Dawn Patrol: Rolling Meadows teen slain in Mexico; Palatine fatal
Breaking News
An inbound Metra express train crashed into a vehicle about 7:30 a.m. Tuesday in Palatine, killing the vehicle's driver, a man believed to be in his late 50s, authorities said. The accident is causing delays on Metra's Union Pacific Northwest line as the train involved in the crash is damaged and still on the tracks, authorities said.
Rolling Meadows teen murdered in Mexico
Mexican authorities continue to investigate the death of Rolling Meadows High School senior Alexis Marron, 18, whose body was found Saturday morning along with the bodies of two other men in the trunk of a burned out car. Marron was reportedly visiting his grandmother over the Christmas break in the small town of Quiringüicharo, in the state of Michoacan. Classmates of Marron have set up two Facebook pages in his memory, one of which calls for a memorial service to be held Jan. 3. In 2010, Marron was recognized as a high achiever in the 2010 National Spanish Examinations. Full story.
No Bulls comeback this time
The Bulls played a miserable three quarters against Golden State last night in Oakland, Calif. In the first half Chicago's vaunted defense let the Warriors shoot 52.5 percent from the field. The Bulls trailed by 16 at halftime, and a furious rally fell short as they lost to the Warriors 99-91. Full story.
Stalberg leads Blackhawks to win.
Viktor Stalberg's skill level might be catching up with his speed. The 25-year-old winger scored 2 goals in last night's 4-1 win over the Blue Jackets at the United Center. Stalberg has 4 goals in the last three games and 9 for the season, tying him with Patrick Kane for fourth on the team behind Jonathan Toews (20), Patrick Sharp (19) and Marian Hossa (16). Full story.
19 murder convictions in DuPage County
Illinois' second-most populous county convicted a record 19 killers this year. That's double the amount in typical recent years, and the first time since 1998 that the county recorded more than 10 murder convictions. Other suburban counties reported average numbers this year. State's Attorney Robert Berlin said that prosecutors typically charge seven or eight murders a year, and most take about a year to resolve. Full story.
Illinois could be first to sell lottery tickets online
Residents of Illinois might soon be able to play Lotto, Mega Millions and Powerrball online. Illinois Lottery Superintendent Michael Jones said yesterday he hopes the state will begin selling lottery tickets online in the next three to four months. Last week the U.S. Department of Justice released an opinion that supports state-regulated online gambling. Officials will work on how to ensure tickets are offered on a secure website and that buyers are 18 and over and reside in Illinoisans. Full story.
Some return gifts, others figure them out
As U.S. post offices reopen today after the Christmas holiday, many will choose to ship back Christmas gifts that were purchased online. Libraries are also expecting lots of people to call or come in to figure out how to use their new e-readers. On Monday, shoppers crowded malls to either return gifts or snatch up items for sale. Full story.
Drew Brees breaks NFL record
New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees set the record for most passing yards in a single season in last night's game against the Atlanta Falcons. The Saints won 45-16 and clinched their division title. Full story.
Weather
Expect a bit of rain and snow today with skies remaining cloudy to mostly cloudy throughout the day. Snow isn't expected to accumulate. The predicted high temperature is 36 and the low is 21. Full weather
Traffic
Traffic continues to run smoothly for the most part this morning, with a couple accidents causing delays. A light pole is down on the northbound Edens at Dempster because of an accident. An accident on the inbound Eisenhower at 25th Avenue now is on the shoulder. Full traffic: Full traffic