Dawn Patrol: Pedestrian killed in Elgin, fatal shooting in Schaumburg lot
<h3 class="briefHead">40-year-old woman dies after being struck by vehicle in Elgin</h3>
Police continue to investigate an accident where a vehicle struck and killed a pedestrian last night. A 40-year-old woman died after she was crossing Summit Street at about 6:10 p.m. when she was struck, police said. The driver was cooperating with police, and alcohol was not a factor in the accident, police said. The woman, who may have been pregnant, was crossing the four-lane street after buying laundry detergent at Dino's Foods, police said. Full story.
<h3 class="briefHead">Cellphone ban, motorcycle helmet laws in works</h3>
What new transportation laws could be enacted this year? Try a cellphone ban and motorcycle helmets for starters. That's what officials were talking about at Secretary of State Jesse White's Advisory Committee on Traffic Safety. National Safety Council VP John Ulczycki thinks 2012 should be the year motorcyclists in Illinois are required to wear helmets. "Illinois is only one out of three states without helmet laws," Ulczycki said. Full story.
<h3 class="briefHead">Palatine police rescue woman from frozen pond</h3>
Palatine police officers rescued a woman who fell through ice at a reservoir late Saturday afternoon as she was trying to get her dog off the ice. A passer-by spotted the woman in the water at the Tom T. Hamilton Reservoir and called 911. Police officers arrived on the scene first and pulled the woman from the water before fire rescue crews got to the scene. The woman was taken to an area hospital with nonlife-threatening injuries. Full story.
<h3 class="briefHead">Man being questioned by police shoots himself dead in Schaumburg parking lot</h3>
A man who was being questioned by police in the parking lot of the Schaumburg Tilted Kilt Pub & Eatery pulled out a gun and shot himself in the head last night. Police would not disclose what the man was being questioned about at approximately 10:45 p.m., but said multiple officers witnessed the suicide. The man was pronounced dead at the scene at 1140 E. Higgins Road. Full story.
<h3 class="briefHead">Weather</h3>
The National Weather Service has issued a dense fog advisory for northeastern Illinois until 9 a.m. Monday with visibility as low as a quarter-mile in some places. The fog is expected to dissipate in the midmorning with a cold front bringing wind gusts through midday. An advisory for winds up to 40 mph will make driving north-south roads especially dangerous into the early evening. There will be a mix of rain and snow today with a high of 44 degrees. Tonight will be cool and clear with a low of 20 degrees. Full weather.
<h3 class="briefHead">Traffic</h3>
No major accidents on the roadways early this morning. Fog advisories may affect the morning commute with low visibility expected until 9 a.m. Full traffic.
<h3 class="briefHead">Rep. Gabrielle Giffords will resign this week</h3>
Rep. Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona, who was shot in the head a little more than a year ago, announced she will resign from Congress this week to concentrate on recovering. "I don't remember much from that horrible day, but I will never forget the trust you placed in me to be your voice," Giffords said in a video posted on her Facebook page yesterday. Giffords said she is getting better and her spirit is high, but the decision is what's best for Arizona. Full story.
<h3 class="briefHead">Patriots, Giants going to the Super Bowl</h3>
A dropped touchdown and a missed 32-yard goal kept the Baltimore Ravens out of the Super Bowl; Tom Brady and the Patriots will return instead. And a fumbled punt return blew the San Francisco 49ers' chance at the big game; Eli Manning and the New York Giants took that opportunity to seal their Super Bowl destiny in overtime. Full stories here and here.
<h3 class="briefHead">Joe Paterno's life ends sadly</h3>
Troubled lives that end up positively are uplifting, while hardly anything is as deflating as a positive life that ends up troubled, Mike Imrem writes. Imagine if Joe Paterno's obituary were written a year ago, or six months ago, or even a mere 90 days ago. Read Mike's column.
<h3 class="briefHead">Weather</h3>
The National Weather Service has issued a dense fog advisory for northeastern Illinois until 9 a.m. Monday with visibility as low as a quarter-mile in some places. The fog is expected to dissipate in the midmorning with a cold front bringing wind gusts through midday. An advisory for winds up to 40 mph will make driving north-south roads especially dangerous into the early evening. There will be a mix of rain and snow today with a high of 44 degrees. Tonight will be cool and clear with a low of 20 degrees. Full weather.
<h3 class="briefHead">Traffic</h3>
No major accidents on the roadways early this morning. Fog advisories may affect the morning commute with low visibility expected until 9 a.m. Full traffic.