Daily Archive : Wednesday July 11, 2012
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News
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Teen dies a day after friends pull him from Fox River
Family members are mourning the loss of an 18-year-old Connor Priesz, who was pulled from the Fox River late Tuesday afternoon and was pronounced dead Wednesday morning. The recent Prairie Ridge High School graduate was tossing a football with friends in a shallow portion of the river in Crystal Lake when he slid under the water.
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Millions spent in duplicating South Elgin water service
The Otter Creek Water Reclamation District exists essentially on paper alone. There is no staff. There are no headquarters. Its services are almost entirely handled by South Elgin. But it does have millions of dollars of debt and a well-paid lawyer. If South Elgin has its way, though, the district will cease to exist before the year is out.
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Rivers Casino plans to provide its own EMTs
Des Plaines may soon see a decrease in the numbers of police and fire calls from the Rivers Casino, officials said during a public safety committee meeting. Fire Chief Alan Wax said the Rivers Casino is in the process of getting state approval to provide its own emergency medical services that would significantly reduce the burden on the fire department.
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3 siblings to be sentenced together for abusing mom
A Kane County judge intends to sentence three siblings at the same time for the abuse and neglect of their elderly mother. Kevin, Connie and Allan Roberson of Aurora have all pleaded guilty to felony abuse and neglect of an elderly person, in a case brought in October 2011. It is punishable by probation to up to five years in prison.
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McHenry County woman diagnosed with tick-borne disease
The McHenry County Department of Health is asking people to protect themselves from tick bites after a 53-year-old Woodstock woman was hospitalized with Rocky Mountain spotted fever. It's the county's first such case in four years.
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Beach Park man charged after seizure of Ecstasy pills
A 21-year-old Beach Park man has been charged in connection to the seizure of 67 pills of Ecstasy, according to police.
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Elgin council affirms ban on video gambling
Elgin City Council members decided to maintain a ban on video gambling Wednesday, meaning eligible organizations will not be able to apply for licenses from the state gaming board. The council tabled discussion of its ordinance prohibiting the machines at the June 13 council meeting pending more information from the video gambling industry and local stakeholders. Because of ordinances already in...
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Mundelein police chief wants bar's liquor license revoked
Mundelein liquor officials will decide in August whether to give the Blue 60 Sports Tavern and Grill a death sentence due to excessive liquor violations, police officials said Wednesday. Police Chief Ray Rose said he is asking that the commission revoke Blue 60's liquor license after the sports bar in the 300 block of Townline Road as hit with 12 liquor violations following a July 4 brawl.
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Panel says no to Lake County commercial proposal
An existing boundary agreement between North Barrington and Hawthorn Woods and a lack of specific tenants featured strongly Wednesday in deliberations preceding the Lake County Regional Plan Commission's recommendation against a controversial commercial proposal on a vacant site between the two villages.
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Bensenville woman charged in $200,000 theft from employer
Last year, Desiree Cortes approached her boss with some startling news: She had stolen from the company and was about to get caught, authorities said Wednesday. Now the Bensenville woman could face up to 15 years in prison if convicted of fleecing her former employer out of nearly $200,000.
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Jackson Jr. being treated for ‘mood disorder’
U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. is under intensive medical treatment for a "mood disorder," his office announced in a brief statement Wednesday, more than a month after the Chicago Democrat quietly went on medical leave of absence. The statement gave no details about where Jackson was being treated.
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Charges dropped against Des Plaines man
Prosecutors dismissed drug charges against 35-year-old Andrew Frame, of Des Plaines, who police found naked and covered in what appeared to be blood near Campbell Avenue and Center Street last April.
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5 retired state employees sue over Illinois law
Five retired state employees are suing over a new law that allows Illinois to begin charging some state retirees for health insurance. Retired appellate judge Gordon Maag has filed a separate lawsuit asking that the law be declared unconstitutional.
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Drivers can renew licenses at Taste of Chicago
Illinois residents who attend Taste of Chicago can renew their driver's licenses or purchase their annual vehicle license plate stickers. Secretary of State Jesse White's office will provide these and other services from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at a booth at the food festival in Chicago's Grant Park. The Taste of Chicago runs through July 15.
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Kane forest district to spend last of $30 million for land
Kane County Forest Preserve commissioners have approved a budget for the new fiscal year that will see the last of the money from the $30 million tax increase voters approved in 2011 spent.
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Rosemont man’s drug-related statements disallowed at child battery trial
A Cook County judge ruled Wednesday that jurors won't hear about alleged statements from Santiago Minjarez regarding drug use on the day in November 2010 authorities say he scalded his stepson by holding the toddler under hot water.
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Wood Dale burglary suspect still missing
A burglary suspect who was the subject of an exhaustive manhunt in Lombard remained at large Wednesday as his accomplice was locked up on $200,000 bail, authorities said. Chicago residents Eugene Saunders, 32, and Nakia Tyler, 36, are accused of breaking into a Wood Dale home Monday with plans to steal a package they believed to be hidden inside an air vent, prosecutors said in court.
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Libertyville to videotape meetings
The Ela Area Public Library in Lake Zurich will pay special tribute to former librarian Bridget Hennessey on Thursday, July 12 with music by Banna Irish Pop Duo and a cooking demo from chef Michael Maddox.
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Libertyville to videotape meetings
Video recordings of Libertyville village board meetings will be made available for viewing on the village website.
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Metra seeks input at open house
A series of open houses, including one in Libertyville continue as Metra, the commuter rail agency, seeks input from riders, the public, elected officials and others as it begins to craft its first strategic plan in several decades. The Libertyville session will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 17, at the village hall, 118 W. Cook Ave.
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Hanover Park shooter referred to boot camp
A Hanover Park teen who opened fire on a passing car, striking a man in the hip and buttocks, could avoid prison if he's accepted into boot camp. "He's a straight-A student," his attorney said. "Boot camp was made for someone like him, and I think he'll be successful at it."
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Addison park slated for $1.7 million upgrade
Community Park in Addison is slated for a major overhaul that will cost roughlty $1.7 million and will take several years to complete. Executive Director Mark McKinnon calls the upgrades "critical," since the park sits on a floodplain and has seen few improvments in the last 40 years.
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Grayslake passes law trying to reduce truck braking noise
Grayslake trustees have approved a local law designed to reduce truck noise that's been bothersome to some village residents. Commercial vehicles are now prohibited from using engine braking systems on all Grayslake roads.
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Medicaid chief faces parents of medically fragile children
Aftershocks of the $1.6 billion budget cut continued Wednesday as Illinois Medicaid officials faced worried parents of medically fragile children at simultaneous meetings in Springfield and Chicago. In Chicago, nurses monitored the beeping, droning medical equipment of several children brought to the meeting. Their parents, voices pinched by distress, took the microphone to question program cuts...
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Third teen charged in West Chicago picnic stabbing
A judge set bail Wednesday at $150,000 for the last of three teenagers charged with stabbing a man during a picnic at a West Chicago park. David Flores, 18, of the 400 block of Fifth Street in Aurora, appeared in DuPage County bond court on charges of aggravated battery and attempted armed robbery.
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Boy hit by truck near Elk Grove in critical condition
An 11-year-old boy is in critical condition after being hit by a semi truck Tuesday evening while crossing a four-lane road with a friend near Elk Grove Village. The truck's driver was not cited, authorities said.
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Oak Brook man pleads guilty in loan scheme
An 82-year-old Oak Brook banker has pleaded guilty to making false statements about personal loans that he falsified during his time as chairman of a Western Springs financial institution. James A. Regas is facing a maximum of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
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New charges for driver charged in road rage fatal
Further testing showed that a Plainfield man was under the influence of cocaine in addition to marijuana when he struck and killed a motorcyclist after a road rage episode in Naperville last month, prosecutors said Wednesday. The additional drug resulted in another aggravated driving under the influence charge for Michael Moreno, who has been indicted by a DuPage County grand jury.
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Round Lake Back to School festival returns, offers free physicals
This year's Back to School festival is set for Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Round Lake High School, 800 High School Drive. The free event is hosted by Mano a Mano in partnership with the Round Lake Area B.E.S.T, or Bringing Everyone's Strengths Together, organization. Health, including providing school physicals to children, has become a main focus. The event continues to grow and serves...
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DuPage guitar teacher gets 4.5 years for molesting student
After he was accused of molesting a 14-year-old student, guitar teacher John Hammond told police the two were "in love" and that she was the aggressor, prosecutors said. On Wednesday, the 55-year-old Glendale Heights man was sentenced to 4 1/2 years in prison for molesting the teen whose band he also managed.
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Stocks close lower for fifth day straight
The stock market mostly recovered from an afternoon slump to end with slight losses.
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South Elgin man charged with cruelty to dog found in hot car
A South Elgin man was charged with cruelty to an animal, accused of leaving it for several hours in a car parked at the Kane County Judicial Center on a 98-degree day. A passer-by reported seeing the dog panting and foaming at the mouth and removed it to an air-conditioned vehicle and gave it water.
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Asian carp fails to impress at Taste
Taste of Chicago visitors got a chance Wednesday to munch on free sliders made of Asian carp, the invasive species poised to invade the Great Lakes. The verdict? Mike Santay, a 50-year-old Chicagoan, says the slider wasn't overwhelming fishy, but didn't taste like chicken either. Others were even less impressed.
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Quinn ends legislative scholarships
Illinois lawmakers are losing their century-old political perk of being able to hand out college scholarships just as federal prosecutors offer another reminder of the ethical concerns surrounding the program. Gov. Pat Quinn signed legislation Wednesday that ends the scholarships after one more round of awards for the upcoming academic year.
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$50,000 bail for Batavia man charged in attempted armed robbery
A judge set bail at $50,000 Wednesday morning for a Batavia man accused of trying to rob a woman at a drive-up automated teller machine."I am concerned about the seriousness of the (crime). It's not the (felony) class ... it's what happened," Kane County Judge John Walters said.
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November referendum to decide Lake Michigan water project in Wauconda
The final step for Wauconda to decide whether to switch from well water to Lake Michigan water will depend on a vote by residents in a November referendum. "It's like going shopping with an empty pocketbook," said Village Administrator David Geary. "We know the price, but we can't sign a deal until we know we're funded." The $50 million project will increase homeowners' property taxes and water...
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Rash of car burglaries in Rolling Meadows
Rolling Meadows police are warning residents to lock their car doors and take valuables inside after a rash of vehicle burglaries earlier this week. About 20 cars in driveways were broken into between Monday night and Tuesday morning.
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Democratic leaders urge update from absent Jackson
Democratic House leaders on Wednesday joined colleagues and constituents in urging Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. of Illinois, who has been on medical leave for a month without disclosing details about his condition or location, to provide a public update about his condition as soon as possible. "I feel sad that whatever the situation is that he finds himself having to be away from Congress," House...
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Local high school students receive awards
Twenty First Star Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution recently honored students from local high schools with the Good Citizens and American History Scholars awards.
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Mt. Prospect forestry department says it’s time to water trees
Mount Prospect Mount Prospect Forestry/Grounds Superintendent Sandy Clark said during the drought it is important that trees get at least one inch of water every seven to 10 days. "Luckily, watering is easy to do and inexpensive considering the numerous benefits that trees provide," she said. "It costs less than $4 to water a 3-inch diameter tree for the entire summer."
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AFP calls for pension reform
The Illinois chapter of Americans for Prosperity will host a town hall meeting in Arlington Heights Thursday, calling on the General Assembly to suspend their summer vacation and pass meaningful pension reform. "There is no more pressing fiscal issue for Illinois' leaders than reforming the state's grossly underfunded pension system," said AFP Illinois State Director David From.
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See two classic plays at Janus Theater summer series
The Janus Theater Company continues its Summer Rep 2012 series, titled "Austen in Elgin (Shakespeare on Division)." This is the second year of the Summer Rep series and it feature "Pride & Prejudice" by Jane Austen and "Two Gentlemen of Verona" by William Shakespeare
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Bigot is still a bigot even if he says nothing
I recently discovered that my boyfriend has some religious and political beliefs that differ wildly from my own. This normally wouldn't be an issue except that when he met members of my family, he proceeded to make highly inappropriate and bigoted comments about them.
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Don’t take old friends and family for granted
Our old tried and true friends, family and opportunities should not be easily brushed aside when a new and exciting prospect comes along, columnist Annettee Budzban advises.
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Local artists to share their work at Naper Settlement
Anne Hanley is a seasoned art fair veteran who, in 2000, began regularly displaying her batik art at fairs. "It's an ancient form of art that the Indonesians practiced on fabric with dyes," she said. Hanley's method with water colors and rice paper has earned her awards and top spots in art fair contests around Illinois, including Naperville's Fine Art Fair, which runs Saturday and Sunday in...
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Lt. Gov. Simon coming to St. Charles
Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon will visit St. Charles next week for a Women in Government symposium and film screening at the Arcada Theatre.
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Penn St. trustees expect broad report from Freeh
The team brought in by Penn State to investigate how the university handled molestation accusations against former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky will release its highly anticipated report Thursday, with the school's reputation and future direction hanging in the balance. Lawyers for the young men who testified against Sandusky, and others planning civil lawsuits, will be reading the...
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Tri-Cities police reports
Two "stump jump" bicycles were stolen out of an open garage in the 600 block of Blackhawk Drive, it was reported at 9:58 p.m. July 8. One is orange, the other silver-and-black. Both had lighting systems, trip computers, disc brakes and double suspension.
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Quinn: Voters have ‘heard enough’ about Jackson
Gov. Pat Quinn says Illinois voters have "heard enough" about U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.'s reason for disappearing from public view. Quinn says he prays every day for the Democratic congressman and thinks the rest of Illinois should pray for Jackson, too.
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High-powered lesbians create a PAC of their own
As a co-owner of the Chicago Cubs, Laura Ricketts has joined with actress Jane Lynch and tennis great Billie Jean King to create a first-of-its kind political action committee to champion candidates and causes that appeal to lesbian voters.
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Rolling Meadows to look into 3-lane Meacham Road
Rolling Meadows will pursue a letter of intent to gather more information and possible funding for the future expansion of Meacham Road to a 3-lane roadway. The move is a compromise between residents who don't want any expansion and the Illinois Department of Transportation, which may require a 5-lane road in the future. "If we just sit our hands, we're going to eventually invite a 5-lane...
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Mortgage rates at historic lows, but it's harder to refinance
Valeria and Milos Coric bought a home in Lincolnshire in 2002 and paid the monthly mortgage regularly. That devotion helped to build equity for them and stability for their two children. So when mortgage rates dropped to historic lows, they were eager to refinance, despite seeing the value of their home drop. But others can't take advantage of the low rates. A job loss, poor credit score or...
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Venetian night set for Saturday in Round Lake Beach
Celebrate Round Lake Beach's 75th anniversary this Saturday at its annual beach party and Venetian Night.
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Fire causes $400,000 in damage to Naperville home
A Tuesday night fire caused about $400,000 in damage to a Naperville home. The cause of the blaze remained under investigation, but officials said the home was left uninhabitable.
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Romney draws boos from NAACP when he dings Obama
HOUSTON — Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney drew jeers from black voters Wednesday as he criticized President Barack Obama and pledged to repeal the Democrats’ health care overhaul.
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First president of Palatine Boys Baseball never lost interest
Thomas Bowman, Jr. built a career in real estate and he volunteered in several youth organizations in Palatine, but the one title he cherished all his life was as the first president of Palatine Boys Baseball. Bowman passed away on July 3, at the age of 91.
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Mount Prospect falling far behind on street repairs
Mount Prospect has fallen about 10.7 miles - or roughly 18 months - behind on its street resurfacing program, and the lag is only expected to get worse next year. That has some village officials concerned they may eventually be forced to spend more money to reconstruct roads that have been let go for too long.
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Batavia grad forms all-male singing group
Batavians are taking their talents on the road. Talented TJ Breen, who graduated from Batavia High School in 2008, has joined up with 10 fellow singers from Indiana University to start "Gentleman's Rule," an all male group that plans to tour this fall.
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Oswald drama delves into controversy surrounding Kennedy’s assassinatiom
The Village Theatre Guild of Glen Ellyn delves into history and controversy when it presents the Midwest premier of "Oswald: The Actual Interrogation," regarding the questioning of Lee Harvey Oswald, the alleged assassin of President John Kennedy, from July 27 to Aug. 11.
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Railroad Days the perfect outing for families on a budget
West Chicago's Railroad Days began as a way to celebrate the role railroads played in the formation and development of the area. But now in its 38th year, the festival long ago stopped being about railroads. "All the local communities have a festival, and they do that as a way to bring people together," said David Sabathne, CEO of the Western DuPage Chamber of Commerce.
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Deer tick bites can cause Lyme disease in dogs as well as people
A sixth-grader in Gregg Thompson's social studies class at Woodland Middle School in Gurnee asks about how pets can contract Lyme disease. "My dog has it," she said. Kids Ink says the answer lies with deer ticks in wooded areas. But there is a cure for the disease.
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Ohio freight train derails, causing fiery blast
Part of a freight train carrying ethanol derailed and caught fire in Ohio's capital city early Wednesday, shooting flames skyward into the darkness and prompting the evacuation of a mile-wide area as firefighters and hazardous materials crews monitored the blaze.
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Arrests underline security jitters before Olympics
LONDON — The arrests of 14 people in the last week on suspicion of terrorism in Britain has underscored jitters among police and security officials as the upcoming Olympics fixes the gaze of the world — including potential aggressors — on London. Despite an overall decline in the number of people detained over terrorism since the 2005 bomb attacks which killed 52 commuters and 4 suicide bombers...
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Bosnians bury 520 Srebrenica genocide victims
SREBRENICA, Bosnia-Herzegovina — They came again, on the 17th anniversary of Europe’s worst massacre since World War II, to bury their dead in the town whose name is now synonymous with genocide.
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Ohio woman vanished on NC vacation; reward offered
ASHLAND, Ohio — Businesses in the hometown of an Ohio woman who disappeared during a North Carolina vacation are offering more than $7,000 in rewards for information about the whereabouts of the woman or her boyfriend.
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In historic visit, Clinton reaches out to Laos
VIENTIANE, Laos — Hillary Rodham Clinton became the first U.S. secretary of state to visit Laos in more than five decades, gauging whether a place the United States pummeled with bombs during the Vietnam War could evolve into a new foothold of American influence in Asia.
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Rights groups: Spike in Israeli settler violence
RAMALLAH, West Bank — Human rights groups and U.N. agencies say Israeli settlers in the West Bank have sharply stepped up attacks on Palestinians in a climate of impunity created by lacking law enforcement.The groups said Wednesday that the number of attacks causing injury or damage rose from 168 in 2009 to 411 in 2011. They say 154 attacks occurred in the first half of 2012.
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Police try to shed light on UK billionaire’s death
LONDON — Investigators were conducting further tests Wednesday in a bid to shed light on the death of Eva Rausing, one of Britain’s richest women, whose body was found in her west London home.Her husband, Hans Kristian Rausing, has been arrested in connection with her death, which police are treating as unexplained.
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Ivory Coast: 2 Gbagbo allies charged with genocide
Associated PressABIDJAN, Ivory Coast — A spokesman for Ivory Coast’s justice ministry says two allies of former President Laurent Gbagbo have been charged with genocide linked to violence that claimed some 3,000 lives following the disputed 2010 election.
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Dawn Patrol: Disabled woman left in Tennessee; Stephen Peterson sues
Algonquin woman tries to explain leaving disabled daughter in a bar in Tennessee. Drew Peterson's son sues former police chief. Manhunt in Lombard for burglary suspect comes up empty. Lake County pools see rise in attendence as temperatures rise. Parolee arrested after St. Charles burglary.
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Expert: Cape Cod shark likely wasn’t a great white
CHATHAM, Mass. — The shark that caused a sensation when a photo of its fin slicing through the waters off Cape Cod behind a frightened kayaker was distributed worldwide might not have been a man-eating great white after all.The state’s top shark expert says the fin likely belonged to a harmless basking shark, a giant fish that feeds on nothing but plankton.
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Miss. anti-abortion law back before federal judge
JACKSON, Miss. — A hearing Wednesday will help a federal judge decide whether to extend his temporary block of a law that could close Mississippi’s only abortion clinic.
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Builder to donate home addition for woman with flesh-eating disease
ATLANTA — A builder says it will construct a home addition at no charge that’s designed to help with the rehabilitation of a Georgia woman who’s been battling a flesh-eating disease.
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Yoga teacher fired for glaring at Facebook worker
MENLO PARK, Calif. — A California yoga instructor has been fired for her disapproving stink-eye glare at a Facebook employee using a cellphone in class.Alice Van Ness, who was hired to teach hourlong yoga sessions at Facebook’s Menlo Park campus, says she tells students before class to turn off their cellphones.
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Veterans to be honored at this year’s Itasca Fest
At this year's Itasca Fest, festival-goers can marvel at the Washington, D.C., WWII Memorial. A scale model of the memorial will visit the festival as one of many attractions at this year's Itasca Fest, running July 12 to 15 in Washington Park. Dan Kompanowski, special events coordinator and Itasca Fest chairman, said it is a chance to honor veterans.
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Get your gyro on at Elgin Greek Fest
This weekend, Greek music, dancing, food and culture converge in one place in Elgin — St. Sophia's Greek Orthodox Church, which will hold its 34th annual Greek Fest Friday, July 13, through Sunday, July 15. “I think people like experiencing the Greek culture,” said co-chair Sieglinde Savas, adding that people are engulfed in a different experience with everything the fest has to...
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Thoughts turn to sale of former Kane jail
With the controversies about putting a concert venue and mountain biking trails in the east segment of Fabyan Woods mostly resolved, Kane County Board members will now turn to an issue that may see even more intense debate: the selling of the old county jail site.
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Windy City drumline to perform in Palatine
The high energy Windy City All-Stars Drumline, the drum corps of the Chicago Sky, will perform a show in Palatine on July 18.
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Storm caused $375,000 in damage to Dixon prison
Late June storms caused more than $375,000 in damage to the Dixon Correctional Center in northern Illinois.The (Bloomington) Pantagraph reports that records show officials are replacing roofs on numerous buildings at the Dixon prison. They're also installing electrical components and other machinery broken when high winds tore into the facility.
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Polish fugitive deported to serve sentence
Federal authorities say they have deported a 49-year-old man wanted in Poland for racketeering, fraud, extortion, battery and other crimes.
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West Nile Virus detected in Lake County
Mosquitoes have tested positive for West Nile Virus in Lake County.The county Health Department says the mosquitoes were sampled Friday in the village of Mundelein. It's the first indicator of the disease's presence in Lake County this year. Last year, 14 sampled groups of mosquitoes tested positive, but there were no human cases.
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Wis. dad jailed after 3 girls found dead at home
A father has been arrested after three young girls, believed to be his daughters, were found dead at home in a tiny western Wisconsin town.Police said the house smelled of gas.
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UW residence hall to honor American Indians
A new University of Wisconsin-Madison residence hall will be named in honor of American Indians. Dejope Residence Hall opens Aug. 26 and will be home to 408 students near the Lake Mendota shore. The name was selected after consulting with members of the Ho-Chunk Nation.
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Feds raid motorcycle gang clubhouses in Indiana
Federal agents have raided several sites used by the Outlaws motorcycle gang in Indianapolis and Fort Wayne. Those raids Wednesday morning included an Outlaws clubhouse in Fort Wayne. The Journal Gazette reports FBI agents boxed up evidence and searched the building with a dog.
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Derailment in SW Indiana city spills load of coal
Some freight train cars derailed in a southwestern Indiana city, dumping a load of coal along the tracks. The derailment happened late Tuesday in Princeton, and WFIE-TV reports three crossings in the city were closed. The derailment left a large pile of coal next to the rail line in the city about 25 miles north of Evansville.
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C&NW Heritage locomotive visits Arlington Hts.
Arlington Heights got a treat over the weekend, when Union Pacific brought its Chicago & North Western Heritage locomotive into town for two days. Union Pacific is celebrating its 150th anniversary at the same time Arlington Heights is celebrating its 125th. Frontier Days visitors could touch it, take photos and have their photos taken with the UP 1995 locomotive.
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Scoreboard ads for the Glenbards?
Glenbard High School District 87 officials predict the district could bring in $100,000 every year by attaching LED advertising panels to existing indoor and outdoor scoreboards at the district's four schools. They say it could help fund the district's athletics or other programs. But first, they're looking for the public's feedback to see if the district should move forward with advertising on...
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Conant track event held in honor of long-time coach
A new all-ages track meet will be held in honor of Conant High School boys track and field coach Ron Gummerson on Thursday, July 26, in an effort to raise scholarship money for track athletes at the school. Gummerson, who taught and coached at Conant for 29 years, died last year after a battle with liver cancer.
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Arlington Heights Park District refines improvement plans
The Arlington Heights Park District board worked to narrow options for its long-range capital improvement plans at a meeting Tuesday night. The discussion centered on the community center at Recreation Park. Park district Executive Director Steve Scholten identified the park as a linchpin on which plans at all of the other parks depend.
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Schaumburg pays $390,460 for ash borer treatments
Schaumburg trustees Tuesday approved a contract of $390,460 for a variety of chemical treatments this fall and next spring to slow the ravages of the emerald ash borer. Though the cost of the three chemicals is high, it represents only part of the $1.5 million the village expects to pay this budget year to protect and start diversifying its public parkway tree stock.
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Bike trails coming to Carpentersville park
Carpentersville has inked an agreement with a mountain biking group that lets its volunteers build trails in Keith Andres Park, a move officials say will revitalize the "overgrown mess" of the park and turn it into a local attraction.
Sports
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Break comes at perfect time for Sky
The WNBA’s monthlong Olympic break officially starts Saturday. For the Chicago Sky, the time away will be as much reprieve as it is vacation. “Everyone in the league needs a break right now, whether you’re winning or losing. Some players are hurt, and most are tired,” Sky forward Shay Murphy said. “But for us, especially, a break is really going to be good.”
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Bulls would be perfect fit for Howard
The biggest news on the NBA’s opening day of free-agent signing was what didn’t happen.Disgruntled Orlando center Dwight Howard stayed put. Any trade sending him to Brooklyn — his preferred destination, according to many reports — won’t happen this summer.Nets center Brook Lopez, a restricted free agent, was supposed to be the main player headed to the Magic.But with the possibility looming that Lopez could sign an offer sheet with Charlotte or Houston, Brooklyn decided to do the deal itself and inked Lopez to a reported four-year, $60 million contract.By rule, Lopez cannot be traded until Jan. 15. So a Howard-to-Brooklyn deal could be revisited before the trade deadline, but new Magic management seemed intent on ending the Dwightmare saga this week.Houston and the Lakers may still be interested in pursuing the all-star center.Who cares, right? Howard hasn’t captured anyone’s imagination in the past few years, although his unwary takeover of coach Stan Van Gundy’s news conference in the spring might have been the funniest moment of last season.Look at it this way: Maybe this alleged four-team deal involving Orlando, Brooklyn, Cleveland and the Clippers wasn’t close to happening. But as long as the Magic and the Nets were holding trade discussions, there was a chance Super Team II could have moved into the new digs on Flatbush Avenue.Brooklyn tried to field a lineup of Howard, Deron Williams, Joe Johnson, Gerald Wallace and a power forward to be named later.Since Russian owner Mikhail Prokhorov has pockets deeper than his nickel mines, this squad could have been a legitimate challenger to Miami’s string of titles. And it still could happen down the road.So where would that leave the Bulls? Next season will be tough with Derrick Rose recovering from knee surgery. They’re already starting to retool the roster and have a difficult challenge ahead.Miami spent just $4 million this summer and landed two former all-stars in Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis. Everyone seems to be looking for the easiest path to a title these days.So maybe it’s time the Bulls dove into the Howard sweepstakes. Even though both players finished last season with injuries, Rose and Howard should be a legitimate title-contending tandem for the next decade.One problem: Chicago is not on Howard’s wish list. If he refuses to sign an extension, Howard could become a free agent in 2013 and walk away.How realistic is that scenario, though? Howard’s not going to walk into an introductory news conference at the United Center and tell everyone he can’t wait to leave.After all of Howard’s missteps of the past year, Chicago is exactly what he needs. America will be clamoring for a team that can knock off Miami’s Power Trio, and it wouldn’t hurt Howard’s image to join forces with a more popular superstar.If Howard did become a free agent in 2013, the Nets, Knicks and Lakers wouldn’t have cap room. Dallas and Atlanta could be possibilities, but those teams would have trouble pairing him with a young star of Rose’s caliber.The Bulls seem to have enough assets to offer Orlando. Joakim Noah, Luol Deng, Richard Hamilton and Charlotte’s first-round pick for Howard and Hedo Turkoglu is a reasonable offer.If they do it fast, the Bulls could keep Kyle Korver to help space the floor.The flaw in this scenario is Orlando wanted to create cap room in a deal with Brooklyn. That’s why Kris Humphries supposedly was headed to Cleveland and Marshon Brooks to the Clippers.The only way for the Bulls to offer cap relief now in a two-team deal would be to include Korver’s nonguaranteed contract, which could save the Magic $4.5 million.If the Bulls made the trade and Howard departed as a free agent, at least they’d have cap space left in his wake.Do the Bulls really want to count on the 2013 class of free agents, which includes Chris Paul, Andrew Bynum, Josh Smith, Al Jefferson, Paul Millsap, David West, Kevin Martin and J.J. Redick? Maybe not.
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Cougars get shutout win
Aaron Brooks tossed 7 scoreless innings while striking out six Wednesday night as the Kane County Cougars defeated the South Bend Silver Hawks 3-0 at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark.Brooks (6-9) limited the Silver Hawks to just 4 hits without walking a batter. South Bend only put one runner in scoring position. All 4 hits were singles.Kane County (45-44, 11-8) took the lead in the first inning as Justin Trapp singled and stole second before reaching third on a groundout.With two outs, Jorge Bonifacio grounded to third, but Court’s toss to first bounced to Matt Helm. He was unable to pluck it out of the dirt which allowed Trapp to score the first run.In the fifth, Dean Espy singled against Andrew Barbosa (0-1) before stealing second and advancing to third on a wild pitch.Tim Ferguson bounced a ball to second that Eric Groff briefly bobbled, giving Ferguson enough time to beat his throw home.The Cougars picked up another run in the sixth on back-to-back doubles from Danny Mateo and Bonifacio.Malcom Culver and Robinson Yambati (second save) got the final six outs.
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Have you sampled Asian carp at Taste of Chicago?
In addition to offering up this week's fishing report in his outdoors notes, Mike Jackson wants to hear if you've sampled the free Asian carp at this year's Taste of Chicago. If so, how was it?
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NHL Winter Classic adding alumni game
DETROIT — Next season's Winter Classic between the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs will include two alumni games and nearly 100 players from the storied franchises. "You've got two teams that have been in the league forever," said Wendel Clark, who is among the former players lined up to represent the Maple Leafs. "It's a great idea to have the second one to open up the option to have more guys to be a part of it."
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Santo’s Hall election still feels hollow
There was never any doubt in the minds of those without an agenda that Ron Santo belonged in the Hall of Fame. Many of those who played with or against him during one of the great pitching eras in baseball history believed as much and lobbied for him, save a few Hall of Famers who think the Hall of Fame exists only for them.
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AP Source: Saints, Brees apart on guaranteed money
Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints still must close a significant gap in guaranteed money if they are to agree on a five-year contract worth about $100 million by Monday's looming deadline for a long-term deal, said a person familiar with the negotiations.
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Steve Nash surprised to find himself with Lakers
Steve Nash knew the scene was more than a bit surreal when he stood in the Los Angeles Lakers' training complex, grinning and holding up a gold No. 10 jersey with his name on the back. "Being here right now is something I never foresaw," Nash said Wednesday. "That (jersey) was a major hurdle for me just to get over visually as a player."
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Nets, Lopez agree on 4-year contract extension
Center Brook Lopez has agreed to an extension with the Brooklyn Nets. Unable to work a trade with Orlando for Dwight Howard, the Nets used the first day contracts could be signed to get a deal done with their current center.
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For anglers, this little worm a great catch
Not every cast can turn into an adventurous strike, but if you're like Mike Jackson and fond of fishing suburban ponds for bass and bluegill, then he has a local lure you should try. In this week's column, Mike explains how his "love affair" with the Little Action Mac prerigged worm began in 1987 and why it is still going strong today.
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Quenneville not worried about Crawford, core
Blackhawks head coach Joel Quenneville says he's not worried about starting the season with goalie Corey Crawford, and he expects a bounce back year from the young netminder. Tim Sassone has more from the Blackhawks coach, and other notes such as Eddie Olczyk's selection for the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame.
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Trade talk should heat up in baseball’s 2nd half
There was a public outcry when R.A. Dickey did not start the All-Star game, a journeyman for the White Sox threw a perfect game and the Pittsburgh Pirates of all teams were in first place as the first half of the baseball season drew to a close. What's next, postseason baseball in the nation's capital? It sure looks that way.
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Paterno, in letter, defends Penn State football
Joe Paterno defended his football program's integrity in a 7-month-old letter released Wednesday, a day ahead of a report that could forever mar his legacy. In the letter, written shortly before his death and confirmed as legitimate by his family, Paterno rejected the notion that Jerry Sandusky's sexual abuse of boys amounted to a "football scandal" or in any way tarnished the accomplishments of his players or Penn State's reputation as a whole.
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Soldier Field to host college hockey doubleheader
Soldier Field will host four college men's hockey teams (Notre Dame, Miami of Ohio, Wisconsin and Minnesota) in the first Hockey City Classic, organizers announced Wednesday. Prior to the two outdoor hockey games in Chicago, the stadium will play host to two weeks of winter events, including two days of free public ice skating and youth, high school and adult hockey games.
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Magic GM: Howard talks with Nets ‘stationary’
Magic general manager Rob Hennigan said Wednesday that trade talks involving Dwight Howard with the Brooklyn Nets are "stationary," but that discussions remain open with them and other teams."We've had discussions with Brooklyn, we've had discussions with a host of different teams about a host of different issues. And the answer is, yes we're still talking to them," Hennigan said. "We're still looking to do whatever it is that puts us in the best position from a sustainability standpoint, (and) from a strategic standpoint.
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Allmendinger says he tested positive for stimulant
Suspended NASCAR driver AJ Allmendinger said Wednesday that he had tested positive for a stimulant and was collecting his medicines and supplements in an attempt to figure out what happened. "AJ tested positive for a stimulant. He has no idea why the first test was positive, and he has never knowingly taken any prohibited substance," Tara Ragan, vice president of Allmendinger's Walldinger Racing Inc., said.
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Armstrong attorney: Lance gets 30-day extension
Lance Armstrong's attorney says the United States Anti-Doping Agency has granted Armstrong a 30-day extension to answer doping charges while the seven-time Tour de France winner challenges the case in federal court. The move erases the Saturday deadline for Armstrong to either send the case to arbitration or accept sanctions from USADA.
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Voeckler wins Tour's 10th stage in Alps
France's Thomas Voeckler led a five-rider breakaway to win the 10th stage of the Tour de France as the race entered the Alps on Wednesday. Bradley Wiggins retained the overall lead. "I really pulled this out with my guts," Voeckler said. "I only knew I'd won with about 5 meters left."
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Ray Allen, Rashard Lewis sign with Miami Heat
Rashard Lewis has already thought plenty about what it could mean to share the court with LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and Ray Allen. In short, he knows defenses could be a bit confounded. "You've got to double-team LeBron. You have to double-team Dwyane Wade. You've got to double-team Chris Bosh. And then you think they're going to leave Ray Allen open?" Lewis said.
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Some ex-MLB managers find new life in the minors
Edwin Rodriguez climbed the managing ladder all the way to the major leagues. Now the former Florida Marlins skipper has settled into a new home — back in the minors. "Most of the guys that got to manage in the big leagues — I would say a high percentage of them — they have been through the minor leagues and the development side, working with the minor-league players, the young players, and that's one thing that you just don't stop doing," Rodriguez said in an interview with The Associated Press.
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Unassuming Donald ready for British Open spotlight
Luke Donald remains unassuming despite being golf's top-ranked player for 52 of the past 59 weeks. Take his visit to Wimbledon last Friday, for example. Donald had lunch with Australian pop star Kylie Minogue before spending a long afternoon in the Royal Box at the All England Club watching the Wimbledon semifinals, including watching British hope Andy Murray play.
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Report: I’ll Have Another ailing before Belmont
Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner I'll Have Another was ailing well before he was retired from racing with a tendon injury the day ahead of his bid to win the Belmont Stakes and become the first Triple Crown champion in 34 years. The New York Times reports in a story Wednesday that veterinary records obtained from New York state racing officials show that I'll Have Another was being treated with painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs in the weeks after his win in the Preakness.
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Mike North video: Sox our only hope
Will the Chicago White Sox be able to maintain their lead and win the Division? The Chicago Cubs will get better, with the addition of Anthony Rizzo, but it is going to take a couple of years to see real results. If you are looking for playoff baseball this year, look to the south side.
Business
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We’re introducing new tools to make our home sale site indispensable
We're excited to announce a major improvement in our real estate coverage, and in particular, the introduction of useful tools on dailyherald.com for those who are buying homes, those who are selling and those who are just curious about how the suburban housing market is doing these days.
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New restaurant to open in West Dundee
West End Restaurant and Bar will open at the end of the month at 629 S. Eighth St., West Dundee, the site of the former Regina's Italian Restaurant. West End will serve upscale Americana cuisine with different bar food items, according to a restaurant representative. The menu will give customers choices between stuffed filet mignon, flat breads and classic homemade burgers.
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Electric rates not falling along with fuel costs
A plunge in the price of natural gas has made it cheaper for utilities to produce electricity. But the savings aren't translating to lower rates for customers.
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Last drugs standing: Key Alzheimer results coming
We're about to find out if there will be a way anytime soon to slow the course of Alzheimer's disease. Results are due within a month or so from key studies of two drugs that aim to clear the sticky plaque gumming up patients' brains.
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Viacom channels are off DirecTV systems
DirecTV subscribers are losing access to "The Daily Show" and "SpongeBob SquarePants."
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S.African government probes Iran bribe allegations
JOHANNESBURG — South Africa’s government says it is investigating allegations its former envoy to Iran accepted payments from a South African cell phone company.The foreign affairs department confirmed in response to a question in parliament Wednesday that it was looking into allegations that the former diplomat, Yusuf Saloojee, accepted money from MTN. Saloojee and MTN deny the allegations.South African police announced separately last month they had opened a probe into allegations MTN paid bribes to secure business in Iran.A Turkish cell phone company, meanwhile, seeks damages from MTN in a civil case filed in the US. Turkcell accuses MTN of bribing officials and bringing other influence to bear to get a license to provide mobile phone service in Iran. MTN has denied Turkcell’s allegations.
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SEC requires uniform system for U.S. stock exchanges
WASHINGTON — U.S. stock exchanges and markets must establish a uniform system for tracking all orders and trades under a rule approved Wednesday. The Securities and Exchange Commission said the requirement is intended to make it easier for the government to investigate market disruptions, such as the “flash crash” two years ago that sent the Dow Jones industrial average plummeting nearly 600 points in five minutes. The SEC voted 3-2 to require all U.S. exchanges and electronic trading platforms to keep the same form of audit trails covering orders from start to routing to execution. At the present time, audit trails vary among exchanges. Regulators say that has made it more difficult to get their hands on current order data. Regulators say the change will make it easier to pinpoint the causes of disruptions.Under the rule, the U.S. exchanges will have to jointly submit a proposed plan for creating an overall system to collect and identify every trading order from start to execution. The plan must be submitted to the SEC by April. If it is approved by the agency, the exchanges would have to start reporting information within a year. The SEC was criticized after the May 6, 2010 flash crash, which hurt investor confidence and highlighted the agency’s inability to keep pace with technological changes. Traditional exchanges are now competing with electronic trading platforms. And high-frequency traders have computers that can place trades in fractions of a second, giving them an edge when buying or selling stocks.The speed also can disrupt the system when there are errors. That’s what happened during the flash crash. SEC Chairman Mary Schapiro said the new system would allow regulators to get prompt access to most of the data and help them reconstruct what disrupted trading in days, rather than weeks. It will also make markets fairer and more efficient, she said.Schapiro, a Democrat, was joined by the two Republican commissioners, Troy Paredes and Daniel Gallagher, in supporting the rule. Democratic members Elisse Walter and Luis Aguilar voted against it. They expressed concern that the requirements for a new tracking system had been weakened from the SEC’s original proposal made in late May 2010.The proposed rule called for securities markets to report trading information to the central database in real time. In the final rule, they must submit the data by 8 a.m. Eastern the next trading day. In a statement, Wall Street’s biggest lobbying group, the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association, called the new version “a more manageable and cost-effective approach.” Regulators eventually determined that the flash crash occurred when an investment and trading firm executed a computerized selling program in an already-stressed market. The firm’s trade, worth $4.1 billion, touched off a chain of events that ended with investors swiftly pulling their money from the stock market.SEC officials said the new system also would help track insider trading.
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Teen girls to Teen Vogue: Stop altering photos
Now that they have a promise from Seventeen not to alter body shapes in photographs, a group of teenage girls are going after Teen Vogue.
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Wis. town barred from beefing up farm water rules
The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that a rural town lacks the authority to impose tougher water-quality standards on a livestock farm than the state requires. Magnolia, a community about 30 miles south of Madison, granted Larson Acres Inc. a permit in 2007 when it wanted to expand, but included a number of conditions because residents blamed it for polluting their water supply. The farm initially had 1,000 cows and now has about 2,900.
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Arlington Hts. still wants movies downtown
Arlington Heights hasn't given up on having a movie theater downtown, and is pressuring the theater landlord to find another operator. "We like things we can walk to and get home at a reasonable hour and not get caught in traffic," said Village President Arlene Mulder. "And the underground parking is wonderful in the winter."
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Vasco technology to be used in Intel Ultrabooks
Vasco Data Security International said its Digipass technology will be used with Intel Corp.'s latest generation of Ultrabook devices to provide strong account protection.
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Computer Systems Institute/Gurnee to host job fair
PRNewswireJobseekers looking for entry-level positions will have an opportunity to meet employers and staffing agencies at a free job fair scheduled at Computer Systems Institute (CSI) in Gurnee on Thursday, July 19. The event is open to the public from 2-4 p.m. on the campus at 5330 Grand Avenue, across the street from Six Flags Great America.Recruiters will be looking for entry-level professionals in business administration, health care and information technology — three areas in which CSI offers eight-month career training programs — as well as candidates for clerical, construction, manufacturing, sales/marketing, transportation and warehousing positions. More information is available by calling 847-263-4258.The job fair is an extension of CSI fast-track career programs that help students secure jobs in high-demand fields such as administrative assisting, computer support, medical assisting and medical billing. Programs are geared toward skill acquisition as well as preparation for certifications that facilitate job placements, including CompTIA A+, Microsoft MCITP and Microsoft MCTS exams for network systems administration; National Healthcareer Association and American Medical Technologist exams for health care; and Microsoft Office Specialist and Customer Service exams for business.
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Follett Software partners with content providers
Follett Software Company has announced a first round of partnerships with leading providers to sell third-party digital content.Follett Software, part of the Follett School and Library Group that also includes Follett Library Resources, Follett Educational Services and Follett International, says the partnerships are reflective of a larger digitally focused initiative to strengthen the connection between the library and the K-12 classroom curriculum.
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Gallagher acquires Contego Underwriting Ltd
Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. said it has acquired Contego Underwriting Ltd, of London, England. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
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U.S. trade deficit fell to $48.7 billion in May
WASHINGTON — The U.S. trade deficit narrowed in May from April, weighing less on economic growth this spring. American companies sold more products in Europe and China, while cheaper oil lowered the amount spent on imports.The Commerce Department said Wednesday that the trade deficit fell 3.8 percent to $48.7 billion in May, down from $50.6 billion in April. Exports rose 0.2 percent to $183.1 billion. The increase reflected stronger sales of telecommunications equipment and heavy machinery. Imports dropped 0.7 percent to $231.8 billion. America’s foreign oil bill fell to the lowest level in 15 months.A narrower trade gap is less of a drag on growth. It means the United States is spending less on foreign-made products, while taking in more from sales of U.S.-made goods.The increase in exports to the second-highest level on record is a hopeful sign for growth in the April-June quarter. U.S. manufacturing has weakened this spring, hurt by Europe’s financial crisis and slower growth in China. At the same time, sluggish U.S. job growth and meager pay increases have made American consumers more cautious about spending, leading some economists to predict growth slowed in the second quarter from the first-quarter’s tepid 1.9 percent annual pace.Through the first five months of this year, U.S. exports are up 5.7 percent from the same month a year ago. And exports to the 27-nation European Union rose 2.6 percent in May from April.Still, the U.S. deficit with the EU widened 21 percent in May to $10.5 billion because imports from Europe increased 7.8 percent.America’s trade deficit with China increased to $26 billion in May. U.S. exports to China rose 5.2 percent, but imports rose by a faster 5.8 percent. The deficit with China is the largest with any country and is on pace to break last year’s all-time high.Still, other reports suggest exports have slowed since May.A survey by the Institute for Supply Management, a trade group of purchasing managers, said U.S. manufacturing shrank in June for the first time in nearly three years. The survey noted that exports declined and new orders plunged.Economic growth of 1.9 percent is not enough to significantly lower the unemployment rate, which stayed at 8.2 percent in June.High unemployment is also putting pressure on U.S. politicians to protect American workers against what critics see as unfair trade practices from such nations as China.
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Ky. woman fights porn companies’ anti-piracy suits
It's a common tactic for pornography producers trying to protect their product from online piracy: They sue unknown "John Does" who illegally download movies, then go to Internet providers to learn their true identities and collect. Hundreds of porn companies have filed thousands of lawsuits across the country in recent years. Often, representatives will call up the defendants, offering quick settlements of $1,000 or $5,000 to avoid facing $150,000 claims and the embarrassment of being publicly outed.
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U.S. futures head higher ahead of inventory data
Stock futures rose Wednesday ahead of government report that is expected to show that companies are ordering more goods, which would be good news for factories that produce them and for the economy as a whole. The U.S. also reported Wednesday that the trade deficit fell to $48.7 billion in May from April, with exports on the rise despite a broadening global slowdown. The trade report came out on the same day that China posted a 9 percent increase in auto sales for June. U.S. automakers have moved aggressively into China in a global search for growth.
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Drought cuts projected corn harvest by 12 percent
DES MOINES, Iowa — The Department of Agriculture says farmers are expected to harvest 146 bushels per acre of corn this fall, down 12 percent from the June estimate of 166 bushels per acre.A widespread drought has burned up the crop in portions of Illinois and Indiana and has reduced yields in other states. The USDA says the drought has substantially lowered yield prospects across much of the major growing regions. Harvested area was reduced slightly from June.The U.S. government estimates 1.2 billion bushels of corn supply be left at the end of the year down 698 million bushels from last month’s estimate.The season average farm price for corn is projected at $5.40 to $6.40 per bushel, up sharply from $4.20 to $5 per bushel in June.
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Oil rises to near $85 as US crude supplies drop
Oil rose to near $85 a barrel Wednesday after a report showed U.S. crude supplies fell for a second week, suggesting demand may be improving. The American Petroleum Institute said late Tuesday that crude inventories fell 700,000 barrels last week, including a 900,000 barrel drop at the key oil storage facilities at Cushing, Oklahoma. Inventories of gasoline rose 2.5 million barrels last week and distillates dropped 700,000 barrels, the API said.
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AMR CEO says it’s time to weigh merger options
The head of American Airlines says his company has done so much to fix its problems that it can consider potential mergers, and invitations will be going out soon. Thomas Horton, the CEO of American and parent AMR Corp., said Tuesday that American has boosted revenue, reached cost-cutting deals with labor unions, and is well on its way to a successful restructuring after seven months under bankruptcy protection. "It now makes sense to carefully evaluate a range of strategic options, including potential mergers," which "could make the new American even stronger," Horton said in a letter to employees.
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Global stocks mixed, outlook for earnings dim
Global stock markets struggled Wednesday, as Europe's debt crisis rolls on and investors brace themselves for mediocre second-quarter corporate profits. In early trading in Europe, Britain's FTSE 100 was down 0.4 percent at 5,641.23. France's CAC-40 shed 0.55 percent to 3,157.79, while Germany's DAX gained 0.07 percent to 6,442.17.
Life & Entertainment
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Weekend picks: Music abounds around Chicago
If you love music, then this is your weekend. Kevin Costner teams up with Modern West in concert on Saturday at Arcada Theatre, Barry Manilow plays two more shows at the Chicago Theatre and the Pitchfork Music Festival starts today in Chicago's Union Park. And don't forget about the 32nd Annual Taste of Chicago. Plus, there's West Chicago's Railroad Days, the Des Plaines Summer Fling and the Taste of Lincolnshire.
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Pesto turns pizza into summery treat
Homemade basil pesto is the optimal summer condiment. Smear it on sandwiches, stir it in pasta or, as in today's recipe, spread it on pizza. Pesto Pizza With Heirloom Tomatoes can be a light dinner, summer lunch or a perfect appetizer for when friends come over.
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Pesto Pizza With Heirloom Tomatoes
Pesto Pizza with Heirloom Tomatoes: Kitchen Scoop
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Classic Basil Pesto
Classic Pesto: Kitchen Scoop
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Some suggestions on kicking the summertime blues
By now you might be one of those parents starting to hear those dreaded words "I'm bored." Whether your kids have special needs or not, these words can strike fear into a parent looking at weeks of summer vacation still ahead of them. So just how do you kick the summertime blues?
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It’s all a matter of willpower — but whose?
If our daughters were peppers, they would all be chili peppers: our firstborn would be a jalapeño, our middle would be a poblano, and our youngest would be a habanero — one of the hottest peppers out there. Over the years, observers have used an assortment of words when commenting on our youngest: spitfire, pistol, quite a handful and a force to be reckoned with.
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This books has understanding grown-ups down to a science
You've got a keen eye for observation, so you've seen it all. Mostly, though, you like to watch grown-ups because they're interesting and because, well, someday, you'll be a grown-up, too. And in the new book "Kid Confidential" by Monte Montgomery, illustrated by Patricia Storms, you'll get a little help with your observations.
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'Ransom River' is well-plotted thriller
Unemployed and nearly broke, Rory Mackenzie returns home to Meg Gardiner's "Ransom River" only to find a jury duty summons for what promises to be the case of the century for the small California town: the shooting of an allegedly unarmed man by an off-duty police officer. Before the trial gets off the ground, however, the courtroom is attacked, and Rory is among those chosen as hostages. In the wake of this trauma, Rory finds she is among the prime suspects for engineering the attack.
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Luke Bryan sorry for anthem performance
Luke Bryan is saying sorry for his performance during Major League Baseball's All-Star game. The country singer admits that he did check the lyrics he had written on his hand while he sang the national anthem on Tuesday night. He also checked his watch.
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The Suburbs This Weekend: ‘Jaws,’ Greek Fest, Cassidy and Costner
Kevin Costner, David Cassidy, Greek Fest and a special screening of Jaws' are among selections by Sean Stangland and Richard Battin for The Suburbs This Weekend.
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Florence and The Machine cancels Europe gigs
Florence and The Machine have pulled out of two European concerts because the lead singer has lost her voice and been told not to perform to avoid permanent damage. Florence Welch explained the situation on her Twitter account Wednesday.
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Comic-Con celebrates franchise favorites
This week's Comic-Con pop-cultural extravaganza in San Diego may not be as cutting-edge cool as you think. Several of the festival's franchise favorites are showing off their ages this year as they celebrate milestone birthdays, including Tarzan at 100, James Bond at 50 and those strapping 20-year-olds, the Power Rangers.
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Williams gets political on new album
Hank Williams Jr. kicks off his album "Old School, New Rules" by addressing ESPN's decision to drop his song as the opening theme for "Monday Night Football," a role he held for more than 20 years. In a robust voice, Williams bellows: "I'll go find a network that will treat me right" to start "Takin' Back The Country," a song set to a rocking arrangement of his legendary father's song "Mind Your Own Business."
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Hank Williams Jr. storms back with 'Old School, New Rules'
Hank Williams Jr. has been having a rip-roaring good time since ESPN dropped his popular "Monday Night Football" theme song nine months ago, igniting a debate over freedom of speech that brought all of Williams' rowdy friends to his defense — plus an unlikely coterie of defenders from all over the political spectrum. The dustup helped reinvigorate Williams creatively and the result is "Old School, New Rules," his first new album in three years.
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Zac Brown Band show diversity on new CD
The Zac Brown Band delivers a message with the title of its new album, "Uncaged" — and the songs back up that statement. Although still likely to be described as a country band, the Georgia group purposely, and admirably, avoids current Nashville conventions on their new collection.
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Cook of the Week Challenge: Do you have what it takes?
The Daily Herald again is looking for 16 cooks — eight former Cooks of the Week and eight home cooking enthusiasts — to face off in a series of recipe challenges for our second annual Cook of the Week Challenge. Do you have what it takes to win two recipe rounds to make it to the live cook-off?
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Courtney Love’s ex-assistant sues for unpaid wages
Courtney Love's former assistant is suing over unpaid wages and claims the rocker made unethical requests such as instructing her to hire a hacker and falsify legal letters. Jessica Labrie filed the wrongful termination, wage and breach of contract lawsuit in Los Angeles on Tuesday.
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Gladys Knight to be judge on new singing series
Move over Jennifer Lopez, a veteran singing diva is joining the ranks of judges on reality TV: Gladys Knight. BET's sister network Centric announced Wednesday that Knight will work as the "lead judge" on "Apollo Live."
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Survey finds Sept. 11 most memorable TV moment
The Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attack is by far the most memorable moment shared by television viewers during the past 50 years, a study released on Wednesday concluded. The only thing that came close was President John F. Kennedy's assassination and its aftermath in 1963, but that was only for the people aged 55 and over who experienced those events as they happened instead of replayed as an historical artifact.
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Stand Up to Cancer telethon returns
A year after movie producer Laura Ziskin lost her life to cancer, the ambitious telethon she helped start to fight the disease will be back on the air. Stand Up to Cancer, which said it's garnered more than $180 million in pledges for research, will air a live, commercial-free hour on the four major networks and on cable channels Sept 7.
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‘Hunger Games’ finales set for 2014, 2015 release
The final book in "The Hunger Games" trilogy is coming to the big-screen in two parts starting in 2014. Lionsgate Films has announced that "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1" will be released Nov. 21, 2014, and "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 2" will follow on Nov. 20, 2015.
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Some parents are scheduling a photo shoot before the baby is born
With the thermostat set at 82 degrees and new parents standing close by, a cooing photographer captures a fleeting moment in time, that period when the infant is so pliable he or she is floppy and his or her natural position closely resembles the womb the baby left only days ago. Many photographers are getting creative with posing the pliable newborns into a creative position, and a trend was born.
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Charlie Watts talks jazz, rock and 50 years as a Rolling Stone
Even though he's been in the same rock 'n' roll band for nearly 50 years, Charlie Watts still prefers playing jazz. In an interview, the Rolling Stones drummer talks about his latest venture -- The A, B, C, and D of Boogie Woogie -- as well as what's being planned for the Rolling Stones' 50th anniversary next year.
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Geneva's A Toda Madre is totally awesome
Sometimes restaurants get it right. And sometimes they get it right with attitude. To hit that perfecta twice would seem almost impossible, but that's just what the owners of A Toda Madre have done. Since admirers of Geneva gem Bien Trucha keep flocking to the far West suburban eatery, the owners decided to open a sister restaurant right next door. A Toda Madre expands on the Mexican small plates concept, but in a more sophisticated way.
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New books offer to bring the food science lab home
"The Science of Good Cooking," from the test kitchens of Cook's Illustrated magazine, joins 50 basic concepts — why salt makes meat juicy, why high heat develops flavor — with 400 recipes that show you how to put those principles into practice.
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Tips for getting the best newborn photos
Tips for parents about what to expect and how to prepare for their newborn session.
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Home filtration systems are an alternative to bottled water
Americans have a growing taste for water. Many are installing home water filters for a variety of reasons: wanting to improve the taste of their tap water, a desire to reduce consumption of bottled water and health concerns.
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In banning leaf blowers, a small victory against noise
Arlington, Mass., has joined in the fight against noise and air pollution by banning the use of leaf blowers between May 15 and Oct. 15. This gives languid homeowners and yard crews an opportunity to blast away when most of the leaves are conveniently on the ground, in mid- and late fall.
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Good wine: Father of Washington State wine honored with premium label
In 1937, Walter Clore arrived in Prosser, Wash. and began to change his corner of the world. The 26-year-old horticulturalist had been dispatched to the new Irrigation Branch Experiment Station to identify eastern Washington's most advantageous crops. Fruits for jelly and vegetables were the focus. Clore decided to also plant seven Vitis vinifera, i.e. wine grape vines.
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Gratin of Roasted Peppers, Basil and Feta
2 jars (16 ounces each) roasted bell peppers, preferably a combination of red and yellow peppers1 large bunch basil, leaves only, coarsely chopped (about ½ cup)7 ounces feta cheeseFreshly ground black pepperOlive oil, for drizzling¼ cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheeseHeat the oven to 425 degrees.Drain the peppers in a colander. If they are whole, slice them in half, discarding any stems or seeds.Arrange a layer of peppers in 4 small individual gratin dishes or 1 large gratin dish. Top with a handful of basil leaves, then crumble over a layer of feta. Season with pepper to taste, and drizzle with the oil. Repeat with additional layers to use all of the peppers, basil and feta.Top with the Parmigiano-Reggiano and a few grinds of pepper. Bake 15-20 minutes or until the cheese has browned lightly. Serve hot.Serves four.Cook’s note: This pretty side dish would make a nice accompaniment to roast chicken or pork.Nutrition values per serving: 270 calories, 16 g fat (9 g saturated), 19 g carbohydrates, 0 fiber, 10 g protein, 50 mg cholesterol, 1850 mg sodium.Adapted from “Gordon Ramsay’s Fast Food” by Gordon Ramsay (Sterling Epicure, 2012)
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Sausage Cooked in Red Wine
Sausage Cooked in Red Wine
Discuss
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Obama in denial
Daily Herald columnist Michael Gerson: One would think, given so much practice, that the Obama White House would have been better prepared for last week's wretched jobs report. Instead, we witnessed the five stages of bad public relations.
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The regulatory heavy hand
Columnist George Will: In 1990, Congress passed the Clean Air Act Amendments, which high-mindedly mandated restoration of visibility in parks and wilderness areas to natural conditions. "Natural" meaning what? Before humanity?
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Terror among the rich
Columnist Richard Cohen: Obama is hardly the liberal boogeyman that so terrifies the right. In Pittsburgh, he cited his own modest background and emphasized that "if you were willing to work hard, if you were willing to take responsibility for your life, you could make it if you try here in the United States of America."
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Vacation in Illinois where it’s safe
An Arlington Heights letter to the editor: Regarding a letter in support of concealed carry laws, bragging about how the writer was at a restaurant in Wisconsin where most of the patrons were dining with pistols at their sides, I think this is something Illinoisans should consider when contemplating vacationing in Wisconsin.
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Cut salaries of those who create taxes
A Hoffman Estates letter to the editor: I'm tired of these taxes affecting us citizens who can least afford it, the latest being $1 a pack on cigarettes.
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A vote for Romney is bad for health
A Schaumburg letter to the editor: Mitt Romney can write a check for the finest health care that money can buy, which is a good and fortunate position to be in. But the accident of birth does not leave most of us in such blessed positions.
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Practice what you preach
A Geneva letter to the editor: On May 24, you published an editorial that discussed the efforts of the Daily Herald staff to weed out letters to the editor "containing patently ridiculous claims or highly questionable statements that are difficult to verify." Then, you print a letter to the editor titled "Obama a no-show on 4th? Must be un-American."
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Emanuel piqued by Ricketts family
A Huntley letter to the editor: Mayor Emanuel refuses to speak to the Ricketts family about anything, including Wrigley Field renovation. So the Rickettses are being punished by Emanuel for being a political enemy — especially of his good friend, Barack Obama.
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Don’t accept funding and deny legal rights
A Pingree Grove letter to the editor: I find it interesting, and sadly amusing, that the Archdiocese of Chicago, in its full-page ad in Section One, Page 9, of the July 3 issue, would use the Bill of Rights to advocate the promotion of their religious doctrines.
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Walsh put foot in mouth again
An Elgin letter to the editor: U.S. Rep. Joe Walsh's criticism of Tammy Duckworth, for touting her military service when she was gravely wounded, is further proof that he is just a right-wing loudmouth.
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Naperville trail a real success story
On July 17 at 1:30 p.m., another completed trail link will be celebrated at Wil-O-Way Commons Park. In the works since 1992, this .9-mile stretch was made possible through inter-governmental cooperation between the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County, the Naperville Park District and the City of Naperville. It was a complicated process.
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Taking a path of moral elasticity
A Wheaton letter to the editor: Marriage is an institution which has been defined in the Judeo-Christian tradition among others as existing between a man and a woman. To say that one particular groups' "pursuit of happiness" must allow for that definition to be altered continues to take us down roads of moral elasticity which have grave consequences for our society.
Jul 2012
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