Dawn Patrol: Cookie jar lottery jackpot; dump Dist. 25 gifted program?
Cookie jar yields jackpot for Geneva man
A Geneva man who says he had a mountain of bills and was facing eviction is now a multimillionaire thanks to a lottery ticket he bought months ago in Aurora and only recently found in a cookie jar in his kitchen. The Illinois Lottery handed Ricardo Cerezo of Geneva a large commemorative check for $4.85 million — the result of matching all six numbers in the Feb. 2 Lotto drawing. Full story.
Parents upset with Dist. 25 report on gifted education
Parents and some board members at Arlington Heights Elementary District 25 were unhappy with a report from a committee that has been studying advanced learning in the district for the past three years. The committee’s recommendations include eliminating the district’s gifted program, Odyssey, after the 2013-14 school year. Full story.
Senate gun plan would let towns set limits
Many individual suburbs would get the opportunity to decide where people could carry concealed guns under a plan approved by a Senate committee yesterday. Towns of populations 25,000 or more would get the option under the plan. Full story
COD adjunct professors get contract extension, raises
Adjunct professors at the College of DuPage are set to receive salary increases as part of a two-year contract extension approved last night by the college’s board of trustees. College officials offered the contract extension to adjuncts as a package along with a plan to create a new “lecturer” position that would allow some adjuncts to receive health care benefits under the new federal health care law. Full story.
Driver jumps out of car with no brakes on Route 31
A driver told Crystal Lake police he jumped from his 2002 Grand Prix as it veered off Route 31 near Brighton Lane yesterday afternoon. Police said the driver reported his brakes failed as he was traveling north on Route 31 just before 4:30 p.m. The crash closed down Route 31 for nearly an hour the car ran into a gas utility box. Full story.
Suburban doctor remembered as caring leader, excellent surgeon
A portrait of Dr. Peter Pleotis still hangs in the doctors’ lounge at Northwest Community Hospital, some 14 years after he retired. The former obstetrician and gynecologist, who practiced 37 years at the Arlington Heights hospital and led the staff as president, board director and chairman of his department, left a standard that his colleagues still measure themselves against. Full story.
Disabled veterans may find new home in Elgin
A home for disabled veterans injured Win the line of duty, and their service dogs, might be headed to Elgin. The home would be run by the Save-A-Vet nonprofit organization in the former Bowes Retirement Center at 105 Gifford St., Mayor David Kaptain said. Full story.
Weather
It won’t be quite as warm today, with highs expected around 75 this afternoon. For the morning commute, it will be cloudy with temperatures in the upper 50s. There’s a chance of storms in the afternoon and evening with overnight lows around 55 degrees. Complete forecast.
3rd time’s a charm: Glover wins ‘American Idol’
Candice Glover was crowned the new “American Idol” last night after defeating country singer Kree Harrison. Full story.
Blackhawks know battle with Red Wings has just begun
The Red Wings aren’t going to lie down. If anything, Wednesday’s 4-1 Hawks victory in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals will only serve as motivation for the Red Wings to come back with a better effort Saturday in Game 2. That’s what the Hawks are expecting anyway. Tim Sassone reports.
Poll Vault: Have you ever served on a jury?
Juries made decisions on two suburban murder cases in one day this week. Have you ever been on a jury in a criminal case? How long did you deliberate, and what was the outcome? Leave your comment with Michelle Holdway’s Poll Vault.