The Daily Herald from Chicago, Illinois • Page 41

No laughing matter Michael Richards apologizes for using racial epithets on stage dallyherald.com Big Picture piDuPage County Focus DattyHerald Rozner Hey, big spender WiU Cubs' end justify the means? Section 21 Tuesday, November 21, 2006 PADDOCKPUBUCATLONS No.38 -SixSECTIONS 500 0124 Family of man killed in standoff questions shooting BY CHRISTY GUTOWSKI Daitf Herald Legal Affairs Writer Sharon Russell Jackson does not know what led police to shoot her father to death during a standoff in an Aurora hospital. But she argues his violent death could have been avoided had police contacted the family during the nearly five-hour confrontation. "If he could have heard my Police say deadly force was necessary after patient pointed gun at officers Johnnie Russell ABC 7 voice, I guarantee he would still be here today," she said. "My family is on fire. We need some answers.

Why did it escalate into this and why weren't we notified?" Her father, Johnnie Russell, died Saturday after a police officer opened fire on the armed 58-year-old Aurora man during the long standoff on the fifth floor of Provena Mercy Medical Center. Though an internal department probe is ongoing, authorities said it appears the 12-year Aurora police officer's use of deadly force was justified. His supervisor temporarily reassigned the officer to administrative duty, which is standard protocol. Jackson said her father, a diabetic, is often in the hospital. She said he also has speech problems because of earlier strokes, the first of which occurred in 1998, and cannot communicate well The daughter said he usually went to Rush-Copley Medical Center, also in Aurora, where the medical staff would call her or an aunt to help communicate with Russell about his health issues and medication.

But last Friday, paramedics instead rushed Russell by ambulance to Mercy, at 1325 N. Highland for problems related to his diabetes. Police said the melee began the next morning, about 8:30 a.m. Saturday, when the staff alerted a patrol officer at the hospital of an unruly patient. She located Russell, whom See STANDOFF on PAGE 5 Gettin Air fares are sky high this holiday season, but don't despair; with the right timing and research, you can find good deals BY JOSEPH RYAN Daily Herald Staff Thanksgiving is just a couple of days away, but if air travel is on your mind for the holidays, you should be thinking a few weeks beyond.

As we come into one of the busiest travel seasons on record this December, millions are jockeying for a seat on fewer planes meaning more green to get airborne. "You definitely need to buy your tickets now," said Chris McGinnis, a travel expert with Expedia. "And if you. really wanted great deals, you should have bought just after Labor Day." After years of cheap seats and financial tailspins in the airline industry, many of the largest carriers have cut the number of flights, boosting the number of seats filled on each flight from about 70 percent to more than 90 percent While suburban fliers are fortunate to have a plethora of airlines competing for their cash at two busy airports Midway and O'Hare they also are competing against a lot more people. Consider this: Last year for the late December holiday season, O'Hare and Midway international airports were packed with more than 2.5 million people.

This year, air travel is expected to increase by at least 3 percent, while fare levels are up from 10 percent to 30 percent Indeed, ticket prices have been shooting up all year. But the experts say there still are some things you can do to keep there (gulp!) Obama's call to withdraw His plan includes talks with Syria, Iran Flying vs. driving About a quarter of travelers this will be flying, and a lot bfthem will be at O'Hare International Airport again the busiest landing strip in the nation this holiday season. A record 31.7 million Americans will hit tie roads this holiday percent more than last year. In the air Tickets are up 10 percent to 30 percent this year.

Think before you pack Only 3 ounce bottles are allowed, and those bottfes must be in one, 1-quart plastic bag. MARK BLACK.ymbIack@dailyheraId.com Just a few of the thousands of items confiscated at O'Hare Airport. Allowed Scissors shorter than 4 inches Laptops, PDAs, cell phones and cameras Baby formula, breast milk Hot allowed Lights or matches Wrapped gifts Sporting goods like bats, ski poles If in doubt put it in checked baggage. But consider. Complaints about lost or The number of complaints mishandled bags rocketed by 81 percent in September, the last available federal statistics.

rose to 825 for every 1,000 passengers from 4.56 the previous year. Police will be out ticketing for seatbelt violations. Watch out for inactive work zones on the Dan Ryan; the Tri-State's Waukegan Toll Plaza, southern leg and near Dempster Avenue; toll plazas on the Northwest Tollway and I-88 Naperville Road ramps remain closed. Fill up on the road Suburban gallon of unleaded gas: $2.32 Indiana: $221 Renting a car? Prices up 21 percent this year. Stay with family Hotel prices are up 16 percent No shame in bunking percent of travelers will be.

29 percent of travelers choosing a hotel are doing so because staying with family is too "stressful." See THERE on PAGE 5 Source: Daily Herald research. U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics, expedia.com, Chicago AAA Motor Quo BY ROB OLMSTEAD Daily Herald Staff Vfriter Riding the momentum, of a growing war-weariness that carried Democrats to victory in midterm elections, Illinois Sen. Barack Obama Monday called for the United States to start troop withdrawal from Iraq within four to six months. The suggestion was met with applause by the several hundred people at the Chicago Hilton and Towers attending the speech, hosted by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs.

"This war has lasted longer than World War II," said Ofaamai "Iraq is descending into chaos based on ethnic divisions that were around long before American troops arrived. The conflict has left us distracted from containing the world's growing threats in North Korea, Iran and in Afghanistan." The White House gave a muted response to the speech, simply pointing to President Bush's comments on the Iraq war made Monday in Indonesia. "I haven't made any decisions about troop increases or troop decreases, and won't until I hear from a variety of sources, including our own United States military," Bush told reporters. "As you know, Gen. (Peter) Pace, who is the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is in the process of evaluating a lot of suggestions from the field and from people involved with the Central Command, as well as at the Pentagon.

And they will be oringing forth the suggestions and recommendations to me here as quiddy as possible." The White House also had no response to Obama's call for beginning talks on the region with Syria and Iran. "(My plan) includes opening a dialogue with both Syria and Iran, an idea, supported by born James Baker and the incoming Secretary of Defense Robert Gates," Obama said. "We know these countries, Iran and Syria, want us to fail, and we should remain steadfast in our opposition to their support of terrorism and Iran's nuclear ambitions. But neither Iran nor to see a security vacuum in Iraq filled with chaos, terrorism, refugees, and violence, as it could have a destabilizing effect on the entire region and within Iran and Syria themselves." Obama conceded that GILBERT R. BOUCHER "Neither Iran nor Syria want to see a security vacuum in Iraq," U.S.

Sen. Barack Obama told the Chicago Council on Global Affairs at the Hilton Chicago on Monday. Page? president invites leaders of Iraq and Syria to Tehran for summit PageS Bush considers next step in Iraq: Send more troops or start pulling out? withdrawal carries risks, but so does pursuing the same strategy the country is currently on, he says. He also called for talks with North saying the United States and the U.S:S.R. had the right idea of a hotline connecting the two enemies back when the Cold War was at its height- He said he did not understand Bush's policy of "not talking to somebody as a punishment and talking to someone a reward." Obama gave no timetable for completion of a withdrawal from Iraq, saying that should come from military leaders and should be flexible if the situation warrants it He also shed no further light on whether he intends to run for president DALEY'S FORMER AIDE SENTENCED TO 46 MONTHS Page 11 Carol Stream mayor 100 percent sure he won't return BY JACK KOMPERDA Daify One could call it his 98 percent rule.

Carol Stream Mayor Ross Ferraro returned to it time and again in the past year, insisting he was "98 percent" sure he wouldn't run for an unprecedented sixth term as the village's leader. That left the longtime barber a sliver of room to wiggle into another race. When village Trustee Frank Saverino announced this past summer he planned to run for the post next April an atypical move for a mayoral ally and the first hint that the longtime barber's tenure was coming to a didn't flinch. "I'm still at 98 percent," Ferraro had said back in June. "There's still a few months for me to think the decision over." On Monday, Ferraro announced he was done mulling over his political future.

And his wife was in the audience at village hall to fill in that two-percent void. Ferraro said he would serve See SURE on PAGE 5 Weather MHd Sunny, high of 55. See the badt of Business. Local Focus Today's headlines Carol Stream officer who served in Iraq quits police force. Page 3.

residents not happy alxmt Lumber expansion plans. Page 3. All the answers to your questions about cooking a turkey are as close as Napervflle. Neighbor. t-f Suburban Living Is'Love 1 all you need? Music critic Mark Guarino takes a look at the new mash-up Beatles' album, 'Love," created for a Cirque du Soleil show.

Page 12. Fuli house Charities are cashing in on poker's popularity but critics it may be a bust Section 3. Index Horoscope 3-2 Lottery 1-12 Annie's Mail 3-2 Movies 3-3 Comics Sec 5 Obituaries 4-4 Constable 1-11 Puzdes Sec5 Editorials 1-10 Markets 4-2 Helpwanted 6-1 Television 3-2.