Progress has been made in Monday's Boston Marathon bombings, but no arrest has been made as of yet, reports CNN.

The Boston Globe reported that officials have found an image from a surveillance camera at Lord & Taylor that has provided clear video of the scene

The Globe reported earlier that an image had been captured of a suspect "carrying, and perhaps dropping, a black bag at the second bombing scene."

The FBI is holding a press conference at 4 p.m. Central time, according to Yahoo! News.

Related:

Conflicting Reports of Arrest in Marathon Bombing

Looking for work? Check out the job openings at the Park District of Highland Park.

After a Wednesday that saw storms drop 1-inch hail in North Barrington and more than 2 inches of rain in parts of McHenry County, I'm sure we'd all like a respite from the rain.   

Unfortunately, we'll have to wait a little longer.

Meteorologists are warning Illinois residents that there's a significant chance for severe weather Thursday, with storms possibly bringing damaging winds, large hail and isolated tornadoes.

According to the National Weather Service's hazardous weather outlook for Thursday, severe weather will be possible during the day and into the evening. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Storm Prediction Center has placed half of Illinois in the "slight risk" category for severe weather, while parts of eastern and southern Illinois, including along and east of the I-55 corridor, are in the "moderate risk" category. That latter area is where the greatest risk for severe weather will be, according to the National Weather Service.   

"The storms will organize along an advancing cold front pushing eastward from the Plains and swinging into the Mississippi and Ohio valleys to near the upper Gulf Coast," Alex Sosnowski, senior meteorologist for Accuweather.com, wrote in his forecast summary Wednesday. He noted that a squall line, or a line of active thunderstorms, is anticipated, and that communities could see downed trees and power outages.

Ahead of the storms, temperatures are expected to reach into the 70s, so enjoy that warmer weather while it lasts! And be sure to check with Patch for further updates.

More Highland Park Real Estate Listings >>

Highland Park Real Estate Resources:

• Prudential Preferred Properties
• Fox Management Group
• Hillco Realty
• Coldwell Banker
• Highland Park Housing
• Premier Management Services
• @properties
• Renaissance Place

For complete Highland Park news and updates, sign up for our free newsletter, "like" us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

On April 4, Benjamin Brittsan wrote an email to Patch to announce the closing of his Benjamin Restaurant, after almost two years in downtown Highland Park.

Ten days later, he wrote back with some promising news: instead of closing altogether, Brittsan has decided to re-conceptualize his restaurant.

Beginning the first week of May, Benjamin Restaurant will open as Benjamin Tapas.

"I want to give the local community something I feel like it has been missing," Brittsan said on Monday. "Some place that's fun and relaxing and not pretentious."

The restaurateur spoke with Patch in January about learning from his customers. At that time, he hoped that small tweaks to the restaurant's ambience and menu would make up for what he said was a bumpy beginning.

"You never want to make a customer leave unhappy, and I think we did in the beginning," Brittsan said.

Brittsan says customers saw his restaurant as pretentious. He hopes his new restaurant will be more fun and relaxing.

"Eating should be fun," Brittsan said. "Benjamin Restaurant was not fun."

The chef, who says his "heart is in Mediterranean food," is excited to create a menu around Spanish cuisine. He says cold plates will range from four to eight bucks, while hot plates will go for $6 to $15, the higher price point reserved for bigger dishes like seafood paella.

The new space will be more colorful than the old one, "more vibrant," according to Brittsan. The restaurant will start out being open for dinner five nights a week.

Brittsan is not the first restaurateur to reinvent himself in Highland Park. Bobby Dubin attempted something similar, turning Stashs into an Italian restaurant last year. That didn't pan out well for him. John des Rosiers recently re-opened what was once Moderno, an adventurous Italian restaurant, as Royce, a more conventional, more affordable burger place.

"I don't want to feel like I pulled the plug and gave up," Brittsan explained.

Though he admits he's nervous about trying again in Highland Park, the chef sounds excited at what he hopes will be a successful second shot.

"I feel, with this concept, I'm going to bring something Highland Park hasn't had before in terms of flavors."

For complete Highland Park news and updates, sign up for our free newsletter, "like" us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

Updated 9:20 a.m.

Sites to check for delays, road or school closures, severe weather warning:

• State of Emergency Declared in Lake County
• O'Hare International Airport Delay Information
• Metra Service Advisories
• Flight Cancellations
• Lake County Passage Live Traffic
• Chicago Area School Closures
• National Weather Service Severe Weather Summary
• IDOT Road Closures 
• Flooding Causes Road Closures in Lake County
• MAP: Flooded Roads Throughout Chicago Area
• Rainfall Totals in Chicago Suburbs
• UPDATE: School, Road Closures Reported in Grayslake, Libertyville Due to Rain
• Update: Some Schools Will Close Early, Roads Open

Updated 8:53 a.m.

Close to 500 flights have been canceled at O'Hare Airport with the majority of cancellations on American, United and their regional partners, USA Today reported. 

Airlines are reporting delays averaging 30 minutes for flights in and out of O'Hare and delays averaging 45 minutes at Midway, Chicago Tribune reported.

Road closures in and around O'Hare International Airport:

• Mannheim Road southbound from I-190 to Lawrence Avenue
• Irving Park Road westbound at Mannheim Road
• Bessie Coleman Drive where it passes underneath I-190 is closed. Traffic trying to get to O’Hare Terminal 5 must use the terminal core roadway and exit Bessie Coleman Dr. on their way outbound from the terminals, CBS Chicago reported.

Earlier

Heavy rains overnight caused flooding this morning on the Edens, Eisenhower and Kennedy expressways in the Chicago area, reported the Chicago Tribune. 

Local roads are not much better. Grand Avenue in Gurnee is closed, according to WGN News.

Route 41 in between Westleigh in Lake Forest to Route 137 is closed due to flooding, according to the Lake Forest-Lake Bluff police.

Route 137 east of Route 83 is closed, according to the Lake County Passage.

There is widespread flooding all over Lake County, said Kent McKenzie of the Lake County Emergency Management Agency.

"Hundreds of roads including Grand Avenue and Route 41 are flooded," McKenzie reported. He said this could be significantly worse than the 2007 floods with "high, fast rising water along the Des Plaines river."

There are problems on side roads and problems on major roads leaving drivers with no good options this morning. Click here to visit the Lake County Passage website for local road closures.

One person was hospitalized after a sink hole at 96th and Houston on the South Side swallowed three cars and WGN News said it has doubled in size in less than 30 minutes.

The Des Plaines River could crest Friday at three and a half feet over flood level, according to the Chicago Tribune. Gurnee schools are closed today including Spaulding School, Viking School and District 56.

Weatherman Tom Skilling said "A serious flood threat continues as waves of downpour-generating thunderstorms sweep across this area's rain-saturated terrain at regular intervals through Thursday evening. The potential for severe thunderstorms and tornadoes, remains elevated into Thursday evening."

Stay with Patch for updates throughout the day.

How are the roads in your area? Tell us in the comments.

(Update at 5:15 p.m.) Roads are reopening and stream levels dropping in Deerfield, Lake Forest, Lake Bluff and Highland Park, according to municipal officials.

Northbound Highway 41 is now open to Highway 176 and southbound from 176, according to a spokesperson for the Lake Bluff Police Department. It remains closed from just north of the 176 exit to Highway 137.

Deerfield

All roads except Woodvale Avenue between Oxford and Warrington Roads are now open, according to a news release from the Village.

Water levels on the West Fork of the North Branch of the Chicago River have decreased by two-feet since this morning, according to the release. The Middle Fork of the North Branch is still over its banks in spots near Deerfield Road.

Storm water is still overflowing into reservoirs which are approximately seventy-five percent full and have remaining capacity. A possible .7 of an inch of rain is possible today and tonight, according to the release citing the Continental Weather service.

Highland Park

Tennyson and Red Oak Lanes are now open but Trailway, Taylor Street west of Beverly and Park Avenue West between Highway 41 and the Target Store remain closed, according to a spokesperson for the Public Works Department.

Lake Forest

All roads are open, according to a spokesperson for the Lake Forest Police Department.

Lake Bluff

Green Bay Road at Park Lane is now open. The only road closure is Highway 41 north of Highway 176.

(Update at 12:35 p.m.) The Middle and West Forks of the North Branch of the Chicago River is “overtopping” its banks in some locations throughout Deerfield increasing the flooding potential for roads and residences, according to a release from the Village of Deerfield.

For more details on this part of the story, please see the Deerfield section of the article below.

(Update at 10:50 a.m.) Highway 41 is reopen through Highland Park and Lake Forest but remains closed at Highway 176 in Lake Bluff, according to a spokesperson for the Lake Forest Police Department.

(Earlier at 8:13 a.m.) Flooding has caused road closures in Deerfield, Lake Forest and Lake Bluff while standing water in Highland Park could close streets at a moment’s notice, according to sources from those municipalities.

Deerfield

(Update at 12:35 p.m.) Continuous rainfall has as caused the Middle and West Fork of the North Branch of the Chicago River to go over its banks in several spots in Deerfield taxing the Village’s storm sewers, according to a news release from the Village.

“Once capacity (of the storm sewers) is reached flooding potential for residential properties and roads is highly increased,” the Village said in the release. “The Village’s Department of Public Works is actively maintaining and monitoring outfalls and retention basins.”

Based on a forecast from the Continental Weather Service, severe thunderstorms are expected in the area after 2 p.m. “We will continue to reassess our needs,” Assistant to the Village Manager Andrew Lichterman said.

Road conditions reported at 8:13 a.m. remain unchanged. Brierhill Road is also closed as well as the south end of Carlisle Avenue and Carriage Way.

Sandbags are available for residents with flooding problem at the Department of Public Works, 465 Elm Street.

(Update at 11:50 a.m.) In preparation for Student Showcase at all four Deerfield Public Schools District 109 elementary schools tonight, parents already have been notified that PTO enrichment and other after-school activities have been cancelled, according to an email from the District.

The Park District's after-school care program will run as usual, according to the school email.

Middle school activities are unchanged.

(Update at 10:50 a.m.) Deerfield Public Library will close at 11:30 a.m. today and repoen during at its normal time Friday, according to an email from spokesperson Jody Wilson.

"The Library will adjust due dates for items returned late due to this emergency closing," Wilson said in the email.

(Update at 10:30 a.m.) Deerfield High School will end classes 1:10 p.m. today, according to Communication Director Natalie Kaplan. Bus service will transport the students home. All after school activities are cancelled.

(Earlier at 8:13 a.m.) Waukegan Road is down to one lane between Half Day Road and North Avenue with police directing traffic, according to a spokesperson for the Deerfield Department of Public Works. Deerfield High School is open normal hours, according to Communications Director Natalie Kaplan.

North Avenue is closed between Portage Pass and Overland Trail, Carlisle is closed south of Deerfield Road and the 500 block of Hermitage is closed, according to Public Works.

All Deerfield Public Schools District 109 Schools are open normal hours though there is flooding in the parking lot at Caruso Middle School, according to Communications Director Cathy Kedjidjian. People will be present to direct traffic.

Highland Park

Update 11:10 a.m.: All North Shore School District 112 schools are operating normally today, and will end at the regular time, according to the district's website.

The Highland Park Senior Center has canceled the following classes and activities for today, according to the City's website.

• Live on the Links Concert (1:30 p.m.)
• Caregivers Support Group (7 p.m.)

Additionally, the Senior Connecter will be utilizing an abbreviated schedule. Based on road closures, not all stops will be available. Please check with the driver about your specific destination, prior to boarding the bus. For questions regarding the Senior Center programs, call 847-432-4110.

Update at 10:30 a.m.: Highland Park High School will end classes 12:30 p.m. today, according to Communication Director Natalie Kaplan. Bus service will transport the students home. All after school activities are cancelled.

Update 9 a.m.: Several Highland Park streets are impassable, according to a flood alert on the city's website: Park Avenue East of Route 41; Tennyson South of Route 22; Trail Way and neighboring side streets where streets are at the same level as the creek; and Taylor Avenue.

“There is standing water in a lot of places so (there could be flooding) at any time,” a spokesperson for the Department of Public Works said. “We urge people to stay home.”

Highland Park High School is open, according to Kaplan. The website for North Shore School District 112 did not indicate closures or a late start.

All calls concerning flooding (including basement flooding) should be directed to Public Works at 847-432-0807

Lake Forest and Lake Bluff

(Update at 11:50 a.m.) Deerpath Road in Lake Forest is now open, according to the Lake Forest Police Department.

(Update at 10:30 a.m.) Lake Forest High School and District 67 schools have no plans to send students home early at this time and no intention to cancel after school activities, according to a spokesperson for the two districts.

Work is being done to reopen Deerpath Road west of Deer Path Middle School but it remains closed, according to the Lake Forest Police Department.

(Earlier at 8:13 a.m.) Highway 41 is closed between Westleigh Road and Highway 137, according to spokespersons with the Lake Forest and Lake Bluff Police Departments.

School busses will be running late for both Lake Forest High School and District 67 schools because of flooded streets, according to information on the school websites and an email from Communications Director Anne Whipple.

Parents taking their children to Deer Path Middle School must approach off Green Bay Road, according to a spokesperson for the Lake Forest Police. “That’s as far as you can get,” he said referring to the fact Deerpath Road is closed west of the school.

A number of other roads in Lake Forest are closed. “There are too many to count,” the spokesperson said.

In Lake Bluff, Green Bay Road is closed at Park Lane, according to the Police Department.

Here is an updated list of road closures and roads with water over the pavement. The Lake County Sheriff's Office reminds resident to use extreme caution when passing through any standing water.

• Closed: Route 173 between Kilbourne and Delany roads in Wadsworth.
• Closed: Delany between Yorkhouse and Wadsworth roads in Wadsworth.
• Closed: Route 131 and Crescent  Avenue in Waukegan.
• High/Standing Water: Washington Street between Teske and Route 131 in Park City.
• High/Standing Water: Chesnut Road in Beach Park.
• High/Standing Water: Beach Road at Bayonne in Beach Park.
• High/Standing Water: 29th and Lewis Road in Zion.
• Closed: Route 41 from Westleigh Road to Route 137 through Lake Bluff.
• Closed: Eastbound Route 137 and Route 83 in Grayslake.
• High/Standing Water: Route 83 south of Winchester Road in Libertyville.
• High/Standing Water: Route 21 and Casey Road in Libertyville.
• High/Standing Water: River Road north from Route 137 in Libertyville.
• Closed: Sturm Street west from Wooded Ridge Drive in Deer Park.
• Closed: Cuba Road between Ela Road and Old Farm in Deer Park
• Closed: Hamilton Drive bewteen Field Parkay and Lake Cook Road in Deer Park.
• High/Standing Water: Miller Road between Biltmore and Route 12 in North Barrington.
• High/Standing Water: Route 22 and Corporate Drive in Lake Zurich.
• Closed: Route 132 and O'Plaine Road in Gurnee.
• Closed: Route 41 from Route 21 to Delany Road in Gurnee.

Lake County PASSAGE also has road closure and traffic updates along with a map.

Do you know of more road closures or flooding incidents? Share your information below?

From the Wisconsin border to the south side of Chicago and into the western suburbs, local roads, interstates and highways were closed Thursday because of flooding. 

Click through the pins above to see which roads in your area — or on your route to and from work today — have been closed due to flooding or have high-standing water. Police are encouraging drivers to avoid roadways with standing water. 

If you come upon an area with high-standing water or that is closed, add that information to our map by visiting this link. Otherwise, let us know about the closure by commenting below. 

Drivers are asked to beware of high-standing water on roadways. The water on a roadway can be deeper than it appears and can cause a vehicle to stall or be submerged, according to the McHenry County Sheriff's Office. 

The recent rains in Lake County have brought about incidents of flooding and possible sewer back-ups in a number of areas. The Lake County Health Department/Community Health Center recommends the following steps to minimize health hazards for residents who have experienced flooding in or around their homes:

• Remember, flood waters can be very powerful. Even streams and rivers that appear to be calm or shallow can be very dangerous. Do not attempt to enter or cross flooded streams or rivers, even if they appear safe.

• Prevent children and pets from playing in or drinking contaminated floodwaters left in puddles or flooded areas. This may result in illness. Be extremely careful about possible dislodged manhole covers, and the whirlpool or suction effect if water is draining. Also, people with open cuts or other wounds should take extreme care when walking through floodwaters due to the possibility of contracting tetanus. In general, flood workers who have had a tetanus shot within the past 10 years will not need to be revaccinated. However, workers who acquire a wound and who have not had a tetanus shot within 5 to 10 years may need a tetanus booster. This should be evaluated by medical personnel or a family physician.

• Although disease outbreaks are rare after flooding, flood water can contain organisms that may cause disease. If you are in a flood area and become ill, report to your family physician. Symptoms to watch for include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, muscle aches and fevers.

• If you have a private well, check its condition. If the well casing is submerged, surface water may have entered the well and contaminated the drinking water. In these cases, you should not drink the water until the flood waters have receded and the water from the well is tested and shown to meet drinking water standards. If testing indicates that coliform bacteria are present in your drinking water, the well should be disinfected by a licensed water well contractor and then re-sampled. You can pick up sterile bottles to be filled and returned for analysis, and obtain information about disinfecting wells at the Lake County Central Permit Facility, 500 W. Winchester Rd., Libertyville, or at selected township and village offices in the county. The fee for the analysis is $16 per sample, and the tests usually take about three days to complete. LCHD staff will also go out to homes to collect samples for a fee (including analysis) of $54.

• Before re-entering a flooded home or basement, make sure that no electrical or other safety hazards, such as leaking gas, exist.

• Do not eat food that has been exposed to floodwaters, unless the food is in cans. Thoroughly wash off sealed cans in good condition. Immerse the cans in a bleach disinfecting solution made by mixing two teaspoons of household bleach per gallon of water for at least five minutes. All spoiled foods and leaky or bulged cans should be discarded.

• Using a household detergent solution, scrub the basement and other areas of the house that have been flooded. Flush the washed areas with safe water. Follow this washing with flushing or mopping with a disinfecting solution of one-quarter cup of household bleach in a gallon of water.

• Scrub furniture, walls, fixtures and appliances with soap and safe water. Affected clothing and bedding should be machine-washed.

• Wash hands and scrub fingernails thoroughly with soap and safe water after working in flooded areas. This is especially true before eating or drinking.

• Non-porous children's toys that could be mouthed must be cleaned with soap and safe water, and then soaked for at least one minute in a solution of one tablespoon of bleach to a gallon of water. Do not rinse objects after soaking. Allow to air dry. Machine washable cloth toys should be machine washed if contaminated with floodwaters.

Do not hesitate to ask any questions if you have any doubts about the safety of any food, water or conditions around your home. Call Environmental Health Services of the Lake County Health Department at: (847) 377-8020.

You can follow PASSAGE on Twitter@LCPASSAGE for current road conditions and Alert Lake County on Twitter @AlertLakeCounty for flood conditions.

What does the scene look like for you? Are there several feet of water outside your home (or, heaven forbid, inside it)? Stranded cars; flooded lawns and streets?

If you’re lucky enough not to be too busy dealing with any emergencies right now (and we hope you are), we’d love to see what you see, and our readership likely would as well. 

If you have any great snapshots/photographs of the flooding around Lake County today, please share them with us and with your fellow readers. (Please put a detailed caption on it so that we know where it’s from!) And feel free to share your stories in the comments. 

You can upload photos and video by using the “Upload Photos and Video” link above. Thanks in advance for sharing! Please stay safe!

Oak Brook topped the National Weather Service's rainfall charts Thursday morning, recording 6.69 inches of rain over the past 24 hours. 

Here is a look at how much rainfall was recorded in other area communities over the past 24 hours: 

• Oak Brook: 6.69 inches
• Aurora: 6.66 inches
• Naperville: 6.14 inches
• Wheaton: 5.77 inches 
• Elmhurst: 5.68 inches 
• Glen Ellyn: 5.61 inches 
• Yorkville: 5.12
• Bolingbrook: 5.03 inches
• Winnetka: 5.03 inches 
• Oak Park: 4.95 inches
• Algonquin: 4.95 inches
• Batavia: 4.87 inches 
• Evanston: 4.78 inches 
• O'Hare: 4.69 inches  
• Plainfield: 4.65 inches
• Cary: 4.62 inches 
• Arlington Heights: 4.52 inches
• Manhattan: 4.17
• Midway: 3.77 inches
• Palos Park 3.55 inches
• Mokena: 3.31
• New Lenox: 3.25
• Tinley Park 3.24 inches
• Oak Lawn 1.11 inches

Source: National Weather Service

A state of emergency has been declared in Lake County due to the flooding throughout the area.

At a press briefing Thursday, Lake County Board Chairman Aaron Lawlor announced that he declared the state of emergency around 9 a.m. in an effort to not only further facilitate coordination among agencies to deal with the flooding but to also attempt to get flood assistance funds from the federal government should they become available.

"With three rivers running through Lake County, we have a wet topography and are prone to flooding," said Lawlor.

Communities across Lake County have been inundated with upwards of 4 inches of rain, said Kent McKenzie, Lake County Emergency Management coordinator. Places that saw minor flooding are now expecting to see major or even record flooding, according to National Weather Service predictions, McKenzie said.

The water level Des Plaines River at Route 120 has seen a nearly 3-foot rise, McKenzie said.

Erik Jensen, public information officer for the village of Gurnee, said the Des Plaines River in his village was at 10.13 feet this morning and is expected to crest at 11.5 feet, which would rank it among the village's top five flood events. He added that residents on Emerald, Kilbourne and Old Grand between O'Plaine Road and Grand Avenue have been urged to leave. It is not a mandatory evacuation, Jensen said.

McKenzie said property owners are encouraged to take protective action. Already, Lake County Emergency Management personnel have distributed 200,000 sandbags to local communities and townships.

The Fox River and Chain O'Lakes are both closed to boating, and flood levels on the Chain could exceed the previous record flooding event, which occurred in 2008-08, McKenzie said.

Libertyville Fire Chief Rich Carani addressed the flooding situation that occurred today at Libertyville High School. A pipe burst underground in the basement, but there was no damage to the structure itself. He added that Butler Lake, which is located behind the school, has encroached into the high school parking lot but is not impacting the school building.

High water levels could persist through next week, McKenzie noted.

"It's going to take a long time to drain down," he said.

He urged residents to be careful when traveling on the roads.

"Be very cautious," he said. "Do not drive through standing water, because you don't know the condition of the pavement under that."

Related Patch stories:

• O'Hare International Airport Delay Information
• Metra Service Advisories
• Flight Cancellations
• Lake County Passage Live Traffic
• Chicago Area School Closures
• National Weather Service Severe Weather Summary
• IDOT Road Closures 
• Flooding Causes Road Closures in Lake County
• MAP: Flooded Roads Throughout Chicago Area
• Rainfall Totals in Chicago Suburbs
• UPDATE: School, Road Closures Reported in Grayslake, Libertyville Due to Rain
• Update: Some Schools Will Close Early, Roads Open
• Health Dept. Tips for Flood Situations
• Share Your Lake County Flood Photos on Patch

The City of Highland Park will host a blood drive May 25 from 8 a.m. to 3p.m. in partnership with LifeSource.

The blood drive will be held at Fire Station #33 located at 1130 Central Ave.

All participating donors will receive a commemorative T-shirt and are invited to a barbecue immediately following any donation.

Donors should expect the entire process to last approximately one hour, however the actual blood donation should last no longer than 10 minutes.

As a part of the process, donors will be given a questionnaire, and then a short physical by LifeSource personnel to test hemoglobin (iron) levels, blood pressure, temperature and pulse. Refreshments will be provided immediately following all blood donations.

"Donating blood once can save up to three lives," said Fire Department Chief Patrick Tanner. "Come prepared, drink water and eat well the day before."

To donate blood, participants will need to show proof of identification. Donors must be over 17 (although 16-year-olds may donate with parental consent) and must be a minimum of 110 pounds.

Appointments are recommended, but walk-ins will be welcomed.

To schedule an appointment on May 25, call LifeSource at 1-877-LIFESOURCE (1-877-543-3768) or go online to www.lifesource.org and enter Highland Park’s code F813.

Deerfield-based Baxter Healthcare Corporation has reported first quarter financial results for 2013 have dropped from $588 million, or $1.04 per share this time last year, to $552 million or $1 per share.

The result are in line with the company's previously issued guidance, according to a press release.

"Baxter's global portfolio remains strong as we benefit from our focus on lifesaving therapies, achieve important new product milestones and make select investments to position our company for future success and accelerated growth," said Robert L. Parkinson, Jr., chairman and chief executive officer.

First quarter 2013 results include after-tax special items totaling $29 million, or $0.05 per diluted share, primarily for deal-related costs associated with Baxter's planned acquisition of Gambro AB, a global medical technology company focused on developing, manufacturing and supplying dialysis products and therapies for patients with acute or chronic kidney disease.

Worldwide sales of $3.45 billion increased two percent compared to $3.39 billion reported in the first quarter of 2012. Sales within the United States increased 1 percent, totaling $1.48 billion, while international sales of $1.97 billion increased 2 percent.

A bill proposed by State Rep. Carol Sente (D-Vernon Hills) to allow 17-year-olds the right to vote in primary elections if they will be 18 by the next general election cleared the House Wednesday, reported the Daily Herald.

The House voted 95-22 in favor of House Bill 226. The Senate had its first reading Thursday.

On her website, Sente states that a group of students from a political science program at Stevenson High School has advocated for this initiative for several years, beginning with her predecessor Kathy Ryg.

"Over the next few weeks, myself and Rep. Ed Sullivan (R-Mundelein) are planning to speak to students to get them involved in all aspects of passing this bill," stated Sente. "I am hopeful that through our bi-partisan efforts, we will be able to stress the importance of exercising the right to vote and encourage all students to become more involved in the political process."

Ron Michaelson, a former state elections chief, told the Journal Gazette & Times Courier the measure would not have implications for the State Board of Elections, but would affect county clerks and municipal boards because staff would need to be trained for expanded registration.

The paper also reports that 19 states currently allow minors to vote in primaries, with California and New Mexico pending legislation.

Do Patch readers feel 17 year-olds should be allowed to vote in primary elections? Why or why not? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Governor Pat Quinn declared a state of emergency as state agencies prepared to provide assistance to local governments throughout northern Illinois dealing with severe river and flash flooding.

The state of emergency ensures that state resources are activated and that the federal government is aware that a disaster declaration is likely. It also allows the state to request resources as needed, such as personnel and equipment. State and local emergency personnel have been on the ground in hardest hit areas since early this morning.

"Heavy rainfall over the past few days has created dangerous flooding in areas across the state," Governor Quinn stated in a press release. "Everyone should stay home and off the roads if possible. To ensure safety as these storms continue, people should be alert and avoid flooded areas."

Here is some of Patch's coverage of the storm:

• Des Plaines Flood Coverage
• Evanston Flood Coverage
• Park Ridge Flood Coverage
• Libertyville Flood Coverage
• Algonquin Flood Coverage
• Wheaton Flood Coverage
• DuPage County Photo Gallery
• Elmhurst Flood Coverage

For flood safety information and real-time updates please visit Ready.Illinois.gov, and for traffic updates please visit GettingAroundIllinois.com/gai.htm.

The State Incident Response Center (SIRC) is active and is coordinating the state’s response to the floods:

• Illinois Department of Central Management Services is monitoring conditions at state facilities to ensure state agencies can continue to provide critical services to the public and is prepared to procure flood-fighting supplies if needed.

• Illinois Department of Transportation is ensuring public safety through road closures, message boards and other road-closure assistance to affected communities.

• Illinois Department of Corrections will have 30 inmates at the Pittsfield Work Camp in Pike County assist with filling sandbags for local public safety officials.

• Illinois Department of Public Health is providing local public health departments, hospitals and medical offices in the affected areas with information on tetanus shots.

• Illinois State Police is assisting motorists stranded by floodwaters and working with local public safety officials on road closures.

• Illinois National Guard is coordinating with IEMA in the event troops are needed to assist flooded communities.

• Illinois Emergency Management Agency is coordinating the state’s response and has deployed staff throughout the affected areas to assist local officials.

• Illinois Department of Natural Resources dispatched conservation officers to Sycamore to assist with evacuation of residents in a flooded mobile home park.

• Office of the State Fire Marshal is coordinating with fire departments throughout the state to assess any flood-related issues they’re experiencing.

• American Red Cross has opened shelters in Roanoke, Oglesby and Lisle and is continuing to assess the need for shelters and other assistance.

More information about the state’s flood response and flood safety is available on the Ready Illinois website at Ready.Illinois.gov.

Information provided by Gov. Quinn's Office.

The FBI has released photos and videos of two suspects in Monday's Boston Marathon bombings, which killed three people and injured nearly 200.

At a press conference Thursday, Special agent Richard DesLauriers said the FBI has developed two suspects in the case and are looking for the public's help to identify them.

The FBI said these are the only photos the public should view to assist in the case.

Suspect #1 is seen in the photos wearing a dark hat.

Suspect #2 is wearing a white hat.

DesLauriers said Suspect #2 is seen setting down a bag in front of a restaurant at the site of the second explosion.

Authorities believe the suspects are connected and appeared to be walking through the crowd together.

"We know the public will play a critical role in identifying and locating these individuals. Somebody out there knows these individuals as friends, neighbors, coworkers or family members of the suspects," said DesLauriers.

You can see all of the photos at the FBI website. Anyone with information about these men can contact officials at boston@ic.fbi.gov or 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324), and select prompt #3.

Related Patch Stories:

• FBI: Have You Seen These Men? Bomber Photos, Video Released

• For Many, Obama Visit is Start of Healing Journey

• PHOTOS: Boston Marathon Memorial Grows

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UPDATED 7:25 a.m.

 "Media/public advised to clear area of Norfolk Street in Cambridge. Ongoing investigation. Potentially dangerous. Stay clear." - Cambridge Police.

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7:10 a.m. Police are advising residents in the areas of Comm Ave. and Charlesgate that officers will conduct a controlled detonation.

Head to Watertown Patch for more updates on this story. 

UPDATED: 3:29 a.m.

Reports: Suspect one is believed dead after a shootout and chase, reports Watertown Patch. Suspect two is being sought in Watertown, Mass. Police are going door-to-door and urging residents to stay inside.

Two officers were shot. One was killed on the MIT campus, the other was seriously injured.

EARLIER

There was no confirmation from authorities as of 2:50 a.m. Friday, but media reports suggest there could be a connection between suspects involved in a shootout near Boston late Thursday into Friday and the two suspects wanted by the FBI in questioning for the Boston Marathon bombings.

The Boston Globe reported that a bombing suspect had been caught.

The incident appeared to begin with a shooting at MIT. The Fenway-Kenmore Patch in Massachusett reported that a police officer was fatally shot at the campus in Cambridge, Mass., Thursday night at about 10:20 p.m. EST.

Following that shooting, a carjacking occured.

Malden Patch tracked the chaotic night. Residents in Watertown, Mass., reported that a shootout happened and that explosions could be heard. We have uploaded video from the shootout. It is not known if either incident – the shooting of the officer or the Watertown shootout – is connected.

CNN reported that two individuals were involved in the carjacking. One was shot, critically injured during the pursuit and later died, the network reported.

The second suspect—identified as the man in the white cap on FBI video and photos, is still being sought and is considered armed and dangerous, according to reports.

State police told Watertown residents to stay in their homes as police went door to door, several media outlets reported.

CNN reported that dozens of police from various units swarmed Watertown, some dressed in SWAT uniforms with others wearing helmets.

Late Thursday, hours after an afternoon press conference in Boston, the FBI released even more photos of the two suspects, which are much clearer.

Related:

Manhunt in Watertown After MIT Officer Killed, Shootout

Updated: New Images of Boston Marathon Bombing Suspects