Dawn Patrol: $5 million bond in Aurora murder; Crash victim identified
Ex held on $5 million bond in Aurora murder
A man accused of strangling his ex to death with her scarf used her own work stethoscope to verify that she was dead before taking pills from her home and trying to kill himself, prosecutors said Monday afternoon. Jose Loera, 35, of 3845 Gabrielle Lane, Aurora, is accused of killing his ex-girlfriend Heather Jacobi, a DuPage County jail nurse and mother of three. Full story.
Schaumburg crash victim identified
A 77-year-old Schaumburg woman was killed and two other people injured in a two-vehicle crash Monday morning. Matalda Gallo was a passenger in a Chevy Malibu traveling east on Irving Park Road about 10:40 a.m. when it turned left on Mitchell Boulevard and was struck on the passenger's side by a Chevy Tahoe that was westbound on Irving Park. An autopsy is scheduled today for Gallo, Cook County medical examiner's office officials said. Full story.
Hultgren unveils proposed heroin solutions
U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren met with people impacted by heroin deaths Monday in Geneva to present a preliminary list of suggestions for how to prevent deaths from a drug that is grabbing more and more headlines across the country. Ideas included further drug education, regulating the amount of painkillers doctors can prescribe, and more identifying labeling for prescription medications. Full story.
Craft beer fests heading to Aurora and Wheaton
A new craft beer festival is coming to Aurora and Wheaton this year. The Wisconsin Beer and Cheese Tour will be held on Saturday, May 31, at River Edge Park in Aurora and on Saturday, June 21, at the DuPage County Fairgrounds in Wheaton. Full story.
Dist. 15 demotes Whiteley principal
The Palatine Township Elementary District 15 school board on Monday demoted Whiteley Elementary School Principal Mary Szuch to a regular teaching position for the following school year. Board members declined to specify the reason for the decision. Full story.
Weather
Sunny and windy today with a high of 50 degrees. Temperatures should be around 38 degrees when you head out the door this morning, with winds gusting to 27 mph. There's a 20 percent chance of rain tonight with temperatures falling back into the 30s overnight. Complete forecast.
Traffic
No major delays on the expressways this morning. Traffic report.
Cubs lose opener on 10th-inning HR
The Cubs dropped the season opener in an extra-inning game in Pittsburgh Monday afternoon. The Pirates benefitted from an overturned pickoff call in the top of the 10th under Major League Baseball's new replay system. Still, Cubs President Theo Epstein was in a sunny mood. Read Bruce Miles' take here.
White Sox wipe last year away
White Sox manager Robin Ventura says yesterday's 5-3 victory over the Minnesota Twins in the team's home opener was an opportunity to wipe away the smell of last year's 99-game defeat. Alejandro De Aza homered twice, and Chris Sale allowed 3 runs on 5 hits in 7⅓ innings to go with 8 strikeouts while winning his second straight opening-day start. Read Scot Gregor's take here.