Dawn Patrol: Waukegan man freed; Naperville murder suspect testifies
Exonerated Waukegan man freed
Angel Gonzalez, a Waukegan man who spent more than 20 years behind bars for a rape he did not commit, is a free man, according to the founding director of the Illinois Innocence Project. Gonzalez, 41, was exonerated on Monday after DNA evidence cleared him of a 1994 Lake County sexual assault, but he remained in custody until Tuesday on charges he damaged a sink while in prison. Full story.
Woman hit by car in Arlington Hts. in ‘extremely severe' condition
A woman struck by a car Monday while walking her dog near Pioneer Park in Arlington Heights remained hospitalized Tuesday, and a social media posting from her son describes her condition as “extremely severe.” The 58-year-old woman was hit shortly before 6:55 a.m. Monday at Grove Street and Kaspar Avenue. Full story.
Smoking near oxygen tanks caused Rolling Meadows fire
Smoking near oxygen tanks is being blamed for a Rolling Meadows condominium fire last week that left one man dead and displaced residents of nearly 50 units, police said Tuesday. Rolling Meadows police Cmdr. Tom Gadomski said the March 4 fire was “caused by a gentleman that was smoking inside the unit (where the fire began).” The resident, Kenneth Vansickle, 55, was found lying on the ground below his balcony in the 5200 block of Carriageway Drive by the first firefighters on the scene. Full story.
COD misses deadline for audit
College of DuPage trustees will miss a deadline set by state lawmakers to approve funding for a voluntary performance audit of the beleaguered community college. Lawmakers gave the COD board of trustees until Thursday to authorize spending up to $234,000 for Illinois Auditor General Bill Holland to conduct the probe. But the board has not scheduled a meeting for Thursday and cannot legally do so now because such a session requires 48 hours' notice. Full story.
Naperville murder suspect: ‘I was scared and panicked'
A Naperville man charged with first-degree murder in the stabbing death of a teacher in a bar fight says he was afraid for his life and acted in self-defense. Daniel Olaska, 30, of the 1500 block of Foxhill Road, testified in DuPage County court for three hours Tuesday that he was drunk and frightened when he stabbed Shaun Wild, a Naperville resident who taught at Spring Brook Elementary School. But the prosecution questioned whether Olaska was coached by family members to “manufacture” memories of the bar fight. Full story.
Proposal could put overdose-reversal drug in schools
Legislation that would allow school nurses to administer a drug that could save students overdosing on heroin won preliminary approval from Illinois lawmakers Tuesday. Narcan, a trademarked version of the opiate antidote naloxone, saved 44 lives in DuPage County over the past year. Full story.
Parents fought over flirting, son testifies in Geneva trial
The trial of Shadwick King continued Tuesday, with jurors watching surveillance video of King and his wife, Kathleen, in a bar just hours before her body was found. The couple's oldest son also testified the couple had argued because she was spending more time talking to friends than her husband. Full story.
Weather
A dense fog advisory is in effect until 9 a.m., but temperatures are hovering at 37 degrees this morning. Temperatures are expected to rise to 50 degrees this afternoon before dropping back to 37 degrees overnight tonight. Full story.
Traffic
Bridge and interchange work reduces Route 25 in Elgin to one lane in each direction over the Jane Addams Tollway. Work is expected to finish in 2016. Full traffic.
DePaul women upset No. 24 Seton Hall for Big East tourney title
Megan Podkowa scored 19 points and DePaul beat No. 24 Seton Hall 78-68 on Tuesday night for its second consecutive Big East tournament title and automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Full story.