Mothers Against Drunk Driving to Host 5K

'Walk Like MADD' 5K will be held Aug. 4 at Independence Grove in Libertyville.

Fundraising teams are being sought to participate in Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD)'s signature walk—"Walk Like MADD" on Aug. 4 at Independence Grove in Libertyville. It will be the only one in Lake County. The community's first Walk Like MADD event was held last year. The fundraising goal for this event is $25,000. So far, teams have raised nearly $2,000, according to the local event's website. Register a new team, join a team or make a donation by clicking this link. The event is also seeking volunteers over 14 to help out before, during and after the big day.

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Should DUI Alcohol Limit Be Lowered To 0.05 Percent?

The National Transportation Safety Board recommends reducing the limit. Some say it would save lives. Others say it's unreasonable.

One drink could be the standard for drunken driving – at least for some people if the National Transporation Safety Board has its way. On Tuesday, the NTSB recommended states lower the blood-alcohol threshold for driving under the influence from 0.08 percent to 0.05 percent. About 10,000 deaths a year are related to drunken driving. The NTSB says the lower limit would save 500 to 800 lives a year. Officials at the American Beverage Institute called the proposal "ludicrous." It said the average woman could reach the 0.05 percent limit by having one drink. According to CyberDriveIllinois.com's 2013 DUI Fact Book, there were 2,593 DUI arrests in Lake County in 2011; 3,071 DUI arrests in 2010; and 3,029 DUI arrests in 2009. DUI facts from …

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Sheriff's Office to Conduct Special Patrols Over Super Bowl Weekend

To crack down on drunk drivers and enforce seat belt use, the Lake County Sheriff's Office will conduct special patrols this Super Bowl Weekend.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office announced today it will conduct special patrols this Super Bowl weekend cracking down on drunk drivers and seat belt law violators. “We are reminding everyone that if you choose to drink and drive in Lake County this weekend, you will lose,” said Sheriff Mark Curran. “If you plan on drinking alcohol while cheering on your team, pass your keys to a sober driver before the Super Bowl party begins. Follow the rules or the Lake County Sheriff’s Office will arrest you.” “This weekend can be a deadly and dangerous time because of drunk driving,” said Curran. “To help combat this trend we will increase our proactive enforcement efforts with three additional deputies from the hours of 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Sunday, Feb. …

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Grayslake Police Stepping Up DUI and Seat Belt Enforcement

Now through New Year's Eve, the Grayslake Police Department will be conducting a holiday crackdown on drunk driving and stepping up seat belt enforcement.

Grayslake Police Stepping Up DUI and Seat Belt Enforcement

Now through New Year's Eve, the Grayslake Police Department will be conducting a holiday crackdown on drunk driving and stepping up seat belt enforcement.

The Grayslake Police Department has announced its plans for the 2012 Holiday “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” and “Click It or Ticket” crackdown. The intensified enforcement effort to combat late-night impaired driving and safety belt violations underscores the disproportionate number of traffic deaths occurring during late-night hours. The stepped up enforcement began this week and runs through New Year’s Eve. Enforcement efforts will concentrate on the deadly night time hours between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. According to data from the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the midnight to 3 a.m. time frame is the deadliest time on Illinois roadways and 9 p.m. is the time of …

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Angela Sykora

11:57 am on Thursday, December 20, 2012

Good information to know, though I've always wondered who the slogan writers were, and if they patted themselves on the back for rhyming, or trying to anyway.   more ›

Patch Flash: Fake Drug Use Surges, Causes Real Problems

Chicagoland news to talk about: Drunk suburban drivers don’t heed police.

  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…

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Patch Flash: Home Sales Benefit from Being Close to Metra Train

Chicagoland news to talk about: Should Dan Hampton have gone to the White House?

  The "location, location, location" rule of success in real estate apparently held true last year for the sale of homes located close to a METRA train line, according to a survey by RE/MAX Northern Illinois. Even though the market is down, RE/MAX's research shows that the market is not as bad for home sales along a METRA line. A group of 18 elected officials have put their "John Hancocks" on a letter to Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn opposing his September move toward closing seven state facilities, including the Tinley Park Mental Health Center. The center treated 2,000 patients last year, according to the letter, and employs 207 employees. Quinn's proposal to close it is part of a plan to cut state spending. He blamed the move on state …

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