Metra Getting Security HelpMetra trains will soon have additional federal security on board. Metra insists the new plan is not in response to any threat but rather for the benefit of passengers.
The TSA patrols will "augment existing security resources, provide deterrent presence and detection capabilities, and introduce an element of unpredictability to disrupt potential terrorist planning activities," Metra said in a statement.
The patrol teams can consist of federal marshals, TSA officers, TSA-certified canine teams, surface transportation security inspectors and local/state law enforcement.
The extra security officers will also be identifiable, wearing uniforms rather than going undercover. [
Fox 32]
Arrest Made In Bucktown RapesA man accused of two rapes in the Bucktown neighborhood has been arrested. Damario McNeil, 31, of Lawndale, was arrested and charged with one count of attempt first-degree murder, two counts of aggravated criminal assault and two counts of aggravated kidnapping and one count of armed robbery. The first rape occurred in February in the 2300 block of W. Moffat, very close to the Western/Milwaukee Blue Line stop. The second assault happened just a few weeks ago, a bit further from the same Blue Line stop but still in the vicinity, in the 2000 block of W. Charleston. Police think McNeil could be linked to at least two other assaults, another in February close to the Western/Milwaukee Blue Line stop and one last September close to the Damen/North Blue Line stop. [Chicago Breaking News]
Local Madoff Victim Reacts To SentenceEarlier today, Ponzi scheme extraordinaire Bernie Madoff was sentenced to 150 years in prison for his crimes. CBS 2 talked to Stuart Borg of Northbrook, one of the Chicago-area Madoff victims. Said Borg, "Life in jail is too good for him. This man has devastated not only people like myself, and richer people than me, but what I've said before - what he's done to these charities. It's unconscionable, and he has no conscience." [CBS 2]
New Study Sheds Light On CPS Teacher TurnoverA new study by the University of Chicago has revealed a disturbingly high rate of turnover among Chicago Public Schools teachers. According to the study, within five years, the CPS loses half of its teachers and almost two-thirds of new teachers. The study, conducted by the U. of C.'s Consortium on Chicago School Research, also showed that turnover was even heavier at poorer, predominantly African-American schools where half the teachers left within three years. The study focused on 35,000 public school teachers in 538 elementary schools and 118 high schools over the course of five school years, from fall 2002 until spring 2007. For more information on the study, check out stories by the Sun-Times, the Tribune, and, of course, the entire study itself.
State Swine Flu Death Toll Rises By TwoAs we approach the end of the month, two June deaths have brought the state death toll from the N1N1 Influenza A (aka swine flu) to 12. A 54-year-old woman passed on June 10 and a 47-year-old woman passed on June 23; the older of the had a previously existing medical condition. Overall, swine flu cases in the state have topped 2,800. [WBEZ]
Stolen Car Crashes Into CTA BusSeveral passengers on a CTA bus were injured last night when a teenager trying to escape a police chase crashed the stolen car he was driving into the bus. The incident happened shortly before midnight last night. One officer saw the reported stolen car and began pursuit; other officers followed and a chase ensued. The driver blew through a stop sign at 79th and Perry and crashed into a No. 79 bus. Eight people on board the bus were injured but were all listed in good condition at Stroger Hospital as was the driver of the car who is now in police custody. A passenger who was in the car was in good condition but not charged with anything. [CBS 2, CBN]
Girl Dies After Choking on Beach Days EarlierA 4-year-old girl who was in critical condition after choking at Calumet Beach on Tuesday died Saturday night. The child, Marianna Carabez, was knocked into the water by a wave while sitting on the beach, according to a police report. Carabez was pulled from the water by her father and bystanders and received CPR from lifeguards, but was "in cardiac arrest after choking" when the Chicago Fire Department emergency personnel found her, the Tribune reports.
[Trib]
Man Arrested for Carrying Gun at Taste of ChicagoIt appears that Chicago Police Department's efforts to increase security at this year's Taste of Chicago is working: a man was arrested as he attempted to bring a loaded gun into the festival on Saturday. Police said they were "acting on a tip" when they found a "9mm handgun on Shrome D. George," according to the Tribune. The 25-year-old Michigan City, Ind. resident has been charged with unlawful possession of a weapon and other weapons charges; he has a bond hearing today.
[Trib]
NW Side Hospital Seeks New EROfficials at the Norwegian American Hospital seek federal funding for a new emergency room due to a lack of space in their current one, according to a Chi-Town Daily News report.
With only 17 ER beds and an increase in visits, an expansion is necessary to continue caring for around 30,000 patients each year and “to enhance care for the poor,” hospital officials said. Visitors seeking treatment must wait outside the waiting room and in an opened conference room during peak hours.
The hospital is considering a parking lot outside the ER as the potential site for the project, which will cost around $10 million.
[Chi-Town Daily]
Metro Jobless Rate Hits Another HighThe jobless rate in the Chicago metro are hit a 26-year high during May. The "seasonally unadjusted" rate hit 10.7 percent in May 2009, the highest the area has seen since August 1983. According to Crain's:
There were 185,900 fewer people employed in the metro area last month compared with the same month in 2008. That figure, the highest among the 12 Illinois metro areas reported, suggests that the recession continues to hamper the local labor market.
The Chicago metro area was second in the state behind Rockford which saw a rate of 13.4 percent.
Judge Asks Peterson Prosecutors To Cut Witness ListSome legal wrangling went down this week in the case against Drew Peterson, set to stand trial for the murder of wife #3, Kathleen Savio. Among the more notables moves made, Judge Stephen White asked prosecutors to cut their witness list down from a mind-boggling 805 to 50. One battle prosecutors did win was an attempt by Peterson's defense team to make the large amount of discovery evidence "easier to navigate." John Connor, the chief of the major crime unit for the state's attorney, claimed, "I think what the counsel is asking us to do is give them CliffsNotes on this," and said all the information the defense was seeking was available in the evidence. Another issue raised by Peterson's attorney - whether three key state witnesses received compensation for their testimony - will be reviewed and ruled on by Judge White at a July 10 hearing. [Sun-Times]
Achatz Inks Another Book DealAlinea chef grant Achatz has sold a book proposal of his battle with Stage IV tongue cancer to Gotham Books. Tentatively titled Life, On the Line (a play on words referencing both Achatz's well-documented cancer struggle and the daily grind of a chef in the kitchen), the book is a dual-voiced narrative alternating between Achatz's first-hand account and the perspective of his fight from Alinea partner Nick Kokonas. [NYT Dining Journal]
Pair Arrested In Shooting Death Of 9 Year OldPolice have arrested two men in connection with last night's shooting in which an innocent 9-year-old bystander, Chastity Turner, was killed while washing her dog on her grandmother's porch. Three others, including Turner's father, were also hurt in the shooting, which occurred last night around 7 p.m. in Englewood, but none of their injuries were life-threatening. Sources also tell media outlets that a weapon has been recovered and testing is underway to see if it was involved in the shooting. Earlier, sources said a green van matching the description of the one used in the shooting, believed to be gang-related, was also recovered. The Tribune and Sun-Times have more on tragic incident, including information that Turner's father is not cooperating with authorities in their investigation.
CPS To Offer STD TestingIn a move that actually makes sense, Chi-Town Daily News reports that Chicago Public Schools will soon begin offering students STD testing with help from the Chicago Department of Public Health. Cook County is number one in the nation in gonorrhea cases and third for chlamydia cases and teens make up 60 percent of Chicago's new cases. No word, though, when testing will become available to students.
Mom Forgets Baby On MetraWe'll admit, we've left plenty of stuff on trains before: papers, books, umbrellas, even a scrap of paper with the phone number of a young woman who was way too pretty for us anyway. But we've never left a baby on board a train as a woman did last night on a northbound Union Pacific North Line train. No charges have been filed against the woman who left the baby on board when she got off at North Chicago. And yes, mother and baby were safely reunited. [CBS 2]
Rep. Davis for County Board Pres.?The Sun-Times reports that U.S. Rep. Danny K. Davis is forming an exploratory committee to consider a run for Cook County Board president early next year. The field is already crowded with at least six other officials showing interest. The Chicago Reader has a roundup of the potentials, which includes, Ald. Toni Preckwinkle, Cook County Commissioner Larry Suffredin, Cook County Circuit Court Clerk Dorothy Brown, Cook County Assessor Jim Houlihan, Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart, and of course Todd Stroger. Currently there is no clear candidate for the Republican primary.
Empress Casino Set To ReopenJoliet's Empress Casino, closed since a large fire struck the complex in March, is finally set to reopen tomorrow. Empress marketing coordinator Kevin McMaster told Fox 32, "Everything is coming along great. It's amazing how fast things are coming together. We are crossing our last Ts and dotting our last Is for Thursday." The casino, which has been closed for 97 days, will have a few ceremonies before reopening to the public at 10:30 a.m. tomorrow. [Fox 32]
CTA Threatens Service Cuts. Again.In a refrain which is growing tiresome yet still just as worrisome, it seems the CTA is once again threatening service cuts ahead of an RTA vote. The vote, happening Thursday, would cut $61 million worth of services to make up for a drop in sales-tax revenue. If approved, overall cuts would breakdown to $35 million for the CTA, $19 million for Metra, and $7 million for PACE. CTA President Richard Rodriguez has warned that cuts would result in about a five percent reduction in service for every $10 million lost. There's no indication which specific services the CTA would be cut, but officials have said whole bus routes could be lost in addition to overall reduction in service. PACE will look to reduce services on routes with low ridership, focusing on late nights, early mornings, and weekends. As for Metra, officials for that agency seemed to be downright sunny in comparison, saying the cuts wouldn't result in lost services as the agency did not fill some vacant job posts and have held tight on spending. [Tribune]
DePaul Looks To ExpandDePaul University is looking to expand and has brought its plan to the neighborhood for approval. Chi-Town Daily news reports DePaul has designs on a 10-year development plan which would include a big complex at Fullerton and Sheffield. And now the Sheffield Neighborhood Association will hold its final meeting on the expansion tonight (7pm in the McGowan Science Building). Ted Wrobleski, the SNA's planning chairman, told the CTDN, “Basically one of the concerns is the size of the new buildings, how tall they’re going to be and how that would fit into the character of the neighborhood." But Wrobleski also said that the association and DePaul have a good relationship and there's not much opposition to the plan.
Investigators Look Into Vehicle TorchingsStrange happenings on the West and Northwest side where it seems a total of 17 vehicles were set on fire in several different spots. According to Chicago Breaking News:
Seven vehicles were found in the 1600 block of North Keeler Avenue, an additional six were found in the 1600 block of North Spaulding Avenue, three others were found in the 1800 block of West Erie Street, and one found in the 3200 block of West Wabansia Avenue, police said.
Investigators aren't saying much by both the Chicago Fire Dept. and the CPD's bomb and arson unit are looking into the incidents.
Booze Coming Back to Walgreens?According to an article in today's Trib it looks like beer, wine and other alcoholic packaged goods could be coming soon to a Walgreen's near you. After Prohibition the drugstore began selling alcohol at many of their locations, but that was phased out in early 90's because it was deemed too costly. Now, according to company spokeswoman Tiffani Washington, new computer systems will make it easier to manage. Profits at the chain have been slipping recently. Perhaps booze can pump them back up. We're completely in favor of the change, as it would mean another way we'd be able to avoid CVS, not to mention it's easier to find a Walgreens.
President Obama Holds Press ConferencePresident Obama is about to start a press conference in the White House Rose Garden, his first from that location. Expected topics of interest will include Iran and health care. You can follow it here starting at 11:30 a.m.
Update: Now that the press conference is done, you can view the complete conference here.