Dawn Patrol: Quick hits as you head out the door
Cops: 22-year-old stabbed his mother to death
A 22-year-old McHenry County man has been charged with stabbing his mother to death inside their home near Johnsburg yesterday. Raymond E. Davis was charged with first-degree murder after police said he killed his mother, called 911 and waited for officers on the front porch. 58-year-old Carol Schritz called police about a month earlier when her son threatened her, and about three years ago, she filed an order of protection against him, according to court records. Full story.
Thanksgiving travel up
AAA Chicago predicts the best Thanksgiving travel year since the economy went south and the staycation went vogue. An estimated 42.5 million Americans will voyage 50 miles or more from home between Wednesday and Nov. 27. In Illinois, 2.2 million people will hit the roads, airports, bus terminals and train stations. Full story.
No more free I-PASS for tollway employees
Illinois tollway employees will no longer be given complimentary I-PASSes to get to and from work after an announcement at a meeting that five employees had possibly been abusing the perk. Numerous staff members were also required to reimburse the tollway for misuse of the transponders, which were intended to be used only for commuting back and forth to work or for official business. The benefit cost $255,800 in lost revenues this year. Full story.
Day care owner still facing charges after employee's murder conviction
The conviction on murder charges of former Lincolnshire day care worker Melissa Calusinki will not be the end of the case, as the owner of the center still faces an obstruction of justice charge. Prosecutors say she told employees to tell police there was another staff member with Calusinski in the room where 16-month-old Benjamin Kingan died. Full story.
Stone's quest for commenter's ID denied
The identity of the former Daily Herald commenter known as “Hipcheck16” might never be known, after an appeal court ruling against former Buffalo Grove trustee Lisa Stone, who claimed the commenter defamed her son during an online exchange. Stone filed suit after the 2009 election arguing she needed to learn the man's identity in order to pursue a possible defamation lawsuit against him. Stone said yesterday she might take the matter to the Illinois Supreme Court. Full story.
Lake Zurich school board officially drops drug testing plans
A Lake Zurich Unit School District 95 school board rejection of a proposal to force high school students to random drug tests was made official last night. The vote came two weeks after a community survey showed 76 percent of district parents opposed the plan. Board members involved in the debate will lead those who pushed for testing in helping develop programs for students about illegal drug use. Full story.
Police find 150 pot plants after neighbors smell drugs
Neighbors of a 33-year-old Elgin man tipped police to his home after smelling marijuana, leading to the discovery of 150 plants in the basement, according to police. Cortney Forrester was charged with production and possession with intent to sell after police found the plants, 130 grams of processed pot, four rifles and three handguns. Forrester had a valid firearms owner's identification card, according to police. Full story.
Dist. 87 offers deal on Memorial Lights
In response to community concerns, Glenbard High School District 87 officials say they're making concessions as part of their plan to install lights at Memorial Field in Glen Ellyn. But opponents of the plan, which calls for installation of four 70-foot and two 60-foot light poles at the Glenbard West practice field, aren't entirely happy with the surprise. Full story.
Police make Streamwood, Hanover Park armed robbery arrests
Four men have been charged after a string of armed robberies in Streamwood and Hanover Park, including one holdup during which one of the men struck a clerk in the back of the head with a handgun. A fifth suspect remains at large in connection to the robberies. The spree began Nov. 8 at the Burrito Bronco in Streamwood and ended Nov. 14 at a Streamwood Dairy Queen, when two offenders were caught fleeing the scene. Full story.
Detectives reopen Natalie Wood's drowning death
The circumstances of Natalie Wood's drowning death nearly 30 years ago remain one of Hollywood's enduring mysteries and continue to create renewed intrigue, with homicide detectives unexpectedly re-opening a case Thursday that had long been classified as a tragic accident. Full story.
Cubs set to introduce new skipper
The Cubs are set to introduce Dale Sveum as their manager this morning during a Wrigley Field news conference. The 52nd manager of the Cubs has been called “a gamer” and “a quiet, professional, steady performer.” The former Milwaukee Brewers hitting coach turns 48 next week and has strong ties to the Cubs new management. Full story.
Weather
Clear and cold to start your morning, with 34 degrees slapping you in the face when you first leave for work. It'll climb to about 50 degrees this afternoon, but will be windy with gusts of about 44 mph. Full weather.
Traffic
Traffic has picked up throughout the system with standard a.m. rush hour issues. People should avoid the intersection of Dempster Street and Lincolnwood Drive in Skokie for a car that ran into a building this morning. Construction on Route 53 between Army Trail Road and the Elgin O'Hare Expressway and bridge work on Route 173 near Route 59 near Antioch are slowing things down, so avoid both areas if possible. Full traffic.
Prep Primer: Get ready for basketball
With the fall high school sports seasons fading away, it's time to hunker down and prepare for the kings and queens of winter sports: boys and girls basketball. We've got team-by-team breakdowns, schedules and rosters, so take a look at your favorite team, and by all means take a moment and scout the opposition at our Basketball Focus site.