Dawn Patrol: Mayors call for pension reform, COD imposes contract on faculty
<h3 class="briefHead">Suburban mayors join Rahm in call for pension reform</h3>
More than two dozen suburban mayors joined Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel yesterday in a call for pension reform. They say the pensions are an “unsustainable system” and their municipalities are on the “verge of bankruptcy.” The joint call for action follows Emanuel’s trip to Springfield on Tuesday, where he testified at the House Committee on Personnel and Pensions. At least one mayor endorsed Emanuel’s proposal to recalibrate employee contributions, “re-size” the annual 3 percent cost-of-living increase and raise the retirement age. Full story.
<h3 class="briefHead">Few answers after Barrington Hills murder-suicide</h3>
Police are expected to release more information today about a Barrington Hills man who shot and killed his wife before turning the gun on himself Wednesday night. Police cited the family’s privacy but said they are continuing to investigate the murder-suicide. Police said Joseph Damato, 56, shot Julianne Damato, 47, multiple times before shooting himself in the head. Full story.
<h3 class="briefHead">College of DuPage board imposes contract on faculty</h3>
Last night’s meeting of the College of DuPage board of trustees started with the college’s annual recognition of “outstanding faculty” award winners, but the pleasantries ended there. The college’s board of trustees voted 4-3 to impose a contract on the school’s 295 full-time faculty members even though the union membership didn’t approve the deal. The three-year agreement would cut summer pay and require professors who teach lab classes to spend more time in the classroom. College of DuPage Faculty Association President Glenn Hansen called the contract approval “an authoritarian style of management.” Full story.
<h3 class="briefHead">Report: IDOT director used clout to snag $315 NASCAR tickets, lied</h3>
Former Illinois Department of Transportation public safety director Michael Stout lied to investigators and used his authority to score NASCAR passes valued at $315, which he gave to non-employees, according to a report issued yesterday. Stout resigned in November claiming innocence, but the report concluded he should be fired. “They would sell for exponentially more than the most expensive race ticket,” an unnamed Speedway executive quoted in the report said. Full story.
<h3 class="briefHead">Stevenson top area high school in U.S. News & World Report rankings</h3>
Stevenson High School was the highest rated area school in the U.S. News & World Report’s recent rankings, coming in at fifth best of 672 Illinois high schools and 162nd in the nation. Hersey High School in Arlington Heights was ranked 10th in Illinois and 304th nationally, and Prospect in Mount Prospect was 11th in state and 319th nationally. Full story.
<h3 class="briefHead">Second Naperville teacher awarded Golden Apple</h3>
A second Naperville Unit District 203 teacher was awarded a prestigious Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teacher yesterday, becoming one of only 10 prekindergarten through third-grade teachers in the Chicago area to receive the award. Pamela Kelly, a first-grade teacher at Naper Elementary school, was crying as dozens of people crammed into her room to surprise her with the award. “Is everyone feeling a little bit wobbly right now?” Kelly asked the first-graders after she joined them in jumping up and down between desks. Full story.
<h3 class="briefHead">Chicago man to face at least 60 years for Elgin murder</h3>
A Chicago man who was struck by a vehicle in 2008 after shooting a man to death and trying to flee across a busy street faces a minimum of 60 years in prison. Dion Spears, 29, was found guilty of first-degree murder among other charges after shooting Derrick Bey twice outside an Elgin banquet hall on Feb. 3, 2008. Full story.
<h3 class="briefHead">Weather</h3>
A beautiful day is on tap. It’s about 45 degrees right now, but temperatures will climb to about 75 degrees before the end of the day. It will turn cloudy and some thunderstorms could sprout up late tonight. Full story.
<h3 class="briefHead">Traffic</h3>
No problems to report throughout the system and the highways and tollways are all looking good early. Today is expected to be the last day of construction on Lake Cook Road between Wilmot Road and Pfingsten Road in Deerfield. Full story.
<h3 class="briefHead">Bulls enter off-season with many roster questions</h3>
With the Bulls making an early exit from the playoffs at the free throw line with little time on the clock, the team has a number of roster questions to answer, according to columnist Barry Rozner. Rose will likely miss a few months to start the season, and C.J. Watson showed he can’t handle the job, so the team needs a backup point guard. What should the management do with Carlos Boozer and his $80 million contract after his 1-for-11 and three points to finish the season? Full story.
<h3 class="briefHead">Poll Vault: Just how awesome is your mom?</h3>
Just how awesome is your mom? Is she your biggest fan? A tireless caregiver? A tremendous cook? Perhaps all three? This is your chance to tell the world how great your mother is. Leave a comment with Poll Vault.