Dawn Patrol: Cop honored; slayings bring back bad memories
Arlington Hts. cop honored
Making his first public appearance since he was shot when responding to a domestic situation in December, Arlington Heights police officer Michael McEvoy was honored Thursday as recipient of the L.W. Calderwood Officer of the Year award. A packed European Crystal ballroom, filled with Rotarians, village officials and fellow officers, gave him five standing ovations. Full story.
Slayings bring back bad memories at Palatine apartments
The murders this week of a father and son shot to death in their Palatine apartment have cast a shadow on an area the village took on more than a decade ago in hopes of reducing crime there. In the 1990s, the Baldwin Green apartment complex — where Luis Reynoso, 15, and Segundo Reynoso, his 38-year-old father, were gunned down early Wednesday — had a notorious reputation. Full story.
Maryville hospital to close
Negotiating teams for the Maryville Behavioral Health Hospital in Des Plaines and the labor union representing nursing employees were set to meet today to discuss salaries and benefits. Instead, the conversation is expected to be about management's decision to close the hospital's doors later this summer, in light of heavy financial losses. Full story.
Elgin charter school officials not discouraged with delay
Elgin Math and Science Charter School Initiative President Karen Schock said the group is not discouraged by the delay in getting the Elgin City Council's approval for a lease of the former Fox River Country Day School property. The council this week postponed the vote because members were concerned about the city's projected costs of repairing the buildings on the site. Full story.
Third man charged in connection to Bensenville slaying
A third man now is being held in DuPage County on $2.5 million bond on charges related to the January murder of a Bensenville convenience store clerk. Stephen A. Russell, 20, of Chicago has been charged with four counts of harassing a family member of a witness and two counts of intimidation using physical harm. Two men are already in custody, and each is being held on $2.5 million bond. Full story.
Weather
An absolutely gorgeous day with temperatures reaching 60 degrees this afternoon. It will be chilly to start with temperatures hovering around 32 degrees to start this morning. Temperatures will dip back to 31 degrees tonight. Full story.
Traffic
Construction delays continue at Rollins Road between Route 45 and Route 83 in Round Lake Beach. People should use alternate routes. Full story.
March Madness has begun
Is your bracket busted yet? Sixteen games were played Thursday in the NCAA men's tournament, which featured buzzer beaters and upsets, as well as a couple of games where the outcome was never in doubt (like Wisconsin's 75-35 victory over American). Another set of 16 games is scheduled for today. Check out the latest on all the games here.
Hawks must do without Kane for now
When the Blackhawks take on the Carolina Panthers tonight at the United Center, they'll be without their top scorer, Patrick Kane, who is expected to miss about three weeks after suffering an apparent knee injury Wednesday against St. Louis. “He's a special player,” coach Joel Quenneville said. “It's definitely a huge loss. We're going to have to work our way through it — all the things he brings to our team.” Full story.