Weekend in Review: Fire victim tells; super storm coming
Lombard fire victim trying to “get back to my old self”
Jason Cassidy remembers little about the fire that took 40 percent of his skin and killed one of his friends. But the Villa Park man tells the Daily Herald he is determined to recover. “I was basically given two choices — you can either live your life as a burn victim forever or you can go back and live your life before the incident even happened. Obviously, I chose the second choice.” Full story.
Walsh sees himself as “average Joe”
In his two years in office, Republican Congressman Joe Walsh has never shied away from the spotlight. Calling himself the “most accessible congressman on the planet,” he has returned to the 8th Congressional District week after week to host town hall meetings with constituents, where Democratic trackers and scouts from liberal SuperPACs have for months recorded his every word in case the McHenry Tea Partyer says something politically risky. Which he inevitably does, to the satisfaction of backers who find his bluntness refreshing. Full story.
Duckworth touts personal experience in bid for Congress
Running in a district drawn to the advantage of her party, Democrat Tammy Duckworth is taking nothing for granted and emphasizing her personal experiences in her bid for the 8th District congressional seat. Full story.
Suburban companies send help to East Coast
Sears, AT&T, Motorola Solutions, ComEd and other companies from the suburbs are sending emergency help and supplies as a massive storm threatens to cripple East Coast homes, businesses and communication networks. Officials and business executives have been watching the development of Hurricane Sandy since Wednesday as it has barreled northward from the Caribbean to the Eastern Seaboard. And they've put into action emergency plans to ship extra products, equipment and workers to various sites along the storm's treacherous path. Full story.
Waukegan man killed in Gurnee area crash
Lake County Sheriff's deputies are investigating a fatal one-car crash that occurred near Gurnee early Saturday morning. Deputies said Michael Smith, 25, of the 600 block of North Elmwood Avenue in Waukegan, was traveling southbound on Route 41 about 3:46 a.m. when, for reasons that have yet to be determined, he lost control of his vehicle and it collided with two trees south of Route 21. Full story.
Hundreds of live birds taken from home
Aurora officials used a court order Friday to remove hundreds of free-flying birds from a trash-filled townhouse after the owner made virtually no progress to rectify the situation over the past week. Aurora Deputy Fire Chief John Lehman said homeowner Dave Skeberdis, 57, removed only small amounts of debris from the front door and failed to cage most of the roughly 300 birds inside his townhouse on the 200 block of Shadybrook Lane. Full story.
Geneva teachers give strike notice
The Geneva school teachers union has given the Geneva school district notice of its intent to strike in as few as 10 days. While the notice is the 10-day intent-to-strike notice required by state law, setting a possible strike date of Nov. 5, a news release issued by the Geneva school district suggests no strike can begin before Nov. 9. Full story.
Harper students, police team up to make for anti-violence films
Students in the Harper College Theater Club are working with the school's police chief to make a series of short films highlighting the dangers of dating violence and the emotional abuse that can occur in teen relationships. Full story.
Elgin's “Nightmare” a hit with downtown visitors
If you wanted to visit downtown Elgin on Saturday night, you first had to go through white containment tents and be scanned by people clad in full-body biohazard suits — to make sure you hadn't been “infected.” It was all part of the annual “Nightmare on Chicago Street,” Elgin's annual Halloween party. The zombie apocalypse-themed event featured live musical entertainment, food vendors, beer and liquor booths, and was attended by crowds covered in all manner of blood and gore, along with dozens of volunteer zombies wandering around in a daze. Full story.
Resident injured in Palatine garage fire
Nearly two dozen firefighters battled a blaze in Palatine Saturday evening that damaged a garage in a six-unit townhouse building and left one resident with nonlife-threatening injuries. Palatine firefighters called to the residence in the 1700 block of St. Marks Place at 6:14 p.m. found a fire burning in the attached garage of a two-story unit. Full story.
World & Nation
Eastern US braces for super storm. Full story.
Hurricane Sandy upsets candidates' campaign plans. Full story.
High court weighs new look at voting rights law. Full story.
Panetta: US lacked early info on Benghazi attack. Full story.
‘Argo' tops box office in third week of release. Full story.
Sports
Bears deliver when it matters most. Full story.
Bears find the will and a way. Full story.
Bears CB Jennings comes up BIG. Full story.
NHL closer to repeating bad history. Full story.