Dawn Patrol: Stevenson defends text searches; dog wins
Stevenson officials defend searching students' cellphones
Stevenson High School officials last night defended a decision to search text messages on students' cellphones, saying they had the legal right to take those steps, at the school board's first meeting since the investigation into drug trafficking at the school. Two students were charged last week with misdemeanors after one student was found in possession of less than 10 grams of marijuana. “Far more important than the question of cellphone misuse and searches is the fact that we may have students and families in our community who are struggling with drug use and addiction,” board President Bruce Lubin said. Full story.
Suspect wanted in connection with Bartlett nightclub shooting
Police are searching for a 23-year-old Elgin man wanted in connection with a weekend shooting at a Bartlett nightclub. Police did not issue a warrant for the man's arrest but said he is a suspect in the case. The victim, a man in his 20s who was shot in the back of the head at the Cadillac Ranch, remains stable at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital. Full story.
DuPage Housing Authority ordered to make changes
Fallout from the DuPage Housing Authority scandal continues. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development says the housing authority must change the way it subsidizes two senior housing projects because of mistakes made before a series of federal audits found the Wheaton-based agency misspent or failed to account for more than $10 million. Full story.
Arlington Heights ready to spend $11.5 million to fight ash borer
Arlington Heights would need to borrow roughly $11.5 million to combat the emerald ash borer infestation — expected to peak in 2015 killing roughly 5,000 trees, village officials said Monday. The village board's committee of the whole Monday night gave its blessing to a funding plan that would cost the village about $960,000 in yearly debt service payments. “It's multimillion dollars worth of live asset,” Finance Director Tom Kuehne said. Full story.
Suburban dog wins Best in Breed in Westminster competition
A suburban Belgian sheepdog owner's hopes of taking home the Best in Show prize at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show today were shattered last night after the dog lost in the Best in Group competition. The Batavia owner's dog, Grand Champion Bonntymes Keepin It Real at Devine, won Best in Breed yesterday, but the winner of the herding group, a German Shepherd, will move on to compete for the top prize tonight. Full story.
Suburbans charged in cross-country drug operation bust
A cross-country federal drug bust resulting in charges against 10 individuals includes residents of Barrington, Palatine and Wheaton. The defendants are charged with conspiracy to manufacture, possess and distribute the drugs between 2006 and September 2011, according to a federal complaint. Seven defendants also are accused of conspiracy to launder drug trafficking money. The suburban residents charged were Mark A. Bopp, 53, of Barrington; his son, Adam Bopp, 23, of Barrington; Renee Vega, 27, of Palatine; and Gary Dohogne, 28, of Wheaton. Full story.
Smart grid-related FOIA requests cost Naperville $73,000
Naperville officials have received and responded to more than 100 Freedom of Information Act requests related to the Naperville Smart Grid Initiative in the last year, which has so far cost the city an estimated $73,750, City Manager Doug Krieger said. Officials said the Naperville Smart Meter Awareness group has filed the majority of the requests, which have taken city workers 1,475 hours to process. Some officials say the group is abusing the system, and only one opponent has asked for a sit-down meeting to discuss the initiative. Full story.
Driver who killed 4 in 1997 crash in trouble again
A 42-year-old Aurora man who killed four people — including three Waubonsie Valley High School students — in a drunken driving crash in 1997 could be headed back to prison, according to police. Randy J. Visor was arrested yesterday and charged with two counts of felony domestic violence, according to court records. Police said he punched a 59-year-old man multiple times after a recent death of a family member. Full story.
St. Charles City Council wants smaller Lexington Club development
St. Charles aldermen last night torpedoed a key element of the proposed Lexington Club residential development by telling the owners of the former Applied Composites site they want a smaller development that features mainly single-family homes. Right now, the project calls for 142 new residences, and townhouses and row houses would account for more than 80 percent of that number. Comments from aldermen indicated the city council would rather see somewhere between 100 and 130 residences with the lower number of people single-family homes attract. Full story.
Batavia chef share weight loss on TV show
Five months ago, Jen Bucko Lamplough of Batavia fit the bill for the new TV show "Fat Chef." Even though she had co-written two cookbooks on healthful eating for diabetics, Lamplough wasn't practicing what the books preached. But now, after intense exercise and meal revisions, she jokes the TV show should be called "Not-So-Fat-Chef." Full story.
Barrington OKs concept for downtown development
Barrington trustees last night unanimously approved a developer's concept plan for three commercial buildings at the southwest corner of Hough and Main streets in the heart of downtown. Two larger buildings of two to three stories would face Hough Street (Route 59) and Main Street (Lake-Cook Road) with a plaza between them right at the corner. The two buildings would also be connected on their upper stories. Full story.
Kaneland district talks staff cuts, larger class sizes
Larger class sizes may be in store for Kaneland students under budget cuts proposed by the school district staff last night. District 302 expects that to have a balanced operational budget in 2012-13, it will have to spend $1.1 million less than it would if it made no changes from this year — which means nearly 15 full-time-equivalent staff positions would be cut. “This has quickly become one of my least favorite nights at the board of education,” Superintendent Jeff Schuler said. “There is no good way to talk about cost reductions.” It is the fourth year in a row the district has made cuts. Full story.
Weather
Be extremely careful this morning because freezing rain is falling, leaving exceptionally slick roads, especially on bridges and untraveled areas. The light, freezing drizzle is mixing with snow flurries and will continue through the morning hours, and temperatures will be about 30 degreesIt will climb to 38 degrees this afternoon, before dipping to 29 tonight. Full weather.
Traffic
Scattered accidents are taking place throughout the roadways due to slick conditions. Accidents have been reported at Auburn Lane and Route 59 in Bartlett, Route 59 and Wilson road in Ingleside, and West Lake Street and County Farm Road in Hanover Park. Again, the freezing rain falling could cause the roadways - especially on bridges and underpasses - to be slick, so be extremely cautious. Full traffic.
Rose gets positive diagnosis on back spasms
Bulls fans can heave a sigh of relief following news that an MRI of Derrick Rose's back showed no structural damage. The reigning MVP is listed as day to day, but has missed the past two games with back spasms; he is not expected to play tonight when the Bulls host Sacramento. Tonight's matchup will be the team's first game at the United Center in 18 days. Full story.