Hate-Crime or Justified Shooting? / Brown's Chicken Killer's Shocking Claim / Face-Punch City Tour / Batmobile Fun

Thank you for reading Patch. Let’s catch up on your week in headlines across the Illinois Patch network.

» TOP STORIES

White Businessman Argues Race Had Nothing to Do with Shot Fired at Black Man

Two different accounts of one night in downtown Flossmoor between a white man and a black man walking on the street. The accused shooter tells Patch his story.

Killer Behind Notorious Brown’s Chicken Massacre Claims Girlfriend Lied for Reward

A star witness repeatedly lied to get her hands on $50,000 in reward money, according to the killer’s petition. James Degorski had escaped justice for more than a decade.

A Mom, A Bridge and 2 Suicides Thwarted

The Miller family knows too well the moment a man stood poised to leap to his death. The mom who saved him? Her son once stood there, too. Patch talks to both about those fateful days.

Insult to Injury: Chicago Neighborhood Tour Pokes Fun at YouTube Couple for Now-Infamous Face Punch

The Brianna and Jaelin Walking Tour re-created the "42 terrifying minutes" the Arizona couple described in their viral video last month.

Teacher's Back-to-School Rap Video Had the Entire Nation Singing 'Welcome to the 4th Grade'

Dwayne Reed, a first-year instructor in Skokie, tells Patch he's surprised to see his video go viral.

4 Tornadoes, Including an EF-2, Blast Through Champaign County Friday Night

PHOTOS and VIDEO: The twisters tore through buildings, farmhouses and threatened several small towns in Central Illinois Friday night.

Oak Lawn Batmobile Ready to Make America Great Again

When he's not out fighting crime, Tom Repetny rents out his Batmobile for special events. And if Donald Trump wants to use it -- cool.

Kidnapping of Wheaton College Student Was ‘Random Criminal Act’

Two teens have been arrested in connection with the Aug. 26 kidnapping and police are searching for a third suspect.

Abandoned Newborn: Police Hope Someone Recognizes Backpack That Held Baby Girl's Body

Mother still unknown. DuPage County sheriff raises reward to $5,000 for information that will help investigators find her. See the photos.

Tronc Dumps Robert Feder

Company formerly known as Tribune Publishing ends licensing agreement with media critic Robert Feder.

» 9/11: 15 YEARS LATER

'Real' Gap in 9/11 Perception Between High Schoolers Then and Now

A Northwestern professor who taught at New Trier in 2001 describes how time changes the perception of 9/11. By Tim Moran.

Teaching 9/11 History to a Generation With No 'Personal Memory' of That Terrible Day

Marian Catholic High relies on a personal connection, the late Patrick Jude Murphy, to bring home the impact of 9/11 to students who were 2 or 3 years old that day. By Anicka Slachta.

Northbrook Rabbi Prayed for 9/11 Victims at Ground Zero Day After Attack

Aaron Melman, the chaplain for the Northbrook Fire Department, discusses the irony of an expensive store turning into a makeshift morgue. By Tim Moran.

Students Too Young to Remember 9/11 Get History Lesson at Naperville Central

Some of them had never seen footage of the attacks. How 9/11 is taught at the alma mater of Navy Cmdr. Dan Shanower, who was killed at the Pentagon that day.

Bald Eagle Moves to Lake Forest
The 1-year-old female is injured, but now has a permanent home at the Wildlife Discovery Center.

Woman Sexually Assaulted at Gunpoint Near Home in Palos Hills: Police
The woman had just returned from work at the time of the attack, she told police.

Mokena Driver Charged with DUI for Hit-and-Run That Left Man Critically Injured
The accident took place near 193rd Street and Wolf Road in Mokena Friday morning.

Chicago Woman Was Pregnant with Zika, Now Owes Thousands
Aetna refused to cover the necessary bi-weekly ultrasounds and blood work Debra Gittler had to have throughout her pregnancy.

Cubs in the Playoffs? How to Buy Postseason Tickets
Fans can register online now for a chance to see Chicago play October baseball at Wrigley Field.

Chicago Bears 2016 Regular Season Schedule: When and Where to Watch the Games
Find TV and radio information for all 16 Chicago Bears regular season games in 2016.

8 Chicago Pizzerias Among Nation’s Best
BUT NONE WERE IN THE TOP 20 — and that's just wrong! New rankings by The Daily Meal list the top 101 pizza joints in the United States.

Brad Schneider Endorsed by Vice President Joe Biden
VP says 10th District Illinois U.S. House Democratic nominee a "tireless advocate for Illinois' working families."

Documents to be Released in Valerie Percy Murder Case
A judge rules police in Kenilworth need to release the report on the unsolved murder of a politician's daughter 50 years after it was made.

Mayor Featured in Forbes Article on Women Shattering Political Glass Ceilings
Hillary Clinton isn’t the only woman breaking political barriers. Example: Highland Park's Nancy Rotering.

3 Men Stormed Skokie Business, Bound Owner With Duct Tape and Ransacked His Home: Cops
82-year-old business owner and his secretary were bound with duct tape at work while attackers ransacked the owner's home.

Death of 3rd Grader in Homer Glen Investigated
The child passed away at home overnight. Homer 33C to offer counseling to Schilling School students, according to district letter.

Teen Drove 60-70 MPH in 35 MPH Zone Before Crash That Killed Elderly Man: Cops
The teen crossed into oncoming traffic and crashed into the 82-year-old man’s car, police said.

Forest Preserve District's First K-9 Officer Dies
The 12-year-old canine, Rosie, was diagnosed with arthritis in early 2012 and retired later that year.

» ELECTION 2016

Trump's 'Basket of Deplorables' | Starbucks for Hillary | Polls Tighten in Key States

PatchPolitics Week in Review: Dallas paper flips for Clinton • "And what is Aleppo?" Libertarian asks • Facebook co-founder puts up $20 million to fight Trump

New Play in Chicago Uses Naperville as Its Setting
The show will "leave you breathless," according to a review.

ITT Shutdown: Campuses in Illinois Close for Good
The immediate closing of the chain of for-profit colleges comes after pressure from the U.S. Department of Education.

St. Charles Parents Angry over "Bathroom Passports" in Schools
Some teachers in the St. Charles district are enforcing a "bathroom passport" to teach students time management skills.

Year After Gliniewicz Shooting, Local Lawmakers Still Pushing for Law to Deny Pension Benefits to Convicted Spouses
A new law sponsored by Rep. David McSweeney would not apply to Melodie Gliniewicz but would deny pensions for similar cases in the future.

‘Crazy Worms’ That Deplete Soil Invade Chicagoland
The Asian species known for draining nutrients has made its way to the Midwest. Several were found at the Chicago Botanic Garden recently.

Chicago Cop Charged With Battery, Misconduct After Hitting Man With Baton
Video of the 2014 event revealed that Officer Brett Kahn's account of the incident was incorrect, prosecutors said.

Aurora Named One of the Top 10 Best Cities for Families
The City of Aurora has been ranked as one of the Top 10 Best Cities for Families by finance website WalletHub.

Apple-Picking Guide for the Chicago Area
As summer winds down, here is a look at apple orchards already open, or opening soon, in the Chicago area.

» FIND A JOB

Best & Worst Cities in Illinois for Jobs

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» ALSO WORTH A LOOK

• Governors State to Cease Operations at Small Business Development Centers
• Romeoville Walmart Worker Tried Seducing 12-Year-Old, Was Really Communicating With Cop: Police
• Romeoville Woman Wins $250K on Scratch-Off Ticket
• Joliet Priest Accused of Sexual Abuse Dead at 83
• Senior Center Pastor Fatally Shot Retired Minister, Fled in Motorized Wheelchair: Cops
• Florida Man Admits to Impersonating Sen. Dick Durbin to Avoid Paying Home Loan
• Off-Duty Cop Thwarts Smash-and-Grab at Jewelry Store
• Attacker Fed 16-Year-Old Alcohol Before Sexual Assault in Forest Preserve: County Sheriff

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