Dawn Patrol: Controversy brews over downtown Naperville
<h3 class="briefHead">Naperville councilman to question downtown liquor laws tonight</h3>
Naperville City Councilman Doug Krause said he intends to start a discussion on tougher liquor laws at tonight's city council meeting as a result of the weekend stabbing death of second-grade teacher Shaun White. Krause on Sunday called for tougher liquor laws for a downtown he says has gotten out of control with "mobs" congregating in a scene that resembles Chicago's Rush Street. Downtown businesses yesterday said it's too soon to pass blame and point fingers for a tragic but otherwise isolated incident. Police Chief David Dial clarified the 6,000 police calls last year to downtown that Krause cited; he said many of those calls were made by police themselves for all kinds of things, and the 6,000 calls are a fraction of the calls made in the whole city. Full story.
<h3 class="briefHead">Parents join 2nd-graders as they learn of teacher's death</h3>
Students at Naperville's Spring Brook Elementary School were joined by their parents yesterday as they learned of the stabbing death of their second-grade teacher, Shaun Wild. The tragedy was the second to strike the school this year. In January, a family of four including two students at the elementary school were killed in a car accident in India. "It is incredibly difficult to have this conversation with anyone, especially a second-grader," said Principal Dave Worst. Full story.
<h3 class="briefHead">Woman who abandoned baby in Wheaton stripped of parental rights</h3>
Nunu Sung, a Burmese refugee who abandoned her newly born son in a Wheaton yard two years ago, was stripped of her remaining parental rights yesterday. A DuPage County judge ruled Sung's child is better off with the foster parents, who have raised him since he was 10 days old. Sung, 27, is serving a prison sentence for lying to police about the infant being hers, but has been fighting for custody of the boy upon her release. Full story.
<h3 class="briefHead">Cary man, 57, dies in Kildeer crash on Route 12</h3>
Police continue to investigate a four-vehicle crash on Route 12 in Kildeer that killed a Cary man yesterday afternoon and injured three other victims. Thomas Wilcox, a 57-year-old driver of one of the vehicles, was pronounced dead at an area hospital shortly after the crash. Route 12 just north of Quentin Road was shut down from about 2:30 p.m. until 6 p.m. while police investigated. Full story.
<h3 class="briefHead">Lake Zurich mall talk shut down due to crowd</h3>
A meeting about a possible commercial development between Hawthorn Woods and North Barrington was adjourned after about 30 minutes last night as a crowd of about 150 people overflowed from the room. The discussion, which was met with some public hostility, was postponed when an attorney representing nearby North Barrington interrupted a speaker and said the meeting violated the Illinois Open Meetings Act because some attendees could not hear. Full story.
<h3 class="briefHead">Former Geneva superintendent turns himself in</h3>
The former Geneva streets division superintendent accused of making at least $24,000 in purchases on the city's dime has turned himself in to police. Steve LeMaire faces charges of theft, online theft by deception and official misconduct. LeMaire, who lives in Elburn and had worked for 33 years for Geneva, posted $2,500 bail and was released. Police said he mostly purchased outdoor clothing and equipment on city credit card accounts. Full story.
<h3 class="briefHead">Employee trapped in Naperville silo hospitalized</h3>
A 37-year-old employee of a Naperville concrete plant remained hospitalized last night after becoming trapped up to the waist in sand inside a 30-foot silo yesterday. Rescue crews said the silo was only assessable from a catwalk, and a specialized team with members from 20 fire departments was called in for the rescue. Full story.
<h3 class="briefHead">Weather</h3>
Some normal February weather is expected today. A high of only 36 degrees will greet us this afternoon, but it will be mostly cloudy and 32 degrees when you head out the door. Also, a touch of snow could begin falling overnight tonight. Full weather.
<h3 class="briefHead">Traffic</h3>
Police are on the scene of accidents at West Roosevelt and South Hale in Wheaton, and Butterfield Road and Transam Plaza Drive in Elmhurst this morning. People should also be aware of construction in the area of Glenview and Greenwood avenues in Glenview. Full traffic <http://www.traffic.com/Chicago-Traffic/Chicago-Traffic-Reports.html>.
<h3 class="briefHead">The Bulls win, but Derrick Rose leaves in pain</h3>
The good news is, for the second time in three days, the Bulls went on the road and put a game out of reach before the first quarter ended. They jumped to a 35-14 advantage after 12 minutes and coasted to a 108-87 victory at New Jersey last night. The bad news is Derrick Rose walked gingerly to the locker room late in the second quarter after aggravating a sore back. He played just less than 11 minutes and didn't return in the second half. Full story.