Briefs: Robotics competition set
More than 50 students from the Illinois Math and Science Academy and Oswego East High School will meet at 7:30 a.m. today for the 2008 Robotics competition at Caterpillar Inc. in Aurora. Organized by For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology, a nonprofit organization, the competition is designed to cultivate kids' interest in science, math, engineering and technology. Students will meet in two teams and have six weeks to design and build robots before heading to regional competition Feb. 29 and March 1 at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Soldier honored on TV
Army Sgt. John Hodgson, a Naperville native, will be one of more than 90 soldiers honored today during the 2008 Army All-American Bowl for high school players in San Antonio, Texas. Kickoff is at noon; the game will be televised on NBC. Hodgson served in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003 and was awarded the Bronze Star for his service. He currently resides in Waukegan and is a member of the Illinois National Guard.
Man accused of theft, fraud
A DuPage County grand jury indicted a Schiller Park man on felony charges on suspicion he defrauded a Naperville woman who hired him to install hardwood flooring, according to court records released Friday. Lubos Dubravsky, 34, of 3870 Ruby St., is charged with theft and home repair fraud. A grand jury indicted him Thursday. Authorities allege Dubravsky accepted a $3,000 down payment June 15 from the woman, but failed to provide any work. A warrant has been issued for his arrest.
Rabid bat found in Aurora
Another bat has tested positive for rabies in Kane County, the Kane County Health Department announced Friday. The animal, found in an Aurora home, is the first bat in 2008 to test positive for the disease. In 2007, five bats in Kane County tested positive for rabies. The bat was found Dec. 28 in a house on the 900 block of Aurora Avenue. The health department received the results Thursday. Statewide, there were 113 confirmed cases of rabies in animals in 2007. Bats are Illinois' primary carriers of the potentially fatal disease. Humans can become infected when bitten by a rabid animal or when an infected animal's saliva comes in contact with a person's eye, nose, mouth, a scratch or wound.
Man indicted on child porn
A 26-year-old Glendale Heights man will appear in court Tuesday to be arraigned on felony child pornography charges. Evan W. Duty was indicted Thursday on suspicion he was in possession of several graphic computer images of children engaged in sexual activity, according to court records released Friday.
Wisconsin man charged
A 42-year-old Milwaukee man will spend the weekend in a Chicago police lockup to face federal charges of crossing state lines to have sex with a minor. Winfield police, along with state and federal officials, arrested Patrick M. McKibbins just after 6 p.m. Thursday after he arranged to meet someone he believed to be a 15-year-old girl at an undisclosed location. Winfield detective Gerry McIntyre said Friday that McKibbins had been involved in online conversations with the "girl" for about two months prior to Thursday's meeting being arranged. McKibbins will be brought before a federal magistrate Monday for a detention hearing.