Dawn Patrol: Accident closes Bartlett road, help for Island Lake twin

Breaking News: Accident closes Bartlett road

Army Trail Road in Bartlett has been shut down by police due to a major accident with injuries at Route 59, officials report.

Dawn Domrose of the DuPage County Sheriff's Department said all lanes of traffic have been closed on Army Trail Road between Route 59 and Munger Road due to the accident.

Police and accident reconstruction teams are at the scene investigating the crash, she said.

She did not say the cause of the crash or the number of people injured.

Traffic is at a stand still at the intersection, officials said, and people should find alternate routes.

Island Lake Twin remains critical as friends start donation fund

Ten-year-old Nicholas Shirey remains in intensive care in critical condition three days after a driver ran a red light in Wauconda, causing a violent wreck that killed his twin brother. Friends of the family have started a collection fund to help cover medical expenses and to support the family through the tragic period. Nicholas suffered a lacerated lung in the crash and remains at Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge. Full story.

8 in Elgin family seeking shelter after Christmas tree fire

Michelle Konecki watched the house she has lived in for almost five years burn yesterday. The Christmas tree in her living room caught fire shortly after 11:30 a.m., and the flames quickly spread to a nearby couch. Elgin's code department ultimately declared the house uninhabitable. Konecki lives with her sister, husband, four of her children and a grandchild, plus their pets — three dogs and a lizard that were saved from the fire. Last night the family stayed at a hotel. “I don't know what I'll do come 11 a.m. checkout time tomorrow,” Konecki said. Elgin Fire Department Battalion Chief Timothy Michaels said the fire was under control in less than 30 minutes but not before it had caused extensive smoke and heat damage throughout the entire home. Full story.

13-year-old Glen Ellyn student caught with spiked milk

A 13-year-old Glen Ellyn student was caught by junior high staff members with a concoction of milk and Baileys Irish Cream at school Friday morning, according to police. Classmates of the girl who brought the liquor to Hadley Junior High on Dec. 9 notified staff members, who called police at 8:18 a.m., according to police reports. “The initial student mixed it with chocolate milk and gave it to other kids,” said Glen Ellyn Police Deputy Chief Bill Holmer. Full story.

Palatine Dist. 15 goes for revenue rather than lower taxes

Palatine Township Elementary District 15 officials Wednesday adopted a tax levy that maximizes revenue to fight a deficit rather than provide minimal tax relief. The school board by a 4-3 vote approved increasing the 2011 tax extension by 3 percent to $110.5 million. “We do empathize with the economy and people struggling with their homes and finances,” Superintendent Scott Thompson said. With the 3 percent levy increase, Assistant Superintendent Mike Adamczyk calculated that a person whose home is valued at $200,000 will pay $24.16 more in taxes to District 15. The owner of a $150,000 home will pay an additional $18.12. Full story.

Judge has ‘serious doubts' about ‘Angel of Death' case

Saying he had “serious doubts” about the case against her, a McHenry County judge sentenced Marty Himebaugh of Lake in the Hills, dubbed the “Angel of Death” after she was charged with overmedicating patients at a Woodstock senior facility, to two years' probation on Wednesday. Judge Joseph Condon also ordered the 60-year-old Himebaugh of Lake in the Hills to pay a $5,000 fine. Illinois State Police began investigating after six suspicious deaths of terminally ill patients at the Woodstock Residence Nursing Center in 2006. “Perhaps things weren't as bad as they were made out to seem when the Illinois State Police conducted their investigation,” Condon said. Full story.

20 years for Kane County's largest heroin bust

A Texas woman was sentenced to 20 years in prison Wednesday after pleading guilty to possession of more than 7 kilograms of heroin with an estimated street value of $2.1 million — the largest heroin bust in Kane County history. Claudia Chagoya, 42, of El Paso, had been held in the Kane County jail since her arrest April 25, after she was stopped for failing to signal when exiting Interstate 90 at Route 25 and authorities found heroin hidden around her pickup truck's drive shaft. Full story.

Hanover Park police seek attempted arsonists:

Hanover Park police are seeking two males they say attempted to light a vehicle on fire earlier this week. Officers responded about 2:15 a.m. Monday to a report of criminal damage to property and arson on the 2000 block of Narcissus. Anyone with information is asked to call detective Kosartes at (630) 823-5519. Full story.

Blago's lawyers ask for drug abuse program in prison

Rod Blagojevich's attorneys have asked to have him placed in a drug abuse program, which Judge James Zagel agreed to recommend the former governor for. Neither the judge nor Blagojevich's attorneys would detail why he would be eligible for the program, which could cut up to a year off his 14-year prison sentence for corruption. The final decision will be up federal prison officials. Full story.

I-PASS blames payment malfunction on new software

About 4,500 I-PASS customers found erroneous charges and refunds on their credit and bank accounts Friday morning after tollway software improvements backfired. Illinois Tollway officials called the computer malfunction a “hiccup” and said it was an isolated incident due to a package of software enhancements that had recently been installed. Full story.

What's next in DUI case against judge?

Both sides of the DUI and resisting arrest case against Lake County Circuit Judge David Hall said they are planning their next move in the wake of an appellate court ruling. “If nothing else, we will try the resisting charge because we have said all along we intend to pursue all charges in this case,” Assistant Attorney General Daniel Nikolic said. “If a police officer tells you to get out of your car and you don't, we believe you are resisting arrest." Full story.

Mundelein High board breaks meetings law

Mundelein High School board members violated the state Open Meetings Act by gathering in Macomb in September, the Illinois attorney general's office has found. Officials properly alerted the public to the meeting beforehand and offered transportation, but holding a meeting 250 miles away from the district didn't meet the legal requirement for convenience, the five-page opinion said. Full story.

Prosecutors: Woman tricked into paying $231,000 to prevent ‘foreseen' deaths

A former Arlington Heights woman who convinced a now 62-year-old woman into forking over $231,000 to prevent a “foreseen” horrible death is now behind bars. Theresa Benson, 50, was working as a palm reader in Miami, Fla., when she was recently arrested after an anonymous tip. Benson told the victim from Roselle that she foresaw evil and a horrible death for members of the victim's family including her grandchildren. She said the only way to prevent those deaths was for her to pray over the money. Full story.

NTSB confirms plane ran out of gas in Riverwoods crash

A preliminary review of a Riverwoods plane crash that killed three people in late November confirmed earlier reports that the plane ran out of gas. The medical flight crashed in a heavily wooded area about three miles from Chicago Executive Airport, where NTSB officials found just 1.5 ounces of gas left in the plane's fuel system. The report states the pilot was able to see the airport while coasting, but could not keep the plane in the air. Full story.

Edward Hospital hopes to build $63.7 million addition

Edward Hospital officials are seeking to add two floors of patients beds to a building on their Naperville campus. Officials say patient demand is driving their push for the proposed $63.7 million addition. If the application is approved, construction would begin in the spring and end in late 2013 and increase the number of patient beds from 309 to 357. Full story.

U.S. formally ends war in Iraq

The U.S. military has formally shut down the war in Iraq, officially retiring the flag of U.S. Forces-Iraq. Troops lowered the flag today and wrapped it in camouflage, formally “casing” it, according to Army tradition. The ceremony was attended by U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, who told troops they leave Iraq with “lasting pride.” Full story.

Weather

If you're up before 8 a.m., run outside and feel the warm, 55 degree weather. However, those mild temperatures won't last long. Temperatures are expected to start dropping through the 40s by noon, into the 30s this afternoon, and into the 20s tonight. Winds of about 25 mph with gusts of 45 mph will come blowing in along with the cold front, so be ready. Full weather.

Traffic

The wet weather in the last 24 hours has caused slick roadways, so officials are warning to be careful when driving this morning. A crash is reported at Country Farm Road and Ontarioville Road in Hanover Park, so people are urged to avoid that intersection if possible. People should continue to avoid Glenview and Greenwood avenues in Glenview due to resurfacing and restructuring of the roadway in the area. Full traffic.

Patrick Kane dazzles with ‘sick' game-winning shootout goal

The Blackhawks faced off with the Western Conference-leading Minnesota Wild last night, which was decided by the quick hands of Patrick Kane in a shootout. The game might have kicked off a rivalry as the teams are set to be in the same conference next season when the NHL realigns. The Hawks' 4-3 shootout victory on the road brought the team within 2 points of the Wild. Kane's spectacular goal to clinch the victory included at least a dozen dekes, leaving teammates in awe. “It was sick,” Toews said. “A big win for the boys and a little flash from P. Kane.” Full story.