Daily Archive : Friday September 30, 2011
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News
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Images: Friday at the Star Trek convention in Rosemont
The official Star Trek convention, celebrating the 45th anniversary of the show that took us places no man had gone before, kicked off Friday in Rosemont.
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Fermilab's legendary atom-smasher is shut down
It was the end of an era as the Tevatron accelerator was shut down Friday afternoon at Fermilab in Batavia. The once most powerful accelerator in the world had its title usurped by the Large Hadron Collider in Europe in 2009. And when the laboratory couldn't get enough U.S. money to keep running the Tevatron a few more years as well as build new experiments, lab officials decided to focus on the...
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Athletes prepare for U.S. National Ski Jumping at Norge
The skiers were out Friday at the Norge Ski Club in Fox River Grove, preparing for the weekend's U.S. National Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined Championships. The championship takes place Saturday, while the annual Norge special jumping tournament, usually held in September, is Sunday.
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Popular apple fest continues today, Sunday
One of the region’s most popular fall festivals, Apple Fest in Long Grove continues Saturday and Sunday. Besides being devoted to all things apple, the fest has lots of entertainment, more than 70 shops will be open and there will be plenty of kid-specific activities. Hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. both days.
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TeaCon organizer says party eyes state races in 2012
With Herman Cain a featured guest at the TeaCon convention in Schaumburg this weekend, organizer Steve Stevlic talks about efforts to interconnect various tea party groups in the area, with an eye on having national and statewide impact in 2012. What's next? Do they plan to go after House Speaker Michael Madigan? A Q and A.
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Male pedestrian killed by train in Naperville
A male pedestrian has died after being struck by a Metra train in Naperville late Friday afternoon, authorities said.
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Des Plaines schoolteacher in critical condition after crash
An Algonquin Middle School teacher injured in a Thursday morning accident was listed in critical condition Friday. News of the accident spread quickly among the Des Plaines school community through the school’s parent-teacher association and Facebook posts.
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Appeals court asks for briefs in U of I lawsuit
Attorneys for the University of Illinois who are trying to protect information about students involved in a 2009 admissions scandal were hammered by federal appellate judges Friday about why the federal courts should be involved.
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West Chicago man guilty of gang shooting that injured two
A West Chicago man was found guilty Friday of shooting two men last summer during a confrontation between rival gang factions following the city’s Railroad Days festival. A jury deliberated about 3½ hours before convicting Christopher Einecker.
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Police previously called to animal-filled home
Berwyn police say they were previously called to an animal- and insect-infested home where a 14-year-old mentally disabled boy was found dead.
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Pool drain deadline is Saturday
Saturday is the deadline for licensed swimming facilities in the state to comply with state and federal safety rules that mandate outfitting pool drains with covers, but some 500 municipal, park district, school and hotel pools still don’t meet the requirements.
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Elburn may allow earlier liquor sales
Stocking the beer fridge may become more convenient in Elburn. The village is considering letting stores sell liquor, beer and wine starting at 8 a.m. most days, two hours earlier than now, at the behest of the Jewel-Osco store.
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Judge rejects second attempt to dismiss Hyde case
A Lake County judge on Friday declined to hear defense attorneys for Sharon Hyde argue for the second time that the theft and official misconduct charges against her should be dismissed. Hyde, 60, the wife of former Island Lake Mayor Thomas Hyde, is accused of collecting $114,000 in pay for hours she did not work as director of a village-run preschool.
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Batavia man new chief judge for 16th Circuit
Robert Spence, a Kane County judge since 2001 and former prosecutor, is named the new Chief Judge of the 16th Judicial Circuit. His term begins Dec. 1 and runs two years.
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Elgin entrepreneur, software guru was ‘unflappable’
Steve Munson, a popular entrepreneur and Elgin mover and shaker active on the city’s civic and technological scenes, passed away Thursday evening. Mr. Munson, 55, succumbed to a rare form of bone cancer and died at Provena St. Joseph Hospital in Elgin.
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Vernon Hills man claims cremation of murdered wife destroys defense
Lawyers for a Vernon Hills man accused of killing his wife filed a motion Friday claiming that the charges against their client should be dismissed because the victim’s body was cremated without their knowledge. Ronald Stolberg, 47, is charged with first-degree murder for the June 8 suffocation death of his wife, Rachel Stolberg, 54.
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Authorities: Campton Hills man beat child, 6, with belt
Mathew Gumbel, a 34-year-old Campton Hills man, faces charges of aggravated battery to a child after school officials found injuries on his 6-year-old daughter this month, according to a police report.
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Star Trek 45 packed, and sold out
Of all the conventions going on in the Chicago area this weekend, this might be the only one that’s sold out. So if you don’t have a ticket, the organizers of STAR TREK 45 at the Westin O’Hare in Rosemont are politely asking you not to show up. Which is too bad, if you are a Trekkie.
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Police reports
Jose M. Lara, 21, of the 0-100 block of Times Square, was charged Thursday with possession with intent to deliver more than 15 grams and less than 100 grams of a substance containing cocaine, according to a police report. He was being held on $500,000 bond in Kane County jail.
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No new leads in bullet mystery at St. Charles North
It was business as usual Friday for St. Charles North students following Thursday’s evacuation because a single, live round of ammunition was found at the school. Not all of the backpacks held for a thorough search have been claimed, though.
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Elgin man attempts to flee police in stolen vehicle
Jeffery Van Ningen, 37, of the 900 block of Bode Road, was being held on $20,000 bail in Kane County jail after being charged with possession of a stolen motor vehicle, aggravated fleeing of a police officer, DUI, driving with a revoked license, and possession of less than 15 grams of cocaine, according to police.
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Tredup won’t seek re-election to Kane County Board
After 16 years on the Kane County Board, Jackie Tredup, who is the District 22 rep in Elgin, will not seek re-election. She’s backing a neighbor of hers, Attorney Doug Schefflow, to replace her.
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Mobility rates put dent in Dist. 200 test scores
Wheaton Warrenville Unit District 200 officials say standardized test scores show that students who go through the district from kindergarten on perform better than students who transfer in. Officials say that shows that they are doing something right, even if reading scores are decreasing slightly.
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Driver gets 10 years for fleeing fatal West Chicago crash
A Carpentersville man was sentenced Friday to 10 years in prison for fleeing the scene of a crash that killed a 27-year-old Schaumburg man, prosecutors said. Alonso Huerta-Perez, 24, must serve at least half the term.
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Villa Park man charged in $2.8 million cocaine bust
A Villa Park man accused of possessing more than 70 pounds cocaine was ordered held Friday on bail of $2.8 million, the estimated street value of the drugs. Herasmo Herrera, 30, was arrested about 5 p.m. Thursday after DuPage County sheriff’s officers found four bricks of cocaine in his vehicle during a traffic stop in Elmhurst, authorities said.
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Aurora man guilty of kidnapping, attempted murder
A Kane County jury convicted a 25-year-old Aurora man of attempted murder, aggravated kidnapping and host of other charges Friday. Jean Marc Faison faces up to 45 years in prison when he is sentenced Dec. 29 for kidnapping a woman and making her eat dog feces while held at gunpoint.
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Dist. 128 pools close today:
With no reprieve coming from state officials, the swimming pools at Libertyville and Vernon Hills high schools will be closed indefinitely starting today because of safety concerns, a District 128 spokeswoman said Friday.
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Learn about ancient sites:
Illinois-based writer and journalist Derek Monroe will present the Hidden Trail of Ancient Mayan Ruins at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 6 at the Lake Villa Public Library, 1001 E. Grand Ave.
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Electronic books offer:
Vernon Area Public Library patrons who own Kindle tablets can download free e-books from the library through MyMediaMall.
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ID theft seminars for seniors:
Republican state Rep. Kent Gaffney of Lake Barrington will host events featuring experts in the field of identity theft from the attorney general’s office to provide information on how people nearing or in retirement can protect themselves from financial predatory schemes.
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$250,000 Little Lotto ticket sold in Elk Grove Village
An Elk Grove Village liquor store sold a winning $250,000 Little Lotto ticket Thursday that is yet unclaimed.
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Hoffman Estates school’s Madrigal Troupe performs
The Hoffman Estates High School Madrigal Troupe will perform for the 32nd year in Oregon, Ill., at Stronghold Castle’s Olde English Faire on Saturday, Oct. 1, and Sunday, Oct. 2.
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U.S. Rep. Dold to appear in Cook County towns
U.S. Rep. Robert Dold, a Kenilworth Republican representing the 10 Congressional District, will be making two appearances in Cook County Saturday in Palatine and Wheeling.
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Bloomingdale cops nab three in failed rooftop burglary
Bloomingdale police arrested three men on burglary charges after they broke into a discount clothing store through a roof hatch, authorities said Friday. The trio wanted to "go big" and break into Best Buy, police said, but were only able to access the store next door.
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A 36-year-old woman dies in early morning crash near Fox Lake
One person was killed when a loaded gravel truck slammed into a car on Route 12 near Molidor Road in unincorporated Ingleside early Friday morning. Rebecca Handy, 36, who had a previous address in Round Lake, was pronounced dead at the scene of the two-vehicle crash at 6 a.m., said Wayne Hunter, chief of Administration for the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
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4 District 301 buses destroyed in ‘suspicious’ fire
Four Buses at Prairie View Grade School in Burlington Schoool District 301 were set ablaze early Friday morning and burned to the ground.
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Deferred prosecution for Streamwood nurse charged with taking pills from patients
A streamwood nurse who authorities say took690 painkillers prescribed for residents of a Bartlett retirement and assisted living facility over nine months, received deferred prosection Friday. Delores Gigliello, was charged with possession of a controlled substance. If she successfully completes the court ordered treatment, the charges will be dismissed, an assistant public defender said.
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Vernon Hills continues case against odiferous home
Vernon Hills officials have taken another step in a continuing legal effort to eliminate animal odors emanating from a home in the Stone Fence Farm subdivision. A complaint filed earlier this week by village attorneys, describes the home on Brook Hill Lane as “beyond reasonable repair” and asks that demolition be included as a remedy to correct the situation.
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Home monitoring stays for Elgin sex abuse suspect
A judge refuses to revoke the bond of William Dugar, a 21-year-old Elgin man accused of criminal sexual assault of a girl younger than 13 and criminal sexual abuse. Prosecutors argued Dugar let the battery on his GPS bracelet run out of power and went to a Wendy's when he was supposed to be at his mother's house in Hanover Park.
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Residents have say on lights at Memorial Field
On Thursday, a group of Glen Ellyn residents opposed to a plan to install lights at Memorial Field got to present their case before the village plan commission.
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S. Elgin woman seeks home for 9/11 memorial
Paula Eaton was home on Sept. 11, 2001 and able to turn on the television just minutes after the first plane hit the World Trade Center. For the rest of the day she watched the news reports and cried. A nagging need to do something plagued Eaton as she wrestled with her grief. The next day she finished a flag commemorating the attacks and now she is looking for somewhere to display it.
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Find unclaimed property at Cash Dash in West Chicago
Find out if the state is holding any money or unclaimed property belonging to you at Illinois State Treasurer Dan Rutherford's Cash Dash event Tuesday, October 4, in West Chicago.
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Images: Behind the scenes at Medieval Times in Schaumburg
Behind the scenes with the knights and other cast members at Medieval Times in Schaumburg where guests enjoy dramatic jousting and sword fights while feasting on a four-course meal.
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Take a look behind the scenes at Medieval Times
Behind the scenes with the knights and other cast members at Medieval Times in Schaumburg where guests enjoy dramatic jousting and sword fights while feasting on a four-course meal.
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Talk with the Editor: The little biases we all have
In this installment of his interactive Talk with the Editor column, John Lampinen touches on bias, the tea party, Walter Payton and the Tampa Bay Rays.
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Florida moves GOP primary to Jan. 31
Officials in Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina say they’ll probably change their dates to stay ahead of Florida.
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Unions backing Naperville project in spirit
A union rally to voice support for the proposed Freedom Plaza development along I-88 in Naperville was something less than a rousing success Friday. But the four union members who did show up said they believe the project could jump-start the area's construction industry.
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Pavement rejuvenation treatment scheduled for Villa Park streets
Pavement rejuvenation treatments are scheduled for six Villa Park streets on Monday, Oct. 3.
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Four thefts reported at Streamwood High School
Streamwood police report a series of recent thefts at Streamwood High School. • Thieves stole a red and gray mountain bike locked to the bike rack, a cellphone from a lunchroom table and a cellphone and money out of a backpack during a pep rally in the gym. They also stole an iPod and watch out of a gym locker in a boys’ locker room.
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Ruse burglary in Palatine nets a $3,000 watch
In the latest ruse burglary in Palatine, two offenders stole a designer watch valued at $3,000 and jewelry out of a home on the 1100 block of East Carpenter Drive between 3:30 and 4:20 p.m. Sept. 26 by tricking the female resident. A male offender tried to talk his way into her home, but she refused to open the front door. He opened the unlocked kitchen door instead, and gave her several...
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Fox Valley parks host ‘Paws in the Park’
The Fox Valley Park District will hold a free festival for dog owners called Paws in the Park from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 2.
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Oldest Glen Ellyn church celebrates 150 years
Glen Ellyn’s oldest church will open its 150th anniversary celebration with a barbecue and ice cream social on Sunday, Oct. 2.
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Glen Ellyn mayor meets with residents
Glen Ellyn Village President Mark Pfefferman will host an informal question and answer session with residents, students and local business people during the “Meet Mayor Mark” open house event on Monday, Oct. 3.
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Northwest suburban police blotter
Two Streamwood men were charged with aggravated assault and mob action after they reportedly chased a man while carrying two bats. The victim had argued with them and fled on his bicycle. Officers were called when the victim ran into his home as the three offenders arrived.
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Des Plaines considers funding for generator rebates
Des Plaines city officials will consider increasing funding for the home generator rebate program at Monday night's city council meeting. Demand was so heavy when the program opened that funding ran out in hours.
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Prospect Hts. mayor keeps working on welcome signs
Prospect Heights Mayor Nick Helmer really wants signs to welcome you to his city. “Signs are important for identity, pride and many other things,” the mayor said, adding that people often don’t know when they are entering the city.
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Friends of Palatine Library book sale coming up
A popular used book sale that’s been known to draw out-of-staters is just a few weeks away. The Friends of the Palatine Public Library will hold its three-day fundraiser beginning Friday, Oct. 21 at the library, 700 N. North Court, Palatine.
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Harper speaker Oct. 5 on Palestinian bid for statehood
Middle Eastern expert Reza Aslan, author of “No God but god: The Origins, Evolution and Future of Islam,” will be at Harper College Oct. 5 to discuss the future of the Palestinian bid for statehood and why President Obama is wasting an opportunity to pursue the two-state solution. “It will be on Barack Obama’s watch, and as a direct result of his actions, that we will say years from now that the...
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Lakes, Antioch students show spirit in morning pep rally
It was loud, maybe it was way too loud for 6 a.m. But, the 1,200 students and faculty members screaming at the top of their lungs for a couple of video cameras inside the gymnasium at Lakes Community High School in Lake Villa didn't seem to mind that the noise was deafening. They reveled in it.
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Cain, Bachmann, Beck key guests at local TeaCon
Herman Cain, the surprise victor in a Florida Republican presidential straw poll, will travel to Schaumburg to try to build momentum at an inaugural Midwest tea party convention Saturday, with fellow tea party contender Michele Bachmann planning to deliver remarks via video conference. The sold-out TeaCon 2011 could have national implications for both Cain and the suburbs.
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District 38 ramps up search to find new superintendent
Big Hollow Elementary District 38 officials are ramping up their search for a new superintendent and plan to present initial findings to the school board in about two weeks. The school board has hired the School Exec Connect educational search firm to assist in finding a new superintendent to replace retiring Ronald Pazanin. Pazanin announced last year he would retire in June 2012.
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Fundraiser for woman with cancer draws big crowd
Organizers estimated nearly 500 people attended a fundraiser for Joan Evans on Saturday night at Ringside Sports Bar in Elk Grove Village, far greater than they had ever imagined, and guests donated generously. They say they may have raised $50,000 from the event. Evans is undergoing treatment for her advanced breast cancer, while trying to keep up with the needs of her four children with...
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American-born cleric al-Awlaki dead in U.S. attack in Yemen
WASHINGTON — An American-born cleric killed in Yemen played a “significant operational role” in plotting and inspiring attacks on the United States, U.S. officials said Friday, as they disclosed detailed intelligence to justify the killing of a U.S. citizen.
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Ind. panel dismisses complaint against Democrats
INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Election Commission has dismissed — for now — a campaign finance complaint involving House Democrats who staged a five-week walkout earlier this year.
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Trial ordered for Carbondale man in shooting death
MURPHYSBORO, Ill. — A southern Illinois man has pleaded not guilty to murder charges tied to a shooting death that may have involved a gun stolen from Carbondale’s police chief.Eighteen-year-old Matthew Jones entered the pleas Thursday, and a Jackson County judge bound Jones over for trial in the Sept. 14 shooting death of 20-year-old Deaunta Spencer of Carbondale.
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Ind. woman gets probation for false rape report
MISHAWAKA, Ind. — A former Goshen College student who falsely reported that she was abducted and raped has been sentenced to 18 months of probation and ordered to perform 200 hours of community service.
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1 dead in Turkey explosion in Mediterranean town
ANKARA, Turkey — One person died in an explosion in a Mediterranean town on Friday, Turkish authorities said, while a news agency reported the victim was a suicide bomber and the blast was outside a paramilitary police station.
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Syrian forces kill 9 anti-government protesters
Syrian security forces killed at least nine anti-government protesters and carried out wide-scale arrests as demonstrators took to the streets after Friday prayers to demand that President Bashar al-Assad step down.
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Sailor abducted off ship supplying Nigeria oil rig
LAGOS, Nigeria — Gunmen attacked a ship Friday supplying an Exxon Mobil Corp. offshore oil rig near the coast of Nigeria, kidnapping a sailor and leaving another wounded, an official said.
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Tour of Elk Grove joins elite races
The Alexian Brothers Tour of Elk Grove professional men's three-day race has earned the highest ranking — 2.1 — from Union Cycliste Internationale. UCI is cycling's foremost governing body. It oversees the prestigious Tour de France and other international cycling races.
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Dawn Patrol: Quick hits as you head out the door
911 tapes reveal how neighbors witnessed a gruesome Prospect Heights murder-suicide. Tollway employees accused of swindling $25,000. State Republican leaders are "troubled" by 911 tapes of state Sen. Suzi Schmidt of Villa Park appearing to use her clout in a domestic call. Cook County businesses can apply for tax amnesty.
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Milwaukee museum gets prize from Super Bowl wager
MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee Art Museum will soon be displaying its prize from the Pittsburgh art museum for its wager on the Super Bowl. In January, Milwaukee Art Museum Director Daniel Keegan and Carnegie Museum of Art Director Lynn Zelevansky wagered on who would win the game between the Packers and the Steelers.
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Jurors acquit driver in death of college student
MENOMONIE, Wis. — The driver of a car that struck and killed a University of Wisconsin-Stout student has been acquitted of charges.
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Libya’s interim government delayed indefinitely
Libya may not have a new interim government for weeks or months, said Mahmoud Jibril, prime minister of the nation’s National Transitional Council.No government will be formed until the entire North African country is liberated, including the cities of Sirte and Bani Walid where forces loyal to Moammar Gadhafi continue to fight, Jibril told journalists yesterday in Tripoli, the capital.
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U.S. fugitive wants to serve time in Portugal
LISBON, Portugal — An American killer and alleged hijacker who was a fugitive for 41 years should serve the rest of his jail time in Portugal where he was captured instead of being extradited to the United States, his lawyer says.
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Authorities say Calif. fugitive fired at deputies
FORT BRAGG, Calif. — A murder suspect who has been the subject of largest manhunt in Northern California in decades shot at a group of sheriff’s deputies Thursday, authorities said.
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S. Korea Ruling Party Head Calls for Flexible North Policy
South Korea’s ruling party leader called on President Lee Myung Bak’s administration to soften its stance toward North Korea and seek talks with the communist neighbor to ease escalated tensions between the civil war foes.
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Landowners sought for outdoor recreation program
SPRINGFIELD -- Illinois officials are hoping to open more privately owned land to turkey hunting, fishing, birding and outdoor photography.
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Talk about sexual harassment with your kids
Did you know fear of sexual harassment is one of the major reasons female junior high and high school students miss school? Let that sink in for a minute: Young women at the most vulnerable stage of their sexual development must consider the daily possibility that someone may, through word or deed, sexually assault them.
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Cosley Zoo’s Pumpkin Fest offers fruits of fall galore
Ah, autumn. Round, orange pumpkins to carve into jack-o-lanterns. Crisp apples to bite into and sweet, tangy cider to taste. Cornstalks, straw bales and gourds in all colors and shapes to decorate for the season. Visitors to Cosley Zoo’s Pumpkin Fest will find all that and more throughout October at the children’s zoo, 1356 N. Gary Ave., Wheaton.
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Dist. 211 students honored for perfect ACT scores
Out of the 1.5 million students who take the ACT annually, only one in every 3,300 achieve a 36, the test’s highest possible composite score. Six students Palatine-Schaumburg District 211 students were among them, and they recently were honored for the feat by the district’s board of education.
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Twins club hosts kids resale Oct. 1
The Miraculous Multiples Mothers of Twins Club will hold its Kids Fall/Winter Kids Resale from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, at Huntley Park District
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See ‘The Secret Garden’ at CLC
“The Secret Garden,” based on the classic book by Frances Hodgson Burnett and adapted by April-Dawn Gladu, will be presented by the College of Lake County Theatre Department. Remaining performances include 3 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 2, in the Mainstage Theatre of the James Lumber Center for the Performing Arts on the Grayslake campus, 19351 W. Washington St., Grayslake.
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Man survives for days after car plunges off cliff
CASTAIC, Calif. — A 67-year-old man found alive days after his car plunged 200 feet off a mountain road built a makeshift camp, ate leaves and drank water from a nearby creek to survive, his daughter said.
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Hurricane Ophelia Strengthens on Course East of Bermuda
Hurricane Ophelia continued to strengthen over the Atlantic on a track that’s predicted to take the storm east of Bermuda tomorrow before hitting Newfoundland on Oct. 3, the National Hurricane Center said.Ophelia, a Category 2 storm on the 5-step Saffir-Simpson scale, has winds of 105 miles (169 kilometers) per hour, according to a hurricane center advisory.
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Fear in Colo. town at heart of Listeria outbreak
HOLLY, Colo. — Eric Jensen surveys his dusty cantaloupe field and seems equally stunned and puzzled at the fate that has befallen his crop: row upon row of melons rotting on the vine.
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Afghanistan Says It May Halt Effort to Seek Peace Via Pakistan
Afghanistan’s government says it has made no progress in working with Pakistan to start a peace process in the Afghan war, and may suspend the effort.
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Arlington Hts. mayor talks slots with governor
Arlington Heights Village President Arlene Mulder reported this week that she finally met with Gov. Pat Quinn to lobby for a bill which includes the expansion of gambling at Arlington Park. She said he listened, but did not commit himself.
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Ind. seeks to revoke living center's license
Indiana health officials are seeking to revoke the license of a South Bend assisted living center accused of endangering its residents by failing to meet state standards.
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Oshkosh Corp. set to vote on contract proposal
OSHKOSH, Wis. — A union leader says he expects workers for Oshkosh Corp. are going to reject the latest contract proposal.
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Bill could increase UW Regents geography diversity
MADISON, Wis. — A state Assembly committee has advanced a measure designed to increase the geographic diversity of the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents.
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Strong wind knocks out power, topples trees
MILWAUKEE — Strong wind knocked down power lines, toppled trees and whipped up fall leaves in many areas of Wisconsin. About 21,000 Wisconsin Public Service customers in northeastern and central Wisconsin were without service Friday morning. Utility crews working overnight restored power to about 20,000 WPS customers.
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N. Ind. officials: Tree was older than 500 years
MERRILLVILLE, Ind. — Officials in northwestern Indiana say a tree believed to be between 500 and 800 years old has died and must be removed.Merrillville officials tell The Times of Munster (http://bit.ly/qZgoal ) that the bur oak is believed to be the oldest in Lake County and is likely among the oldest in the state. It was featured in National Geographic in 1955.
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Purdue engineer to receive national honor
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — A chemical engineering professor from Purdue University will be honored by President Barack Obama for his record of innovation.Purdue says Rakesh Agrawal has been chosen to receive the National Medal of Technology and Innovation. The award is the highest honor for technological achievement offered by the White House.
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Ind. gets grant to develop affordable homes ideas
INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration is among agencies in six states that will each get $330,000 federal grants that should result in more housing options for people with disabilities.
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Winds cut power to 16,000 NIPSCO customers
NIPSCO crews blamed the outages on a “transmission problem” caused by the high winds.A high wind warning remained in effect for northwestern Indiana until Friday afternoon. The National Weather Service says the region will see sustained winds of 20 to 30 mph with gusts as high as 45 mph.
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Economy fuels rise in S. Ind. horse starvations
OWENSVILLE, Ind. — The struggling economy and high hay prices are spurring a spike in horse starvation cases in southern Indiana and a record number of people surrendering animals they can no longer afford to keep.
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Friends to remember teacher, 25, who died in class
MARION, Iowa — Friends and family are expected to gather to remember a 25-year-old teacher from Iowa who was found dead in her western Illinois classroom Monday.A visitation for Sarah Knight is scheduled for Friday starting at 4 p.m. at Murdoch Funeral Home in Marion, where Knight grew up and where her parents still live.
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Convicted nail-painting driver gets holiday time
WAUKEGAN— An Illinois motorist convicted of reckless homicide for painting her nails while she struck and killed a 56-year-old motorcyclist will get to spend the holidays with her family.
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Teen to be sentenced in Fayette Co. double killing
VANDALIA, — A southern Illinois teenager convicted of gunning down two of his neighbors as they slept is about to hear his punishment.Sixteen-year-old Clifford Baker was to be sentenced Friday in Fayette County, where jurors deliberated three hours before convicting him Aug. 23.
Sports
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Lakers' Bryant said to get $3 million offer to play in Italy
Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant may get $3 million to play about 10 games in Italy for Virtus Bologna during the National Basketball Association's lockout, according to a person familiar with the negotiations.The Bologna team and Bryant reached a verbal agreement earlier today and he will be in the northern Italian city Oct. 5 to sign the contract, according to the person, who declined to be named because the talks are private. Bryant will play for the team that has won 15 championships in Italy's top league.“We agreed on the financial terms of the deal with Bryant last night,” Virtus owner Claudio Sabatini told Italian television network Sky Sport 24 in a telephone interview.Bryant grew up in Italy because his father Joe, a former Philadelphia 76ers forward, played in the country for seven seasons from 1984 to 1991. The Bryants lived in Reggio Emilia, a city located 75 kilometers (46 miles) north of Bologna, from 1989 to 1991 and Kobe Bryant speaks Italian fluently.“It's very possible that I will play in Italy,” Bryant told Italian daily La Gazzetta Dello Sport in Milan Sept. 28. He spoke in Italian while attending an event in Milan that day.Top EarnerBryant is the NBA's top earner, according to Forbes magazine. He had a salary of $24.8 million, $4.3 million more than the Orlando Magic's Rashard Lewis, the next highest paid player, the magazine reported last November.A call placed outside of business hours to the offices of Bryant's agent, Rob Pelinka, wasn't immediately returned.Italian teams are offering NBA players to play in the country until the start of the North American season, which may be delayed or canceled over talks on a new labor contract. The top negotiators for the NBA and Players Association will meet today with both the owners' labor-relations committee and the union's executive body. The regular season is scheduled to start Nov. 1.Olimpia Milano, the Milan-team owned by Italian designer Giorgio Armani, signed the Denver Nuggets's Danilo Gallinari. Virtus Roma also is in talks with the Toronto Raptors's Andrea Bargnani, Italian daily la Repubblica reported Sept. 21.In 1998, the last time there was an NBA lockout, the first postponement came on Sept. 24, when the league delayed training camp, which was set to begin Oct. 5. The season was shortened to 50 games from 82 after an agreement was reached in January 1999.
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Buffalo Grove strikes in time at Hersey
For a half-hour of soccer Friday afternoon, it looked as if Hersey had returned to its glory days. Score first, bend but don’t break on defense, and allow your opponent to possess until they reach the final third. Then tackle aggressively, and don’t allow anything on frame. Yes, the Huskies of looked and played a lot like the four-time MSL East champs from back in the day on Friday in Arlington Heights — until, that is, Buffalo Grove’s Markus Fiordaliso brought the hosts back to reality with a free kick strike in the 30th minute to awaken the Bison (8-3-4, 5-3-1). They went on to spoil a homecoming night at Hersey with a 2-1 victory.
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Miller, Harper hope to bounce back
Fresh off of last week’s 66-6 loss at Iowa Western, the Harper College football team comes home to play North Dakota School of Science at 1 p.m. today. “We just played the three toughest games of the season — we have some winnable games ahead,” said Harper coach Eric Waldstein.
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For Sky’s Fowles, WNBA award a family honor
Chicago Sky center Sylvia Fowles' three older brothers were tough on her when it came to playing basketball. Those defensive battles, she says, are responsible for her earning one of the WNBA's highest honors this week.
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St. Charles N. beats Elgin
With 22 incomplete passes, 9 penalties, 5 fumbles and 5 punts between them in the first half, it appeared neither St. Charles North nor Elgin was particularly interested in taking command of a game the North Stars led 9-7 at halftime Friday night.But the North Stars put the ball in the hands of junior tailback George Edlund in the second half and all of those bad vibes went away in a 37-13 rout that gave St. Charles North its first win of the season and in Upstate Eight River action in St. Charles.It was an expected result, considering Edlund either set, or at least flirted with, a school record by scoring 3 touchdowns and carrying the ball 37 times for 267 yards — with 189 of those coming in the second half when he bolted for fourth-quarter TD runs of 42 and 39 yards to seal the victory.“We’ve been waiting for the offense to click all season and the offensive line did a tremendous job, and that’s the reason we won tonight,” Edlund said. “We’ve been talking about finish, finish, finish in the second half and it finally came together. It may be coming a little too late (in the season), but we’re going to build on it.”Edlund was mostly building on his rushing statistics, after finishing the North Stars’ opening drive of the game with a 3-yard scoring plunge, he went to the locker room at halftime with 78 yards.St. Charles North (1-5, 1-2) nursed that 9-7 lead after Micheal Schroeder added a 27-yard field goal and Elgin tallied when quarterback Ryan Sitter fired a 28-yard bullet to a wide open Gage Teschner for a second-quarter touchdown.Even though Edlund didn’t finish off the North Stars’ 62-yard scoring drive to open the second half, he ran the ball eight straight times to set up quarterback Ryan Fischbach’s 17-yard touchdown toss to Patrick Donlevy for a 16-7 lead.In the meantime, the North Stars defense was busy stifling Elgin running star Dennis Moore, holding him to minus-3 yards in the second half and all but putting an end to any offense for the Maroons. Elgin (1-5, 0-4) had only one first down in the second half and tallied its only touchdown on an 84-yard kickoff return by Moore in the fourth quarter.After Fischbach found William Ohlrich with a 20-yard touchdown pass, the show was all about Edlund with his two long scoring scampers in the fourth quarter.Elgin coach Dave Bierman knew that if either team could establish a ground game, it would take command.“When you run the ball well like they did, it is hard to come back against that,” Bierman said. “You are never as bad as your record, and they have a good team. Up front, we just have some inconsistencies.”With Edlund leading the charge, the North Stars rushed for 313 yards on their way to 445 total yards and 18 first downs in the game.
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Wheaton North dominates W. Aurora
Wheaton North is the lone undefeated DuPage Valley Conference squad after its 38-7 dismantling of West Aurora.
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Kaneland comes from behind to stay perfect
Sophomore Jesse Balluff put Kaneland back in front with a bruising 23-yard touchdown run with 7:16 left, then scampered in from 27 yards out to punctuate a thrilling 49-38 come-from-behind win Friday in Northern Illinois Big 12 East action.
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Batavia powers past Geneva
Austin Lewis dropped Geneva punter/quarterback Matt Williams for a 19-yard loss, giving Batavia first-and-goal at its 2. Two plays later Dom Guzaldo punched in 1 of his 3 second-half touchdown runs, opening up a two-score lead that Batavia used as the cushion it needed for a 46-34 victory.
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Aurora Christian gets back on track
Before Aurora Christian’s first game of the year was over, the Eagles had lost their top two receivers to injuries. Fortunately, junior Cory Windle has stepped up and he did so in a big way against Walther Lutheran with three first half touchdown catches and 213 receiving yards in a 48-6 SCC Gold conference win for Aurora Christian. “Thank goodness for Cory Windle,” said Aurora Christian head coach Don Beebe. “He has been our big play guy all year and tonight he made some great plays.”
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Plenty of memorable moments ... as usual
Let’s look back at the best of Batavia-Geneva 2011 ...
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WW South dominates
Thaddeus Armstrong threw 2 TD passes to Brian Welch and WW South rolled to a 54-0 victory on homecoming Friday.
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Without Gaspari, Batavia’s ground game takes over
If it’s ever possible for Batavia to have a bittersweet win when the Bulldogs beat Geneva, it happened Friday at Burgess Field.
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Lisle finishes well, earns second win
Lisle scored 20 unanswered points in the second half to post a 27-6 victory against Reed-Custer, the Lions' second straight win.
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Naperville North fires past Glenbard East
Naperville North totaled 373 yards rushing in a 51-13 victory at Glenbard East, spoiling homecoming for the Rams.
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This time Naperville Central wins close one
Naperville Central found itself on the wrong end of so many close football games in the last year and a half. The Redhawks found the right end Friday night. They got just enough offense — and a ton of defense — to edge Glenbard North 10-6 in their DuPage Valley Conference showdown in Naperville.
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Deerfield runs by Maine West
True to their absent head coach, Maine West showed some fight. While the results this season haven’t been ideal, Maine West battled for 48 minutes but couldn’t overcome Deerfield’s running attack in a 49-7 loss Friday night in Des Plaines in Central Suburban North play. On Wednesday, Maine West coach Chris Hare had surgery on his back and a result, had to miss his first game on the sidelines.
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Fenton loses homecoming game
Fenton suffered its first loss of the season 32-20 to Ridgewood on homecoming.
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Hersey holds off Buffalo Grove
Hersey's defense held up as it held on for a 20-14 Mid-Suburban East victory over Buffalo Grove.
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College football preview: Northern Illiois at C. Michigan
Northern Illinois hopes to continue it march to the MAC title with Saturday's football game Central Michigan. Mike McGraw previews the matchup between the Huskies and the Chippewas.
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Elk Grove sizes up Rolling Meadows
Elk Grove plays big. Bigger than its listed height and weight. Bigger than its larger opponents. And bigger in belief and self-confidence — things that enable the Grens to play bigger than their height and weight. “We’re not bigger than anyone else,” said tailback Stefan Skoneczka after Friday’s big homecoming win over Rolling Meadows. “We have such toughness.” They proved it to a very good Meadows team in a 46-7 victory that reflected their focus, concentration and outstanding practices prepping for the game.
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LaVeau, Palatine don’t back down
Andrew LaVeau exemplified Palatine's hard-hitting defensive approach in a 35-14 Mid-Suburban West win over Barrington.
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Strange play goes Schaumburg’s way
One of the strangest plays imaginable saw Schaumburg QB Stacy Smith pick up a fumbled snap and score the decisive touchdown in a 26-23 overtime win at Fremd.
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Prospect puts it in gear, drives past Wheeling
Prospect needed a spark and got one with old-school, grind-it-out football as it pulled away in the second half to a 28-12 Mid-Suburban East win over Wheeling.
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Rhode debuts as Montini stops St. Francis
John Rhode's Montini debut was delayed, but worth the wait. After missing five weeks with a fractured thumb, the transfer from Marian Catholic completed 11 of 14 passes for 134 yards and 3 touchdowns in a half of action to lead the Broncos past St. Francis 33-14.
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Conant passes by Hoffman Estates
Quarterback Matt Cullen threw 4 of his 5 touchdown passes in the third quarter as Conant beat Hoffman Estates 42-0.
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Palatine handles Barrington
Palatine’s explosive offense was on full display in the Pirates 35-14 victory over visiting Barrington in Friday night’s Mid-Suburban League West showdown. While Palatine players like running backs John Serio and Cam Kuksa, quarterback Ethan Olles, and receivers Lucas Rago, Taylor Hall, and Jesse Bobbit were piling up 356 yards of offense and 5 touchdowns as a team, it was the Pirates’ offensive line that was truly dominant. Offensive linemen Dan Jeske, C.J. Machnik, Layne Kirch, Nathan Gerdes and Josh Baldus did not allow a sack, and the Pirates had just 3 offensive plays that went for negative yardage all night.
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Reuss, Warren gain momentum
Could Warren Quarterback Adam Reuss top last week’s performance, when he passed for a career high of 179 yards? The answer is yes. He passed for 295 yards and 2 touchdowns to lead the host Blue Devils past Mundelein 55-20 in a North Suburban Lake Division football game on Friday. Reuss completed 11 passes of 29 passes with 2 interceptions
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Zion-Benton tops RL in OT
Zion-Benton 28, Round Lake 27: In Zion, the Zee-Bees prevailed in overtime of the North Suburban Conference crossover.Zion-Benton (2-4) snapped a four-game losing streak, while dropping Round Lake’s record to 1-5.
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Brennan, Carmel roll past St. Patrick
Quarterback Brian Brennan rushed for 2 touchdowns and a 2-point conversion and threw a TD pass to Alex Young for the second week in a row, as the Corsairs’ fourth road game of the season resulted in a 49-15 East Suburban Catholic Conference win over St. Patrick at Hanson Stadium in Chicago.
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Dundee-Crown falls to Woodstock North
The losing streak for the Dundee-Crown Chargers continues. The Chargers (0-6, 0-4) fell to the Woodstock North Thunder by a score of 25-6 at Dundee-Crown High School on Friday night. It was a quiet first half, with each team only scoring 6 points, but the Chargers couldn’t stop the powerful run game of the Thunder’s Ryan Wade in the second half.
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Wauconda ‘D’ does the job
Keith Blomberg kept sniffing the end zone ... and breakfast. He tasted neither. “I want my breakfast!” Blomberg yelled when he came to the sideline after picking off his second pass of the night, only to get dragged down on the sideline. At least the Wauconda safety/outside linebacker didn’t get toasted during the Bulldogs’ 22-6 win over host Wauconda in the teams’ North Suburban Prairie Division game Friday night. “It was kind of frustrating,” said a smiling Blomberg, who sprinted with the football and got tackled each time after his 2 interceptions and fumble recovery. “I had the ball and I was running, running, and then I would just get tackled out of nowhere.” When Dave Mills relinquished his duties as Wauconda’s defensive coordinator to become the team’s head coach a couple of years ago, he had one request for his replacement, Shawn Rudolph. “When Shawn took over DC, I told him the only thing he had to keep that I did was if the defense scores, you have to buy them breakfast,” Mills said. Rudolph hasn’t had to treat his defense yet, but the Bulldogs are “getting closer,” Mills noted. More importantly Friday, they played with the aggressiveness and tenacity that helps wins games.
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Lake Park makes sure of first conference victory
Lake Park earned its first conference victory, defeating East Aurora 49-0.
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Waubonsie Valley routs Larkin
Waubonsie Valley picked up where it left off the past two weeks at Larkin on Friday night. Waubonsie Valley (5-1) sprinted out to a 34-0 lead with 9:20 remaining in the first half and the Warriors never looked back en route to a 55-7 Upstate Eight Crossover victory over host Larkin at Memorial Field in Elgin.
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Antioch outruns Lakes
Danny Arden carried the ball 34 times for 248 yards as Antioch cruised to a 30-14 North Suburban Conference Prairie Division victory over Lakes on a chilly night in Lake Villa.
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Neuqua rolls past Metea
Joey Rhattigan ran for 195 yards and 2 TDs as Neuqua Valley cruised past Metea Valley 52-6.
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Opportunistic Grant stops Vernon Hills
Grant senior defensive tackle Nick Jones stripped the ball, scooped it up and scored on one play early in the third quarter of Grant’s 26-6 defeat of host Vernon Hills on Friday night. The score before the special triple was 0-0.
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Grayslake North trumps Woodstock
Not often do you see a card game break out during a football game. This, however, this was exactly the case at Woodstock High School on Friday night. Grayslake North’s coaching staff used giant playing card images and held them up for their players to see which plays to run. After a slow start, the Knights re-shuffled the deck and came away with a 49-21 victory over the host Blue Streaks in a Fox Valley Fox divisional matchup.
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St. Edward no match for Marian Central
The St. Edward football players understand the challenge. In order to reach the Class 4A state playoffs for a third straight season, the Green Wave must knock off one of their final four opponents from the Suburban Christian Conference, two of which entered the weekend ranked in the Class 5A poll. Marian Central — the No. 2 team in 5A — was never in danger of falling victim to St. Edward’s playoff crusade Friday. The physically superior Hurricanes scored touchdowns on six straight first-half possessions and shut down the Wave’s running game in a 47-3 Blue Division victory at Greg True Field in Elgin.
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Cary-Grove rolls over McHenry
It may have been what the schedule fairy spit out for McHenry, but the Warriors picked the wrong week to visit Al Bohrer Field after Cary-Grove’s 8-point loss to Jacobs last week. Cary-Grove (4-2, 1-2) was very much raw and rabid and sought to punish McHenry (2-4,1-3) after letting one slip last week. The Trojans made it a running clock 3 minutes into the third quarter and bashed their way to a 56-13 Fox Valley Conference Valley Division win behind junior quarterback Quinn Baker, who threw for a touchdown and rushed for 5 more in Cary-Grove’s first Valley win
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Lake Forest holds off Stevenson
A 3-0 score heading to the fourth quarter? What happened to both Stevenson and Lake Forest’s offenses on Friday night? Some of the credit goes to both team’s defenses. And some has to go the lack of offenses on both sides of the ball. Lake Forest (5-1) had those 3 points heading to the final quarter at home. And that margin held up in a 10-7 NSC Lake Division contest.
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St. Charles East denies Streamwood 6th win
In their first opportunity to get that all important sixth win to clinch a playoff berth, the Streamwood Sabres’ special teams let the chance slip through their hands Friday night. St. Charles East turned two muffed punts into touchdowns and returned another punt for a touchdown all in the second half, en route to its first victory of the season, a 49-34 Upstate Eight River Division decision at Millennium Field in Streamwood.
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Big plays spark Lake Zurich
Lake Zurich coach Bryan Stortz was looking for sparks to get his Bears football team going. He got it them in the form of turnovers, as Lake Zurich earned 3 of them on the way to a 31-6 victory over Libertyville. It's the Bears' fourth win.
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Hampshire gets first FVC Fox win
Hampshire finally got a chance to celebrate. Chase Lundry scored 3 touchdowns, but Omar Perez’s extra point was the difference as the Whip-Purs downed Johnsburg, 27-26 in overtime Friday night in Hampshire.
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Jacobs in playoffs, and now it gets tougher
A little letdown could be expected after the big victory Jacobs had last week against Cary-Grove. The Golden Eagles, who also have key conference games the next two weeks, trailed 7-0 early Friday night to Huntley before scoring 41 unanswered points en route to a 48-19 Fox Valley Conference Valley Division victory in Huntley.
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Turnovers plague CL South in loss to Prairie Ridge
Crystal Lake South 5 turnovers. Prairie Ridge 0. In a nutshell, turnovers were the deciding factor in Friday night’s Fox Valley Conference Valley Division showdown between intra-city rivals PR and South. The Wolves capitalized on 4 Gator fumbles and intercepted an Austin Fowler pass in posting a 41-16 win at South’s Ken Bruhn Field.
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Grayslake Central’s in the playoffs
The postgame gathering inside Grayslake Central’s old gymnasium was already rowdy before football coach Nick Goshe walked in and made an announcement. “It’s Sept. 30 and Grayslake Central is in the playoffs,” Goshe shouted. That’s an unprecedented accomplishment for the Rams. This will be the fifth trip to the playoffs in school history, but they never started any of those seasons with a 6-0 record. Grayslake Central stayed perfect with a 10-7 victory over visiting Crystal Lake Central on Friday in the Fox Valley Fox Division.
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Tigers-Yankees playoff opener suspended by rain
The playoff opener between the Detroit Tigers and New York Yankees was suspended because of rain in the second inning Friday night, probably wiping out the ace of each pitching staff for a few days.
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Hawks backup goalie Ray Emery shaky, but still in the hunt
The battle for the Blackhawks’ backup goalie job might not be over yet.With one preseason game to play, Corey Crawford was scheduled to get it on Sunday at Washington. But Crawford didn’t practice Friday and following the 4-2 loss to Pittsburgh at the United Center, coach Joel Quenneville said his No. 1 goalie might not be able to go against the Capitals.That would leave another opportunity for veteran Ray Emery and rookie Alexander Salak.Quenneville didn’t come out and say Crawford was hurt.“It’s still undetermined with Corey for Sunday,” Quenneville said. “He was originally scheduled for that, but we’ll see how he is Sunday morning. He didn’t skate (Friday) and it’s more maintenance. We’ll see if he’s ready for Sunday.”Emery, in training camp on a tryout, didn’t help his chances in the loss to the Penguins. He allowed 3 goals, including Matt Cooke’s short-handed blast from the red line that resulted from the goalie misplaying the puck along the wall.Emery tried to recover, but Cooke’s shot skipped over his stick and through defenseman Brent Seabrook.“I tried to get it out and rip it down the boards and (the puck) started going funny on me,” Emery said. “He turned it around and hammered it pretty quick. I’ve got to rip it harder or find an open guy.”Emery has allowed 9 goals in 119 minutes in three preseason appearances with a 4.54 goals-against average and .813 save percentage.“It hasn’t went the way I want it, especially in the games,” Emery said. “I feel solid on the ice, but just some funny plays. My body feels good and I’d really like the opportunity to play here.”In his three preseason appearances, Salak has played 124 minutes with a 1.94 goals-against average and .929 save percentage.Emery said he will leave the decision up to the Hawks.“I think I bring certain things,” Emery said. “I think I bring some experience. I think they kind of know what to expect from me as far as my track record goes and I expect to get better and better as the year goes on.“We’ll see. I gave my all.”Quenneville said the decision doesn’t have to be made until after Sunday’s game.“We still have time to look at it and sort it out,” Quenneville said. “We still have one more game and a couple more days and we’re going to do what we feel is best for us short-term and long-term at that position.”Rookie center Brandon Pirri continued his strong bid to make the team with 2 more goals, giving him 4 for the preseason in three games.Pirri’s chances have improved even more with the injuries to Ben Smith (concussion) and Viktor Stalberg (knee), and with Marcus Kruger having a disappointing camp.“We didn’t mind his game,” Quenneville said.
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Images: Antioch vs. Lakes football
The Lakes High School Eagles were defeated by district rivals Antioch as the Sequoits won by a score of 30-14 in Lakes' homecoming football game.
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Images: St. Charles East vs. Streamwood football
St. Charles East visited Streamwood and was victorious over the previously unbeatedn Sabres by a score of 49-34 in conference football action Friday night at Millenium Field.
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Wings’ Brendan Smith draws 8-game suspension
The Blackhawks seemed satisfied with the lengthy suspension the NHL gave to Red Wings defenseman Brendan Smith for Wednesday's hit to Ben Smith's head.
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Images: Glenbard North vs. Naperville Central football
Naperville Central High School was victorious as they hosted Glenbard North for Friday night football. The final score was 10-6.
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White Sox should hurry and ink Alomar or Francona
Terry Francona cut ties with the Boston Red Sox on Friday. If the White Sox are smart, the 52-year-old Francona replaces Ozzie Guillen as manager.
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Burlington Central blanks Genoa-Kingston
Burlington Central wanted its defense to pitch a shutout. The defensive line made sure it would happen. With an aggressive pass rush and constant pressure on Genoa-Kingston, the Rockets dominated the line and took a 33-0 victory in Big Northern East play in Genoa Friday night.
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Bears guard Louis set to return; Carimi still out
The Bears expect to have opening day starter Lance Louis back on the field Sunday after the right guard missed two games with a sprained ankle, but rookie offensive tackle Gabe Carimi is still probably a couple weeks away from returning.
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No sweat(shirt): Miller, Pats reign at NSC meet
Stevenson junior Stephanie Miller shot a 3-over 75 at Deerpath Golf Course on Friday to help Stevenson shoot 366 and win its fifth straight NSC championship — by 1 stroke, ahead of Libertyville. Lake Forest placed third (373).
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St. Viator finishes second in ESCC tourney
St. Viator’s girls golf team placed second to Marian Catholic in Friday’s East Suburban Catholic Conference meet at the Village Greens of Woodridge. Marian Catholic, which also defeated the Lions in dual meet play by 5 strokes this season, was first with a 339 while St. Viator carded 356. Georgia recruit Sylvie Brick of Marian Catholic (80) held off defending co-champion and sophomore Dana Gattone of St. Viator by 1 stroke.
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Picture this: Mundelein nets NSC championship
Mundelein’s boys golf team, clad in red shirts and black caps, squeezed tightly together for a photo outside of Willow Glen Golf Club’s clubhouse. A smiling Grant Heelan held the conference championship trophy. The Mustangs then had to wait for Bret Cigelnik, who wasn’t properly attired. The floppy-haired Cigelnik, already missing a “t” in “Bret,” was missing his team cap. As ordered by coach Todd Parola, Cigelnik found it and put on a red shirt, as well. It took Cigelnik maybe 50 seconds to rejoin his happy teammates. It took Mundelein’s golf team 50 years to win its first conference championship. “This is big,” a grinning Parola said after his Mustangs shot a 309 in the North Suburban Conference tournament to edge Lake Forest by one stroke. “Good day. Good rounds. Tough day (windy, cool).” Parola’s golfers had never won a county championship, either, in the high school’s 50 years of existence. The Mustangs accomplished that earlier in the season, and then Friday used four sub-80 rounds to best Lake Forest (310).
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Hampshire’s Ellett 2nd at FVC tournament
Back and forth they went, and in the end Crystal Lake Central sophomore Lexi Harkins ended up just a shot better. Harkins and Hampshire senior Connie Ellett traded the lead for the individual championship of the Fox Valley Conference girls golf tournament at Crystal Woods all day long. Finally, on the third playoff hole, Harkins parred, Ellett bogeyd and the day was over.
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Breaking down today’s big Illinois-Northwestern tilt
The Land of Lincoln trophy is on the line Saturday when Northwestern visits No. 24 Illinois. How does this Big Ten opener shake out? Who's going to prevail?
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Texas honors 6-year-old whose dad fell to death at Rangers Ballpark
ARLINGTON, Texas — With fans on their feet, many with tears in their eyes, 6-year-old Cooper Stone stood on the pitcher’s mound and tossed the ceremonial first pitch of the playoffs Friday night to his favorite player, Josh Hamilton.Cooper is the boy who saw his firefighter father fall to his death while trying to catch a ball thrown to him by Hamilton during a Texas game July 7. This was his first trip back to Rangers Ballpark, and it came on center stage, with his widowed mother, Jenny, and Rangers president Nolan Ryan by his side.Wearing a Rangers jersey featuring Hamilton’s No. 32, and “Cooper” between the shoulders, the boy threw the ball on a line to Hamilton, who was standing about halfway to home plate. The outfielder — who has been through his share of personal struggles — pumped his fist, then jogged to the front of the mound and embraced the boy, then his mother.Jenny Stone appeared to thank Hamilton while trying to keep her emotions under control. They spoke for about a minute, then hugged again. Hamilton gave Cooper another hug, too, then started heading to the dugout, only to realize he still had the ball. So Hamilton reached back and gave it to Cooper, then jogged off.A security guard met Cooper as he reached the dirt in front of the dugout and gave him a fist bump. Nelson Cruz was the first of many Rangers waiting at the steps of the dugout to slap hands with the boy. His mother wiped tears as she walked away with Ryan.“They have turned a difficult return to The Ballpark into a once-in-a-lifetime experience for Cooper,” Jenny Stone said in a statement issued by the team. “Nothing could be more exciting for a boy than throwing out the first pitch to his favorite player. We are glad and grateful to be here to see the Rangers start their march to the World Series.”Cooper, his mom and six more in their group sat in front-row seats one section closer to home plate than Ryan. When Hamilton singled in his first at-bat, Cooper jumped up and down, twirling a red towel.“We’re just honored that they were willing to come out and do that and share the day with us,” Ryan said.Shannon Stone was reaching for the ball thrown by Hamilton when he fell headfirst about 20 feet, landing on concrete behind the outfield wall. Cooper was his only child, and the two were extremely close, with the nearly 3-hour drive from their home in Brownwood to Rangers games among their favorite activities together.The Rangers recently announced plans to build a statue of Shannon and Cooper Stone outside the home-plate entrance as a tribute to them, and to all fans. The team hopes to unveil it by opening day next season. The club also is planning to raise the railing throughout the stadium.
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White Sox lock up Santos for three years
Like the rest of this teammates, closer Sergio Santos had a bad September. But the White Sox obviously looked at the entire season and rewarded Santos with a three-year contract on Friday.
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Francona says decision to leave was his
The Terry Francona era is over in Boston, as the Red Sox will not pick up the option on his contract. The statements ended a whirlwind day at Fenway Park that saw all of the principle parties shuttle in and out of the facility several times. Francona was in the building three different times.
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Willhite reminisces on his life as a sports writer
After 22 years and more than 4 million words written on behalf of the Daily Herald, Lindsey Willhite is moving on, but not before reminiscing about his journey.
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Nebraska’s presence gives BTN even more depth
Nebraska will have a symbolic "welcome to the Big Ten" moment when it travels to Wisconsin on Saturday night for the conference football opener. The Chicago-based Big Ten Network, meanwhile, has been preparing for the Cornhuskers' arrival for more than a year.
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Wilson rocked, Rays top Rangers in Game 1
Texas Matt Moore dominated in his second major league start, pitching seven innings of two-hit ball as the improbable Tampa Bay Rays opened the real playoffs with a 9-0 victory over the defending AL champion Texas Rangers on Friday.
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Lots of ex-Cubs, ex-Sox on playoff rosters
More than 20 players are listed on the player rosters for the 8 teams in the MLB playoffs this year. Can you name 5 of them who played more than 5 seasons in Chicago?
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Hawthorne saddles up for a bigger meet
Averaging nearly 10 horses per race and racing for purses totaling near $200,000, Hawthorne Race Course kicks off its 2011 fall meet with a bang on Saturday.
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Carolina offense a better fit for TE Olsen
Ex-Bears tight end Greg Olsen, whose Carolina team visits Soldier Field to face his former team Sunday, is much more comfortable in the Panthers' offense than he was last year in Mike Martz's scheme.
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Prep primer: Big games in Week 6
It’s Week 6 of the high school football season, which means it’s time for our big-game breakdown. For starters, when Batavia travels to Geneva tonight, there’s much more than the usual bragging rights at stake. Lakes hosts Antioch in a battle of teams vying for supremacy in the North Suburban Conference’s Prairie Division and Glenbard North clashes with Naperville Central.
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New Payton book can't sour my view of Sweetness
In his Scorecard column, Mike Spellman says the excerpts from the new book about Walter Payton won't change how he views the Bears legend. And he's a little miffed that Arlington Park officials say there might not be enough money in the budget to afford lights for night racing after the Illinois Racing Board's dates hearing didn't go as they wanted.
Business
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How to connect your garage door opener to other devices
Hoffman Estates-based Sears' Craftsman brand this week launched a new garage door opener called AssureLink that connects to your iPhone, iPad, Android devices, laptop or PC. Now, you can close your garage door from anywhere you have an Internet connection. No need to drive back home or get out of bed, if you forgot to close it.
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CBOE Holdings considering move from Illinois
Chicago-based CBOE Holdings Inc., parent of the Chicago Board Options Exchange, is holding talks with officials of several states about a possible move of its headquarters. With its action, the CBOE joins the CME Group Inc., the world’s largest futures exchange operator, in considering relocating its headquarters because of an increase in Illinois’ tax rate to 7 percent from 4.8 percent.
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Worst quarter for stock market since meltdown
Stocks fell Friday, putting the market on track to end its worst quarter since the peak of the financial crisis. Stocks fell broadly Friday on fresh signs that Europe's debt problems and the U.S. economy continue to languish. Makers of raw materials, industrial companies and banks — which would have the most to lose if the economy turns sour — had the biggest losses.
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Bank of America website problems continue
Bank of America's homepage and online banking service were still experiencing problems Friday afternoon, after the bank said a slowdown and other issues had been fully resolved.
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Full Tilt Poker says it has French buyer
Troubled online gambling operator Full Tilt Poker said Friday that French business tycoon Bernard Tapie has agreed to buy the company and its assets despite its legal troubles in the United States and the revocation of its gambling license.
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Cuomo tells unions threat to fire members no bluff
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said he wasn’t “bluffing” when he threatened to fire 3,500 members of the state’s second-largest public union after the rank-and- file rejected a contract he negotiated with their leaders.
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NCH Medical Group acquires Northwest Family Physicians
Northwest Community Healthcare's Medical Group expanded its network of doctors by acquiring Northwest Family Physicians.
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Consumer sentiment in U.S. increases more than forecast
Confidence among U.S. consumers rose in September from the lowest level since November 2008 as pessimism about the economy eased.
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Consumer spending in U.S. slowed in August as incomes fell
Consumer spending in the U.S. slowed in August as incomes unexpectedly dropped for the first time in almost two years, forcing households to dip into savings.
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Utopia grows exponentially for third straight year
For the third year in a row, Utopia Inc. was ranked as of America’s fastest-growing private companies as reported by Inc. Magazine rankings.
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Sysmex releases new version of clinical software
Sysmex America Inc. has released the newest version of its Sysmex WAM middleware software platform.
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Buffett says voluntary tax on wealthy akin to the ‘tooth fairy’
Warren Buffett, the billionaire who runs Berkshire Hathaway Inc., told Fox Business Network that it’s not realistic to ask ultra-wealthy taxpayers to voluntarily increase their payments to the government.“If you have a country with a deficit of more than a trillion dollars, and you think it can be solved with voluntary tax payments, then you believe in the tooth fairy,” Buffett told the broadcaster today in an interview in New York.
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Midwest real estate data launches down payment assistance program
Lisle-based Midwest Real Estate Data and Atlanta-based Workforce Resource have launched Down Payment Resource to MRED’s nearly 40,000 customers and othersthroughout the Chicagoland area. DPR links with MRED’s database of active listing data, expanding the awareness and reach of local down payment assistance programs available to homebuyers. MRED is the fourth MLS in the country to deliver this tool to its agents and brokers.Down Payment Resource is a web-based tool that connects eligible homebuyers and eligible properties with government-funded programs for down payment assistance, affordable mortgages and rehab loans. As Inman News’ 2011 “Most Innovative New Technology” award winner, Down Payment Resource is the industry’s first product to aggregate down payment assistance information into one online platform and integrates the information into MLS listing data for homes currently on the market. The tool helps bridge the down payment gap for homebuyers, as well as move real estate transactions forward in a difficult lending environment.“With the current tighter financing guidelines and burdensome down payment requirements, Down Payment Resource comes along at the perfect time to help our brokers and agents sell more homes and to put families into homes that heretofore they could not have afforded,” said MRED CEO Russ Bergeron. “Not only does it provide critical information of great value to buyers, but the tool is very easy to use. We are thrilled to add Down Payment Resource to our collection of Public Service Apps.”As agents and brokers search for properties in MRED’s connectMLS system, they will find a Down Payment Resource icon displayed on any property listing that is eligible for one or more down payment assistance programs. By clicking on that icon they can quickly view details about available assistance programs. When homebuyers view listings emailed or posted for them by their agent they can click on the Down Payment Resource icon to answer eight simple questions to determine if they meet the qualifications for any of the assistance programs associated with a property of interest.In MRED’s market, more than 74 percent of homes listed may be eligible for one or more down payment assistance programs. Down Payment Resource is tracking and integrating 629 different programs in the area, with 624 currently funded and available for use.“We appreciate MRED’s commitment to offer its customers the latest in real estate technology,” said Rob Chrane, founder of Workforce Resource. “Consumers still report that securing a down payment is the biggest challenge in buying a home today. With Down Payment Resource, MRED is providing a new way for their customers to assist more homebuyers in finding affordable homes.”
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Business activity in u.S. Unexpectedly climbed in September
Business activity in the U.S. unexpectedly accelerated in September, a sign executives are betting the economy will weather recent slumps in stocks and confidence.The Institute for Supply Management-Chicago Inc. said today its business barometer rose to 60.4 this month from 56.5 in August. A level of 50 is the dividing line between expansion and contraction. Economists forecast the gauge would drop to 55, according to the median estimate in a Bloomberg News survey.Manufacturers such as Emerson Electric Co. are counting on growing sales to China and other emerging countries to buffer them from slowing domestic demand. While announcing more unconventional measures to boost growth, the Federal Reserve last week said U.S. business investment continued to expand.“The manufacturing sector is still growing,” Sal Guatieri, a senior economist at BMO Capital Markets in Toronto, said before the report. “Businesses are spending on new equipment and that is supporting manufacturers of capital equipment, but consumers appear to be spending at a very modest clip.”Estimates for the Chicago index from the 57 economists surveyed ranged from 52 to 58.Other reports today showed consumer spending slowed in August as incomes unexpectedly dropped for the first time in almost two years, while sentiment improved this month from an almost three-year low.Spending CoolsPurchases rose 0.2 percent after a 0.7 percent increase the prior month, according to figures from the Commerce Department. A 0.2 percent advance in prices wiped out the gain in so-called nominal, or unadjusted, spending. Incomes decreased 0.1 percent, the first decline since October 2009.The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan final index of consumer sentiment climbed to 59.4 this month, higher than forecast, from 55.7 in August. The median estimate of economists surveyed by Bloomberg News was 57.8, the same as the preliminary reading for September. The group’s measure of consumer expectations six months from now also rose.Stocks trimmed losses following the reports from Chicago purchasers and sentiment. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index fell 1 percent to 1,148.95 at 10:11 a.m. in New York after having been down as much as 1.7 percent earlier. Treasury securities rose, sending the yield on the benchmark 10-year note down to 1.93 percent from 2 percent late yesterday.Orders ImproveThe Chicago group’s production gauge increased to 63.9 from 57.8. The gauge of new orders climbed to 65.3, the highest level since April, from 56.9. The employment measure rose to 60.6, the highest since May, from 52.1 the prior month.The measure of prices paid dropped to 62.3, a one-year low, from 68.6 and a gauge of inventories advanced to 60.3 from 52.9.Economists watch the Chicago index and other regional manufacturing reports for an early reading on the national outlook. The Chicago group says its membership includes both manufacturers and service providers with operations in the U.S. and abroad, making the gauge a measure of overall growth.The ISM’s national factory index fell in September to 50.3, the lowest level since July 2009, from 50.6 the prior month, according to the median projection in a Bloomberg survey ahead of the Oct. 3 report. Like the Chicago survey, a reading greater than 50 signals expansion.Other ReportsOther regional surveys released this month showed factories have been scaling back. New York-region factories shrank for a fourth straight month in September and manufacturing in the Philadelphia area contracted for a third time in four months, figures from the Federal Reserve showed.Even so, a Commerce Department report this week showed orders for capital goods like computers and communications gear climbed in August by the most in three months. Demand for all durable goods fell, the report said.
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SocGen, BNP Drop in Paris on ‘Tail Risk’ From Euro Debt Crisis
Societe Generale SA and BNP Paribas SA, France’s largest banks, fell in Paris trading after UBS AG cut its price targets on the stocks, citing “tail risk” from political delay in tackling the euro-region debt crisis.Societe Generale, France’s second-largest bank, tumbled as much as 13 percent and was down 8.4 percent at 19.31 euros by 3:25 p.m. in Paris, giving the company a market value of 15 billion euros ($20 billion). BNP Paribas, the country’s biggest lender, declined 5.6 percent at 29.40 euros.“Markets continue to lose confidence and funding becomes more strained,” London-based UBS analyst Omar Fall wrote in a note today. “Although there is value under most scenarios for SocGen and BNP, tail risk of a disorderly policy decision will be priced in until the macro situation is resolved.”UBS cut the rating on Societe Generale to neutral from buy and reduced its price target by 40 percent to 21 euros. While UBS retained its neutral rating on BNP Paribas, its price target was cut 14 percent to 31 euros.European leaders are turning their focus to the next steps to stem the region’s debt crisis after German lawmakers approved an expansion of the euro-area rescue fund’s firepower. With the European Commission now expecting the overhauled 440 billion- euro European Financial Stability Facility in place by mid- October, euro finance chiefs will next week discuss accelerating enactment of a permanent rescue fund that provides more capital and a tool for managing defaults.
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Axis Communications Sees Sales Boost From Surveillance Growth c.2011 Bloomberg News
Sept. 30 (Bloomberg) -- Axis Communications AB, a Swedish specialist in Internet-based cameras, expects growth in the video-surveillance market to boost revenue as it adds clients, co-founder Martin Gren said.The market, which is worth about $10 billion annually, may grow 10 percent this year, Gren said. Analog cameras account for about three-quarters of the market, with digital devices making up the rest, he said. Sales of IP-based cameras will outpace the market in coming years, Gren said, predicting a shift to digital by 2020. Axis is the world’s biggest maker of Internet-protocol cameras, he said.“Looking at the trend in recent years, we hope to reach in the range of 400 million euros ($540 million) in revenue this year,” Gren said in an interview in Milan today. “This is the only industry where analog still plays a dominant role, and that’s pretty unique. That will change in coming years.”The company had sales of about 3 billion kronor ($436 million) last year, indicating possible growth for this year of more than 20 percent. Gren owns about 11 percent of Lund, Sweden-based Axis, he said.Surveillance in cities and school districts, airports, train stations and onboard transport as well as in retail and banking will boost growth, Gren said. Axis devices include cameras able to detect people through smoke and extreme weather conditions as well as in low light.--Editors: Jerrold Colten, Robert ValpuestaTo contact the reporter on this story: Chiara Remondini in Milan at cremondinibloomberg.netTo contact the editor responsible for this story: Kenneth Wong at kwong11bloomberg.net
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Erste, Raiffeisen targets cut at Goldman on Hungary, bad debt
Erste Group Bank AG and Raiffeisen Bank International AG had their price targets cut at Goldman Sachs Group Inc. due to expected losses in Hungary and a slower bad debt recovery, according to a note by analysts led by Heiner Luz.Erste’s price target was lowered 22 percent to 35 euros, while Raiffeisen’s was reduced 17 percent to 34 euros. Goldman kept Erste on its “Conviction Buy” list, and left Raiffeisen’s “neutral” rating unchanged.
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Lakers’ Bryant Said to Get $3 Million Offer to Play in Italy
Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant may get $3 million to play about 10 games in Italy for Virtus Bologna during the National Basketball Association’s lockout, according to a person familiar with the negotiations.The Bologna team and Bryant reached a verbal agreement earlier today and he will be in the northern Italian city Oct. 5 to sign the contract, according to the person, who declined to be named because the talks are private. Bryant will play for the team that has won 15 championships in Italy’s top league.“We agreed on the financial terms of the deal with Bryant last night,” Virtus owner Claudio Sabatini told Italian television network Sky Sport 24 in a telephone interview.Bryant grew up in Italy because his father Joe, a former Philadelphia 76ers forward, played in the country for seven seasons from 1984 to 1991. The Bryants lived in Reggio Emilia, a city located 75 kilometers (46 miles) north of Bologna, from 1989 to 1991 and Kobe Bryant speaks Italian fluently.“It’s very possible that I will play in Italy,” Bryant told Italian daily La Gazzetta Dello Sport in Milan Sept. 28. He spoke in Italian while attending an event in Milan that day.Top EarnerBryant is the NBA’s top earner, according to Forbes magazine. He had a salary of $24.8 million, $4.3 million more than the Orlando Magic’s Rashard Lewis, the next highest paid player, the magazine reported last November.A call placed outside of business hours to the offices of Bryant’s agent, Rob Pelinka, wasn’t immediately returned.Italian teams are offering NBA players to play in the country until the start of the North American season, which may be delayed or canceled over talks on a new labor contract. The top negotiators for the NBA and Players Association will meet today with both the owners’ labor-relations committee and the union’s executive body. The regular season is scheduled to start Nov. 1.Olimpia Milano, the Milan-team owned by Italian designer Giorgio Armani, signed the Denver Nuggets’s Danilo Gallinari. Virtus Roma also is in talks with the Toronto Raptors’s Andrea Bargnani, Italian daily la Repubblica reported Sept. 21.In 1998, the last time there was an NBA lockout, the first postponement came on Sept. 24, when the league delayed training camp, which was set to begin Oct. 5. The season was shortened to 50 games from 82 after an agreement was reached in January 1999.
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Merkel to Host Trichet, Lagarde, Baroin in Debt-Crisis Talks
German Chancellor Angela Merkel will host European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet and International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde Oct. 6 as pressure mounts to stem the euro-region debt crisis.The U.S. and Canada were among Group of 20 nations that last week urged euro-area leaders to act to prevent the crisis that began in Greece from denting the global economy.Merkel would “do well to gather international advice to find ways out of this crisis, showing that Germany is cognizant of its wider impact,” Holger Schmieding, chief economist of Berenberg Bank in London, said in an interview. “The debt crisis is at a critical phase, further fiscal resources to combat the crisis are scant and Merkel needs to tell international leaders she will use what’s available efficiently.”German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble, French Finance Minister Francois Baroin and Angel Gurria, secretary general of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, will participate in the talks, which also include World Bank President Robert Zoellick.The Berlin talks precede an Oct. 14-15 meeting of G-20 finance ministers in Paris. That gathering will be followed by a summit of European Union leaders on Oct. 17-18. G-20 leaders descend on Cannes, France Nov. 3-4.U.S. President Barack Obama this week joined a chorus that includes Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and Lagarde in urging European governments to go further and show more urgency in tackling the crisis. Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney has said the rescue fund, called the European Financial Stability Facility, should be topped up to 1 trillion euros ($1.4 trillion) from 440 billion euros currently.Europeans haven’t responded “as effectively as they needed to,” Obama said during a roundtable discussion at the White House on Sept. 28.Schaeuble rejected as “nonsense” proposals from the European Commission that the firepower of the rescue fund needs to be boosted.
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Obama, pushing for jobs plan, says u.S. Had been ‘a little soft’
President Barack Obama, seeking to rally support for his jobs plan in two states pivotal in next year’s election, suggested that the nation needs to regain a competitive edge in technology and education.“This is a great, great country that had gotten a little soft and didn’t have that same competitive edge that we needed over the last couple of decades,” Obama said in an interview yesterday with WESH television in Orlando, Florida. “We need to get back on track.”At the same time, Obama said he “would not trade our position with anybody on Earth. We still have the best universities, the best scientists and the best workers in the world.”The president aimed his remarks at an audience in a swing- voting region of one of the biggest states that was key to his election in 2008. He also conducted an interview with WXII television in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, another state that supported the Democrat for election and will host the party’s 2012 presidential nominating convention.Obama is campaigning for congressional support for a $447 billion jobs program centered on rebuilding infrastructure and offering payroll tax breaks for workers and employers.“There are a set of policies that historically have been supported by both Democrats and Republicans that are in this jobs bill,” the president said in the interview with WXII-TV. “It’s time for Congress to act, and I’m just going to keep on pushing over the next several weeks to make sure that they try to do something to help people right now.”Triggering Job GrowthNorth Carolina “represents what the country’s going through -- lost manufacturing in the furniture industry, textiles, tobacco,” Obama said. Congress’s passage of his jobs plan, which he announced Sept. 8, is “the most important thing we can do right now” to trigger job growth, he said.He said the plan would put construction workers and teachers back to work in Florida and North Carolina and would give tax breaks to small businesses and the middle class.The president said he plans to campaign heavily in Florida and North Carolina. A third television interview taped yesterday will air at an undetermined time on WTVF-TV in Nashville, Tennessee.The president did the local television interviews two days after he returned from a three-day trip to the West Coast, which included stops in California, Washington state and Colorado. The trip was intended to raise money for his re-election and press Congress to enact his package of tax cuts and spending aimed at spurring hiring to trim the nation’s 9.1 percent unemployment rate.Nine AppearancesOf his nine appearances during the West Coast swing, seven of them were at fundraisers.During the interview with WESH-TV in Orlando, Obama said “we’re not where we need to be” with job creation. “We’ve still got a long way to go.”He cited his proposal to help reduce barriers for people who are refinancing their homes as a way to boost the economy.“There are too many barriers that are in place for those folks who have mortgages that are in some ways guaranteed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac or the FHA,” he said. If those barriers were removed, Obama said, as much as 15 or 20 percent of the housing stock in the U.S. could be refinanced and put an additional $2,000 in people’s pockets.Obama said Florida Governor Rick Scott made a “mistake” when he turned down federal funds for a high-speed rail project in the state.Business Support“It had business support; it had support from Republican legislators down there; it was the right thing to do,” Obama said. “Florida stood to make big gains and to create a lot of jobs down there. It was a mistake to turn that money down because there were a lot of other states that were very anxious to pick it up.”
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Italy to Unfreeze 2.5 Billion Euros of Libyan Assets: Frattini c.2011 Bloomberg News
Sept. 30 (Bloomberg) -- Italy will unfreeze 2.5 billion euros of Libyan assets to be used by the country’s National Transitional Council for “urgent” projects, Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini told reporters in Tripoli today. Italy will also send its experts to the Libyan Central Bank, he said.To contact the reporter on this story: Robert Tuttle in Tripoli at rtuttlebloomberg.netTo contact the editor responsible for this story: Caroline Alexander at calexander1bloomberg.net
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Spain nationalizes 3 banks after cash injections
MADRID — Spain says it has nationalized three troubled banks that failed to meet new capital requirements and says the process of restructuring its financial sector is now complete.The Bank of Spain identified them Friday as Unnim, CatalunyaCaixa and NovacaixaGalicia.All three are the result of mergers of smaller savings banks known as cajas, a sector that was heavily exposed to Spain’s imploded real estate sector. After capital injections, the government now owns more than 90 percent of the three banks’ shares.The new core capital requirements were announced by the government in February.The Spanish central bank says it has spent (euro) 7.5 billion ($10.2 billion) in recapitalizing the three now nationalized banks and in restructuring the wider financial sector.
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Myanmar to stop construction of controversial dam
YANGON, Myanmar — Myanmar’s president called Friday for a halt to construction of a controversial Chinese-backed hydroelectric dam in the country’s north, a move that had been called for by the country’s pro-democracy movement.President Thein Sein said in a note read out in parliament that construction of the $3.6 billion Myitsone dam project in Kachin state should be suspended. The call is tantamount to suspension, since the government holds a large and well-disciplined majority in parliament.The move will be welcomed by environmentalists and social activists who had claimed the project would displace many villagers and upset the ecology of the important food source, the Irrawaddy River, on which it was to be situated.The political ramifications are equally large, as it marks a rare meeting of the minds between the military-dominated government and the country’s pro-democracy movement. It also marks a rare difference in relations with China, a key ally for diplomatically isolated Myanmar.In August pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi joined forces with those opposing the dam, bringing a new and potentially powerful issue into the opposition fold.Although Thein Sein’s government was elected, taking over early this year from a long-standing ruling junta, it has struggled to gain legitimacy because of the perception that it is controlled by the military. The government remains under political and economic sanctions from the United States and other Western nations.There has been speculation that it is keen to make gestures showing it is sincere in it efforts at liberalization, and recently rumors have circulated that it will soon free political prisoners, estimated by human rights groups to number about 2,000.“We welcome the suspension of the dam project,” said Nyan Win, a spokesman for Suu Kyi, adding that the action was in line with her appeal.Thein Sein’s note, read out in parliament by lower house Thura Shwe Mann, said construction of the project should be terminated as it is against the will of the people and their representatives.The decision to halt construction appeared to be a sudden one.Earlier this month,a report on the weekly Eleven journal said that Electric Power Minister Zaw Min declared that construction of the Myanmar-China Myitsone Hydroelectric Project would proceed despite the objections. The dam, which was being built by a Chinese company and was to supply much of its output to neighboring China, would have flooded an area the size of Singapore.
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Eurozone inflation jumps to 3 percent in September
FRANKFURT, Germany — Inflation jumped to a startling 3.0 percent in September in the 17 countries that use the euro, its highest level since October 2008.The number reported Friday by the European Union’s statistics agency is a big increase from 2.5 percent in August and the scale of the increase was unexpected.Ahead of the release, some economists had said a technical change in the way statistics are kept for seasonal goods could have an unexpectedly big impact on the headline inflation rate. Some economists expected little or no change while others had predicted a figure as high as 2.9 percent.Still, the eye-catching increase could complicate upcoming interest rate decisions by the European Central Bank. The bank has been under pressure to cut rates soon as economic growth in the eurozone has stalled.The number follows a higher than expected 2.6 percent figure for the eurozone’s largest member, Germany. That report cited higher oil prices and increases in the prices of clothing and shoes as merchants put out new fall and winter offerings.The European Central Bank meets Thursday in Berlin for its next rate-setting meeting. Many economists think the bank could signal it is ready to cut its key rate from 1.5 percent in the coming weeks and months because of fears that the eurozone debt crisis will push the continent back into a recession.Recession fears argue for cutting rates, since that stimulates growth by lowering borrowing costs for businesses.The bank is unlikely to cut rates, however, unless it thinks there is no danger of higher inflation.Other recent inflation indicators, such as the EU survey of sales prices expectations, have been pointing down, and the recent slackening growth also bears down on price pressures.
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US stock futures lower as gloomy 3rd quarter ends
U.S. stock futures are falling as traders close out what could be the worst quarter since the peak of the financial crisis.Fears about a European debt crisis with potentially catastrophic consequences have weighed on markets since the spring. Economic data are mostly weak. Major stock indexes have fallen more than 10 percent. The Standard & Poor’s 500 index is down 12 percent — the most since the final quarter of 2008.The government reports before the market opens on consumer spending and personal incomes in August. Economists expect spending edged up after rising in July.At 7:33 a.m. Eastern time, S&P 500 futures were down 14, or 1.2 percent, at 1,143. Dow futures were down 118, or 1.1 percent, at 10,981. Nasdaq 100 futures were down 22, or 1 percent, at 2,168.
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Japan's answer to next tsunami: mini-Noah's Ark
A small Japanese company has developed a modern, miniature version of Noah's Ark in case Japan is hit by another massive earthquake and tsunami: a floating capsule that looks like a huge tennis ball.
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Downtown Vegas officials consider expanded zipline
Officials in downtown Las Vegas are considering expanding a popular zipline that runs along the promenade lined by some of the city's oldest casinos.
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Oil below $82 on stronger dollar, growth concerns
Oil prices slipped below $82 on Friday as the dollar strengthened and doubts remained about the resiliency of the economic recovery and Europe's struggle with its debt crisis.
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With Kindle Fire, Amazon's digital ambitions burn
Amazon's unveiling of the Kindle Fire tablet computer sends a bright-hot message: The online retailer is ready to rival iPad maker Apple in an effort to be the world's top digital content provider.
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Auto parts execs forgo pay after price fixing case
The Japanese auto parts company pleading guilty to price-fixing in the U.S. promised to prevent a recurrence Friday, with its top executives returning part of their pay in a sign of remorse.
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College buzzing about energy drink sales ban
DURHAM, N.H. — The University of New Hampshire's short-lived decision to ban the sale of nonalcoholic energy drinks has created more buzz than the caffeinated beverages themselves.
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Watchdog: Regulators bowed to banks on bailout
Federal regulators bowed to pressure from big banks seeking a quick exit from the financial bailout program and did not uniformly apply the government's own conditions set for repaying the taxpayer funds, a new watchdog report says.
Life & Entertainment
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Information from Jackson doc didn’t add up, medic says
The doctor charged in Michael Jackson’s death never revealed that he had given the singer a powerful anesthetic, a paramedic told a jury hearing the physician’s involuntary manslaughter case Friday. Paramedic Richard Senneff said Dr. Conrad Murray told him that he had only given Jackson the sedative lorazepam. He said Murray initially said Jackson wasn’t suffering from any condition.
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Jayhawks reunite for one more ‘Time'
Fans of the Jayhawks who are happy the band has an unexpected third life probably don't know how much they owe to producers of the sports film “The Rookie” or Spanish music promoter David Jimenez-Zumalacarregui. Each played key roles in the band's reformation because they made the right request at the right time.
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Sammy Hagar's supergroup hatches new Chickenfoot album
Sammy Hagar is hoping his supergroup avoids a sophomore slump. The former Van Halen frontman, guitar legend Joe Satriani, Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith and former Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony skipped calling the follow-up to their 2009 debut “Chickenfoot II” and instead named it “Chickenfoot III.” The album, released Tuesday, features 10 new tracks from the seasoned rockers.
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Check out the contenders for family-friendly fun
Fresh apples, a living corn maze, scarecrows and a glass pumpkin patch -- yes, a glass pumpkin patch -- are things not to miss this fall in the suburbs. Follow our "four for fall" guide to find both traditional and unique family fun.
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On Sunday: A final few minutes with Andy Rooney
On the broadcast they call it “A Few Minutes With Andy Rooney.” They might better have called it “A Few Choice Words From Andy Rooney.” Rooney, despite his decades as a “60 Minutes” fixture, is a writer, not a talking head. But on Sunday's edition of “60 Minutes,” Rooney will have a few last words. The broadcast will mark his final commentary in his longtime role as weekly pundit.
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Specter of terrorism drives ‘Homeland' drama
Only now, a decade after 9/11, would a network likely attempt a drama series such as “Homeland.” Another threat of terrorism on U.S. soil informs the purposely intense, grim Showtime drama premiering Sunday, Oct. 2. Executive producers Howard Gordon and Alex Gansa draw a much more direct bead on the theme as CIA agent Carrie Mathison (played by “Temple Grandin” Emmy winner Claire Danes) pursues just-rescued American POW Nicholas Brody (Damian Lewis, “Band of Brothers”), suspected of turning and now plotting an attack at home.
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Night life: Game-day specials at McGonigal's
McGonigal's Pub is ready for some football weekends with game-day specials. Enjoy $5 Guinness, Harp and Smithwicks 20-ounce Imperial Pints, $4 23-ounce Miller Lite drafts, and $12 buckets of Bud, Bud Light, Miller products and Coors Light on Saturdays and Sundays at McGonigal's Pub in Barrington.
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Book notes: Stan Mikita signs books in Downers Grove
Meet legendary former Chicago Blackhawks player Stan Mikita as he signs copies of his new book, “Forever a Blackhawk,” from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 6, at Anderson’s Bookshop in Downers Grove.
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Steve Martin plucks top bluegrass award
Steve Martin and The Steep Canyon Rangers turned the International Bluegrass Music Association Awards into funny business Thursday night. Martin and his group of crack bluegrassers took entertainer of the year, the night's top award at the Ryman Auditorium, while super group The Boxcars took home a leading four awards.
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New Kasabian album an instant classic
“Velociraptor!,” the fourth offering from British rockers Kasabian, is destined to become a modern classic. The 11-track album is bursting at the seams with full-on anthemic indie rock that this British four-piece is known for. Influences of Primal Scream, the Chemical Brothers, Led Zeppelin to The Beatles scream out.
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Old-fashioned front porches are new again
The family sits out on the big front porch on their white clapboard house. Wicker furniture with colorful cushions add a cheery touch to the space, where a glider moves back and forth and a small table holds homemade lemonade. Falling leaves and pots of yellow and copper mums say autumn is here. This is the stuff of Norman Rockwell, the famous illustrator of everyday life.
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Documentary shows emotional ride for Pearl Jam
At one point in the new Pearl Jam documentary, "Pearl Jam Twenty," which comes out on DVD Oct. 24, a young Eddie Vedder flails onstage with so much intensity, he seems possessed. Considering Vedder's been doing it now for 20 years, it begs the question: How does he come down when the houselights come up? “It (performing) really is like riding a wave,” Vedder says.
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Local theater: New local ensemble
Evanston's Light Opera Works salutes the music of Rodgers and Hart in a revue running at its second stage.
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Super Handyman: You’ll be ‘floored’ by how much you can save by removing old flooring yourself
When it’s time for new flooring, you might be “floored” by the cost. But consider that a lot of the cost is in removing the old flooring, and that is something you might be able to do yourself. Think of how much money you could save by doing it. Here are the steps you’ll need to take to get your rooms ready for the new stuff.
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The nation’s housing: Home equity story that isn’t being told
WASHINGTON — Negative equity and underwater homeowners are frequently in the headlines, but what about positive equity in Americans’ homes? Is there much of it left after the wealth-killing recession and real estate bust? Where is it? Who’s got equity? You might be surprised.
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Home inspector: Mortgage lenders ignore home inspections
Q. As a mortgage broker, it bothers me that home inspection reports are never included with a loan application. This is a risky omission that became clear last week when I hired a home inspector for a house I’m buying. My inspector found major defects in a home that is only three years old. When I consider that my company and other lenders routinely approve purchase loans without any disclosure of property defects, I realize that the mortgage profession is essentially “driving blind,” handing out six figure loans on properties we know very little about. What can be done to close this major liability gap?
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About Real Estate: New policy by credit bureaus helps borrowers “shop” for the best mortgage
A recent change allows borrowers more time to comparison-shop for a mortgage or even a student loan without hurting their credit score.
Discuss
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With felonies, deportation has its place
A Daily Herald editorial says Cook County authorities go too far when they refuse to hold those accused of felonies for possible deportation.
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Somehow, when we have to, we change driving habits
A city can function without all of us driving alone to each of our destinations. We can break this dependency on our cars, if only because it will save us time to do so.
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Cut the dead weight in government
Sen. Tom Coburn, an Oklahoma Republican, discovered that “the federal government had paid nearly $1 billion to at least 250,000 dead people since 2000. That same month, a watchdog reported that the Obama administration’s economic stimulus program had made 89,000 payments of $250 each to dead or incarcerated people,” writes O’Keefe.
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It’s GOP engaging in class warfare
Letter to the Editor: Republicans cry about “class warfare” when the president searches for compromise and shared sacrifice while trying to fix the recession, reduce budget deficits and rebuild our infrastructure after a decade of Bush blunders. The truth is that Republicans support tax cuts for the rich and loopholes for big oil while the middle class faces unemployment and foreclosures. The real class warfare is the top 2 percent growing wealthier while the rest of us pay the price.
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Erase unemployment; revive economy
Letter to the Editor: I have a suggestion for a temporary new law that might rapidly reduce unemployment and raise demand. Following are my, perhaps challengeable, assumptions and the bare outline of such a law.
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Blame Bernanke for retirees’ woes
You can thank Ben Bernanke for the recent stock market decline and the sluggish economy the past year. His steps to bring down long-term interest rates have further exacerbated his mistakes with bringing down short-term rates to almost zero.
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Bin Laden taken out by SEALS, not SWAT
I had to shake my head in disbelief when reading the Fence Post item titled “Anything but more GOP leadership.” The writer, Marion J. Reis blames Republicans for everything except the Hindenburg Disaster and the sinking of the Titanic.
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Not pleased with Wheaton Drama play
I guess it is open season for Catholic bashing at Wheaton Drama. The play “Incorruptible” was offensive, rude and prejudicial. It didn’t leave one stone unturned for degrading the Catholic faith and faithful
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Jobs ‘bill’ is no magical solution
During his speech, Obama exhorted the Republicans 17 times to “pass this (jobs) bill.” What bill? Like everything else, this president has taken a figment of his imagination and fleshed it out.
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OK for government to overreach?
Honest Pat Quinn says, “We must stand behind the consumers of Illinois and protect them from any overreaching by big utility companies.” Where was Honest Pat when the overreaching legislature raised income taxes 67 percent or when the overreaching toll authority decided to raise tolls over 80 percent?
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Stimulus money melted in the sun
Our government wasted $535 million in stimulus payments to Solyndra. This money could have created over 10,000 new jobs for the unemployed paying about $50,000 to each person.
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Yes, religion is a factor in terrorism
A Mundelein letter to the editor: I don’t see how much clearer it can be that what happened on 9/11 and all the other terrorist attacks that have happened since the 1970s have all been based on religion
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Bank of America website problems resolved
Bank of America's homepage and online banking service experienced problems for about two hours early Friday before being fully restored.
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