Patch Flash: Illinois Gambling Debate Expected to Begin This Week

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn is calling the push by some state legislators to vote on gambling legislation a "distraction," but isn't stopping the bill's sponsors from pushing for debate this week. At stake is a bill that would open more casinos in the state, with current proposals from Danville, Rockford and Waukegan in the running. An additional, more controversial clause of the legislation would allow slot machines to be operated at race tracks like Arlngton. The bill's Senate sponsor, Terry Link (D-Waukegan), says the debate could begin mid-week, and House sponsor Lou Lang (Skokie) said the job-creation prospects outweigh Quinn’s concerns. 

Installing fencing along the railroad tracks from Woodland Road north past Lake Forest High School, along with stricter pedestrian enforcement around railroad crossings, are some of the suggestions coming from a group composed of Lake Forest officials and representatives from Union Pacific and Metra railroad companies. The group, which had not met for a year, reconvened April 26 to consider creating some proposals in conjunction with other initiatives launched in the wake of the deaths of three Lake Forest High School students hit by trains since January. Two of the three incidents were ruled suicides by the Lake County Coroner’s Office.

Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom announced Monday that the indictments allege that Apple Valley resident Doreen Dunn, who was 57 at the time, "decided to end her life with the advice, encouragement or assistance of an organization known as the Final Exit Network." 

DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert B. Berlin announced May 15 that after a one-day bench trial, Judge George Bakalis has found for carving anti-African American sentiments on a window ledge outside an Elmhurst College dormitory room in December 2011. On Dec. 8, at approximately 11:25 p.m., Burton approached the dormitory located at 190 S. Prospect and damaged the window ledge by carving racial epitaphs, including “KKK” and “Negro,” among other things, into the ledge, said Berlin.

Have you seen the video of the Lamborghini driver who spun out of control, while apparently trying to impress with the vehicle’s high speeds. The video has gone viral. It was shot in a Chicago suburb. Anyone recognize the intersection?