Dawn Patrol: How family escaped Italian ship; nasty weather today
McHenry County couple describes ‘chaos' aboard Italian cruise ship
As the death toll mounts off the Tuscan coast in Italy, a McHenry County couple in their 70s and their daughter yesterday recounted surviving the shipwreck, describing from their home in McHenry County the “complete chaos” aboard the ship as it ran aground Friday. “No one knew what was going on. Nobody seemed to be in charge, so everybody was just running around looking for a lifeboat to jump into,” said Jim Salzburg. At least six people are dead while 29 remain missing. Full story.
Freezing rain to make driving slick this morning
Drivers are urged to watch their speed this morning as overnight rain is expected to turn to freezing rain and eventually snow this morning. By this afternoon, up to two inches of snow is possible with strong wind gusts. Temperatures will drop from the lower 30s early this morning into the mid-20s and dip to between 5 and 9 degrees Tuesday evening with subzero wind chills. Full story.
Cook County commissioners to fight weekend courthouse closures
A group of Cook County Board commissioners is attempting to halt plans to close suburban courthouses on weekends. Last month Cook County Chief Judge Timothy Evans announced the Bridgeview courthouse would stop operating on the weekends starting Jan. 7 and four other suburban courthouses, including the one in Rolling Meadows, would also close on the weekends eventually. The move was estimated to save the county $1.9 million, but police officials complained of the time and distance involved in transporting arrestees for weekend bond hearings. Full story.
GOP candidate in Lake County says he prays for gays to ‘repent'
Don Castella, a Republican candidate for the Lake County 30th Senate seat, is standing by a comment he posted on Facebook that says he prays “for homosexuals to repent.” Castella, who lives in the Lincolnshire area, told the Daily Herald he has friends who are gay but hopes that “they will leave that lifestyle and recognize what the Bible teaches about it.” Incumbent Democrat Terry Link called the comments “mind-boggling.” Full story.
Schaumburg man killed in tollway crash
Police continue to investigate a I-294 crash that killed a Schaumburg man early Monday morning. David Adams, 49, was driving a Ford Mustang near Des Plaines when he lost control of the vehicle and struck the median, police said. An autopsy is scheduled for today, but police do not believe alcohol or drugs factored in the crash. Full story.
N. Aurora finalizes deal on pest-infested house
North Aurora agreed to accept a deed for a townhouse that was deemed uninhabitable in July 2010 after neighbors complained of foul odors as well as rodents and insects coming from it. The townhouse cost the village nearly $35,000 in legal fees and for contractors to clear it out, trap a cat and exterminate pests. Village officials persuaded the homeowner to move into a nursing home and later foreclosed on the home. Full story.
Derrick Rose among 20 selected for preliminary Olympic team
Derrick Rose, who started at point guard at the 2010 FIBA World Championships, has been included on USA Basketball's 20-man preliminary roster for this summer's Olympics. Rose led the 2010 team to a gold medal. Head coach Mike Krzyzewski of Duke will have to cut eight players from the star-studded list before heading to London. Full story.
Bulls lose to Grizzlies while Rose sits
Coming off a 40-point Jan. 1 loss to the Bulls in Chicago, the Memphis Grizzlies got revenge at home yesterday against a Derrick Rose-less Bulls team with a 102-86 victory. Rose, who was scratched because of a nagging left-toe injury, said he made the decision to sit out after warm-ups. The loss dropped the Bulls to 12-3. “By the way that I play, the way that I push off, it hurts. It's kind of irritating, where you want it to go away. I've got that old-school mentality where I don't want to miss a game,” Rose said. Full story.
Weather
Get ready for another crazy temperature change. It's 38 degrees with some showers falling right now, but the rain will move out later this morning, and cold will move in. The wind will pick up, temperatures will drop into the teens, and snow will move in, dumping between three and five inches. Prepare for a messy commute home tonight. Full weather.
Traffic
Icy sleet and rain is falling on the roadways right now due to dropping temperatures, so people are urged to slow down and use caution. Accidents have been reported at Route 176 and Butterfield Road in Libertyville, River and Euclid roads in Mount Prospect, and W. Lake Street and Barrington Road in Hanover Park. Salt trucks are out on most roadways, but people should still use extra caution because roads will be extra slick. Full traffic.