Dawn Patrol: Schools closed due to deep freeze; coyotes vs. deer
Some suburban schools closed today
Anticipating the deep freeze from last night lasting until noon today, school districts throughout the area were again forced into discussing school closures. Many announced last night that they'd be closed today, including some in Hoffman Estates, Schaumburg, Des Plaines, Palatine, and Arlington Heights. Full story.
Seven reasons Rauner's budget affects the suburbs
Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner's first budget address yesterday affects the suburbs in a variety of ways. Highlights: It proposes taking half of the Illinois income tax earned in each community, cuts state university budgets but not community colleges', changes teachers' pensions, and adds money to juvenile justice centers. Full story.
Charges filed in Gurnee-area home invasion
Four men will appear in court this morning after being charged with a home invasion that happened yesterday in an unincorporated area between Gurnee and Waukegan, and a fifth person is wanted for questioning. Full story.
Coyotes spotted near dead deer in West Chicago
A West Chicago resident reported seeing three coyotes sitting not far from his front door near a large bloody deer freshly torn into. The dead deer was lying in a neighbor's yard and near a bus stop. The sighting has residents nervous at the brazenness of the coyotes. Full story.
U-46 fires substitute teacher who taunted student
Elgin Area School District U-46 has fired a substitute teacher who taunted a Streamwood High School freshman during class, it said yesterday. The unidentified teacher joined in after students drew a crude drawing of another student. The teacher added an insulting caption. Full story.
Olaksa to claim self-defense in Naperville stabbing murder
The Naperville man accused of slaying a popular teacher and two other men at a downtown Naperville bar in 2012 plans to argue that he acted in self-defense, his attorneys say. Daniel Olaska, 30, is accused of stabbing Spring Brook Elementary teacher Shaun Wild and his friend Willie Hayes during a confrontation at Frankie's Blue Room. Full story.
Weather
Bundle up because it's definitely cold. Temperatures are around 6 degrees below zero this morning, with highs expected to reach 6 degrees above zero. The cold weather continues tonight when it will be 2 degrees below zero. Full story.
Traffic
Intersection work will cause restrictions at Bode and Barrington roads in Hoffman Estates until July. Full traffic.
Blackhawks take positive approach to loss
Blackhawks fans take the bad with the good in last night's 3-2 shootout loss to Detroit at the United Center. The Hawks are 2-0-3 on their eight-game homestand and 35-18-5 overall, 3 points behind idle St. Louis. Full story.