Tri-Cities briefs

Lawsuit dismissed

A federal judge has thrown out a lawsuit filed by a former employee of the Campton Township Highway District who claimed he was fired because of a back injury. The lawsuit filed by Anthony Cvek of Sycamore was dismissed with prejudice Monday by Judge Charles P. Kocoras, records show. Cvek sued the highway district in September, claiming he was forced out of his job in March 2007 after a back injury left him unable to perform some tasks.

Life sentence

An Arizona man was sentenced to life in prison Tuesday for his second murder conviction in Kane County. Michael A. Luiciano, 36, was convicted Nov. 7 of murder in the Halloween 1990 killing of 24-year-old Albert Gonzalez of Aurora. The life sentence handed down this week was mandatory because Luciano was previously convicted of murder in the 1989 shooting death of 20-year-old Willie Acre, also of Aurora. Authorities said Luciano is the son of an Aurora street gang leader. He was among more than 30 men indicted by a Kane County grand jury in June after a multiagency investigation of 22 cold-case homicides.

Old shoes, jeans sought

Used jeans and athletic shoes are being collected through Jan. 16 for a recycling program at Jewel Middle School in North Aurora. Shoes will be used to provide new surfaces for playgrounds, and jeans will be recycled into cloth shopping bags. Donations can be dropped off at 1501 Waterford Road. The effort is a project of the school's Leos Club and Peer Mediators. Call (630) 301-5010.

Ask A Lawyer Day

Free legal advice is available Saturday (and the second Saturday of each month) through the Kane County Bar Association's ongoing Ask A Lawyer Day program. Members of the public can call (630) 762-1900 between 9 a.m. and noon for a free consultation with a volunteer attorney. For more information, visitkanecountybar.org.