Acting chief to draw fire on first day

On his first day as acting Chicago police superintendent, JohnTownsend will be greeted by a coalition of groups opposed to hisappointment. Democratic U.S. Representatives Danny Davis and BobbyRush will be at a news conference outside Mayor Daley's office at 10a.m. today. They say Townsend represents little change for adepartment accused of being lenient toward police brutality.Townsend is serving in the post until a permanent superintendent isnamed. 2 hurt in car fireTwo people were seriously injured when their car struck a utilitypole near Elgin early Sunday and burst into flames. John Duax, 25,of Brookfield, suffered third-degree burns over 25 percent of hisbody, the Kane County sheriff's office said. The driver - whoseidentity was withheld pending notification of his family - sufferedfirst- through third-degree burns to more than half his body. Thetwo were on Illinois 31 shortly after 4:30 a.m. when the driver lostcontrol and crossed into northbound lanes, police said. The vehiclehit a utility pole, spun and caught fire.Winter road rulesStarting today, the speed limit on Lake Shore Drive betweenHollywood and Oak will be reduced to 40 m.p.h. from 45 m.p.h. Theannual change, in effect until April 1, is designed to protect medianlandscaping from road de-icing spray. The city's winter ban onovernight parking - from 3 to 7 a.m. - on 107 miles of main streetsalso begins today. Parking on arterial streets is banned when thereis a 2-inch snowfall.