Dawn Patrol: Quick hits as you head out the door

Breaking news

A Wonder Lake man was charged with aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol for injuring someone while driving a golf cart intoxicated, McHenry County Sheriff officials said.

Crystal Lake soldier survives Afghanistan but succumbs to cancer

A Crystal Lake soldier who survived his 11-month deployment to Afghanistan from May 2010 through April 2011 has died from a rare form of cancer. Michael Vukovich married his wife Allie while he was in the intensive care unit at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, D.C., after he returned to the United States and was diagnosed with the disease. “It's just that feeling, you just know; you have no question in your mind,” she said about knowing he was the one for her. “He said to me on our first date, ‘You know I'm going to marry you.'” Full story.

Hoffman Estates man dies after his shed explodes

Fire officials continue to investigate a blaze that killed a 60-year-old Hoffman Estates man yesterday. David Mugerditchian was severely burned after fire erupted inside his backyard shed while he was inside before heading off to work. A neighbor pushed Mugerditchian to the ground to help him put out the flames. Mugerditchian died later Monday night. In 1997 he was hailed as a hero when he himself saved a neighbor from the second story of his home, which was on fire and filled with black smoke. “We are all devastated,” said Mugerditchian's friend Jim Fabbrini. “We are all sitting back thinking, how did this happen?” Full story.

Carpentersville police seek help in fatal stabbing

Carpentersville police are asking for information in the case of a 59-year-old woman found stabbed to death in an apartment Sunday night. Relatives of Isabella Trejo found her unresponsive in an apartment on the 0-100 block of Oxford Road with what appeared to be several stab wounds in her upper body, police said. The case has been classified as a homicide investigation. The Kane County coroner's office confirmed an autopsy was performed Monday on Trejo, but results were not being released as the killing remains under investigation. Full story.

Elgin man accused of pizza restaurant holdup

An Elgin man is scheduled for bond court this morning after police say he held up a Little Caesar's Pizza at gunpoint late Sunday night. Charles Fleming fired a bullet into the floor of the restaurant when he entered the building and held both employees against their will while robbing the store, police say. One employee managed to call 911 during the robbery and police arrived while Fleming was still inside, they say. Full story.

Des Plaines city council OKs more money for generator rebates

The Des Plaines City Council last night approved $50,000 in additional funding for the new home generator rebate program. The initial $22,500 funding allocation ran out on the first day the program went into effect Sept. 19. Within the first week, the city had received 379 rebate applications and granted rebates of either $250 or $400 to 82 residents for portable or in-house generators. Acting City Manager Jason Slowinski said it would take roughly $82,000 to fund the remaining 297 outstanding applications but recommended only $50,000 be allocated through the year end. “A week from now, we will talk about whether to extend funding in 2012,” Slowinski said. Full story.

Fight breaks out during Bloomingdale youth football game

Police say they are investigating a fight that broke out Sunday among parents and players during a Bloomingdale youth football game. Police are investigating the dispute, which erupted during the final play of the game between the Bloomingdale Bears and the Hanover Park Hurricanes. The teams consisted of mostly eighth-graders, but also some seventh-graders. Parents and fans came onto the field after the play and one man was struck, resulting in a cut to his upper lip. Full story.

Rape trial against former Glenbard West students continues

Testimony continues today in the trial of two former Glenbard West High School football players accused of raping a then 15-year-old girl in a Rolling Meadows church parking lot last year. Yesterday the girl testified that Demarco Whitley and Pierre Washington-Steel, friends and former teammates, assaulted her in a car. Later the girl's mother testified that her daughter that night asked, “If you get in someone's car, and they had sex with you and you said no, is that rape?” Washington-Steel was killed in a car crash about 80 minutes after the alleged attack, prosecutors said. Whitley's attorneys say the sex was consensual and they expect him to testify. Full story.

St. Charles man insists on drinking his rainwater

A St. Charles man is in the midst of a heated battle with city officials over his right to drink and shower with rainwater collected in a cistern system he built. Cliff McIlvaine says he has been drinking rainwater for nearly 70 years and denies DuPage County Health Department officials' claims that it is unhealthy. Although he signed a legal document binding himself to no drinking or bathing in the water, he wants to head back to court. “Under extreme pressure I signed that agreement,” he said. Full story.

Amanda Knox leaving Italy

Amanda Knox was leaving Italy a free woman Tuesday, the morning after an Italian appeals court dramatically overturned the American student's conviction of sexually assaulting and brutally slaying her British roommate. The Italy-US Foundation, which has championed Knox's cause, said the American was at Leonardo da Vinci airport in Rome boarding a flight to London, where she will catch a connecting flight to the United States. Full story.

Weather

Enjoy the weather this week because it could be the last gasp of decent weather until spring. Today, sunny and beautiful with highs in the mid 70s and lows in the low 50s when you exit the door. It's expected to remain like this through the weekend, where a high of 80 could be reached. Full weather.

Traffic

Most roadways are running wide open early this morning, though there are some hot spots that should be avoided. Specifically, construction has blocked lanes on Route 59 at US Route 20 in Bartlett, while traffic on Washington Street between 5th and North avenues in Naperville will be reduced to one lane today for construction. In addition, the Newport Boulevard roadway resurfacing project, between Stearns Road and Devon Avenue in Bartlett, also starts today. Also, there is a traffic light out at Lake-Cook and Hicks roads in Palatine. The good news is that Route 31 in Elgin between Wing Street and Big Timber Road has been reopened after a water main break has been fixed, officials said.

ut at Lake-Cook and Hicks roads in Palatine. Please use caution. Full traffic.

Hawks name Emery as backup goalie

With days before the start of the NHL season, the Blackhawks have announced their backup goalie, choosing veteran Ray Emery to take the spot behind starter Corey Crawford. Emery won the job over Alexander Salak, who was sent to Rockford to play for the Hawks' AHL affiliate. Rookies Marcus Kruger and Brandon Pirri were also sent to Rockford. Full story.