Dawn Patrol: Pearl Harbor remembered; chlorine gas leak at hotel
Pearl Harbor survivors gather in Des Plaines
Ed Block's face filled with emotion yesterday as he sat in a wheelchair at Oakton Place in Des Plaines. During ceremonies commemorating another Sunday in 1941, one that President Franklin D. Roosevelt called a "date which will live in infamy," Block was a living reminder not only of what happened that day in Pearl Harbor, but of the nearly four-year struggle that followed it. Now 96, he recalled the events Sunday as he saw them from the Navy repair ship. "I looked through the (ship's) porthole. The bombing was going off at Ford Island," he said. "It was at the start of the war." Full story.
Rosemont Hyatt evacuated after 'intentional' chlorine leak
Rosemont police are investigating an apparently intentional leak of chlorine gas that forced the evacuation of a hotel hosting a "furry" convention early yesterday morning, sending 19 people to area hospitals for treatment. Authorities went to the Hyatt Regency Hotel, 9300 Bryn Mawr Ave., at 12:43 a.m. in response to several 911 calls from hotel guests reporting a noxious odor spreading across the hotel's ninth floor. The leak came as the hotel hosted the 2014 Midwest FurFestconvention, where attendees dress in furry animal costumes and "celebrate furry fandom, that is, art, literature, and performance based around anthropomorphic animals," according to the event's website. Full story.
One man dead, second injured in Aurora shooting
Aurora police are investigating a shooting late Saturday night that left one man dead and another injured. Daniel W. Spencer, 46, died from multiple gunshot wounds, including one to his head, police said Sunday morning. Officers responded to a shots-fired call at about 11:35 p.m. on the 200 block of West Park Avenue, where they found Spencer sprawled on the sidewalk, police said. He was airlifted to Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove, after receiving initial treatment at Presence Mercy Medical Center in Aurora, and pronounced dead about 4:30 a.m. Sunday. The DuPage County coroner's office is conducting an autopsy. Full story.
Rocking out to beat cancer in Ingleside
Frank Amanti couldn't talk about the community support his daughter has received during her ongoing cancer battle without shedding a tear. "It's overwhelming," he said yesterday. "The way family and friends have rallied for Jessica - we're so grateful." Jessica Amanti, a 15-year-old sophomore at Lakes Community High School in Lake Villa, was diagnosed in October with a form of leukemia. Full story.
Mattress store coming to Rand and Central
The Mount Prospect village board has approved zoning variations that enable the demolition of a Citgo gas station to make way for a MattressFirm store at 1020 E. Central Road. Mayor Arlene Juracek cast the tiebreaking vote. The property is bounded by the troublesome intersection of Mount Prospect Road, Central Road and Rand Road. Community Development Director William Cooney said the site meets the standard for hardship. "The reality is if you apply all the setbacks that are required ... there would be no room for a building to be located anywhere on the site," he said. Full story.
Brush fire in DuPage County preserve comes within 200-300 feet of homes
Firefighters from four departments worked together last night to battle brush fires in the east branch of the DuPage County Forest Preserve that got within 200 to 300 feet of homes in Glendale Heights off Liberty Drive, fire officials said. Full story.
Weather
Cloudy with spotty showers and a high of 38 degrees this afternoon. It will be about 34 degrees when you head out the door this morning with a chance of snow and sleet during your commute. Temperatures tonight should be in the low 30s. Full weather forecast.
Traffic
Construction continues at Roberts Road at River Road near Lake Barrington. Roundabout construction continues at the intersection and will cause traffic restrictions until June, 2015. More traffic from sigalert.com.
Bowl game wrap-up
Just because the "professional" football team is playing poorly doesn't mean that Herald City sports fans don't have good local football to look forward to this winter. Check out our stories to find out in which bowl games the University of Illinois, Northern Illinois University and Notre Dame football teams will be playing.
So just where is all this headed for Bears?
Daily Herald Bears beat writer Bob LeGere writes in Monday's paper that the only relevant questions regarding the Bears have to do with who is going to get fired in the wake of a disappointing season. "It's beginning to look like a total housecleaning might be in order." Starting with Head coach Marc Trestman, who LeGere writes was chosen more than two seasons ago over a man who has been more successful. Full column.