Daily archives: August 18th, 2010

Family Sues Dolton, Cook County Over Hit-and-Run of Teen

August 18, 2010
ChicagolandCrime and PunishmentEthicsIllinois
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View more news videos at: http://www.nbcchicago.com/video.

From NBC Chicago:

The city of Dolton and Cook County are being sued by the family of a teenager killed by a driver fleeing from police.

Attorney Larry Rogers Jr. said the family of Kenyatta Brack Jr. allege Cook County sheriff’s deputies and Dolton police officers acted recklessly in pursuing a suspect through residential areas of Dolton.

In a statement, Rogers claims several witnesses have come forward to refute police claims they were not involved in a chase.

"My son’s friend who was with him, he seen the cop. And the cop was right behind (the Sonata), " Brack’s father, Kenyatta Brack Sr., told the Chicago Tribune last week.  "They was right there, speeding."

Brack was riding his bike Sunday to meet his mother when the driver of an auto fleeing police struck and killed him. Authorities say the officers were following the fleeing car at a safe distance and speed when the boy was hit. Authorities say no suspect is in custody.

More here.

Very, very sad.

Time to call for the State Police to investigate this one.

The Leak Goes On: BP Pipeline Leaking Fuel In Hammond, IN

August 18, 2010
ChicagolandEnvironment
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<p><a href=”http://cbs2chicago.com/local/bp.leak.hammond.2.1867557.html”>From  CBS 2 Chicago</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>It appears BP has another leak to deal with; this one, in our own   backyard. A mixture of diesel fuel and gasoline is apparently leaking   from a BP pipeline into a neighborhood in Hammond, Indiana, making life   for residents there pretty miserable. CBS2’s Mike Parker reports.</p>
<p>A major east-west thoroughfare, 175th Street in Hammond, is closed to   traffic for two or three blocks because an excavation crew is now   working for BP, trying to locate the leak in the pipeline – to find it   and fix it. <br />
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As that work goes on, some folks have reported a   gasoline-like smell outside and inside their homes. It’s been going on   for 10 days now. <br />
<br />
Luis Corral, who lives next to the excavation site, was one of the first to report it. <br />
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&quot;I was worried about a fire, or some kind of explosion more than a fire,&quot; said Corral. <br />
<br />
&quot;We’ve   continued to do air monitoring in the neighborhood, as well as a number   of the residents’ houses to make sure that the residences are safe,   that the neighborhood is safe,&quot; said BP spokesman Tom Keilman. <br />
<br />
When asked if everything is safe right now, Keilman said, &quot;That is in fact true.&quot; <br />
<br />
The federal EPA has ordered BP to shut down the pipeline until the leak is found and fixed. BP says it has done that.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Great. More oil. Leaking freely into the environment.</p>
<p>Great.</p>