Walter Thompson, 30, allegedly tried to run away from the wreck after the 2006 Hyundai Santa Fe he was driving crashed in the 1400 block of West 115th Street about 3 p.m., according to police News Affairs. He was later arrested at 118th Street and Ashland Avenue and taken to MetroSouth Medical Center in Blue Island in “stable” condition.

Thompson, of the 12900 block of Page Court in Blue Island, is charged with one count of aggravated DUI involving a fatal accident, and one count of aggravated DUI involving and accident causing bodily harm, according to police News Affairs.

Thompson was ordered held on $400,000 bond on Wednesday and a preliminary hearing was set for $500,000, Cook County State’s Attorney’s office spokesman Andy Conklin said.

Thompson was already issued traffic citations for the deadly crash, including DUI, damaging city property, driving with a revoked license and three counts of leaving the scene of an accident, according to police News Affairs.

One man was killed and four other people were hurt during the chain-reaction crash that sent five vehicles careening into each other and nearby pedestrians, police said. Police claim Thompson was driving the Santa Fe westbound at a high rate of speed when it hit a 1997 Ford Aerostar minivan, which then struck a 2002 Pontiac Bonneville. The Santa Fe then wedged itself between two other vehicles — a CTA bus that had stopped to unload passengers, and a beer truck being unloaded by a worker, police said.

The worker — identified by the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office as 45-year-old Charles Kimbrough — was pinned between the beer truck and the CTA bus, police said.

Kimbrough, of the 14000 bock of South LaSalle Street in Riverdale, was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn where he was pronounced dead at 3:53 p.m., according to the medical examiner’s office.

The beer truck also lurched forward during the crash and struck a second pedestrian, a 64-year-old man who was taken to Christ Hospital in “stable” condition, police said.

The 66-year-old man driving the Aerostar, the 32-year-old man driving the CTA bus and a passenger on the bus were also injured, police said. They were all taken to Roseland Community Hospital in “stable” condition.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2012. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

Cortez Ross, of the 4300 block of South Champlain Avenue, was charged Tuesday with three counts of attempted first-degree murder and two counts of aggravated battery, police said.

A Cook County judge ordered Ross held without bail at a bond hearing on Wednesday.

Ross is accused of shooting a Chicago Police officer in the hand while attempting to flee from police Sunday afternoon in the South Shore neighborhood.

Calumet Area gang officers responded at 3:56 p.m. to a report of a person with a gun in the 6800 block of South Stony Island Avenue and approached a suspect to investigate, according to a police statement.

The suspect ran away and officers pursued him into the 6700 block of South East End Avenue, where a struggle ensued between the suspect and one of the officers, police said. During the struggle, the suspect pulled a gun and shot an officer.

Fraternal Order of Police spokesman Pat Camden said officers then shot the suspect three times.

A police vehicle took the wounded officer to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where he was listed in good condition with a gunshot wound to the hand, authorities said.

The 35-year-old officer is an eight-year veteran of the Chicago Police Department and is assigned to the Calumet Area gang section.

Paramedics took the suspect to John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County in serious condition, Fire Media Affairs Director Larry Langford said.

Camden said a female officer from the three-person, unmarked police car ran down the suspect and tackled him. She was examined checked out on the scene for possible injuries.

Police recovered a weapon on the scene, and Calumet Area detectives and the Independent Police Review Authority is investigating.

(The Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this report.)

(CBS) This may be simply because I watch so many Bulls games on DVR, but I’m itching to fast-forward to the playoffs. Push a button, blur it by, and get on with it.

Just past the halfway point of this lockout-shortened season, we have learned nothing significant about this year’s team, other than how easy it is for Derrick Rose to get hurt, and for it all then to become immediately irrelevant.

It feels like more bad can happen than good between now and any games that matter.

So they get home-court advantage by out-hustling better teams and pounding the myriad bands of bums. Great. But none of this makes them significantly more likely to get past a Miami Heat squad that performs like an exhibition at the Air and Water Show – some nights looking more like the Blue Angels or the Thunderbirds than a basketball team.

All this compressed schedule of toil, and for what?

Rose is still everything, and he already has two injuries that he admits will need to be managed from here on in. Sprained toe, strained back, and something else, probably, soon. Some midweek night in some indistinguishable NBA arena he’s going to land wrong again on a hard floor. At least his backup’s backup’s backup has been a nice find.

Luol Deng’s versatile, professional play has earned him an All-Star spot, but nobody now thinks he’s transformed into the kind of second true star that elevates the Bulls to a different conversation. Joakim Noah still needs to play like his unruly hair is on fire to counterbalance his deficiencies and Carlos Boozer still has only limited interest or ability to play satisfactory defense. The bench still outperforms that of the other team almost every night.

And what of Rip Hamilton, the big offseason move that was to solidify them for May and June? He’s been a headbanded, lucite-faced ghost, and reasonable fans have already lowered expectations for what he’ll mean, even if he’s “healthy.” He may just be old and brittle.

One could argue that regular-season games could matter if/when Hamilton is reintegrated to the offense, but even that is a reach. Veterans know what to do, and all that looks different when he plays is the incorporated series of baseline-chase “floppy” sets and single-double actions that take advantage of his skills. And Ronnie Brewer returns to the second unit, where he belongs.

Tom Thibodeau grinds ahead, having instilled a sense of commitment and purpose in this team that has the engine running hot all the time. What is key, however, is the past tense of that statement: last year’s Bulls had just been constructed, and Thibodeau was an unproven, unknown head coach who needed to establish a culture, and he did.

Now, this is as solid a team as can be, playing for the reigning NBA Coach of the Year. Any trite contention that these games help them “come together” seems a little silly. Togetherness, whatever that means, is not an issue. If they again fall to the Heat, it will not be due to a lack of unity or cohesion.

32 games remain of this year’s 66, which still seem like a lot.

I’ll be watching impatiently and anxiously, hoping the Bulls stay healthy and waiting to learn something.

Dan Bernstein has been the co-host of “Boers and Bernstein” since 1999. He joined the station as a reporter/anchor in 1995. The Boers and Bernstein Show airs every weekday from 1PM to 6PM on The Score, 670AM. Read more of Bernstein’s columns here. Follow him on Twitter @dan_bernstein.
Listen to The Boers and Bernstein Show podcasts >>

Angie’s List, the nation’s premier provider of consumer reviews, surveyed contractors across the country to determine what the common home aches and pains are, and how to remedy them before you have to seek emergency care.

“Your home really can tell you where it hurts,” says Angie Hicks, founder of Angie’s List. “You just need to understand what it’s saying.”

Paying attention to the basics of home care is a lot like brushing your teeth or exercising and eating well, Hicks said.  “Taking care of the basics will save you stress, time and money. Neglecting them won’t just cost you more down the road, it could actually put your family in danger,” she said.

7 Signs Your House Needs Professional Care

1.    Up on the Roof: A small issue with your roof doesn’t mean you need to replace the whole thing. But letting the little things go only means you’re in for big bills later. If you notice loose shingles, have attic leaks, suspect chimney issues or see other signs of damage up high, call in a reputable roofer, gutter or chimney expert or a handyman to give you great advice about what you need done.

2.    Leaks don’t fix themselves: Leaky faucets and running toilets will just get worse, so do yourself a favor and get those fixed before major damage occurs. If you notice a jump in your water bill but haven’t increased your usage, you likely have a hidden leak, which left undetected could lead to mold, wood rot and severe water damage. Don’t work with anyone who isn’t happy to show you his or her plumbing license.

3.    Caulk it up: The caulking around your tub and shower prevents moisture penetration, which can lead to mold, tile and wall damage and warped cabinetry. Keeping everything watertight will save you a bundle, so be sure to repair any caulking failures. But don’t stop there. All homes get cracks and voids in their outside walls over time. Look closely at where two boards come together, because cracks often start there. Also look for damage from animals that are looking for a way in. Caulk any cracks you see to avoid water penetration, subsequent wood rot and to keep the critters out.

4.    Sparks fly: Lights that dim on their own schedule aren’t just annoying: they’re a clear signal that you have an electrical problem. Experts say too many homeowners tolerate this situation for too long, which puts their homes at risk for electrical fire. Another often tolerated-too-long issue is when using one device causes another to switch off because you’ve blown a fuse. This is a sign you have a capacity or circuit box issue. Less dangerous but still signal-worthy are springy outlets that don’t hold plugs. If you have any of these issues, call in a licensed, reputable electrician.

5.    Drafty doors and windows: Improperly sealed windows and doors will bring cold air inside during the winter and let cooled air out in the summer, costing you big bucks on your energy bill. An energy audit can tell you where your leaks are and how to seal them up.

6.    Filter it out: HVAC experts say 60 percent of their service calls result from systems stressed by dirty air filters. Changing air filters regularly (every quarter or so; more if you have pets) can save you up to $100 each year on your energy bill, and will keep you from needing emergency repair. Many highly reputable heating and air conditioning companies offer maintenance plans that include an annual inspection. Doing this will give you an early alert to any issues you have with your entire HVAC system so you can stave off breakdowns.

7.    Pump it up: Take a look at your sump pump from time to time. If it’s in good shape and its batteries are good, it could save you thousands of dollars in flood damage. But you don’t want to find out it needs repairs after the water starts rising. Get an annual inspection and check the batteries at least quarterly.

____________________

This article originally appeared on Angie’s List.

Consider using this seasoning to help with:

Restoring enamel fixtures:  Salt can be mixed with turpentine to create a cleaning paste that will restore enamel fixtures around the house. This mixture can help whiten older surfaces that have turned yellow with age, such as sinks, bathtubs and toilets. Apply to the damaged area and let it sit for 15 minutes. Afterward, wipe the surface clean with a damp sponge. A mixture of salt and baking soda can also act as a cleaner that is good for stovetops and silverware.

Removing carpet stains: Spilled liquids on the carpet, such as wine and gravy, can be difficult to soak up without pushing some of the liquid further into the carpet fibers. After soaking up the majority of the liquid with a dry towel, pour salt on the area to absorb the remainder of the liquid. You also can mix one part salt with four parts rubbing alcohol to remove grease stains by rubbing the mixture in the same direction as the carpet fibers. After rubbing, thoroughly rinse the area with water. As with any carpet cleaning solution, test first on an inconspicuous area to ensure the solution doesn’t cause damage.

Revitalizing furniture: If a wooden surface in your home has been marred by a hot dish or water, remove the mark by applying a thick paste composed of salt and salad oil. Simply spread the paste over the affected area and buff the surface slightly with a soft cloth.
Cleaning dishes: White or lighter colored tea cups, coffee cups and other dishes can easily become stained after continual use. To remove these stains, sprinkle salt on the affected area of the dish and use a damp cloth or sponge to scrub the stains away. Use circular motions when scrubbing for effective results.

Washing clothes: When treating stubborn perspiration stains in clothing, mix 4 tablespoons of salt and 1 liter of water for an effective cleaning solution. Sponge the shirt with the mixture until the stain is completely removed. Rust and mildew stains on clothing can be removed by soaking the clothing in a mixture of lemon juice and salt for about 20 minutes. Afterwards, lay the clothing out in the sun for a few hours then rinse and dry.
Although salt can be an effective cleaning material for certain surfaces and household items, it is not a cure-all solution for every area of the home. If you are unsure of how certain areas should be cleaned, contact a professional.

____________________

This article originally appeared on Angie’s List.

Though cleaning a mattress doesn’t come with the same simplicity of other bedding items, that doesn’t mean the mattress shouldn’t deserve equal attention. Cleaning your mattress can be effective and efficient with the right approach. Follow these steps so that you and your family can sleep on fresher bedding by nightfall.

Vacuum: When cleaning your mattress, use the upholstery attachment on your vacuum cleaner to tackle dust, dander and dust mites that can build on the surface. Repeat this process every six months, or more frequently if the mattress is used by a person with allergies.

Shampoo: After vacuuming, apply an upholstery shampoo to the surface of the mattress to fully remove dirt and soil. If you don’t have upholstery shampoo, apply a solution of water and mild detergent to the entire area of the mattress. Wipe the shampoo or detergent solution clean by using a sponge that has had warm water wrung from it. Turn on the ceiling fan and portable fans to allow the area to dry quickly.

Cleaning spills: When cleaning spills and stains from your mattress, start by soaking up all liquid using dry towels. Once the stain has been completely soaked up, immediately toss the towels into the washing machine on a hot water setting to kill all bacteria. After doing so, lightly spray vinegar on the stain and let it sit for 10 minutes to fully disinfect the mattress and eliminate odor. Afterward, sprinkle baking soda over the stain and let it sit for 12 hours to soak up the rest. After the 12-hour period, vacuum the remaining baking soda.

Drying stains:  Place the mattress outside in the sun for a few hours to speed up the drying process and allow the mattress to fully air out, or pull back the blinds or drapes in the bedroom and open the window to expose the mattress to the maximum amount of sunlight and outside heat. When you replace the mattress, make sure to place the stain side down to prevent concentrating multiple stains onto one region.

In addition to cleaning your mattress, you can prolong its life by flipping and turning it every six months to ensure even wear. Use a mattress cover to ensure protection in between cleanings. To prevent dust mites, choose a mattress cover that is specifically designed to protect against the invasion of these tiny critters.

It’s also important to replace your mattress after about seven years of use, according to The Better Sleep Council, a nonprofit agency that represents the mattress industry. With repeated use over time, a mattress can gradually lose its ability to fully support you. This can lead to sleepless nights as well as the feeling of cramps and stiffness upon awakening.

____________________

This article originally appeared on Angie’s List.

Despite challenging economic conditions in Europe, Ferrari has reported both record revenues and record unit sales, thanks to strong growth in China, the U.S., Germany and Great Britain. Ferrari recorded revenues of 2.251 billion euros ($2.96 billion), an increase of 17.3 percent over 2010.

More significantly, its 2011 performance marks the first time the automaker has exceeded 2 billion euros ($2.63 billion) in revenue. The automaker’s return on sales, which is net profit divided by sales revenue, came in at 14.1 percent, among the highest in the automotive industry. Net profit was up over 2010 as well, rising to 209 million euros (approximately $275 million).

Worldwide, Ferrari sold a total of 7,195 cars last year, including a record high of 1,958 vehicles in the United States. While the U.S. is still the Italian automaker’s largest market, the greater China market posted growth of nearly 63 percent, with deliveries totaling 777 units.

German sales were up by 14.6 percent, rising to 705 units, while Ferrari sales in Great Britain totaled 574 units, an increase of 23 percent. Even sales at Ferrari’s online store grew by 25 percent, while Ferrari’s website traffic grew by 30 percent. Not to be outdone, the Ferrari Museum in Maranello booked a record of over 240,000 visitors, with 60 percent coming from outside of Italy.

Look for Ferrari to launch a new 12-cylinder model to replace the 599 at next month’s Geneva Auto Show. Per chairman Luca di Montezemolo, the new car will deliver “extreme performance,” thanks to “unprecedented power output.”

________________________

This article originally appeared on Motor Authority.

When it comes to reminiscing about old TV shows, we find they fall into one of two categories — shows we really miss, or shows so bad they make us cringe to think about.

Electra Woman and Dyna Girl — a 16 week live action kids show from 1976 — most certainly falls into the latter category, but does at least have one redeeming feature according to our editor Marty Padgett.

The heroines drove an electric car.

Admittedly, it looked more like a three-wheeled speedboat than a regular car. It also had no doors, windows or creature comforts and looked about as stable as a unicycle.

It could also fly into the Earth’s upper atmosphere.

But back in the gas-starved ’70s, the Electra-Car (or ElectraPlane when it was flying) at least gave kids a hopeful future where electric cars could fight crime, good won out over evil, and everyone wore bright orange spandex costumes.

Luckily for us, Electra Woman and Dyna Girl’s fashion sense hasn’t caught on, but is their taste in cars responsible for many Generation X car buyers making the switch from gasoline to electric?

Perhaps we’ll never know, but if you have fond memories of the short-lived show, there’s a healthy selection of Electra Woman and Dyna Girl clips on Youtube, plus the not-aired pilot of the more adult, comedy version from 2001.

What classic (or cult) TV shows inspired you to go electric? Let us know in the Comments below.

___________________

This article originally appeared on Green Car Reports.

As WBBM Newsradio’s Regine Schlesinger reports, some other suburban districts already have a ban on the books on grinding, where dance partners simulate sex acts at school dances.

LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio’s Regine Schlesinger reports\

Now, Maine West High School is the first to act in Maine Township High School District 207.

“It’s been around for a few years, but a few years ago, it was more isolated; it would be couples here and there that would be doing it, and it was, at that point, easy enough for a teacher or administrator to walk up and say, ‘Hey, just knock it off,’” said district spokesman Dave Beery.

Beery says Maine West is adopting a policy of two strikes and you’re out. Students will be given wristbands when they enter Maine West dances, and anyone who engages in inappropriate moves will lose his or her wristband.

If students persist in their suggestive dancing, they will be ejected from the dance.

There is no immediate plan to implement the ban on “grinding” at the district’s two other schools – Maine East and Maine South in Park Ridge.

Moreno confirms on his Web site he plans to introduce the ordinance at the March City Council meeting. The ordinance would also set up guidelines for police to follow in interactions with transgender people.

The Police Treatment of Transgender Individuals Ordinance would require officers to respect each person’s unique gender identity, and add gender identity to the definitions specified in Police Department policy, he Chicago Phoenix reported.

Ald. James Cappleman (46th), a supporter of the proposed ordinance, told the Phoenix even basic questions such as which restroom a transgender person will use are not settled right now.

A 2010 National Gay and Lesbian Task Force study revealed that nearly half of transgender respondents were uncomfortable seeking help from police, and about a fifth said they were harassed by police officers, the Phoenix reported. The study also found that 60 percent of transgender women of color reported being abused by police, and 20 percent said they were denied equal services, the Phoenix reported.

Moreno’s proposed ordinance comes just a few weeks after state Rep. Kelly Cassidy (D-Chicago) introduced a bill that would add gender identity to the Illinois hate crime law. Cassidy’s proposed bill would also add military status and immigration status.

The severity of the concussion is not known, but it is believed Toews suffered the injury early in the Blackhawks’ recent road trip. A second source said it happened Feb. 10 at San Jose. The source also said that Toews may have hidden his symptoms from the team to remain on the ice.

Toews missed Tuesday night’s 2-1 win over the Red Wings and did not practice Wednesday. He will not play when the Blackhawks host the Dallas Stars Thursday, but he is listed as day-to-day.

Here’s your chance to register for this incredible opportunity to help raise money for the Special Olympics.

Each participant is asked to raise a minimum of $125 to support the programs enjoyed by the nearly 5,000 Special Olympics Chicago athletes throughout the year. Plungers will receive a souvenir t-shirt and a warm towel when exiting the water.

The 12th annual Polar Plunge will take place at North Ave. Beach on Sunday, March 4 at 10 am.

Here is that statement in its entirety:

In an effort to grow college football’s great popularity and success, we just completed two days of productive meetings in Dallas, Texas.

We have until the fall of this year to finalize any possible changes to our current structure. That’s when contractual obligations require us to begin negotiations with our television carrier for future coverage decisions. We have a self-imposed deadline of sometime this summer to decide what changes we will propose to our governing bodies for football’s post-season. It’s still early in our process and we will continue to meet with our conferences and review options.

Whatever we do, we want to protect college football’s regular season which is the best and most meaningful in sports. We want to preserve the great bowl tradition while making it better and more attractive. We also have heard the message about playing bowl games closer to or on January 1, the way it used to be.

As we proceed, we will evaluate the many pros and cons of numerous possible changes. Every idea has exciting up sides, as well as complicated consequences. From the realities of the calendar to the issues presented in terms of venues such as who hosts games, we have tremendous responsibilities and opportunities.

The bottom line is we will continue to talk about how to make a great sport even better for student-athletes, fans and everyone who loves college football.

Bob called into The Boers and Bernstein Show to voice his displeasure with the Bulls’ decision to sign veteran point guard Mike James to his second 10-day contract with the team.

With injuries to Derrick Rose and C.J. Watson, the Bulls have had no choice but to look outside the team for a fourth-string point guard.

“Aren’t there other options out there besides Mike James?” Bob asked. “I think he’s too old for the position.”

You see, in three games since signing his second 10-day contract with Chicago, James has averages 10.3 points and 4.3 assists — not bad for your fourth-string, 36-year-old point guard.

This question sparked an immediate reaction from co-host Dan Bernstein who responded with this: “He’s a fourth-string point guard! The acquisiton of Mike James was out of pure need. The injury to Derrick and the injury to C.J. Watson — they needed another point guard. … Who would you rather have as a backup point guard than a veteran who has stepped up and player terrific for you? … What in God’s name are you expecting from a call-up as a fill in?”

LISTEN: Caller of the Day

For the rest of this interview and other 670 The Score interviews click here.

Quinn also said the state cannot afford its pension obligations as they are currently structured.

The governor said previously that he would propose Medicaid cuts of $2.7 billion. In his budget speech Wednesday, Quinn did not specify how this would be achieved, but he appointed a group of state lawmakers to a Medicaid Working Group to reform the program.

LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio Political Editor Craig Dellimore reports

“We must insure that there will be a Medicaid program in Illinois,” Quinn said, noting that the Civic Federation has warned that the state could end up with $21 billion in unpaid Medicaid bills if there is no fundamental reform to the program.

The state’s Medicaid program is used by 2.7 million people in Illinois, and is “on the brink of collapse,” Quinn said.

Last year’s Medicaid appropriation by the Illinois General Assembly fell $1.9 billion short of what the program actually cost, Quinn said.

“Illinois is the only state that intentionally kicks its current Medicaid bills into future fiscal years,” Quinn said. “We cannot allow this to continue.”

Quinn’s budget plan also calls for closing more than four dozen state facilities. But the residents and patients at some of those facilities will be vastly better off, according to the governor.

Quinn said improving the quality of life for people who suffer from mental illness or have developmental disabilities should mean moving them “from costly institutions to supportive community settings.”

“Illinois lags behind the rest of the nation in the utilization of person-centered, community-based care,” Quinn said.

Two centers for the developmentally disabled will close, both of them downstate – the Jacksonville Developmental Center, and the Murray Developmental Center in Centralia. Also, as Quinn has announced previously, the Tinley Park Mental Health Center and a mental institution in Rockford will close.

Two prisons – The Tamms Supermax facility and the women’s prison in Dwight, will also close. Two prisons – The Tamms Supermax facility and the women’s prison in Dwight, will also close. Six halfway houses – Crossroads Chicago, West Side Chicago, Decatur, Aurora, Peoria and Carbondale – will also close.

The state Department of Human Services will consolidate 24 local offices, and the Illinois State Police will reduce their 20 communication centers to just four and consolidate a forensics lab in downstate Carbondale with new one in Belleville, among other consolidations.

Meanwhile, Quinn said the state’s public pension system is unsustainable and must be stabilized and strengthened “once and for all.”

Every conceivable change to the system is on the table, Quinn said, from historical funding to employer and employee contributions.

Quinn blamed previous governors and state legislators for failing to contribute the proper amount into the pension system. He pointed out that some lawmakers awarded taxpayer health insurance benefits to themselves.

“This lack of fiscal accountability has cost us dearly today,” Quinn said.

Pension costs now amount to $5.2 billion, compared with $1.7 billion five years ago. Pensions also now take up 15 percent of the state’s General Revenue Fund, compared with 6 percent only a few year ago, Quinn said.

Quinn has likewise appointed a panel of lawmakers to deal with the pension crisis.

But Quinn emphasized that there are two obligations that he will not cut in the budget – education, and care for veterans.

Staff will be increased at the state’s four veterans’ homes, and as Quinn said in his State of the State Address last month, he is planning an investment in classroom infrastructure – including modern laboratories, digital books, high-speed Internet access and new school buildings – which he says will create numerous jobs.

Education funding will be expanded across the board, both for college students who help college students who are now finding themselves mired in student loan debts, and to assist families with early childhood education, because after all, “you only get to be a 4-year-ol d once.”

The governor also advised doing away with tax loopholes that he says are costing the state tens of millions of dollars in revenue. He said , for one example, that when oil companies claim their offshore oil derricks are in other countries, Illinois doesn’t get any jobs, but loses $75 million per year in its treasury.

GLENDALE, Ariz. (CBS) – Much like on the other side of town, the White Sox seemingly have little competition with their starting positional players but there are a number of open spots on the pitching staff.

Specifically with the Sox, the competition is in the bullpen and even more specifically the closer’s role. The battle is between three guys: Matt Thornton, Jesse Crain and Addison Reed.

Though Reed is the youngest and least experienced of the three, he likely is the leader for the job going into Spring Training. He’s a hard throwing right-hander who in his brief time with the Sox last September struck out 12 while walking just one. The Sox have had a history of bringing guys out of nowhere to be their closer and Reed could be their latest.

As for the other two guys, Crain didn’t hide his feelings.

“That’s going to be up to the coaching staff but they know how I feel about the opportunity,” he said. “I can’t control anything other then going out and pitching. I’m sure they have someone in mind but we’ll see what happens and I’m going to give them something to think about.”

Meanwhile, Thornton was handed the closer’s role at the beginning of last season and didn’t have much success.

“I had a bad five or six weeks in my career at the really worst time,” Thornton said. “I was given an opportunity by Ozzie to be the closer last year and I blew it. I didn’t get the job done but I did bounce back and had a good last few months of the season and threw the ball well.”

Thornton learned from last year’s experience and would like a second stab.

“If I get a shot at the closer’s role I would enjoy it and I would like another chance to prove that I can do it,” he said.

For more White Sox spring training coverage from Glendale, Ariz, click here. Find all of David Schuster’s spring training blogs here and follow him on Twitter (@schumouse).

Schuster was on The McNeil and Spiegel Show discussing prospective pitcher Dylan Axelrod when Williams stated his opinion on the 26-year-old right-hander.

“Dylan Axelrod is an outstanding young man and he can pitch,” Williams said. “He’s one of these good stories that you hear about coming through the Independent League and the getting an opportunity and making himself into a major league, so let’s all root for him. … I didn’t find him. He found us.”

LISTEN: Kenny Williams on The McNeil and Spiegel Show

For the rest of this interview and other 670 The Score interviews click here.

New general manager Phil Emery has stated he has the green light to spend money where needed. With wide receivers like Dwayne Bowe, Vincent Jackson, Marques Colston and DeSean Jackson potentially available, the Bears could finally land a No. 1 wide receiver.

“I would try to get one in free agency, and depending on who I could get in free agency, I’d also think about it in the draft in one of those four picks in the first three rounds,” Brad Biggs of the National Football Post and Chicago Tribune told The Mully and Hanley Show. “I think they’ve got some other areas that certainly need to be addressed, and not all of these wide receivers are going to hit the open market, but for the guys that do get out there, I think there is going to be tremendous competition for players like Vincent Jackson, if he gets out to the open market. You’ve got to have a plan, you’ve got to have a price and you’ve got to have conviction. You can’t just throw money around. You’ve got to believe that it’s going to work. But I believe they need to rectify the mistakes of the previous years with this position.”

LISTEN: Brad Biggs on The Mully and Hanley Show

For the rest of this interview and other 670 The Score interviews click here.

Though some of the Bears available money has to be set aside for draft picks, the Bears have more than enough to fulfill their needs.

“You gotta carve out a little bit for the draft picks but it leaves them with enough room to do anything they want. Is it the $67 million that the Bucs are reported to have in cap space? No, it’s far from it, but my goodness, when you talk about cap room, you’ve got all the flexibility you could possibly need.”

As WBBM Newsradio’s Keith Johnson reports, the House Agriculture Committee has approved legislation that would force a woman to view an ultrasound image before getting an abortion, or decline to do so in writing.

LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio’s Keith Johnson reports

That legislation, HB 4085, passed by out of committee by a vote of 11-2, the Champaign-Urbana News-Gazette reported.

The only lawmakers on the committee voted against the bill were Reps. Deborah Mell (D-Chicago) and Naomi Jakobsson (D-Champaign).

The News-Gazette reports Jakobsson asked the bill’s sponsor, state Rep. Joseph Lyons (D-Chicago), if the goal of the bill was to discourage a woman from having an abortion by making her view an ultrasound.

Lyons, who is against abortion, replied that the goal is to give “a human face to the procedure,” where the women see a heartbeat and realize that it’s not “just a procedure like getting your tonsils out,” the News-Gazette reported. The newspaper reports Lyons went on to say, “If it saves one life, Naomi, is that a bad thing?”

Mell criticized the assignment of the bill to a committee that is supposed to handle farming issues,.

“We’re not talking about abortions for cows and pigs, right? We’re talking about women?” she said.

A controversial bill now up for a vote in Virginia would require women to view an ultrasound before getting an abortion. That bill is drawing particular criticism for its requirement that some women undergo an invasive transvaginal ultrasound probe.

A similar law is already on the books in Texas, where a woman must undergo a sonogram and hear a doctor’s verbal description of what she is seeing – and even ask the patient if she wants to hear the fetal heartbeat – before an abortion can be performed.

The Illinois House Agriculture committee also approved a companion bill, HB 4117, which would require any clinic that provides 50 or more abortions a year to stricter health standards than currently required, the News-Gazette reported.

The American Civil Liberties Union tells the newspaper the legislation could mean many women’s health clinics could end up closing.

The Agriculture Committee is dominated by downstate conservatives. Last year, the same committee approved a bill that would have permitted Illinois residents to carry concealed weapons, but the bill ended up failing when it came up for a full state House vote.

As WBBM Newsradio’s Bernie Tafoya reports, the longtime substitute teacher allegedly watched as one of his students duct taped his own wrists together last week at Graham Elementary School, at 2315 High Meadow Rd. in Naperville, a District 204 spokeswoman told the Naperville Sun.

LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio’s Bernie Tafoya reports

The teacher was fired as soon as administrators had found out about what had happened.

The 10-year-old student reportedly told his babysitter after school that the teacher had actually bound his wrists “to prove a point.”

The babysitter called police after finding marks on the boy’s wrist.

The boy’s parents decided not to file criminal charges against the teacher, Naperville police said.

In a statement to the Naperville Sun, District 204 spokeswoman Janet Buglio said the boy had applied duct tape to his own wrists while sitting at his desk, while the teacher watched.

“The substitute was immediately removed from the classroom as soon as the school’s administrator learned of the incident,” Buglio wrote “This substitute has worked in District 204 since 2000 without previous incident. District 204 has taken steps to ensure the substitute will not work again in any of its schools.”

Neither Buglio nor Naperville police Sgt. Gregg Bell would identify the teacher.

The Naperville Sun contributed to this report, via the Sun-Times Media Wire.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2012. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

The old “Cubs Way” is now gone, and a newer, smarter brand of baseball is taking over.

“If you’re going to build this thing from the ground up, you’ve at least begun the right way,” Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times told The Mully and Hanley Show. “They’ve stock piled pitching. How any of these guys that are sort of bounce-back candidates respond remains to be seen, but if one or two of them do, then you add to that. What you’re doing when you bring in position players is you’re focusing on guys with versatility and guys that can catch the ball.

LISTEN: Gordon Wittenmyer on The Mully and Hanley Show

For the rest of this interview and other 670 The Score interviews click here.

Wittenmyer said that though there might not be any immediate signs of change this season, slowly but surely, fans will begin to see the difference.

“You’re going to emphasize fundamentals in camp,” he said. “If something begins to look like it’s coming together, whether it’s this year or next year,  now you add to that. Meanwhile, you’re not spending the big bucks on the big-buck home-run hitters before you need them. One or two of those guys isn’t going to put you over the top, anyway.”

The aardvark calf was born on Jan. 12, and has grown to 15 pounds in the nearly six weeks since. The zoo does not yet know if the calf is male or female.

LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio’s Pat Cassidy reports

The calf will not be on public display for several months, but zoo visitors will soon be able to view it over a live video monitor.

Aardvarks weigh about 4 1/2 pounds at birth, and are very fragile when they are first born. So the zoo assisted the calf’s mother, 7-year-old Jessi, in rearing the baby.

The zoo has been giving the calf round-the-clock care and providing supplemental aardvark formula to ensure its health.

For the first several weeks after it was born, the calf spent every night at the zoo Animal Hospital with veterinary staff, and was returned to Jessi in the mornings. Since aardvarks are nocturnal, the aardvark was able to nurse while its mother was asleep during the day.

Keeper Dana Vinci feeds a new baby aardvark. (Credit: Brookfield Zoo)

Since 1992, there have been nine aardvarks born at Brookfield Zoo, most recently in 2002. Jessi and the calf’s father, Hoover, 17, are on breeding loans from the Memphis Zoo and the San Antonio Zoo, respectively.

The aardvark is the only representative of its taxonomic order, Tubulidentata It is native to sub-Saharan Africa, and its name is Afrikaans for “earth pig.”

The report alleges Rose wanted the Bulls to work out a trade that would send Carlos Boozer to Los Angeles for Gasol.

“(Derrick’s) not going to undercut Carlos Boozer or any of his other teammates by saying anything publicly that’s going to undermine them and make it seem like he doesn’t ant them around,” Sheridan told The Mully and Hanley Show. “But, let’s face it, Pau Gasol would be an uprgrade over Carlos Boozer. If he can be had at the right price, certainly the Bulls would have to put something on the back end of that trade to even it out for the Lakers. If you can get Pau Gasol in there instead of Carlos Boozer, you’ve upgraded your team and given yourself a better chance to get past the Miami Heat. That’s what Derrick is all about – getting past the Miami Heat and getting to the NBA Finals.”

LISTEN: Chris Sheridan on The Mully and Hanley Show

For the rest of this interview and other 670 The Score interviews click here.

Sheridan said the trade would make sense for the aging Lakers if the Bulls would throwing in a point guard like C.J. Watson.

“They’re not an elite team anymore,” he said. “They need to do something to get a little bit younger and a little bit better. Right now, the best trade asset they have is Pau Gasol. You start looking around the league if you’re the Lakers, especially toward the Eastern Conference because you’re going to want to trade the guy out of the conference, and you say, ‘Well, who has got the goods to give us exactly what we’re looking for?’ They’d have to replace a guy on the low block and the Bulls can do that with Boozer. The Lakers also need a point guard. … Look, the Bulls have C.J. Watson who has filled in pretty admirably in the games Derrick Rose has missed.”

As WBBM Newsradio’s John Cody reports, gas prices on Tuesday hit an average of $3.57 nationwide – a 40 cent hike from a year ago.

Durbin said voters are certainly watching.

“Gas prices are a major impact on our economy, on retail sales, and on the attitude of people and the confidence that they have toward the future of the economy,” Durbin said. “So there’s no question that there’s a linkage.”

But Durbin also sees the gas price situation as little fuel for a serious political challenge at this point.

“When I listened to some of the Republican presidential candidates, one said, in the bidding war, ‘I’ll bring the price of gas down to $2.50 a gallon,’ and then Newt Gingrich said, ‘No, make that $2,’” Durbin said. “I think Americans dismiss that as political hyperbole.”

Durbin said while the U.S. is making some headway at reducing fuel use, the country is still vulnerable to gas price hikes from international forces affecting the markets.

LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio’s John Cody reports

CHICAGO (CBS) — An off-duty Chicago Police officer convicted of killing a teenager in a hit-and-run crash three years ago will learn his fate Thursday.

Richard Bolling has been in protective police custody since his aggravated driving under the influence and reckless homicide convictions last month.

LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio’s Steve Miller reports

Bolling, 42, faces up to 15 years in prison for the hit-and-run death of Trenton Booker, 13, who was riding his bicycle near 81st Street and Ashland Avenue on May 22, 2009, when he was fatally struck by the off-duty officer.

On Wednesday, Bolling sat in his orange prison jumpsuit during a sentencing hearing in which Booker’s family members read victim impact statements.

So much was lost because of the selfish acts of Bolling, said Trenton’s father, Terrence Booker. “Trenton was one in a million,” he said, struggling to speak. Trenton’s mother, Barbara Norman, added that there would be a lifetime of milestones missed, including Trenton’s high school graduation next year.

Bolling’s defense plans to call up to 25 people to testify on his behalf.

Authorities said Bolling struck Booker with so much force, his bike was knocked underneath a parked SUV. Booker’s family said every bone in his body was broken by the impact.

Bolling had an open beer in the car, and the 17-year Chicago Police veteran never took any sobriety tests until at least two hours after his arrest.

Bolling had admitted to drinking alcohol before driving his Dodge Charger on the night he ran over Booker, but denied he was drunk or that he knew right away he had hit the boy.

But last month, a jury rejected that claim, convicting Bolling after deliberating about nine hours over two days.

His attorney is arguing for probation for Bolling, the son of a police commander and the father of two.

As WBBM Newsradio’s Bernie Tafoya reports, McHenry County Sheriff’s police said two sisters, 15 and 18, threw a party without their parents’ permission while their parents were out of town on Feb. 11.

When it was over, about $25,000 in crash and about 100 Hydrocodone pills were missing, police said.

About 25 teens attended the party in the 800 block of Florence Street in unincorporated McHenry, police said.

Anyone with information on who took the money and drugs is asked to call McHenry County Sheriff’s police at (815) 338-2144.

LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio’s Bernie Tafoya reports

The Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this report.

(CBS) You’re well-versed in the “Curse of the Billy Goat.” You’re plenty familiar with that hex the Black Sox put on the White Sox way back in 1919. And you’re fully aware that when it comes to spooky baseball shenanigans, Chicago is “Curse Capital, USA.”

But here in 2012 as spring training is once again sprung upon us, what you likely don’t know is that there’s another baseball “curse” that’s been lurking beneath the Windy City’s collective radar for more than a century.

And it just might be the most powerful one of them all.

More than six years ago after the White Sox captured their first World Series title since 1917 – and finally busted the ghosts of the Black Sox in the process – I first identified this previously unknown hex that’s long been quietly haunting Chicago’s big league ballparks.

But it wasn’t until last week, when news broke that the Cubs might play their 2013 season down at U.S. Cellular Field while Wrigley Field gets a gut rehab, that my memory of this “Curse of Chicago” was jogged.

And I thought I’d run ii past you today.

Last week, I wrote a blog entry where I imagined a bittersweet scenario in which the Cubs finally fulfill their fans’ dream of winning a World Series, only to end up doing so while nightmarishly displaced at The Cell. Now, you can certainly call that tale science fiction. But the story I’m about to share with you is nothing but the truth.

Even the most seasoned baseball observers among you might not realize that, in spite of that White Sox title in 2005, Chicago still remains a championship graveyard.

And that’s because the Windy City – or, perhaps more appropriately, the When-dy City – still hasn’t celebrated a postseason baseball series championship of any kind on its own soil since 1906. In fact, the only reason why that championship was celebrated within the Chicago city limits was because the 1906 World Series never left Chicago city limits.

In that showdown, the White Sox topped the Cubs at South Side Park in Game 6 of a crosstown Fall Classic, sparking a celebration that surely rocked the city but also appears to have somehow rankled the baseball gods.

Because they haven’t forgiven Chicago since.

After all, get a load of this list of the city’s all-time championship-game history – and perhaps get a couple of chills in the process …

2005: The White Sox won the American League Division Series in Boston, won the AL Championship Series in Anaheim, and won the World Series in Houston.

2003: The Cubs lose the potential series-clinching Game 4 of NLDS at Wrigley Field, before going on to win the series in Game 5 in Atlanta. Then, in the NLCS, the Cubs lose potential series clinchers, Games 6 and 7, at Wrigley Field.

1945: The Cubs lose the decisive Game 7 of the World Series to the Detroit Tigers at Wrigley Field.

1917: The White Sox win the World Series over the Giants in Game 6 at the Polo Grounds in New York City.

1908: The Cubs win the World Series over the Tigers in Game 5 at Bennett Park in Detroit.

1907: The Cubs win the World Series over the Tigers in Game 4 at Bennett Park in Detroit.

For those keeping score, that’s seven Chicago postseason series victories since 1906 – with each and every one of them being clinched outside the City of Big Shoulders. And that’s four times – three in 2003, and one in 1945 – that the Cubs had an opportunity to secure a series championship on city turf only to come up short.

In all the years that this metropolis has played Major League Baseball, Chicago has celebrated only one postseason series clincher within its city limits (1906). And, again, it took two Chicago teams to make that happen.

Now, of course, in 2005, the White Sox were so efficient in the playoffs that they didn’t need to come home to clinch a series. Same can be said for the 1907 Cubs, who swept Detroit in four games.

Nevertheless, with all of this in mind, perhaps it doesn’t matter one lick if a future championship-caliber Cubs squad played its games at U.S. Cellular Field. After all, even if that hypothetical team were to finally win a World Series, the clincher likely would take place on the road.

Otherwise, it doesn’t seem as if it could take place at all.

Because until further notice, the Windy City should be considered inhospitable for all series-clinching celebrations as this under-appreciated “Curse of Chicago” lives on.

But, hey, at least the Billy Goat probably appreciates it.

After all, it means he still has company, right?

Dave Wischnowsky

If nothing else, Dave Wischnowsky is an Illinois boy. Raised in Bourbonnais, educated at the University of Illinois and bred on sports in the Land of Lincoln, he now resides on Chicago’s North Side, just blocks from Wrigley Field. Formerly a reporter and blogger for the Chicago Tribune, Dave currently writes a syndicated column, The Wisch List, which you can check out via his blog at http://www.wischlist.com. Follow him on Twitter @wischlist and read more of his CBS Chicago blog entries here.

May 31, 1998 – Bulls beat the Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals

You remember Reggie Miller, right?

He’s that shooting guard from the Pacers that made the Bulls’ lives a living hell during the seven-game Eastern Conference Finals in 1998.

The Bulls were poised to return to the NBA Finals and win their third-straight NBA championship, but they’d first have to go through Miller and the Pacers. Chicago had little trouble reaching the conference finals after sweeping the Nets in the first round and taking down the Hornets in five games in round two, but Miller and the Pacers wouldn’t let the Bulls just march into the Finals uncontested.

Early in the series, it appeared the Bulls would win the series, taking Games 1 and 2, but once the series shift to Market Square Arena in Indianapolis, things began to change.

After the Pacers took Game 3, they trailed the Bulls 94–93 in Game 4 with 2.9 seconds left.

Miller then got free from Michael Jordan, caught the in-bounds pass from Derrick McKey, and turned and made a game-winning 3-pointer with 0.7 seconds to go.

The clutch 3-pointer tied the series at 2 games, but the Bulls would eventually take home the Eastern Conference crown in Game 7 in Chicago. This was one of only two Game 7s the Bulls would play during their run of six championships.

The Score will continue to release a new Flashback each weekday until they reach 100. Check back tomorrow for a new one, or check out all of the previous Flashbacks: 670 The Score’s 20th Anniversary »

CHICAGO (CBS) — A morning peppered with bursts of snow is giving way dry, overcast skies and temperatures jumping to 45 degrees.

CBS 2 Meteorologist Megan Glaros reports the snow from the morning hours was still working its way through Northwest Indiana as of 11 a.m. It had been expected to bring 1 to 2 inches of accumulation in some areas, but most locations got just a dusting, if anything.

The snow was expected to turn to rain by lunchtime, then leave the area altogether. The high for the afternoon is 45 degrees.

But flurries return overnight when the low drops to 38, and rain and snow are likely again for Thursday, when the high climbs to 46.

CHECK OUT THE LATEST RADAR

As WBBM Newsradio’s John Cody reports, University of Illinois at Chicago neuroscientist Thomas Park acknowledges naked mole rats aren’t everyone’s cup of tea.

LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio’s John Cody reports

“They look a lot like hot dogs,” he said. “They’re pink and furless.”

And on top of that, their teeth stick straight forward out of their mouth.

But Park admires the mole rats’ ability to survive low oxygen levels without brain damage, just like human babies.

“What we found is that the mole rates retain those baby characteristics throughout their very long life, and so now we think we have a new target to try to help people that find themselves in an oxygen-deprived situation,” he said.

The difference is calcium levels, Park explained.

“One of the first things that kills brain cells when they run out of oxygen is too much calcium enters the cell,” he said.

Park says naked mole rats block that calcium uptake, and he has figured out the mechanism through which they do so.

Park says the next step is figuring how to mimic mole rat brain defenses in heart attack victims.

As WBBM Newsradio’s John Cody reports, asked directly if he thinks Israel will bomb Iranian nuclear facilities, Durbin did not answer directly.

LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio’s John Cody reports

“I think this is a dangerous situation. There is no question that Iran with a nuclear weapon is a danger to the Middle East and beyond, and Europe and beyond,” he said.

Durbin says sanctions are appropriate at this time.

“But I hope that there’s no one who believes that a military confrontation is an easy way out. That would complicate the entire situation in the Middle East and risk a lot of life,” he said.

Durbin says the strident comments coming now out of Iran show that country is feeling the pinch of the international sanctions on trade.

Earlier this week, University of Chicago political scientist John Mearsheimer said the threats against Iran by Israel are just posturing. He said Israel does not have the refueling capacity for support an attack on Iranian nuclear sites.

“Secondly, it appears that the Israelis do not have the bombs that are necessary to penetrate deep enough into the ground to destroy Iran’s nuclear capability,” Mearsheimer said.

Mearsheimer said a careful reading of Iranian statements shows leaders are not, in fact, threatening a nuclear attack on Israel at all. Instead, he said, they are predicting that the Israeli government would disappear as did the earlier governments of the Soviet Union and Iran.

Something caught fire in a hallway in the prewar high-rise at 4423 N. Sheridan Rd.

The fire broke out at 3:15 a.m. and was brought under control a short time later.

The building is located at the southeast corner of Sheridan Road and Agatite Avenue. It houses studio and one-bedroom apartments on the upper floors, and an assortment of businesses on the ground floor.

Further details about the fire were not immediately learned.

The Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this report.

As WBBM Newsradio’s Bernie Tafoya reports, Mayor Emanuel says replacing entire school staffs, or turning schools over to charter school operators, are the best ways to get children learning.

But a new study says that is not true.

LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio’s Bernie Tafoya reports

• READ THE STUDY

The study by Designs for Change says about 33 neighborhood schools with at least 95 percent low-income students outscored poor turnaround schools run by the Academy for Urban School Leadership, a charter school operator. The low-income, non-turnaround schools even beat the city’s test score average, the study said.

The study also says low achievement and high teacher turnover at schools that were turned around happened despite the extra dollars those schools receive.

The Chicago School Board is set to vote Wednesday on a plan to administer turnarounds at 10 Chicago Public Schools, and close or phase out seven more.

CPS chief education officer Noemi Donoso said Tuesday that schools that have already gone through the turnaround process are doing better.

“What we know is that our schools that are having the most aggressive growth that are low performing, are getting growth somewhere from 4 to 6 percent a year; sometimes even 8 to 10 percent,” she said.

But parents and teachers have been protesting the turnaround plan, and are urging the board to vote against it.

As WBBM Newsradio’s Bob Roberts reports, the warning is prompting more Baby Boomers to get a one-time test.

LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio’s Bob Roberts reports

Glenbrook Hospital liver specialist Dr. Dhiren Shah said that while more people are coming to him for tests in recent months, he has seen fewer actual cases of the disease, which can progress without outward symptoms for up to 20 years.

Some say that all boomers — those ages 45-65 — should be tested. But Shah says 85 percent of those needing the test fall into three backgrounds – those who received blood transfusions before 1992, those who have had abnormal liver enzyme readings on past blood tests and those who have either snorted or injected drugs.

He said a common misconception is that the drug must have been injected. He said snorting is a definite means of transmission, and that anyone who has done so – even if it happened 25 years ago – should be tested.

Bleeding begins in its latter stages. Until then, he says, a drug cocktail can cure most patients.

“It’s a three-drug cocktail, and they all have side effects, but it’s manageable in the proper hands,” Shah said.

The price might be off-putting, however. The cocktail is more than 75 percent effective, but it can cost $50,000.