Raddant Road in Aurora until June. Full story.
No reason to think tanking will help the Bulls rebuild
With the All-Star Game upon us and just 25 games left in the NBA regular season, there's nothing particularly puzzling about the Chicago Bulls. The best news is they've gotten positive returns from their three main rebuilding blocks - Zach LaVine, Kris Dunn and Lauri Markkanen. Now they're hoping to add to that nucleus with two first-round draft picks in June. Full story
White Sox pitching prospect Kopech chooses boom over bust
Michael Kopech made it look ridiculously easy last season. Business is booming for the 21-year-old Texan, whom Baseball America ranks 11th on its Top 100 prospects list. But as he takes the final steps toward the Sox's 25-man roster, Kopech often reminds himself of how he almost became a bust. Full story
Blackhawks stay loose despite losing
Watching the Chicago Blackhawks during morning skate and pregame warmups before they lost to Anaheim 3-2 on Thursday night at the United Center, you'd swear they had 35 wins and were well on their way to a 10th straight postseason berth. Full story