Dawn Patrol: Latest on Hastert, cop charged in wife's death
Hastert loses teacher pension
One of former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert's pension checks isn't in the mail. The longtime suburban lawmaker has lost his $16,623 annual pension from his time as a teacher and wrestling coach at Yorkville High School, Teachers' Retirement System spokesman Dave Urbanek said. Hastert was sentenced to 15 months in prison yesterday on bank fraud charges in a case that revealed he sexually abused students. Full story.
Former Elk Grove cop charged in wife's death in Ohio
A former Elk Grove Village police officer now living in Ohio called 911 Monday to say he shot and killed his wife, authorities say. Jeffrey Hawkins, who is charged with murder and being held on $3 million bail, worked as an Elk Grove cop from 1990 until 1999, when he resigned in the midst of an internal investigation into allegations he used excessive force during an arrest. Full story.
Ousted COD administrator entitled to unemployment benefits
An administrative law judge has ruled that a fired College of DuPage administrator is entitled to her unemployment benefits because the college failed to prove she committed misconduct. Full story.
Vacant home catches fire in Elgin
Elgin firefighters responded to a fire at a vacant home on Wednesday afternoon. A passer-by noticed smoke from the fire at 600 Cooper Ave. at 3:25 p.m., according to a news release. Full story.
Weather
Mostly cloudy and periods of rain all day. It will be 43 degrees to start this morning. Temperatures will climb to only 49 degrees this afternoon before falling to 42 degrees this evening. Full weather.
Traffic
Roundabout construction is scheduled to close Burlington Road at Route 47 in Campton Hills until sometime in the fall. Full traffic.
Rozner: Blackhawks face brutal cap decisions again
The Chicago Blackhawks' off-season begins for GM Stan Bowman many months before the final game is played. With every contract extension, trade, free-agent signing and demotion to Rockford, there are salary-cap implications. And no one has it worse than the Hawks. Some have it as bad, but no one worse. Read Barry Rozner's full column here.
White Sox win 6th straight, blank Blue Jays 4-0
Dioner Navarro hit a go-ahead, two-run triple in the seventh inning, and the Chicago White Sox beat the Toronto Blue Jays 4-0 Wednesday night for their sixth straight win. Read beat writer Scot Gregor's take here.
Rain pushes Arrieta's start back a day
Jake Arrieta looked ready to go Wednesday afternoon in the Chicago Cubs' clubhouse, with headphones on and scouting reports in hand. But Mother Nature had other ideas, as rain postponed Wednesday night's game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley Field. Read beat writer Bruce Miles' take here.
NFL draft tonight in Chicago
Soon the Bears will be on the clock with the 11th overall NFL draft pick in tonight's first round. The Bears have played out numerous ways in which players could come off the board ahead of their choice. Best guess is that the front office will go for defense. Read more from beat writer Bob LeGere here.