Daily Archive : Saturday July 14, 2012

News

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    Ole Sindberg of Cary helps Lexi Yates, 9, of Crystal Lake into his Prescott Pusher personal aircraft Saturday for a free flight at the Lake in the Hills Airport. The Young Eagles event offered free flights for children ages 8 to 17 through the EAA Chapter 790.

    Kids discover the wonders of aviation
    By Elena Ferrarin
    Shaelea Alexander of Elgin barely remembers the first time she rode in an airplane, at age 4 on a family trip to Walt Disney World in Florida.

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    Ryan Williams, 7, competes in the “Glendale Idol” during the Glendale Heights Festival on Saturday.

    Young singers shine in Glendale Heights Idol
    By Marie Wilson
    Sounds of pop, rap and country — all sung by local voices — rose above the noise of carnival rides spinning and swirling Saturday as 20 performers vied for the title of Glendale Heights Idol. A lineup dominated by female soloists sang to a crowd of more than 150 gathered around picnic tables on the south end of the Glendale Heights Fest grounds in Camera Park for the fourth annual...

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    Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein delivers her acceptance speech at the Green Party’s convention in Baltimore on Saturday.

    Doctor wins Green Party’s presidential nod
    Associated Press
    A doctor who ran against Mitt Romney for Massachusetts governor a decade ago won the chance to challenge him again on Saturday, this time as the Green Party's presidential nominee.

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    Iraqi adventurer Fareed Lafta, right, and Bend, Ore., gas station owner Kent Couch lift off Saturday from Couch’s gas station in Bend, Ore., as they attempt to fly some 360 miles to Montana.

    Lawn chair balloon flight ends with hard landing
    Associated Press
    The rig includes 800 pounds of ballast — red Kool-Aid in 40-gallon barrels. Besides a GPS, navigation gear, satellite phone, oxygen, two-way radios, eight cameras, and parachutes, they were carrying two Red Ryder BB rifles and a pair of blowguns to shoot out enough balloons to come to earth when the time is right.

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    Fifth fatal shark attack closes west Australian beaches
    Bloomberg News
    Western Australia state closed beaches and began hunting for a great white shark believed to be responsible for the fifth fatal attack in less than a year, the fisheries department said.

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    Egyptian Foreign Minister Mohammed Kamel Amr, right, takes a reporter’s question Saturday at a joint press conference with U. S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton at the presidential palace in Cairo, Egypt.

    Clinton tries to strengthen ties with Egypt
    Associated Press
    U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton used her first meeting with Egypt's new Islamist president to press Mohammed Morsi to start a dialogue with military leaders as a way of preserving the country's transition to democracy.

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    U.N. investigates Syria massacre
    Associated Press
    U.N. observers investigating a reported mass killing in a Syrian village on Saturday found pools of blood in homes and spent bullets, mortars and artillery shells, adding details to the emerging picture of what anti-regime activists have called one of the deadliest events of Syria's uprising.

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    Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel, left, and university President E. Gordon Gee, second from left, listen as athletic director Gene Smith speaks during a news conference in Columbus, Ohio.

    Sports, coaches hold sway at many colleges
    By Rusty Miller
    To those who may be shocked the situation at Penn State got so out of hand, people who study sports have a message: Don't be so surprised.

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    Associated Press/Cpurtesy of Lt. Col. Jose Garcia U.S. Army Lt. Col. Townley Hedrick, a representative of the 101st Airborne Divisioin, presents four letters from Sgt. Steve Flaherty to his sister-in-law Martha Gibbons and uncle Kenneth Cannon on Saturday.

    Letters of soldier killed in Vietnam come home
    Associated Press
    Four letters from a courageous South Carolina soldier who tried to tell his family about the fearsome battles that raged around him in Vietnam were returned to his family Saturday, some 40 years after he was killed.

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    Residents hope to thwart Mount Prospect Walgreens plan
    By Deborah Pankey
    During Saturday's informal Coffee with the Council, residents of I-Oka Avenue in Mount Prospect told village board members and staff that they remain unwavering in ther opposition of a Walgreens on the northwest corner of Elmhurst and Golf roads.

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    Lake Ellyn in Glen Ellyn, seen here in a Daily Herald file photo, has been experiencing increased algae growth and more noticeable fish kills lately because of the recent heat wave and droughtlike conditions.

    Heat takes toll on Lake Ellyn
    By Marie Wilson
    Increased algae growth, fish kills and 90-degree water temperatures led the Glen Ellyn Park District to cancel a Sunday boating event scheduled to take place on Lake Ellyn. The lake has been growing more algae and experiencing more noticeable fish kills because of the recent heat wave and this summer's drought-like conditions.

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    Rick Dunn of Crystal Lake waits for a break in the rain to ride his bike home with his wife and sister-in-law after the Open Water Swim Race at Main Beach in Crystal Lake was canceled due to weather on Saturday. The race has been rescheduled for Sunday. Rick, his wife, Tara Duffy, and her sister, Karen Duffy of Barrington, had planned on swimming in the race for the first time.

    Rain postpones Crystal Lake swim race
    By Elena Ferrarin
    About 165 swimmers were disappointed Saturday morning when the annual Open Water Swim Races in Crystal Lake were postponed due to inclement weather. The 1-mile and 2-mile races were rescheduled for Sunday morning at Main Beach on Crystal Lake.

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    U. S. soldiers inspect the site of a suicide bombing in Samangan province north of Kabul, Afghanistan, Saturday.

    Afghan commander among 23 dead in suicide bombing at wedding
    Associated Press
    A suicide bomber blew himself up Saturday in a wedding hall in northern Afghanistan, killing at least 23 people including a prominent warlord-turned-politician and three security officials, Afghan authorities said, in an attack that deals a setback to efforts to unify the nation's ethnic factions.

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    Festival goers brave the falling rain Friday at the Hard Rock Calling music festival in Hyde Park, London. The weekend music event was planned to be held on the grass of Hyde Park, but the land turned into a muddy quagmire and had to be covered with wood chips to enable the festival to go ahead.

    British newspaper demands it simply stop raining
    Associated Press
    "Let us make our position crystal clear: We are against this weather," the Times of London wrote in an unsigned opinion piece. "It must stop raining, and soon."

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    Workers of French car maker PSA Peugeot Citroen demonstrate Thursday in front of the factory in Aulnay-sous-Bois, north of Paris.

    France’s Hollande says Peugeot job cuts not acceptable
    Bloomberg News
    President Francois Hollande: "The plan in the current state is not acceptable."

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    A new statue of President Ronald Reagan and Pope John Paul II that was unveiled Saturday in Gdansk, Poland. Both late leaders are highly reveared in Poland.

    Poles honor Reagan, John Paul II with statues
    Associated Press
    Polish officials have unveiled a statue of former President Ronald Reagan and John Paul II, honoring two men whom many Poles credit with helping to topple communism.

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    The statue of former Penn State University head football coach Joe Paterno stands outside Beaver Stadium in State College, Pa.

    Report: Paterno contract deal reached amid scandal
    Associated Press
    A newspaper says Penn State football coach Joe Paterno testified before a grand jury in a sex-abuse investigation of a longtime assistant coach the same month he began negotiating an amendment to his contact.

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    Lightning possible cause of Wheaton house fire
    By Marie Wilson
    A fire possibly sparked by lightning during a Friday afternoon thunderstorm rendered a Wheaton home uninhabitable but didn't cause any injuries, authorities said Saturday. The Wheaton Fire Department was called about 5 p.m. Friday to the blaze at a single-family home in the 1500 block of South Friars Court. Crews brought it under control after about 15 minutes on the scene.

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    DuPage PADS honors Volunteers of the Year
    DuPage PADS submission
    DuPage PADS recently announced that Allan Carter and Desiree Faulkner Watson are the winners of the organization's inaugural Volunteer of the Year awards.

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    Cast members, from left, Kevin Cagney, General Winkie; John McCue, Tin Man; Grant Daigle, Cowardly Lion; Quinn Kelch, Scarecrow; and Patrick Fitzgerald, an Oz guard, rehearse “Jitterbug.”

    ‘Wizard of Oz’ coming to St. Anne’s Community Theater
    By Anna Boratyn
    St. Anne's Community Theater in Barrington will perform "The Wizard of Oz," the organization's 15th production, the next two weekends.

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    Catbirds spend most of their time in dense thickets, but their weakness for grape jelly can draw them into the open.

    For birders, the beauty’s in the find not the flash
    By Jeff Reiter
    True birders know it's not all about color and flash. Some of our favorite birds may appear rather plain, but they possess other qualities that make them appealing. Our Jeff Reiter has always liked the catbird. It's gray. And with a little jelly in his backyard bird feeder, he has had the chance to see this beauty up close.

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    Blake Sunderlage, 14 of Genoa gets ready to sell his 1,265-pound steer during the 4-H auction on the final day of the 2011 Kane County Fair in St. Charles. Sunderlage sold his prizewinning steer for $1.65 per pound.

    4-H competitions stay strong at the Kane County Fair
    By Hailey Czarnecki
    The Kane County 4-H organization branches from the University of Illinois Extension program. Every year, members compete at the Kane County Fair to win awards. Doris Braddock, a 4-H community worker, said Kane County 4-H competitions have been around longer than the fair itself. Many families pass this tradition down to each generation.

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    Mike Bujalka takes a break from running the dart game to put his head in a spray mist during the first day of the Kane County Fair last year. He works for Fantasy Amusements.

    New shows, acts add flair to Kane County Fair
    By Hailey Czarnecki
    For 144 years, the Kane County Fair and Festival has brought families together to enjoy five days of entertainment and excitement. Larry Breon, Kane County Fairgrounds president, said many people come to "get their carnival food fix," but they stay for the other attractions, which include amusement rides, shows, music and competitions.

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    Sylvester Stallone, left, star of the film "Daylight," arrives at the film's world premiere with his girlfriend Jennifer Flavin, center, and his son Sage Stallone, who co-stars in the film, in Hollywood district of Los Angeles. A publicist for Sylvester Stallone says the actor's son, Sage Stallone has died on Friday, July 13, at age 36.

    Cause elusive in death of Stallone son in LA home
    Associated Press
    There were no signs of foul play or trauma in the death of Sage Stallone, whose sudden passing at the age of 36 left his father Sylvester Stallone devastated, a publicist and investigators said. Sage Stallone was found unresponsive in his Los Angeles home Friday by an employee and a relative, and police arrived and confirmed Sage Stallone was dead, Assistant Chief Coroner Ed Winter said.

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    This photo shows Kent Couch in 2008 lifting off from his gas station in Bend, Ore., riding a lawn chair rigged with more than 150 giant party balloons for a flight that ended 235 miles away in an Idaho farm field. Oregon's "lawn-chair balloonist" has put off his flight in Iraq until next year. Couch had planned another balloon flight Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2011 in Baghdad along with Iraqi daredevil Fareed Lafta. But a statement Monday from spokesman Mark Knowles says the two have delayed the flight until March to accommodate a number of groups that want to use it to raise awareness of the plight of Iraqi orphans.

    Ore. man prepares tandem lawn chair balloon launch
    Associated Press
    BEND, Ore. — An Oregon gas station owner is preparing to fly aboard a pair of lawn chairs suspended from helium-filled party balloons across Oregon and Idaho and into Montana with an Iraqi adventurer by his side.Kent Couch plans to lift off from his Shell station in Bend, Ore., Saturday morning with Fareed Lafta, who contacted Couch after reading of his earlier exploits.

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    Visa, MasterCard in $6B settlement over card fees
    Associated Press
    NEW YORK — Visa, MasterCard and major banks agreed to pay retailers at least $6 billion to settle a long-running lawsuit that alleged the card issuers conspired to fix the fees that stores pay to accept credit cards. As part of the settlement, announced late Friday, stores from Rite Aid to Kroger will be allowed to charge customers more if they pay using a credit card.

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    Shane Oldfield a pilot for the Utah Highway Patrol speaks about the search for and rescue of lost hiker 28-year-old William Martin LaFever of Colorado Springs, Colo. Friday, July 13, 2012 in Salt Lake City. The father of a 28-year-old autistic man who barely survived three weeks in remote southern Utah says his son was an experienced mountaineer but was out of his element in the harsh desert.

    Autistic man survives 3-week ordeal in Utah desert
    Associated Press
    SALT LAKE CITY — The father of a 28-year-old autistic man who barely survived three weeks in remote southern Utah says his son was an experienced mountaineer but was out of his element in the harsh desert.

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    Clinton in Egypt for first meeting with president
    CAIRO — U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham has arrived in Cairo for her first meeting with Egypt's Islamist president, Mohammed Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood, as the U.S. tries to help resolve a political crisis affecting the once-ironclad American ally.Clinton also plans talks with Egypt's military chief and the foreign minister.

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    President Barack Obama speaks during a campaign stop at the historic Fire Station No. 1, in downtown Roanoke, Va., Friday, July 13, 2012. Obama traveled to southwest Virginia to discuss choice in this election between two fundamentally different visions on how to grow the economy, create middle-class jobs and pay down the debt.

    Obama unrelenting on bashing Romney's job record
    Associated Press
    WOLFEBORO, N.H. — Mitt Romney insists that he stepped down from his private equity firm years earlier than federal records indicate, but President Barack Obama is more than a little skeptical and says his Republican rival has much to explain.

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    Quinn grants pardons to 42 people
    Associated Press
    CHICAGO — A Monmouth man who has been waiting seven years for a pardon from Illinois' governors has finally received one.Robert Pinney was one of 42 people pardoned Friday by Gov. Pat Quinn.Pinney was pardoned for acts taken at age 19 while attending Western Illinois University.

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    A Zestar apple tree planted this spring is starting to brown after producing fruit, while the apple trees on either side are still green at Kuipers Family Farm in Maple Park.

    Slim pickings for apple season
    By Brian Singer
    With a serious drought under way, many apple orchards are expecting sparse crops and small fruit this apple-picking season.

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    Water levels are down, and it is evident at Port of Blarney boat launch on Grass Lake Road near Antioch.

    Lakes, rivers also seeing problems because of heat and drought
    By Taylor Goldenstein and Lee Filas
    The same severe drought and scotching heat that has turned grass into straw and is killing your flowers is also playing havoc with bodies of water. That's particularly true in Lake County, which features numerous inland lakes and the Fox River and Chain O' Lakes, both major recreational waterways that attract boaters and fishermen from throughout the region.

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    Cracked, dry ground is seen where a pond normally stands Wednesday on the property of Ray Mercer in Crossville in southern Illinois. Mercer said he had lived on the property more than 50 years and this was the second time the pond had dried up.

    What the drought has done to corn
    By Susan Sarkauskas
    Farmers might be giving up and cutting drought-damaged cornstalks in southern Illinois as the high heat and lack of mosture stopped corn from forming ears and pollinating. But a Kane County farmer said this area might yet pull through, albeit with reduced yields.

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    DuPage: Storm cleanup bill hits $3.1 million
    By Robert Sanchez
    DuPage County officials estimate cleanup costs related to the powerful July 1 storm will be at least $3.1 million. But that amount falls significantly short of the $17.3 million threshold the county needed to reach to qualify for federal assistance. As a result, municipalities, townships and park districts in DuPage will be left paying the bill for their cleanup efforts.

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    Work continued in Glenview Friday at the site of the July 4 train derailment that collapsed the railroad viaduct at Shermer Road. Union Pacific Railroad poured a temporary gravel bridge with tracks running over it until the bridge can be rebuilt.

    Glenview train derailment meeting Monday
    By Madhu Krishnamurthy
    Crews Friday morning removed the last remnants of rail car parts from the site of the July 4 Union Pacific Railroad freight train derailment in Glenview.

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    McHenry 1st, DuPage 3rd in rate of uninsured kids, report says
    By Elena Ferrarin
    A recent report on health care coverage shows that McHenry and DuPage counties have among the highest percentages of uninsured children in Illinois. Nearly 2,220 children younger than age 18 living in McHenry County — or 10.9 percent of the county's children — don't have health insurance, the highest percentage among the state's 102 counties, according to "At a Crossroad: A Report on...

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    This undated photo of a painting provided by the Bangiya Vigyan Parishad or the Bengal Science Society in Kolkata, India shows Indian scientist Satyendranath Bose. While much of the world was celebrating the international cooperation that led to last week’s breakthrough in identifying the existence of the Higgs boson particle, many in India were smarting over what they saw as a slight against one of their greatest scientists. Media covering the story gave lots of credit to British physicist Peter Higgs for theorizing the elusive subatomic “God particle,” but little was said about Satyendranath Bose, the Indian after whom the boson is named.

    India: Enough about Higgs, let’s discuss the boson
    Associated Press
    NEW DELHI — While much of the world was celebrating the international cooperation that led to last week’s breakthrough in identifying the existence of the Higgs boson particle, many in India were smarting over what they saw as a slight against one of their greatest scientists.

Sports

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    Drone, Rush outmatch Mustangs
    Special to the Daily Herald
    In his second start of the season, quarterback Luke Drone settled in quick to direct the Chicago Rush to its tenth victory of the year Saturday night in Milwaukee. On the strength of his 7-touchdown effort, the Rush (10-7) defeated the Milwaukee Mustangs 57-54 in front of 6,284 at the BMO Harris Bradley Center.

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    Fire changes for the better
    By Orrin Schwarz
    The Fire showed Saturday how it has changed since 2011. Last year the Fire would have given up a late goal and added to its record number of ties. This year the Fire, playing shorthanded the last 21 minutes, showed the character to finish off a 1-0 victory against Vancouver in front of 16,820 fans at Toyota Park.

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    Complete effort powers Boomers
    Special to the Daily Herald
    A day after the first 0-inning complete game in Schaumburg Boomers history, Matt Kuna and the Boomers bullpen did not allow an earned run in a 6-2 victory over the Normal CornBelters on Saturday at Boomers Stadium. The first-place Boomers (31-19) raced out to a 3-run lead in the first, hit a franchise record 3 home runs to knock off the CornBelters (16-32) and set the stage for a chance at the sweep today.

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    Trapp’s big night washes out Whitecaps
    Special to the Daily Herald
    Justin Trapp's 3-for-5 performance at the plate, which included a towering leadoff home run to left field in the fifth inning, was enough for the Kane County Cougars as the hosts grabbed the first in a three-game series 6-4 Saturday evening at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark in Geneva.

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    White Sox starting pitcher Jake Peavy talks with catcher Tyler Flowers Saturday during the seventh inning.

    Escobar hits 2 HRs to lead Royals past White Sox
    Associated Press
    White Sox starter Jake Peavy figured he threw a good pitch to Alcides Escobar in the third inning, when the Royals shortstop took him deep. It was just the wrong pitch at the time. The seventh inning was a different matter entirely. "The pitch to him later in the game, there's no excuse for that," Peavy said of Escobar's solo homer, which broke a 3-all tie Saturday night.

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    Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen is greeted by his teammates at the dugout Saturday after he hit a two-run home run off Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Marco Estrada during the third inning in Milwaukee.

    McCutchen homers again as Pirates beat Brewers 6-4
    Associated Press
    Andrew McCutchen hit a two-run shot for his fourth homer in the last three games and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Milwaukee Brewers 6-4 on Saturday night.

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    Ioya Bigtime strides to victory in the Stars and Stripes at Arlington Park on Saturday with Jeffrey Sanchez up.

    Million Preview a rich treat
    By Mike Spellman
    If this is what Million Preview Day is like, what the heck will they do for an encore come Arlington Million Day? How is this for an afternoon which featured four Grade III stakes worth a total of $750,000: the first three featured a margin of victory of a neck or less and the final one — the Stars and Stripes — saw Ioya Bigtime, from the Chris Block stable, pay a whopping $84 to win.

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    Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher David Price takes a moment on the mound Saturday after his throwing error allowed the Boston Red Sox’s Cody Ross to score from third base during the sixth inning in St. Petersburg, Fla.

    Price beats Red Sox, is AL’s first 12-game winner
    Associated Press
    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — David Price outpitched Clay Buchholz and the Tampa Bay Rays scored twice in the seventh inning without a hit for a 5-3 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Saturday night.Price (12-4) allowed three runs and six hits in 7 1-3 innings to become the first 12-game winner in the American League.Buchholz (8-3) pitched well in his first start in more than three weeks, taking a 3-2 lead into the seventh before walking the first batter and hitting the next.Hideki Matsui was walked intentionally to load the bases with one out, and the Rays pulled even when pinch-hitter Jose Lobaton drew a walk from reliever Matt Albers.Elliot Johnson’s sacrifice fly gave Tampa Bay a 4-3 lead.

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    The Miami Marlins’ Emilio Bonifacio, right, is greeted at home plate by Mark Buehrle after Bonifacio scored on a base hit by John Buck Saturday during the fifth inning in Miami. The Marlins won 2-1.

    Buehrle pitches Marlins to 2-1 win over Nationals
    Associated Press
    Mark Buehrle pitched seven innings and the Miami Marlins beat the Washington Nationals 2-1 Saturday night.

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    The Baltimore Orioles’ Taylor Teagarden watches his 2-run, game-winning home run Saturday during the 13th inning against the Detroit Tigers in Baltimore. Baltimore won 8-6.

    Orioles beat Tigers 8-6 in 13 innings
    Associated Press
    A crazy, back-and-forth duel that began in daylight and ended well after nightfall was decided by a slump-ridden shortstop and a veteran making his season debut.

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    Minnesota Twins right fielder Ben Revere can’t get a handle on the ball off the wall on a double by the Oakland Athletics’ Yoenis Cespedes Saturday during the first inning.

    Carter sparks A’s power surge in 9-3 win over Twins
    Associated Press
    hris Carter and Yoenis Cespedes each homered and drove in three runs, powering the Oakland Athletics past the Minnesota Twins 9-3 on Saturday night

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    Troy Matteson hits his second shot on the 18th hole on his way to a 3-stroke lead entering the final round of the John Deere Classic at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Ill.

    Crowd-pleasing finale in store at Deere Classic
    By Len Ziehm
    As far as the multitudes of fans pouring into the John Deere Classic are concerned, the leaderboard couldn't be any better than this for today's final round. Steve Stricker, going for an historic fourth straight title, is in the final twosome. Iowa resident Zach Johnson, a long-time tournament board member who has spurred the JDC's popularity among PGA Tour players, will be playing just in front of him. The only trouble is, Troy Matteson owns a 3-stroke lead and shows no signs of giving it up in the lone PGA Tour stop in Illinois in 2012.

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    Atlanta Braves right fielder Jason Heyward follows through with an RBI single to give the Braves the lead Saturday during the eighth inning in Atlanta. New York Mets catcher Josh Thole looks on. Atlanta held on to win 8-7.

    Heyward keys 3-run 8th, Braves win 6th in a row
    Associated Press
    Jason Heyward singled to cap a three-run rally and the Atlanta Braves took advantage after the umpires reversed a call, beating the New York Mets 8-7 Saturday for their sixth straight win.

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    Cincinnati Reds catcher Devin Mesoraco tags out the St. Louis Cardinals’ Skip Schumaker at home Saturday during the seventh inning in Cincinnati. Cincinnati won 3-2 in 10 innings.

    Ludwick’s HR sends Reds over Cards 3-2 in 10th
    Associated Press
    Ryan Ludwick homered in the 10th inning and the Cincinnati Reds beat the St. Louis Cardinals 3-2 on Saturday for their fifth straight win.

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    Bradley Wiggins, wearing the overall leader’s yellow jersey, rides in the pack Saturday during the 13th stage of the Tour de France.

    Germany’s Greipel wins stage 13 of Tour de France
    Associated Press
    Andre Greipel of Germany led a photo-finish sprint to win the 13th stage of the Tour de France on Saturday, while Britain's Bradley Wiggins retained the overall leader's yellow jersey as the race headed south to the Mediterranean.

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    The statue of former Penn State football coach Joe Paterno should remain standing but with the head twisted backward so that Paterno is looking the other way like he did concerning Jerry Sandusky’s atrocities, according to Mike Imrem.

    Joe Paterno symbolizes hypocrisy of college football
    By Mike Imrem
    University presidents recently approved a playoff system that will grow college football even larger. Don't they see any connection between the symptom that is Joe Paterno and the disease that the sport has become?

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    Brad Keselowski celebrates in victory lane after Saturday winning the NASCAR Nationwide Series auto race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, N.H.

    Keselowski wins Nationwide race with late charge
    Associated Press
    Brad Keselowski has won the Nationwide race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. The pole-sitter passed Kevin Harvick with about 21 laps left in the 200-lap race on the one-mile oval when Harvick got caught in traffic with Amber Cope, who was 30 laps down.

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    The New York Yankees’ Chris Stewart (19) greets Curtis Granderson at home plate Saturday after Granderson hit a two-run home run off Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Jerome Williams in the third inning at Yankee Stadium in New York. The Yankees won 5-3.

    Cano, Granderson homer, lead Yanks over Angels
    Associated Press
    Be it Robinson Cano, Curtis Granderson or Mark Teixeira. Or even Nick Swisher, Raul Ibanez or Eric Chavez. Up and down their lineup, the Yankees pose quite a dilemma for even the best pitchers these days. It's hard to pitch around a homer-happy ballclub that's in a groove.

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    Bernhard Langer reacts after a birdie putt on the 15th hole Saturday during the third round at the U.S. Senior Open at Indianwood Golf and Country Club in Lake Orion, Mich.

    Bernhard Langer leads US Senior Open by 4 shots
    Associated Press
    Bernhard Langer has surged into the lead at the U.S. Senior Open. Langer shot a 6-under 64 on Saturday to move to 10 under for the tournament, putting him ahead by four strokes.

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    Toronto Blue Jays closer Casey Janssen, left, is congratulated by catcher J.P. Arencibia Saturday after defeating the Cleveland Indians 11-9 in Toronto.

    Encarnacion hits 2 HRs as Blue Jays beat Indians
    Associated Press
    It wasn't just one thing that went wrong Saturday for Cleveland pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez, it was everything. Edwin Encarnacion hit two home runs, Yunel Escobar also went deep and the Toronto Blue Jays used an eight-run third inning to beat the Indians 11-9.

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    Cubs’ Rizzo smooth as velvet with glove
    By Bruce Miles
    Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo came up last month with a reputation as a good hitter. But he's also showing that he's quite the smooth fielder around the first-base bag. He was involved in 3 double plays in Saturday's 4-1 vicotry over Arizona, starting 2 of them.

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    Cubs reluctant sellers in trade market
    By Bruce Miles
    The Cubs definitely will be "sellers" as the July 31 trading deadline approaches. That's what happens when a team has a record of 35-52. General manager Jed Hoyer said it's not a good position to be in, but that he expects trade-talk activity to pick up.

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    Chicago Cubs starter Ryan Dempster throws against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the third inning of a baseball game in Chicago, Saturday, July 14, 2012. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

    Cubs’ Dempster the consummate pro
    By Bruce Miles
    Every time Ryan Dempster takes the mound for the Cubs, it might be his last time. Dempster turned in another gem Saturday, pitching 6 scoreless innings during a 4-1 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks. Despite being mentioned in several trade rumors, Dempster said his focus remains on the Cubs, for whom he has been the face of the franchise for most of the past decade.

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    Associated Press Watching the Cubs’ Anthony Rizzo at the plate is “pure fun and makes the decades spent ingesting endless baseball visuals feel somewhat useful,” according to Matt Spiegel.

    Relishing the Anthony Rizzo show
    By Matt Spiegel
    After having seen enough ballplayers over the years, everyone reminds you of someone. And when it comes to Anthony Rizzo's swing, Cubs fans are having fun trying to connect the dots as to which player he reminds them of the most. While Matt Spiegel has several views of his own, and others from fans to share, he's most thankful that now there are at least two great hitters to watch on the Cubs.

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    Cubs second baseman Darwin Barney scores on a single hit by Luis Valbuena as Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Miguel Montero looks down Saturday during the fourth inning at Wrigley Field.

    Dempster’s shutout streak now 33 innings with win
    Associated Press
    Ryan Dempster tied the Cubs' record with a 33-inning scoreless streak, pitching six solid frames and leading Chicago over the Arizona Diamondbacks 4-1 on Saturday. Dempster matched the club shutout streak set by Ken Holtzman in 1969.

Business

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    An aerial view of the London 2012 Olympics summer games BMX bike track in the Olympic Park. The games come as England struggles to regain a robust economy.

    Analysts to cut Britain’s GDP forecast
    Bloomberg News
    The U.K. economy won't grow this year as damage from the euro-area debt crisis overshadows a pickup in consumer spending in the second half, the Ernst & Young Item Club will say.

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    Associated Press Voting ballots are collected Tuesday at the Research in Motion Annual General Meeting in Waterloo, Ontario. Analysts believe RIM is running out of time to turn itself around.

    Blackberry maker loses patent suit
    Associated Press
    A federal jury in San Francisco has found beleaguered Blackberry maker Research in Motion Ltd. liable for $147.2 million in damages for infringing on patents held by Mformation Technologies Inc.

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    Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada listens Thursday during a news conference on Capitol Hill to discuss the Senate’s upcoming vote on the Small Business Jobs and Tax Relief Act.

    Senate Democrats offer alternative tax plan
    Bloomberg News
    Senate Democrats are seeking to set the top tax rate on dividends at 23.8 percent, almost 20 percentage points lower than the proposal offered by President Barack Obama in his budget.

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    Chicago Tribune suspends use of Journatic content
    By Eric Peterson
    The Chicago Tribune says it has indefinitely suspended its use of local news content provider Journatic after discovering plagiarized and fabricated material in one of its stories.

  •  
    Netflix is more popular among couch potatoes than investors a year after its polarizing decision to raise U.S. prices for video subscription services.The unexpected twist that Netflix unveiled a year ago Thursday triggered mass customer cancellations and a sell-off in its stock, which has wiped out more than $11 billion in shareholder wealth.

    A year after price hike, Netflix still struggling
    Associated Press
    Netflix is more popular among couch potatoes than investors a year after its polarizing decision to raise U.S. prices for video subscription services. Netflix has bounced back in the year after its disastrous price hike announcement to revive its subscriber growth. But even after a recent rally, its stock remains more than 70 percent below its peak price of nearly $305 about a year ago.

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    Netflix on anniversary of price hike
    Associated Press
    Thursday marked one year since Netflix announced an unpopular price increase in the U.S. It has bounced back this year to revive its subscriber growth, though its stock remains down from its peak about a year ago. Here's a look at the developments over the past year.

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    FILE - In this April 28, 2011 photo, a customer holds an iPhone at the Apple store on New York's Upper West Side. Apple Inc., the worldís most valuable company, on Tuesday, April 24, 2012 trumped skeptics once again by reporting blow-out iPhone sales. Apple says it sold 35 million iPhones in the quarter, almost twice as many as it sold a year ago and above analyst expectations. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

    Judge: Sending live TV to iPhone not a copyright violation
    Associated Press
    A startup company can continue to send live TV programming to iPhones and other mobile devices in the city despite objections from major broadcasters that say expansion can threaten the free broadcasting of events such as the Super Bowl, a judge ruled Wednesday. The company, Aereo, expects the broadcast companies, including Fox, ABC, CBS and NBC, to appeal the ruling.

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    Video game sales down for 7th straight month
    Associated Press
    A new report says U.S. retail sales of videogame hardware, software and accessories fell for a seventh consecutive month. The top-selling game was "Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes," from Time Warner Inc.'s Warner Bros. Interactive.

  •  
    U.S. Olympic swim team member Kara Lynn Joyce checks her phone between practice laps Thursday at the University of Tennessee’s Allan Jones Aquatic Center. NBC is offering two free mobile apps for the London Games.

    NBC launches 2 apps to watch the Olympics
    Associated Press
    NBC launched two mobile apps that will let people watch Olympics events as they happen, look up athlete profiles and access other extra content on their iPads, iPhones and certain Android devices.

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    After Apple withdrew from an environmental ratings registry called EPEAT, San Francisco decided to stop buying its computers. The decision doesn’t apply to iPhones or iPads, but a mayor spokesman said the city’s rules require that laptops, computers and monitors comply with the registry’s requirements. Apple did not respond for comment for this story.

    San Francisco stops buying Apple computers
    Associated Press
    Apple's withdrawal from an environmental ratings registry has prompted at least one city — San Francisco — to stop buying its computers.

  •  
    A screenshot of the website Pottermore. One million fans who were able to solve riddles and find a Magical Quill have had a chance to try out Pottermore for nearly a year. The rest of us, the magic-free Muggles, had to wait until it opened to the general public this spring.

    Books and movies are over, but Potter magic lives online
    By Anick Jesdanun
    Shortly before the Harry Potter saga came to an end on movie screens a year ago, we were teased with more adventures about the young wizard through a website called Pottermore. Although the website struggles to engage adults as much as kids, it offers a retelling of, so far, the first book and part of the second. There are several features all ages can enjoy.

  •  
    Two women stand in a lift near an advertisement board in Beijing’s Central Business District on Wednesday. China’s latest economic data indicate a deepening slowdown that is adding to pressure on communist leaders to revive growth and avert job losses and political tensions.

    China’s economic slump not good for Asia or US
    Associated Press
    China's economic slump is its deepest since the 2008 global crisis and could hurt Chinese demand for imported oil, iron ore and industrial components. That could dent hopes abroad that a robust China will drive global sales at a time of anemic demand in the United States and debt-crippled Europe.

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    Dropbox to expand storage space for same price
    Associated Press
    Online storage company Dropbox is offering more space to its paying customers. Services like Dropbox let people store their ever-growing trove of photos, music and videos online instead of on their computers.

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    How BlackBerries and PlayBooks stack up to iPhones and iPads
    Associated Press
    On Tuesday, Research in Motion Ltd. held its annual shareholders meeting as its BlackBerry devices continue to lose market share to rivals, such as Apple's iPhone.

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    Investors upset over next BlackBerry’s late launch
    Associated Press
    Research in Motion Ltd. faced disgruntled investors Tuesday, less than two weeks after announcing yet another delay to its upcoming BlackBerry 10 system, which the company considers crucial to its future. It's now expected in the first quarter of next year, rather than late this year.

  •  
    The iPad is taking over the space Walter Cronkite used to for many Americans. Unlike their younger counterparts, who read news on smartphones and check headlines throughout the day, adults over 35 read news on their iPad at home, after 5 p.m. Presumably, they read longer stories and investigative pieces, which some feared would go extinct in the Internet age. Sixty percent of tablet owners say they prefer reading news on the tablet than in a newspaper.

    The iPad is replacing evening news
    By Will Oremus
    Old people love to read the news on the iPad. So says a new study by the Reynolds Journalism Institute, which finds that while youngsters like to read the news on their phones, adults in the ancient 35-and-up demographic favor large-media tablets. And while the smartphone crowd checks headlines throughout the day, half of those who prefer tablets do the bulk of their news reading at home, after 5 p.m.

  •  
    Consumers and businesses have been buying fewer PCs during the past two years amid the growing popularity of smartphones and tablet computers such as Apple’s iPad.

    PC sales fall in U.S. thanks to economy, iPads
    Associated Press
    Personal computer sales sagged during the spring as shifting technology trends, upcoming product releases and a shaky economy dampened demand for the machines currently on the market. The second-quarter decline in the U.S. ranged from 6 percent to 11 percent compared with the same time last year, according to two reports.

Life & Entertainment

  •  
    Woody James

    10 finalists make the cut in Suburban Chicago's Got Talent
    By Scott C. Morgan
    Ten finalists for Suburban Chicago's Got Talent have been named and chosen by the competition's panel of judges and the online voting public. The next competition round is scheduled for 7 p.m. Sunday, July 22, at the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre in Arlington Heights.

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    Remember, a kid is still a kid when it comes to communicating
    By Ken Potts
    Kids don't think like adults, no matter how precocious they seem.Our Ken Potts warns it is tempting for parents to assume that once our children acquire the verbal skills to carry on an intelligent conversation, we can begin to relate to them as though they also can think intelligently.

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    A vendor barbecues chicken Wednesday at the Taste of Chicago.

    Taste of Chicago struggles as revenues dwindle
    Associated Press
    Chicago’s showcase summer festival, Taste of Chicago, is struggling to find a new identity amid dwindling revenues and more choices for cash-strapped residents and visitors.The 32-year-old food festival, which draws millions of people to Grant Park each July, used to be Chicago’s premier event bringing together restaurants from around the city. But after financial losses the past three years, organizers made the Taste shorter and smaller, and are charging for concerts. The moves come even as new events pop up across the U.S. and other festivals report record attendance.It’s not yet clear how the changes will affect the Taste’s success. But for Kathy Davis, who has been attending for 20 years, this year’s event lacked the large crowds, fireworks and high-profile entertainment she remembered.“It’s a little disheartening,” said 44-year-old Davis of Bartlett.Meanwhile, other festivals across the country are doing well. Los Angeles and Austin both had successful inaugural food and wine festivals last year. The Taste of Philadelphia has expanded, adding more space, food trucks and another stage for entertainment. The Hawaii Food & Wine Festival donated $250,000 to charities after the event in 2011.Taste of Chicago has lost $2.7 million in the last three years, officials say. This year, the city tried to cut some losses by selling 15,000 concert tickets at $25 each; more than 7,000 tickets still were available on opening day. The festival moved from July Fourth weekend to a week later and was cut from 10 days to five. It features 40 vendors, down from nearly 60.The Taste’s well-established brand is one of its greatest assets, but that might also be holding it back, experts say.“Chicago is the granddaddy of them all,” said Ira Rosen, North American director of the International Festivals and Events Association. “Maybe it has suffered from its success. People say, ‘Been there, done that. What’s new? What’s different?’ If they’ve not kept that cutting edge, it’s going to hurt.”At its peak in 2006 and 2007, the event saw 3.6 million visitors. But last year, it drew 2.3 million visitors, down 11 percent from 2010. In addition to the most recent adjustments, the expensive annual fireworks show was axed two years ago, something officials cite as one reason attendance dropped.City officials don’t yet have a tally for this year’s opening day, which was Wednesday, though they said they hoped to make the event more cost-effective. They won’t know how the changes have impacted the festival until after it’s over and five-day attendance and revenue numbers are calculated.The city, with a budget deficit of more than $600 million, spends $6.8 million on the Taste of Chicago, though it has some corporate sponsorships and hopes to make all its money back. The festival also leads to more than $80 million in additional spending in the city, said city spokeswoman Cindy Gatziolis.In other cities, nonprofit organizations or event management companies run similar festivals. But when Chicago asked for private bids in 2010, just one company offered a plan. Taste also faces competition from numerous other Chicago festivals, ranging from neighborhood events to big music festivals such as Lollapalooza, which is funded and produced by a private company. Gatziolis declined to comment on the possibility of the city handing the reins to someone else, adding that the city works hard to preserve the free admission and low prices.Charging admission might make Chicago’s event safer, some festival goers said. In 2008, one person was killed and three people were injured during a shooting after the July 3 fireworks show. Though crowds might be smaller, they would be easier to manage.“I would pay a small one, like $5 or $10 maybe,” said Scott Reierstad, a 34-year-old from Rolling Meadows.

  •  
    Courtesy of McDonald's Corporation McDonald's First Store Museum

    5 great things to do when 'there's nothing to do'
    By Max Filby
    Finding something fun and affordable for everyone to do during the summer isn't as difficult as families might think. Local, one-day getaways can be fun while also allowing families to hold on to their money for bigger trips during the summer.

  •  
    In this photo provided by the New York mayor’s office, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, center, stands with Amanda Burden, left, department of city planning director, and Commissioner Mathew Wambua, department of housing preservation and development, in the kitchenette area of a full-scale mock-up of a 300-square-foot-apartment on Monday in New York. The city is asking developers to propose ways to build such tiny units in the hopes of changing city code to accommodate cash-strapped singles and couples.

    Tiny apartments could help New York’s space shortage
    Associated Press
    Maybe it's the urban dwelling of the future: studio apartments measuring no more than 300 square feet. New York City planners think the tiny units could be the answer to a growing population of singles and two-person households. And in a nation that's becoming increasingly populous and increasingly urbanized — and where people more frequently are creating a family of one — such downsizing may not stop here.

  •  
    Kevin MacKenzie starts a slide climb July 7 on Cascade Mountain in the Adirondacks on rock that was cleared of soil and vegetation from last summer’s torrential rains in Keene, N.Y. Having walked up all 46 of the Adirondacks higher peaks in both summer and winter, most with marked trails on their forested slopes, MacKenzie said he has also climbed about 75 of the slides.

    Flooding created new routes up old Adirondacks
    Associated Press
    The gash of brown rock rises amid thick green hardwood forest on Cascade Mountain, making a wide new alternate route up one of the most popular peaks in the Adirondacks.

  •  
    A wax model of Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama is displayed in the windows of Louis Vuitton’s flagship Fifth Avenue store in New York on Tuesday, part of a collaborative collection by Kusama and Vuitton creative director Marc Jacobs.

    Marc Jacobs, Yayoi Kusama collaborate on dotted fashion line
    Associated Press
    French fashion house Louis Vuitton is again putting a bit of Japanese culture on the arms of its customers. The brand, best known for leather goods, formally unveiled a new collection on Tuesday created in collaboration between Yayoi Kusama and Louis Vuitton creative director Marc Jacobs. The theme is bold, graphic polka dots — a signature of the artist — offered in a frenzied series of sizes and colors.

  •  
    Volunteer code enforcement officer Joyce Case removes a sign from the roadway. Case has volunteered to help find code violations.

    Overworked city code enforcers find volunteers
    Associated Press
    Tamara Schenke could use some help enforcing city codes requiring the residents of Belton, Mo., to maintain the appearance of their property, so she found some citizen volunteers. "They jump on it," she said. "They want to see their neighborhood cleaned up."

  •  
    Los Angeles Police Officer Jim Cherrette holds a temperature record stick July 2 in Los Angeles to demonstrate how hot a closed car can get. Good Samaritans, temperature guns and tougher laws are the newest tools in the campaign to keep animals out of hot cars, where just minutes can mean death. More calls are coming in about overheated dogs — and officials say that’s a good thing, because more people are aware of the problem and calling before it’s too late.

    Cops keeping dogs out of hot cars
    Associated Press
    Good Samaritans, temperature guns and tougher laws are the newest tools in the campaign to keep animals out of hot cars, where just minutes can mean death. Although a car's temperature can increase 34 degrees in 30 minutes, most people who leave a dog in a car do so out of convenience and have no ill intent. "It's more a crime of negligence than malice," an LAPD officer said.

  •  
    First lady Michelle Obama and White House chef Sam Kass taste food in Dallas on Feb. 10. The White House staff is spilling details about Obama family life, from the first family’s fitness regime to their eating habits. White House chef Sam Kass and personal trainer Cornell McClellan answered questions about working for the Obamas as they read to more than 100 children Wednesday at the Department of Education.

    Staffers say Obamas exercise, eat vegetables
    Associated Press
    The White House staff is spilling details about Obama family life, from the first family's fitness regime to their eating habits. White House chef Sam Kass said the first family has fun with a pizza or burger, but "we have some very balanced meals."

  •  

    Why women get morning sickness and how to cure it
    By Jesse Bering
    The longstanding Hook-Profet hypothesis claims that morning sickness is adaptive and helps pregnant women avoid meat and vegetables, which could potentially harm the fetus or carry bacteria. But new research challenges that idea and claims morning sickness is a result of the body thinking the fetus is a foreign body.

  •  
    Rule No. 1: Limit children’s sun exposure between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

    30 real and fake tips for keeping kids safe
    By Lenore Skenazy
    You know how important it is for your children to avoid all swimming pools, playgrounds, lakes, camps, parks, bugs, balls, hoses, horses, exercise, soap bubbles, sunbeams, sand, sugar and, of course, other children. If you are still considering allowing your child to play outdoors this summer, go right ahead, you risk junkie! But first, heed these tips. Some were gleaned from reliable sources, others I might have made up. It makes sense to take some precautions, but can you tell the difference?

  •  
    Peloteros typically drop out of school around age 12 or 13. They spend their days practicing, training and occasionally escaping the sun.

    Film documents seedy recruiting of Dominican ballplayers
    By David Malitz
    Baseball may be America's pastime, but it's something even bigger in the Dominican Republic — one of the few chances for impoverished teenagers and their families to strike it rich. The tiny nation has become a baseball factory in recent decades, producing roughly 20 percent of the players in the major and minor leagues. The sometimes shady process of recruiting Dominican teens to play in the majors is shown in the documentary "Ballplayer: Pelotero."

  •  

    Condo Talk: Board should draft a water leak policy
    Q. An owner recently called the board, complaining of water leaking into his unit. The association hired a plumber, who inspected the unit, repaired a leaking p-trap under a bathroom sink, and sent the association a hefty bill.

  •  
    Singer David Cassidy headlines at 9:30 p.m. Saturday, July 14, at the annual Des Plaines Summer Fling festival.

    Weekend picks: Get ready to swoon, David Cassidy fans
    By Scott Morgan and Laura Stewart
    Get ready David Cassidy fans: The singer and 1970s teen idol headlines the annual Des Plaines Summer Fling at 9:30 p.m. Saturday. Work from nearly 100 juried fine artists will be on display this weekend at the Naperville Woman's Club's annual Art Fair. The Taste of Chicago continues this weekend; Chaka Khan headlines the Petrillo Music Shell Saturday. In the mood for a rodeo? Then head to the 49th Annual IPRA Wauconda Rodeo today and Sunday.

  •  
    This home brick and cedar colonial home in Algonquin’s Tunbridge subdivision was built in 1993.

    Home in Algonquin’s Tunbridge neighborhood
    By Jean Murphy
    Algonquin's highly sought-after Tunbridge subdivision with its golf course and wetlands views is the location of this outstanding brick and cedar colonial, built in 1993. Professionally-landscaped and decorated, this home is in pristine condition with lots of custom detailing, including a turret.

  •  
    Most Geneva Home Works customers like the transitional look, which is a blend of traditional and contemporary styles.

    Transitional style is popular in home furnishings
    By Jean Murphy
    The transitional look, which is a blend of traditional and contemporary styles, is popular at Geneva Home Works in West Chicago, where customers mix and match new furnishings with family pieces and items made from different woods and finishes.

  •  
    “The Bronze Fonz,” a statue in the image of the character The Fonz, played by Henry Winkler in the 1970s series “Happy Days,” along the Milwaukee Riverwalk.

    5 free things to enjoy in Milwaukee
    Associated Press
    Beer is still a big deal in Milwaukee despite the fact that most of the large breweries that once called it home have long since moved elsewhere. There are restaurants that brew their own beer, beer gardens (which are patios on which to drink beer), beer tastings and brewery tours. How could some of the free things in the city NOT be related to beer? Believe it or not, there are a few other fun things as well.

  •  
    Vessel sinks sit on top of the counter and come in all materials and shapes. This Native Trails vanity features a stainless steel vessel that contrasts with the bamboo base with glass shelf.

    Make sure that fancy new vanity is a fit for your bathroom
    By Christine Bockelman
    There's a lot more to choosing a bathroom vanity than you might think. Pedestal sinks are pretty, popular and don't take up much valuable floor space. However, the downside is they don't offer much space for storing bathroom essentials like toilet paper and extra hand towels.

  •  

    Mortgage professor: Financial crisis hits reverse mortgages hard An industry at the crossroads
    A reverse mortgage is a secured loan to an elderly homeowner on which the borrower's debt rises over time, but which need not be repaid until the borrower dies, sells the house or moves out permanently.

  •  

    Who is the manufacturer of this vase? How much is it worth?
    By Helaine Fendelman and Joe Rosson
    I am enclosing photos of a vase that is in mint condition with no chips or scratches. The glaze is flawless. It is 6¾ inches tall and the flower is painted on only one side. Would you have any idea who the manufacturer might be and the value?

  •  
    Moonshine yarrow will flower throughout the summer if spent flowers are deadheaded.

    Choose drought-tolerant perennials for hot, dry conditions
    By Diana Stoll
    With the excessive heat and lack of rainfall recently, it may seem nearly impossible to grow a lush, beautiful garden. But it is possible if you choose perennials that, once established, not only tolerate drought but thrive in these conditions.

  •  
    In this undated image released by air pod plant holders, New York-based ceramic artist Nicholas Newcombís earthenware air pod holders showcase Tillandsias in New York. (AP Photo/air pod plant holders, iloveairpods.com)

    Indoor plants create indoor artwork for owners
    By Kim Cook
    NewsOn the indoor gardening stage, plants such as peace lily, Boston fern and sansevieria are veterans, tried-and-true performers that require little fussing over. But there are scene changes afoot; new plants and ideas are making indoor gardening a more exciting show. So what's on the playbill?

  •  

    Older homes present obstacles for good insulating
    By Dwight Barnett
    I just bought a home and found out from one of the previous owners that it isn't insulated well on the exterior wall. The attic has been blown but is still hard to keep cool in the hot Louisiana summers. I plan on replacing the siding with the hardy board (cement board) siding in due time. I was still concerned about all the "vapor barrier" I have been hearing about.

  •  

    How to drop the agent who doesnt listen
    By Edith Lank
    We hit it off with a Realtor we met at an open house, and now she sends us daily multiple listings. We haven't been to any showings with her yet, but already we can tell she's not listening to what we keep asking for. We want to go with another agent from her same company, but can we do that?

Discuss

  •  

    The Soapbox
    The Daily Herald Editorial Board
    Editors write about super PACS in Illinois, the future of Bangs Lake, a very special veteran and where to find green in the suburbs in spite of the drought.

  •  

    Thanks for helping West Chicago weather storm damage
    A West Chicago letter to the editor: As West Chicago regroups from the events of the devastating storm of July 1 that wreaked havoc for tens of thousands of its residents, I want to recognize and deeply thank the many dedicated organizations and individuals who took swift action to respond to our crisis and support our recovery.

  •  

    Walsh’s strategy is loud obstructionism
    A Lake Zurich letter to the editor: As Congressman Joe Walsh once again clumsily struggles to remove his foot from his mouth, he continues to be emblematic of what is wrong with government and politics .

  •  

    Too many ‘bike days’ at skate park
    A Gurnee letter to the editor: I am writing to you because I think there are too many bike days at the Warren Township Skate Plaza.

  •  

    Mayor should face truth on Obama, Wright
    A Mundelein letter to the editor: Your paper ran another piece this week regarding Rahm Emanuel's refusal to meet with the Ricketts family to discuss changes at Wrigley Field.

  •  

    Taxpayers should know details of deal
    A Gurnee letter to the editor: Recently, one of the headlines in the Daily Herald pertained to a severance package worth $251,700 for Jeff Brierton who resigned shortly before he was to become the superintendent of Warren Township High School. Part of the agreement between him and the Warren District 121 school board also included keeping the details of the agreement strictly confidential.

  •  

    Marriage is legal contract
    A Lake Zurich letter to the editor: In response to Mr. Finnegan's letter published July 10, I must point out that marriage is a contract. The license is issued by the state, not the church.

  •  

    Thanks for support during blood drive
    A Mundelein letter to the editor: The Mundelein Fire Department "Summer Firefighter Challenge" blood drive totaled over 83 units of blood on July 7.

  •  

    So long, Margaret, and ... thank you
    Letters to the editor: Carole Dujmovic offers a loving tribute to her friend, Margaret Cadle, who retired from teaching at Wheeling High School after 49 years. "I'll add my thanks, Margaret for all you have taught so many of us along the pathway of this adventure we call "school" which ultimately becomes in many ways how we view life."

  •  

    Park district needs to halt the cash flow
    Letter to the editor: Brenda Smith of Mount Prospect compalins that the Mount Prospect Park District is spending money like water, and growing the disdtrict's bonded indebtedness over nice, but not critical projects. "Residents should ... demand full disclosure, and fiscal accountability from MPPD. We can't afford to allow them to fly under our radar," she writes.

  •  

    How soon we forget who is to blame
    A Rolling Meadows letter to the editor: This situation, not caused by responsible capitalism but by laissez-faire capitalism, had to be dealt with, but it was not President Obama who caused it.

  •  

    Democrats’ policies hurt middle class
    A Buffalo Grove letter to the editor: Illinois, through its liberal Democratic Party-controlled government, continues to increase state of Illinois' debt to $11 billion, institute job-killing policies that result in higher unemployment, and now wants to increase property taxes with the likelihood of cutting services to Illinois residents.

  •  

    Common courtesy will keep paths safe
    An Arlington Heights letter to the editor: Why do some people insist on being two and three abreast, taking up most of the path? There are even people who use the yellow line like it's leading them to the Emerald City.

  •  

    Credit for the largest tax hike ever
    A Mount Prospect letter to the editor: I'm just wondering if our congressmen and senators knew what they were voting for. Did they know they were voting for a tax hike and were just trying to deceive the public when they claimed it was just a fine?

  •  

    Let’s not pay for others’ birth control
    An Arlington Heights letter to the editor: From my point of view, what you state as your legal/moral right is more an issue of I want, what I want, when I want it. And, again, I don't want to pay for that.

  •  

    Teachers better off in Wisconsin than here
    A Rolling Meadows letter to the editor: The advice should have been for Illinois teachers to move to Wisconsin, because in Wisconsin there have not been layoffs of teachers, and the Wisconsin teachers will get their full pensions, unlike in Illinois.

  •  

    Obama majority not enjoyed by others
    An Addison letter to the editor: In a June 28 letter, Marie Harris dissects the congressional Democratic majority President Obama had during his first two years in office and claims he really did not have a majority. By doing so she implies that President Obama was dealt a bad congressional hand, and therefore could not pass his desired legislation.

  •  

    Anti-union stance, not money, kept Walker in office
    A Lombard letter to the editor: Will the billionaires of America who parted with millions of their dollars ever know that their money did not buy the election for Gov. Walker. They could've saved their millions. It was the anti-union sentiment of Wisconsin voters that kept Walker in office.

  •  

    Thanks for stand on gay marriage
    An Elgin letter to the editor: Thank you for the Gays and Marriage editorial of July 2; very thoughtful and articulate. I am thankful that the Daily Herald is providing a clear path to an equitable future for all citizens.

  •  

    Obamacare not the will of the people
    A Campton Hills letter to the editor: The June 29 staff editorial "Move beyond rancor on health care" made some assumptions that warrant closer examination. The editorial states that the president's health insurance law is actually an expression of the will of the people. Can a law represent the will of the people if neither the people nor their representatives knew what was written in the law?

  •  

    So much for our checks, balances
    An Elgin letter to the editor: On June 28, the sacred covenant between the people and their government was broken when the not-so-Supreme Court decided in a 5-4 decision to forsake the people and their guaranteed rights by ruling in favor of Obamacare and an overreaching out-of-control government. So much for the concept of checks and balances as the antidote for abuse of government power.

  •  

    Health care well down a fatal path
    A Glendale Heights letter to the editor: I recently read a book with an interesting title: "How Do You Kill 11 Million People?" by Andy Andrews. It was about the Holocaust. And that started me thinking about the new health care law.

  •  

    It’s about time the middle class wakes up
    A Lisle letter to the editor: Earlier this year when President Obama observed that the huge tax cuts for the wealthy were going to end next January, he added it's about time the very rich started paying their fair share. The Republicans complained that it sounded like Obama was trying to start a class war between the wealthy and the middle class. My reaction was, well, it's about time.

  •  

    Take advantage of new Harper series
    Letter to the editor: Mike Baker of the Schaumburg Autism Society draws atnetion to the Career Skills Institute and voacational classes at Harper College, aimed at special needs adults over the age of 18.

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