Officials confirmed Monday a third person has died in DuPage County as a result of contracting West Nile virus.  There were a total of four deaths due to WNV in Illinois so far.

The confirmed cases of West Nile virus have affected people ranging in age from their 20s to 70s, said David Hass, public information officer for the health department. The Centers for Disease Control reports the 3,142 cases across the country are the highest number of cases reported through the third week in September since 2003.

A 14-year-old Evanston boy, Dajae Coleman, was shot and killed while walking with friends on Church Street around 10:30 p.m. Saturday. While police continue to investigate the case, there has been an outpouring of community sadness and support. 

The state attorney general's office has filled lawsuits against five home repair businesses, including one in Barrington and another in Lake in the Hills, for defrauding homeowners out of $365,000, according to a press release. 

“In all of these cases, there were red-flag warnings that the contractors were up to no good,” said Madigan in a press release. “Any time a repair company solicits door to door or uses high-pressure tactics to sign up customers, it’s a signal that something is wrong. I urge homeowners to use extreme caution when hiring contractors. Do your homework and ask plenty of questions before signing anything.” 

Federal transportation investigators released a preliminary report Monday about two near midair collisions at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport that raises questions about air-traffic control at one of the world's busiest airports. The report released by the National Transportation Safety Board doesn't draw conclusions or assess blame for the incidents, which involved landing and departing planes coming within several hundred feet of each other. But it highlights concerns about the configuration of a control tower and two intersecting runways. 

A 15-month-old terrier died after a coyote attack in its Wheaton backyard last week. The pack of coyotes also attacked a 12-year-old terrier, which survived with severe injuries.  The Chicago area has seen a significant increase in the coyote population since the 1990s, and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources estimates there are more than 30,000 coyotes in Illinois 

In a limo, new millionaires, Mary and Steve Pearson of Cary, pulled up to Mr. A’s Liquor World in Palatine to accept their oversized, $3.25 million check from the Illinois Lottery, Monday afternoon. “Oh my God, I can’t believe this has my name on it,” Mary said as she stared down at the big check in her hands. “I’m speechless,” said Steve just before embraced his wife on the sidewalk in front of the Palatine convenience store. The couple plans to share their wealth with family, travel and invest. 

Jeff Budzban of Wildwood skillfully painted two giant golf balls to be auctioned off for the Ronald McDonald House. One was stolen from its display in front of the NBC studios on N. Michigan Avenue. Budzban, an artist who works at Platinum Auto Body, said he and his wife Annette were attending a rooftop dinner for the artists at the Ronald McDonald House on Sept. 21 when someone said to him, "By the way, your ball looked really nice, but someone stole it."