State authorities hope to combat the use of synthetic marijuana and "bath salts."

Citing American Association of Poison Control Centers statistics, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s office said abuse of synthetic drugs is surging. Last year, poison control centers received 302 calls about bath salts; in 2011, that number has skyrocketed to 5,600. And national poison control centers received about 2,900 calls for synthetic marijuana issues; in 2011 so far, they've received nearly double. The sudden spike has lawmakers, parents and police worried because of the harmful effects of the chemicals and the unpredictable behavior of those under the influence.

It took two officers and a little help from neighbors to stop and drag a drunken Mokena woman from her moving car, according to Mokena Police. Witnesses reported seeing a woman driving erratically and sometimes in the wrong lane. Officers found empty bottles of alcohol in the car. Jill A. Ford, 57, was charged with multiple offenses. 

A 51-year-old Plano man was sentenced on Tuesday to three years in prison for a 2008 crash that killed a St. Charles man. Reginald Hearon, of the 3500 block of Boyer Lane in Plano, pleaded guilty in September 2010 to reckless homicide and aggravated DUI. Hearon admitted to taking prescription drugs while he had been drinking alcohol, according to prosecutors.

A Mundelein man wanted on a warrant for assault struck a parked police car and refused arrest at a Libertyville pharmacy drive-through. He refused repeated requests from Libertyville police officers to get out of his vehicle in the pharmacy drive-through at Walgreens. Instead of getting out of his vehicle, Sweeney placed his car in drive and struck a parked police squad car.

A Homewood man accused of trying to lure a teenage girl into his porn-laden truck was convicted Tuesday and put on one-year supervision at the mental health facility where he currently lives. A Cook County judge said jail time wasn't appropriate for Steven Dutton.

“Heat up the turkey in the microwave for 9 minutes. Put pepper on it. Be sure it’s the right degrees. Put it on a plate and serve it to everyone.” Need some tips on how to make Thanksgiving dinner? First-graders at Kildeer Countryside School offer their tips on cooking a turkey.