Dawn Patrol: Blago's less obvious victims, McHenry Co. hospitals rejected
The less obvious victims of Rod Blagojevich
Rod Blagojevich's defense team argued that George Ryan's crimes were much worse. Ryan accepted free vacations, had lots of cash without ever visiting an ATM and was part of a driver's license-selling plot uncovered when a fraudulent truck driver caused a traffic accident that killed six children in one family. The societal cost and victims of Blagojevich aren't so obvious. “I was a victim,” says John Russell Ghrist, who worked for IDOT in Schaumburg for two decades until Blagojevich became governor. “Maybe Blago didn't get any money for trying to sell that Senate seat, but there were people like me who lost their jobs and were replaced by political employees,” Ghrist tells our Burt Constable. Full story.
Bids for McHenry County hospitals denied
Bids to build two new hospitals in McHenry County were shot down yesterday, by the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board. A proposal for a planned 128-bed Centegra Health System hospital in Huntley and a 70-bed hospital in Crystal Lake by Mercy Health Systems were both denied. Community officials argued the hospitals were needed in the area, but state board members said the population estimates used to justify the need were overstated. Full story.
Charges dropped against former Island Lake clerk accused of deleting files
Charges against former Island Lake village clerk Christine Becker, who was accused of deleting computer files in her office after losing a re-election bid, have been dropped. The 59-year-old was charged more than four years ago with official misconduct and computer tampering. The charges came as a result of an investigation into former Mayor Charles Amrich, who was charged with steering fuel purchases and maintenance on vehicles to a station he owned. Full story.
10 gold coins dropped in Lake County kettles in 3 days
Anonymous gold coin donations to Salvation Army kettles have become a growing trend across the country, and over a three-day span this month four Lake County towns raked in 10 of them. The coins, valued at $4,680, were dropped in kettles in Libertyville, Mundelein, Gurnee and Round Lake between Dec. 1 and Dec. 3. “We've had three 1-ounce gold coins donated before, but never this many at once,” said Capt. Heather Holman of the Salvation Army's Waukegan Corps. Full story.
Police release photo of Streamwood Subway robber
Streamwood police have released a surveillance photo of the man who robbed a Subway at gunpoint Tuesday night, forcing a lockdown of Streamwood High School during the boys basketball game. Police are investigating a possible connection between the armed robbery and two similar Subway holdups in recent weeks — one in Batavia on Nov. 23 and another in Elgin on Dec. 2. The robber made off with $237 and reportedly ran through the school's parking lot. Full story.
Meanwhile, the ‘Wheaton Bandit' walks
The infamous “Wheaton Bandit,” accused of robbing as many as 16 suburban banks since 2002 but never caught, will walk free. Despite a $50,000 reward for his arrest, the statute of limitations expired last night at midnight, meaning the bandit who last struck on Dec. 7, 2006, at the Glen Ellyn Bank and Trust cannot be charged for any of the crimes. Full story.
3 charged after conning Waukegan woman out of more than $40,000
A Waukegan woman was conned into handing over $40,000 the first time men told her they had a safe full of money in Africa. She then handed over another $7,000 to buy the chemicals needed to bleach the bills to help slip them buy U.S. Customs agents. But the third time the men asked for money, she contacted police, who set up a sting operation and nabbed the out-of-state men at the Lake Forest Oasis. The men, two from Milwaukee and a third from Minneapolis, are being held in lieu of $500,000 bail. Full story.
Buehrle headed South to join Ozzie in Miami
White Sox mainstay left-hander Mark Buehrle is headed to Miami to join former Sox manager Ozzie Guillen. Buehrle, who has been with the organization since he was drafted in 1998, signed a four-year, $58-million contract with the surprisingly free-spending Marlins, who just signed Jose Reyes for $106 million. The 32-year-old was not expected to resign with the Sox, but it was still hard to take for teammates. “My thoughts are that it is a tough, sad day for White Sox,” Paul Konerko said. Full story.
Weather
The weather will not be good. Cloudy and cool when you walk out the door with a high of only 25 degrees, but temperatures will only climb to 36 degrees today before a cold snap moves in and brings snow along with it. Full weather.
Traffic
Slick spots are being reported on the Eisenhower near the city, so people driving into the city should slow down as you work your way downtown. Good news is that construction between Route 45 and Route 120 through Grayslake is expected to be completed by the end of the week, barring any major construction delays. Full traffic.