Dawn Patrol: Teacher pension presentation, Bears’ surprising pick
Hundreds turn out for teacher pension presentation:
Hundreds of current and retired suburban teachers packed Naperville North High School’s cafeteria last night to get answers to their questions about Gov. Pat Quinn’s attempt to address the state’s growing pension debt. “It was an outline of ideas that, at this point, does not have sufficient detail behind it to figure out what it means, quite frankly,” said Dick Ingram, executive director of Teachers’ Retirement Systems. Full story.
The Bears picked ... who?
It came as a surprise to some, maybe even a shock, but the Bears took the player they believe can immediately provide them the pass rush they lacked last season with the 19th overall pick in Thursday’s NFL draft: Boise State defensive end Shea McClellin. The team chose him over Illinois defensive end Whitney Mercilus, who led the nation in 2011 with 16 sacks, and ahead of offensive linemen Riley Reiff of Iowa and David DeCastro of Stanford. Full story.
They’re No. 1! They’re No. 1!
Despite playing a majority of their regular season without reigning MVP D. Rose, the Bulls still did just fine: They clinched the top overall seed in the NBA playoffs last night with a 107-75 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers. With the No. 1 seed in the East already in hand and the playoffs beginning Saturday, Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau took no chances and rested Derrick Rose, Luol Deng and Kyle Korver. Full story.
Man convicted in 2010 murder of Riverwoods teen:
After deliberating for about three hours, Lake County circuit court jury yesterday convicted James E. Lewis of fatally stabbing John Herres, 19, of Riverwoods on Valentine’s Day 2010 in a dispute over a marijuana purchase. Lewis, 43, formerly of the 26900 block of Route 134 near Ingleside, could spend up to 60 years behind bars for the first-degree murder conviction. Jurors had the option of finding Lewis guilty of a lesser second-degree murder charge. Full story.
67 years in third trial for McHenry murder:
A former Park City man was sentenced to 67 years in prison yesterday after being convicted in February of shooting and killing a burrito restaurant owner during a botched robbery in 2001, officials said. This was the third time McHenry County Judge Sharon L. Prather sentenced Kenneth E. Smith, 36, to prison for the slaying of restaurant owner Raul Briseno, a 35-year-old Wauconda father of two. Full story.
COD dinner widens rift between faculty, administration:
College of DuPage Faculty Association officials say a dinner they sponsored this week was meant as a relationship-building event between the faculty and administration — a time for both sides to break bread despite being locked in contentious negotiations over a new contract. Instead, they say, the event at COD’s Wheat Cafe widened the rift when not a single administrator attended and only three of seven elected trustees — the ones previously endorsed by the faculty union — showed up. Full story.
Mom encouraged daughter to fight, police say:
As a parent, an Elgin mother had a responsibility to talk her teenage daughter out of fighting another girl. But instead, police say, on April 2 Anita R. Joost, 46, encouraged her 16-year-old daughter to fight another girl and drove her there for that purpose. The daughter obeyed her mother, police say, and bloodied the other girl’s mouth. Full story.
Report questions ‘ride-alongs’ by sheriff’s son:
A Better Government Association report is questioning the DuPage County sheriff’s office for permitting Sheriff John Zaruba’s teenage son to repeatedly accompany deputies on patrol. On at least one of the patrols, the report says, then-18-year-old Patrick Zaruba left a patrol cruiser to chase a suspect and later appeared in uniform with his father and other deputies as they sought to question a suspect at his home. Full story.
Weather
It’s only 38 degrees this morning and a frost advisory is in effect until 8 a.m.this morning. It will reach a high of 53 degrees by the end of the day, before temperatures dip back into the high 30s overnight. Rain moves in for Saturday. Full story.
Traffic
People should avoid an accident that is blocking two inbound and two outbound lanes on I-55 near Pulaski. Two sheriff transport buses, full of people, were involved in the crash. Authorities said injuries have been reported on the buses. In addition, an accident with injuries has been reported at St. Charles Road and Berkley Avenue in Elmhurst. Motorists should also be ready for construction delays in St. Charles on Red Gate Road between routes 31 and 25. The construction will last through June. Full story.
Time to get fresh to death, Hoffman Estates:
“Jersey Shore” enthusiasts can share at least one part of their daily GTL — gym, tan, laundry — routine with one of the stars of the MTV reality show this Saturday. Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi will pose for pictures and promote her new line of tanning products from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at Ultimate Exposure Tan in Hoffman Estates, salon employees said. Full story.
Poll Vault: Pick someone, anyone to have dinner with
Michelle Holdway asks, if you could have dinner with anyone, living or deceased, whom would you invite and what would you talk about? Would you invite a long-gone historical figure? A current political leader? Snooki? Join the conversation by leaving a comment.