Dawn Patrol: Romney, Santorum in suburbs; Schaumburg D54 cuts positions
GOP hopefuls converge on suburbs
As Tuesday inches closer, the three leading GOP presidential primary candidates have descended on the suburbs to make a last-minute pitch. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney is expected this morning at a breakfast spot in Rosemont, and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum will be at John Hersey High School in Arlington Heights this afternoon. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich was in town Wednesday and Thursday. Full story on Santorum. Full story on Gingrich’s visit.
Schaumburg Elementary D54 cuts 78 classroom positions
Schaumburg Township Elementary District 54 cut 78 classroom positions yesterday because of declining enrollment, according to district officials. The staffing cuts will save the district $2.17 million next year. The decision come a year after more than 100 staff members were cut and 19 nontenured fine arts and physical educations teachers were replaced by part-timers. Full story.
Illinois is No. 4 on tornado list
A tornado expert who looked back through 50 years of data concluded that Illinois is the fourth-most prone state for twisters. The Weather Channel’s list analyzed how many tornadoes touch down each year per 10,000 square miles. Although not often thought of as part of “tornado alley,” the deadliest tornado in U.S. history swept through Illinois in 1925, and a 1976 tornado missed President Gerald Ford’s motorcade by a quarter-mile near O’Hare. Full story.
Beach Park man charged with stabbing woman to death
A Beach Park man is being held in lieu of $3 million bail after being charged with the murder of a Wisconsin woman who was found dead Sunday. Derrick C. Taylor, 38, was charged with two counts of first-degree murder late Thursday afternoon. Investigators linked Taylor to the murder of Joy Lee, 48, through DNA evidence, according to police. Lee was found stabbed to death Sunday night in Zion. Full story.
Suburban patients part of Medicaid test program
At a time when the state is eyeing massive cuts to its spending on health care for the poor, the experiences of Medicaid patients, like Jacob Callarman of Westmont, in a suburban pilot program could foreshadow the difficulty that others will soon face. In short: Change can be hard. Full story.
Where to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in the suburbs
You don’t have to be Irish to enjoy the revelry of St. Patrick’s Day. You can check out parades across the suburbs, enjoying a fest in Barrington, “Paint the Town Green” in Palatine or head downtown to watch the dyeing of the Chicago River. From bar crawls to Irish dancers, we’ve pulled together a list of happenings throughout the city and suburbs this weekend to help you celebrate Irish-American culture in the United States — in whatever way you decide. Full story.
Grandmother offers reward for missing Aurora boys
The grandmother of three Aurora boys who have been missing with their mother since Feb. 15 is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to their safe return. Quincy, Oliver and Spencer Collins were last seen with their mother, Laureth May, at 4 a.m. before she left with the boys. Full story.
Man accused of killing Naperville elementary teacher indicted
A DuPage County grand jury indicted the Naperville man accused of fatally stabbing an elementary teacher at a nightclub last month and injuring two other men. Daniel Olaska, 27, faces seven counts of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder among other felony charges. He is accused of killing Spring Brook Elementary School teacher Shaun Wild on Feb. 4. Full story.
Weather
A dense fog advisory is in effect until 10 a.m. today, but that will eventually burn off and leave temperatures in the mid 70s. Those of you living by the lake, though, can expect temperatures in the high 60s, and a possible rain or thunderstorm could blow in tonight. Full story.
Traffic
Things are moving along well on the area highways this morning, but an accident is blocking the right shoulder of I-90 at Barrington Road. Remember, the construction season is sliding in at a rapid rate. The Tri-State Tollway ramp leading to the outbound Jane Addams Tollway will close early on Monday, March 19th, while the ramp from eastbound I-190 to westbound I-90 will close early on Sunday. The project will continue until early July. Full story.
Poll Vault: What teams do you have in the Final Four?
Yes, Michelle Holdway has filled out a couple of NCAA men’s tournament brackets. Really, though, it’s impossible to select all the winners. You can watch DePaul University Professor Jeff Bergen calculate the odds of picking a perfect bracket (hint: It’s way more than 1 in 64), or you can leave your comments: Who’s your pick? What teams do you have in your Final Four?