Three high school students drowned on Friday in the Fox River near Algonquin after taking out a paddleboat that filled with water. The boat's plug had been removed for winter. According to the Breaking News Center, the "three teens, two seniors and a junior, were students at North Lawndale College Prep, on the last day of an eight-day leadership retreat at Camp Algonquin."

Below is video coverage of the tragedy from CLTV and WGN. Stay tuned to CLTV, WGN and The Breaking News Center throughout the day for updates.

Was I the only one out of the loop on this? Until this morning, I had no clue that teen girls galore were losing their minds over a Vampire Man/Boy!

While I was busy sleeping early Wednesday, these mesmerized gals (hundreds of them), many along with their dutiful (possibly also bitten) moms, were lined up at south suburban Orland Square Mall. Lined up for a chance to get one of 500 wristbands that would then allow them in to Wednesday night's personal autograph session with Hollywood's latest Heartthrob. That would be none other than 22 year old actor Robert Pattinson, star of the soon-to-be-released Vampire flick 'Twilight!' (It's based on a series of books following a Vampire who is greatly conflicted after falling in love with a mortal girl.)

Well, first of all, they weren't supposed to start handing out the wristbands until 7:30 am, but since dozens and dozens of these moms and daughters were there way before that, those in charge capitulated. That of course, greatly upset those who dutifully followed the rules and showed up at the appointed time only to learn they were sorry out of luck - no more wristbands! (On the positive side, could be a good young lesson in life.. right?)

Second of all, are they all nuts? I mean, I could see swooning of this magnitude if the movie was already out, but since it's not and Pattinson's somewhat of a big-screen newbie --well, what is this mass hysteria all about (he apparently caused a near-riot in San Francisco the other day!)??!!

Could someone -please- enlighten me?!

Even my immediate boss is perplexed. He was clearly concerned that he might turn on the local TV news tonight and see his wife (a known local TV meteorologist at another station) and their pre-teen daughter (who she would've had to pull out of school for the day) at the mall, completely SWOONED OUT!

A friend text-messaged me from the Grant Park area last night, saying she had 'Goosebumps!' That was in reference to being part of the amazing and diverse crowd. Later, after Barack Obama's victory speech, she text-fully admitted to ...tears.

My 81 year old neighbor, who's always voted Republican, but this time voted Obama (saying that being half black and half white, he truly represents all of us), also had tears in her eyes as a result of his Grant Park speech. (She watched from her living room.)

But those two examples are girls! Yet, females (as they historically seem to) hardly had a monopoly on teary emotion as last night's history-making unfolded.

For one, there were all those Obama rally shots of long-time civil rights advocate the Rev. Jesse Jackson practically blubbering away. (I dunno, I thought Mr. Obama himself, seemed to have a moistness to his eyes.)

Then there was my very own brother, a 48 year old white guy, living in Wisconsin (a definite not-cryin'-kinda-guy).
I called him post Obama speech to get his thoughts. He said...
"Moni, I'm STILL teary."

Leave a comment and share your thoughts on the election!

The AP confirms that McCain has called Obama to concede.

Tell us what YOU think about the outcome of this historic election!

The AP is reporting that Obama has snagged Virginia and Mississippi goes to McCain.

The AP is reporting that Obama leads with 195 electoral votes and McCain trails with 70.

Give us your thoughts on the election so far!

The AP is reporting that Obama has won battleground state, Ohio.

Tell us who you think will be the 44th President of the United States!

The AP is reporting that Obama has 175 electoral votes and McCain has 61. Below, a breakdown of the states:

Obama wins:
Connecticut
DC
Delaware
Illinois
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New York
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
Vermont
Wisconsin

Senator Dick Durbin, who was re-elected to the U.S. Senate tonight, issued the following comment:

"Thank you to the people of Illinois for this vote of confidence. I look forward to representing our great state in the Senate and working with our new President to face our historic challenges.

According to the AP, Obama leads with 175 electoral votes and McCain has 46.

Obama wins:
Connecticut
DC
Delaware
Illinois
Maine
Maryland

Obama's important win in Pennsylvania gives him 21 more electoral votes. The AP is reporting that Obama has 99 electoral votes and McCain has 34.

CNN is reporting that Barack Obama is heading home to Hyde Park to have dinner.

The AP is reporting that Barack Obama has won in Illinois.

The AP is reporting that democrat Dick Durbin has been re-elected to the U.S. Senate.

ChicagoBreakingNews.com is reporting:

"One man was killed and another was critically injured this evening when someone opened fire on their vehicle on the Far South Side, police said.

The men's vehicle crashed after the shooting near 130th Street and Torrence Avenue and burst into flames, officials said.

The AP is reporting that John McCain is the winner in Kentucky and Barack Obama has won Vermont.

…Cause at least I know I can vote. Well, okay that's not the way the song goes. But it's definitely the way I feel right about now. For the last couple weeks we've watched our country's economy spiral down. It's scary to see what is happening to our country. There were so many opportunities for us to have been told the truth and yet all we received were lies. That is very unnerving.

She says her son is innocent. That he never hurt anyone. That he and his estranged wife, Julia Hudson (sister of actress Jennifer Hudson), love each other.

Michele Davis Balfour blames The Media, for putting his face out there like he's, "Attila the Hun... the worst scum of the earth."

It truly is sad, if he's innocent (and by law, he is, until proven otherwise).

But then again, 27 year old William Balfour's estranged wife (who lost not only her mother and brother, but also her 7 year old son last week) did reportedly say something eerily accusatory on her MySpace page:

"Now because I chose to do what was natural to me and love someone, it cost me my beautiful family. It cost me my beautiful, loving, supporting mother Darnell, my true blue baby brother Jason - I love you baby - and last but never least, my only son Julian, my innocent baby one that was sheltered from all the evil in the world because we loved him so much."

Police Supt. Jody Weis confirmed on Monday afternoon that the body found on Chicago's West Side is that of 7-year-old Julian King, the missing nephew of Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Hudson. This is just days after the mother and brother of the actress/singer were found shot to death in their South Side home.
Below is video coverage of the events from CLTV, WGN and the AP. Stay tuned to CLTV and The Breaking News Center for developments on the story.

In his first public appearance since a new Tribune voter poll gave him a measly 13-percent approval rating, Governor Rod Blagojevich isn't mincing words!

First of all, he thinks the numbers are off.

But then again, he blames his low approval rating on the 'nation's' slumping ecomony.

But despite that, he says if he were running for governor in the upcoming election, he'd easily win!
(He says it will be a banner year for Democrats riding Barack Obama's coattails.)

And by the way, he does not believe his alleged low voter approval is connected to the current federal investigation into possible corruption in his own administration.

Could "Going Blago" could soon take on a very special meaning, similar to "Fruit-loopey" or "Reality Disconnect?" Nah, ya gotta hand it to the gov. Even in trying times, he's still trying to 'spin' - positive.

The news isn't good for Democratic Governor Rod Blagojevich.

A new Chicago Tribune poll of 500 likely voters in the state show the second term governor is sitting in the popularity cellar.

In it, just 13 percent of voters (65 out of 500) said they approve of the job Blagojevich is doing while 71 percent (355 of 500) disapprove.

That is the lowest approval rating of an elected official in the 30-year history of the Tribune doing such polls.

Barack Obama's people may be engaging in 'Pay to Play' politics, according to at least one Chicago media columnist. The view comes in response to the Obama Campaign's plans to charge big bucks to press members planning to cover his big election night rally in Grant Park. The 'Pay' required from media types who want to 'Play' (ie --cover his big party) reportedly ranges from 700 to 1800 dollars. That could greatly limit the press presence of some media outlets - like those currently dealing with layoffs and other cost-cutting measures. In other words, pretty much all of us -except, possibly, the 'national' press corps.

Granted, having the big event in Grant Park will not be an inexpensive endeavor (expect high costs for everything from security to clean-up). The City of Chicago, now facing a major budget crunch, can't be expected to foot the bill, can it? Though, so far no word from the Obama camp on what if anything it's going to be paying toward all of it (or whether that's partly what the big media fees are for).

Okay, but beyond all that, there is also something else to consider.

What about that whole first amendment 'Freedom of the Press' business? Generally, when we (the press) cover things, it is free. We do not pay to be there. We are there to represent the people who cannot be there; to document events. After all, we offer a public service that is constitutionally guaranteed under our democracy. Or in tough economic times, does everything go out the window?

Former Chicago police commander John Burge has been arrested at his Florida home by the FBI on obstruction of justice and perjury charges. They stem from his time with the Chicago police department, where he led a group of officers accused of gross mishandling of suspects.

It's long been believed that Burge and his men used beatings, electric shock, whatever it took, to get confessions out of some suspects. In 1993, Burge was fired from the Chicago police department. But, until now, he's never been charged with a crime. Adding insult to alleged injury, he's also continued to receive a city of Chicago pension.

Below are video clips from CLTV's past coverage on the Burge torture case. For more archive coverage, log on to chicagotribune.com's section on Jon Burge's legacy.

Stay tuned to CLTV and the Breaking News Center for developments.

I'll admit it. I'm a nerd. 100% purebred All-American nerd.

This claim is backed up by the hours I've spent watching networks like History Channel and Discovery.

I was guilty of it this weekend, in fact.

The show "Secrets of Body Language" on History Channel grabbed my attention.

Sure, I know what you do and how you say something is as important (if not more) as what you say.

That's how JFK "won" the debate against Nixon in 1960, right?

A medical helicopter crashed in Aurora Wednesday late. The chopper was transporting a 1-year-old patient to Children's Memorial Hospital. The child and the other three people on board were killed. Below is video coverage from CLTV and WGN of the crash. Stay tuned to CLTV and the Breaking News Center for continuous coverage on this story.

Well President Bush managed to get us into a second war with Iraq so I guess it’s only fair that he helped steer us into what could be the country’s second Great Depression.
When I woke up from my afternoon nap today (yes, I maybe 25, but I take naps like an 80 year old) I was sweating. And at first I thought it was because I was wrapped in two down comforters; then I realized I had actually been listening to Charles Gibson give a special report on the Dow Jones which has fallen 733 points, their second largest drop ever.Ever?

Through their people, the music-industry-maven and her filmmaker husband have confirmed that they -are- going splitsville!
(That, despite their denials of divorce rumors over the summer.)
My questions: Do we care? Should we care?

Just a week ago, a longtime, loyal Tribune newspaper reader expressed to me her dismay that the paper recently had a similar star-type report on the third page of the paper. Her point: that with all the tough times hitting our world right now, such Hollywood gossip-type stuff shouldn't be given serious news space.

Well, we (CLTV) predominantly featured today's Madonna story in our newscasts (though not in the first segment). Should we have? Or are such stories better left to the Entertainment Tonight's and Enquirer's of the media world?

Early voting in Illinois begins today, the first for a presidential election. From the Chicago Tribune:

Through Oct. 30, voters can cast a ballot without having to give reason why they are not able to vote on Nov. 4, Election Day, as they would to cast an absentee ballot. A government-issued photo ID is required for early voting.

Chicago may soon become a new model for tolerance in high school.

Today, Chicago Public Schools CEO Arne Duncan recommended that the school board approve plans for 20 new schools, including the first high school for gay, lesbian, transgendered teens and allies.

Does it really teach tolerance? I don't think so.

What it does is send a message--a wrong message--that Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered people are different and need to be separate.

Sunday night's shooting death of 17-year-old of Kiyanna Salter has sparked an online discussion on the site of CLTV's Garrard McClendon Live. Below is the news video with the latest updates concerning the search for a suspect and then a clip from Tuesday night's Garrard McClendon Live in which his featured guest Father Pfleger spoke via phone about gun violence in Chicago.

They've lost their chance at the World Series, as well as nine playoff games in a row.
Have they lost your support?

Chicago Police Office Nathaniel Taylor Jr.was shot early Sunday morning on the city's south side and later died at Advocate Christ Hospital. He was a 14-year veteran of the police force and is the third Chicago officers to be killed this year. CLTV's Regina Waldrop has a full report.

Ok, so I know it’s not as smooth as “Rumble in the Jungle” but not much rhymes with Mississippi… and the only other option was “Showdown in Mississippi.”
Well, America – tonight is the night. The first Presidential Debate of the 2008 Elections and the number one question on the minds of most Americans … surprisingly is not “what about the economy?” But, will McCain be there. We have less than 40 days until we march to our respective polling locations to select the 44TH President of our great but financially crumbling nation (in case you haven’t heard WAMU just got snagged up by Chase.)

Turns out that staying in school makes a lot of sense for students and taxpayers.

A new study out of Boston's Northeastern University found taxpayers - get this - lose $221,000 over the course of a lifetime for each Illinois student who drops out of school.
All I can say is, wow! Now, that's money that could be in my savings account.

Folks, it seems that being a daddy has meant some house cleaning for Clay Aiken. Specifically, when it comes to his closet.

In the latest issue of People magazine, Aiken finally acknowledges he's gay.

A new health study of Italians shows that a small square of dark chocolate daily protects the heart from inflammation and subsequent heart disease.

Those researchers even have the amount you should eat down to 1/10th of a gram.

The Chicago Sun-Times is reporting on a proposal that would make bars in Wrigleyville stop serving beer and other alcohol after the seventh-inning stretch. It's the same rule the ballpark follows. The rule would be instated only if it's a "clinch game" and sales would resume when the game is over.
What do you think? Is this a good idea? How well do you think it will be enforced? Would you be more willing to attend a game? Less willing to go to a bar in the neighborhood? Weigh in by leaving your comment below.

CLTV's Aaron Baskerville reports from River Forest where residents are cleaning up after last weekend's damaging floods. For more video coverage on the record rains, click here.

CLTV's Monica Schneider reports on how to cope with the recent market meltdowns.