Dawn Patrol: N. Barrington woman missing, local campaigns heat up
<h3 class="briefHead">Police find missing North Barrington woman's car, family stunned</h3>
Police continue to search for North Barrington woman who was last heard from Monday afternoon. A limousine showed up at Maria Carlsen's home Tuesday morning to take her to the airport for a vacation to Florida, but she was gone and her car was found about 3 miles away in an empty parking lot outside a bar. Family members said Carlsen was packed and ready to go and even had written Valentine's cards for her family, where were found packed in her luggage. Full story.
<h3 class="briefHead">Harper to raise tuition for 5th time in 6th years</h3>
A typical full-time Harper College student will pay an additional $60 per semester next year, following a unanimous decision that was backed by both the student and faculty senates. The tuition hike in the firth in six years, and officials said it is necessary because of decreasing support from the state and a drop in property tax revenue due to appeals. The college is the second-priceiest community college in the area behind the College of DuPage. Full story.
<h3 class="briefHead">House, Senate reach payroll tax deal</h3>
Calling quits to a bruising election-year fight, negotiators on Capitol Hill sealed an agreement late Wednesday on legislation to renew a payroll tax cut for 160 million workers and jobless benefits for millions more. Sen. Max Baucus, a Montana Democrat, announced the agreement, capping a long day of wrangling over final details of the measure, which is a top priority of President Barack Obama.Full story.
<h3 class="briefHead">Blagojevich hopes to enter prison with dignity</h3>
The normally media-loving Rod Blagojevich hopes to enter the gates of whatever prison he'll report to next month - most likely one in Colorado - without running a gauntlet of reporters, the former Illinois governor's lawyer said Wednesday. Blagojevich, 55, asked last year if he could begin serving his 14-year sentence for corruption near Denver, and a judge made that recommendation. Full story.
<h3 class="briefHead">Schaumburg pushes total ban on donation boxes</h3>
Schaumburg's zoning board unanimously voted for a total ban on donation boxes in the village last night, despite requests from two for-profit companies. Zoning board members and village staff's main issue with the boxes was aesthetics, and member Dave Dallymeyer called the boxes "a plain eyesore." A representative of Goodwill Industries agreed with the ban, saying it was better to personally receive donations and hand out tax receipts to donors. Full story.
<h3 class="briefHead"> Cop shoots, kills man at Waukegan hotel</h3>
More information is expected this morning regarding a police-involved shooting in Waukegan last night that left a suspect dead. Officers responding to the Holiday Inn Express, 611 Lakehurst Road, found a man brandishing a handgun at about 8:30 p.m. An officer shot the man one time, but efforts by paramedics to revive the man were unsuccessful. Full story.
<h3 class="briefHead">Elgin police charge gang members following 2010 lawsuit</h3>
Two Elgin gang members have been arrested and charged for being in contact with each other, the first arrests of their kind since a 2010 lawsuit filed against the Latin Kings. The men were charged with unlawful contact with a gang member. "This isn't a huge one in terms of the weight of the arrest but we hope the impact of it will spread," said Elgin Police Lt. Glenn Theriault. Full story.
<h3 class="briefHead">Chicago man charged in Park Ridge murder</h3>
A Chicago man has been charged with a Park Ridge murder that occurred late last week over a drug money dispute. Henry Nowak, 39, of Chicago was found strangled to death at about 2:30 a.m. on Feb. 9, and on Feb. 12 Yuron Robinson, 34, of Chicago was arrested as he was boarding a bus in downtown Chicago that was headed for Iowa. Police said Robinson owed Nowak money, and the two met in Edison Park on the night of Feb. 8. Full story.
<h3 class="briefHead">Local campaigns heat up</h3>
14th district candidates have differences. Full story.
42nd House candidates debate who's in, who's out. Full story.
Cook County clerk of the circuit court candidates debate contributions. Full story.
Kane Dist. 20 challenger promises perfect attendance. Full story.
<h3 class="briefHead">Weather</h3>
It'll be wet and about 38 degrees when you step out the door, but the rain clouds will disappear quickly and temperatures will increase to about 43 degrees this afternoon. Overall, a decent but somewhat sloppy day. Full weather.
<h3 class="briefHead">Traffic</h3>
Accidents are everywhere this morning, so people are again urged to slow down and drive with caution. Accidents are reported at Cass Avenue at Roosevelt Road in Lombard, Main Street and Roosevelt Road in Geneva, Main Street and Geneva Road near Glen Ellyn, County Farm Road and Geneva Road near Winfield, the Jane Addams Tollway and Route 59 near Mount Prospect, Maple Avenue and Route 53 in Naperville and Diamond Lake Road and Indian Creek Road near Mundelein. Full traffic <http://www.traffic.com/Chicago-Traffic/Chicago-Traffic-Reports.html>.
<h3 class="briefHead">Northwestern can't stop Hoosiers</h3>
Northwestern came to Indiana with one goal Wednesday night: Put another impressive victory on its NCAA tournament resume. The Hoosiers played the impolite host. Freshman center Cody Zeller scored 23 points, and senior guard Verdell Jones scored all six of his points in the final 4:03, leading No. 18 Indiana past the Wildcats 71-66 - a potentially destructive blow to Northwestern's tourney hopes. Full story.
<h3 class="briefHead">Illini stumble, lose to Purdue</h3>
Purdue turned to Robbie Hummel Wednesday and the senior delivered with 19 points to help Purdue hold off struggling Illinois 67-62. Three other Boilermakers scored in double figures. Lewis Jackson and D.J. Byrd added 13 points each and Terone Johnson scored 12 for Purdue (17-9, 7-6 Big Ten). The Illini (16-10, 5-8) repeatedly closed to within two over the game's final 10 minutes. But the Boilermakers found a way to climb away every time. Full story.