Today, the state of Illinois announced 12 additional deaths due to the H1N1 flu virus (aka swine flu). Meanwhile, counties are struggling to keep up with the demand for the vaccination, but there are some serious inconsistencies as to how much each county gets. more ›

• A pair of area deaths related to H1N1 have been reported. In related news, a truck with 900 H1N1 vaccine doses was stolen in Milwaukee though police have apprehended a suspect.
• As the search continues for a hit & run driver responsible for the death of 25-year-old Rachel Gilliam, a surveillance tape is making the rounds that shows the alleged car that moments later hit Gilliam and her family is offering a $10,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest of the driver.
• With 1,000 officers eligible to retire, Chicago Police Supt. Jody Weis admits he's "nervous" about retirements cutting into the CPD's already thinned ranks.

The H1N1 flu strain (aka swine flu) has claimed the life of another area teen. The teen, who was a student at Sandwich High School and hadn't attended school all year due to the illness, passed away on Sunday. Officials were not releasing the student's name. Michelle Fahle, a 14-year-old student at Naperville North High School, died two weeks ago and had been diagnosed with the H1N1 virus, though a previously undiagnosed heart condition is believed to be the main contributing factor to her death. All told, the state's Department of Public Health reported 20 H1N1-related deaths as of last Friday. more ›

While no useful information about the patient was released - i.e., age, gender, preexisting conditions - officials have confirmed that a Chicago patient became the state's first H1N1 flue (a.k.a. "swine flu") death. There are nearly 900 confirmed cases of the flu here in Illinois right now - 896 to be exact - and it underlies the danger that remains, according to Illinois Dept. of Public Health Director Dr. Damon T. Arnold. In a statement, he said, "With as many cases of H1N1 influenza that have been reported in Illinois, we have been concerned that there would be fatalities. We know the virus is still circulating in the state and I would like to remind everyone, especially those with chronic medical conditions, to continue taking steps to keep from getting the flu." The death was the nation's 12th as a result of the disease and Arnold did say there were preexisting conditions for the patient, but no details were released. more ›