Dawn Patrol: Fiery fatal crash in Warrenville; Naperville fire rescue
Driver dies after striking gas line in Warrenville
Warrenville police are expected to release the identity of the driver of a vehicle who was killed early Sunday morning in a fiery one-car crash. The vehicle appears to have left the roadway on Diehl Road west of Winfield Road and struck an aboveground gas line, officials said. Authorities found the vehicle fully engulfed in flames at the scene. Full story.
Brace for road construction projects
Everyone hates gridlock. Everyone wants roads in good repair. But Congress somehow can’t get its act together on passing a long-term transportation funding bill. Here’s the latest on the legislative soap opera plus all you need to know about the 2012 construction season in the suburbs. Full story.
Suburbs looking at video gaming again
Kane County and Winfield may have been among the first to repeal bans on video gambling, but they likely won’t be the last. A sampling of area communities with bans shows at least some have an interest in revisiting the issue once the state begins handing out licenses later this year. “We’re waiting for the state to get its act together on that,” Roselle Mayor Gayle Smolinski said. Full story.
Neighbor wakes up girl as fire spreads through Burlington home
A neighbor noticed smoke coming from a Burlington home Saturday morning and woke up a girl who was sleeping inside before firefighters arrived. The girl was not injured, but the family was left homeless after the blaze that started inside a wood-burning stove. Church groups are putting together a fundraising drive for the family, as the fire that caused an estimated $50,000 in damages. Full story.
Detailed 1940 census records go online today
The U.S. National Archives will release the 1940 census records online today, after the 72 years of confidentiality expires. The detailed records of the 16th federal census documented the decade transformed by the Great Depression and black migration from the rural South. The records will include names, addresses, income and employment information for 132 million people. The records will be free and open to anyone on the Internet. Full story.
Elgin woman to appear on ‘Jeopardy!’ today
An Elgin resident will be on today’s “Jeopardy!” airing at 3:30 p.m. on ABC 7. Elisabeth Carrel, who is a regular at a local trivia night, was at the taping on Dec. 13 but could not disclose how she did. The Arlington Heights native majored in English and says she has always been able to remember names and dates along with her love of words, wordplay and geography. Full story.
Weather
There is a slight possibility of scattered showers today, but nothing too major until overnight thunderstorms move in. Before that, Accuweather expects it to be about 47 degrees when you head out the door this morning, climb to a high of about 62 degrees later today, then dip to 55 this evening. Full story.
Traffic
Clean up and delays are continuing on the outbound Stevenson Expressway near the I-294 merge where a debris truck flipped on its side and spilled its contents all over the highway outside Westmont. An accident is also being reported at Yender and Ogden avenues in Lisle. Motorists should avoid a bridge replacement construction project in St. Charles on Burr Road between Bolcum Road and Silver Glen Road that will be take place until August of 2012. Full story.
Bulls crushed in Oklahoma City, and Heat lose
Although the Bulls got smashed in what was arguably their worst loss this year in Oklahoma City yesterday, the team remains two games ahead of the Miami Heat thanks to the Boston Celtics. The Thunder led by 30 points in the fourth quarter, before the Bulls leveled the score in garbage time to finish 92-78. Russell Westbrook netted 27 points and Kevin Durant added 26 and 10 rebounds even though both players sat out the entire fourth quarter. Full story.
Blackhawks scrap to 5-4 OT loss
The Blackhawks’ and Minnesota Wild squared off in a scrappy playofflike matchup at the United Center last night with the Hawks losing 5-4 in a shootout, but the Hawks already have locked up a playoff spot with 2 games to go. “Lots of good energy from the young guys. Hayes fought, Bollig fought, and Shawsie gave us a real treat. And he had a nice setup on the tying goal,” Patrick Kane said after the loss. Full story.