Briefs: No Olympic favorite here
Chicago isn't the front-runner for the 2016 Olympics many are making it out to be. It's not even a close second. With two years before the vote for the 2016 host, Chicago is third or fourth on the list of favorites, U.S. Olympic Committee chairman Peter Ueberroth said Thursday. Ahead of Chicago are Madrid, Spain; Tokyo; and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. "It's not a criticism, it's a reality," Ueberroth said after meeting with Chicago Mayor Richard Daley. "There's no criticism of Chicago 2016. I'm not saying they're doing anything wrong. I'm telling you they're in third or fourth place." Baku, Azerbaijan; Doha, Qatar; and Prague, Czech Republic also are bidding for the Summer Olympics. The International Olympic Committee will choose the host city Oct. 2, 2009, at its session in Copenhagen, Denmark. Chicago was thought to be the early favorite in the 2016 race, because the United States hasn't hosted a Summer Olympics since Atlanta in 1996. Though Chicago may be lagging behind Madrid, Rio and Tokyo right now, Ueberroth said there's no reason it can't make up ground over the next two years.
Lawnmower injures man
A Waukegan man ran over his foot with a lawnmower and was transported to the hospital via a Flight for Life helicopter, according to Lt. Tony DeRose of the Countryside Fire Department. "At this point, we're pretty sure he's fine, DeRose said. "But he did need a surgical team." Fire officials responded to Indian Creek and Ellis Avenue in Long Grove at around 10 a.m. on Thursday, where the 24-year-old man was waiting for help. He worked for a landscaping company, DeRose said. Officials were not releasing his name on Thursday. He was transported to Froedtert Hospital Milwaukee.
Judge upholds charges:
A judge Thursday upheld the arrest and field testing of the former head of the Kane County Jail accused of driving drunk. Todd Exline, 46, of Aurora faces charges of driving under the influence from a June 29 traffic stop in Geneva. Exline, a lieutenant, has been suspended without pay and faces termination. Judge Allen Anderson said information from a motorist who followed Exline and called 911 to report erratic driving was considered reliable. He said that tip, along with officers smelling alcohol on Exline's breath, was probable cause to make him perform field sobriety tests. The caller reported Exline driving on the shoulder, into oncoming traffic and "all over the road" as he headed north on Kirk Road.
Boy crashes bike into van
A 13-year-old boy from Lake in the Hills was reportedly in serious condition Thursday after crashing his bike into a moving van, police said. The boy still was in the emergency room at 10:30 p.m. Thursday. Hospital officials said they could not release details about his condition. Police have not charged or cited the 51-year-old Woodstock man who was driving the van, saying he was going the speed limit and swerved to try to avoid the crash. About 4:19 p.m., the boy was riding his bike north on Sienna Drive when he hit the side of the van, which was traveling east on Miller Road, police said. "He must not have seen the van and wanted to shoot across," Lake in the Hills police Sgt. Robert Harper said. The boy, who wasn't wearing a helmet, was airlifted to Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, police said. There is a stop sign on Sierra Drive before Miller Road, police said, adding that traffic on Miller Road does not have a stop sign.