Daily Archive : Tuesday August 14, 2012

News

  •  

    Northwest suburbs plan Labor Day traffic crackdowns
    Daily Herald report
    Several Northwest suburban police departments have announced traffic crackdowns beginning Friday, Aug. 17 and running through the Labor Day holiday. The special enforcement efforts are funded with federal money administered through the Illinois Department of Transportation, and more than 200 Illinois law enforcement agencies are participating. Among local towns that have announced they are...

  •  
    Algonquin trustees took up the subject of video gambling on Tuesday night, and directed staff to draft an ordinance that, if approved, would allow businesses in town to apply for the state-issued licenses.

    Algonquin closer to video gambling
    By Elena Ferrarin
    Algonquin trustees took up the subject of video gambling on Tuesday night, and directed staff to draft an ordinance that, if approved, would allow businesses in town to apply for the state-issued licenses. “This is nothing more than another extension of video entertainment for adults, just like the dart machines, just like the Golden Tee (Golf video game),” Trustee Robert Smith said.

  •  
    The basement of the Helen Plum Memorial Library in Lombard will be seeing new accessible restrooms, a kitchenette, a dividing wall for the auditorium and a walled-in storage area as part of a $225,615 renovation project beginning this week.

    Renovations coming to Lombard library’s lower level
    By Marie Wilson
    The Helen Plum Memorial Library in Lombard fixed up its main and second floors in 2009 and 2010 after becoming an independent library district, but the basement didn't see improvements. A $225,615 project the library board recently approved is shifting the focus to the library's lower level. Renovations, scheduled to begin Monday, include new restrooms, a movable dividing wall and small...

  •  
    This Megabus slammed into a bridge pillar along Interstate 55 near Litchfield on Aug. 2, killing one passenger.

    Three lawsuits filed over Megabus crash
    Associated Press
    Clifford Law Offices filed a lawsuit Monday in Cook County on behalf of 19-year-old Jamie Schultz. Defendants include Megabus USA and the driver. Power, Rogers and Smith law firm says it has filed two lawsuits in Cook County: one on behalf of passenger Mary Jane Klein and her two sons and the other on behalf of passenger Lewis Vaughn IV.

  •  

    Jenn Gibbons rows into Chicago homecoming
    Associated Press
    A Chicago woman who completed her 1,500-mile trip around Lake Michigan despite being sexually assaulted along the way is back at home and plans to share her experiences by writing a book.Jenn Gibbons rowed into Chicago on Tuesday and cried with happiness when she saw members of the rowing team she co-founded for breast cancer survivors cheering her on from shore.

  •  
    House Republican Leader Tom Cross

    Cross: “Let us out” of Springfield only when pension deal is done
    By Kerry Lester
    House Republican Leader Tom Cross isn't too optimistic lawmakers will agree on pension cuts during a special legislative session on Friday. Nothing short of a "catastrophic event" -- like the funds' collapse -- is likely to convince leaders to really solve the problem, Cross, of Oswego, said.

  •  

    Breakdown of obesity rates by state
    Associated Press
    A new study indicates 12 states have an obesity rate higher than 30 percent. Mississippi had the highest rate of obesity at 34.9 percent, while Colorado had the lowest rate at 20.7 percent. Twenty-six of the 30 states with the highest obesity rates are in the Midwest and the South. Illinois is ranked 29th with a 27.1 percent obesity rate.

  •  
    Toni Johnson

    Dean of students gave her all for students at Gifford Street
    By Larissa Chinwah
    There were few reasons for Toni Johnson to miss a day of work at Gifford Street High School in Elgin. Cancer certainly was not one. “She always said, 'As long as I got breath and I am able to walk up the stairs ... I am going to be there until the last day of school,” said Ken Arrington, assistant dean of students at Gifford Street. Johnson lost her 8-month battle with pancreatic...

  •  

    Cops: Drunken driver struck two vehicles, fled in Libertyville
    By Paul Biasco
    A Libertyville man is accused of crashing into two vehicles while intoxicated and later driving away during a traffic stop, according to police.

  •  

    Bartlett to wait on another electric aggregation referendum
    By Jessica Cilella
    During a special meeting Tuesday, the Bartlett village board voted 4-3 against a resolution that would have given residents a chance to vote on electric aggregation again this November. Bartlett was one of two suburbs in Northwest Cook County that voted down electric aggregation this past spring. The majority of the board members agreed that they wanted to give residents a chance to vote on the...

  •  

    Arlington Heights parks referendum on the November ballot
    By Melissa Silverberg
    Arlington Heights residents will again be able to vote on a major parks renovation plan with a referendum in November. The Arlington Heights Park District board approved placing a scaled-down, $39 million proposal on the Nov. 6 ballot after a larger $48 million plan was rejected by the voters in March. But not all board members agreed. "As far as I'm concerned, the timing is just not right," said...

  •  
    View of the main dam at Busse Woods near Elk Grove Village.

    Busse Woods Dam remodeling could start by fall 2013
    By Madhu Krishnamurthy
    The Elk Grove Village board Tuesday night approved the phase two engineering services for design, surveying and detailed modeling of the Busse Woods Dam as part of the Busse Woods Dam modification project. Once that's done, the next step is to modify the dam to alleviate flooding in Cook and DuPage counties, which has been a problem for decades.

  •  
    Island Lake officials have proposed building a new village hall. A local resident has filed an objection to a grass-roots petition about the project.

    Island Lake referendum effort could be derailed by fraud allegations
    By Russell Lissau
    An Island Lake resident whose firm has worked for the town is trying to derail a grass-roots effort to ask voters about a controversial village-hall construction plan. In his formal objection, resident Daniel Field claims the petition that activists submitted last week doesn't contain the minimum number of legal signatures needed to put an advisory referendum on the Nov. 6 ballot.

  •  

    Gilberts voters will have to decide on parks levy
    By Tara García Mathewson
    Gilberts voters will have a chance to put their money where their mouths are this November. Residents have become increasingly vocal about the desire for better parks and recreation facilities in recent years, leaving officials to brainstorm ways to respond. Village board trustees decided Tuesday to put a question on the November ballot asking residents about an extra tax to pay for parks and rec.

  •  
    In this June 29, 2012 file photo, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, left, accompanied by Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Martin Dempsey, gestures during a news conference at the Pentagon. Panetta and Dempsey say Iran has increased its presence in Syria, aiding the regime in fighting opposition looking to overthrow President Bashar Assad.

    Pentagon: Iran building, training militia in Syria
    By Lolita C. Baldor
    Iran is playing a growing role supporting the Syrian regime and is helping to build and train a militia to fight opposition forces, U.S. defense officials said Tuesday. Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told Pentagon reporters that the militia, which is generally made up of Syrian Shiite forces, is being used to take the pressure off the Syrian regime forces, which...

  •  

    Fire causes $300,000 in damages to Hoffman Estates house
    By Paul Biasco
    A Tuesday afternoon fire caused an estimated $300,000 to a Hoffman Estates home, according to fire officials. The cause of the blaze remained under investigation Tuesday night.

  •  
    The flight director for the Mars rover Curiosity, Bobak Ferdowsi, seen here on Aug. 5, cuts his hair differently for each mission.

    NASA’s new geek chic: Mohawks in, pocket protectors out
    Associated Press
    Known to the Twitterverse and the president of the United States as "Mohawk Guy" of the Mars mission, Bobak Ferdowsi could be the changing public face of NASA and all of geekdom. Ferdowsi, whose shaved scalp also features star shapes, is a flight director for the Mars rover Curiosity. And Mohawk Guy isn't the only star. There's also former rock 'n' roller Adam Steltzner, sometimes called "Elvis...

  •  
    Gregory Pyle

    McHenry County deputy now also facing child porn charges
    By Paul Biasco
    A McHenry County sheriff's deputy who was charged in January with sexually assaulting a boy is now accused of taking explicit pictures of the boy and transmitting them over the Internet. Gregory Pyle was charged in federal court Tuesday with aggravated sexual abuse of a child and producing child pornography, after he was charged with 10 counts of sexual assault in McHenry County.

  •  
    Christopher Middleton, 26, with his fiancee, Tonya Jones, 24, both of Elgin. Authorities say Middleton was shot and killed Saturday night by the off-duty Chicago police officer.

    Elgin father shot and killed by Chicago cop after accident involving daughter
    By Lenore T. Adkins
    An Elgin man was shot and killed over the weekend by the off-duty Chicago police officer he attacked in Maywood after the officer's motorcycle hit the man's daughter, officials said.

  •  

    Aurora designing two-way traffic downtown
    By Marie Wilson
    Aurora is moving forward with a plan to change Benton Street and Downer Place to two-way streets west of Broadway Avenue, but proceeding with caution. The first step toward allowing two-way traffic got the green light Tuesday night from a unanimous city council that voted to approve a $99,402 contract with HR Green Inc. for engineering related to the new configuration.

  •  
    Adolfo Gomez

    Lawyer says couple bound children to ward off demons
    Associated Press
    A judge ruled Tuesday that a Northlake man and his wife will stand trial in Kansas on child abuse charges after two of their children were found in a Walmart parking lot tied up, a practice the father's lawyer described as a religious belief in the family and a way to guard against demons.

  •  
    Men watch as fire roars across ranch land Tuesday on Bettas Road near Cle Elum, Wash. The fast-moving wildfire has burned 60 homes across nearly 40 square miles of central Washington grassland, timber and sagebrush. No injuries have been reported, but more than 400 people have been forced to flee.

    Wildfires spread across West
    By Shannon Dininny
    As firefighters across the West responded to blazes, efforts in Washington state were made especially difficult Tuesday as wind gusts pushed fast-moving flames through a small town, The fire in central Washington has burned about 70 homes, scorching along roughly 40 square miles of grassland, timber and sagebrush, authorities said.

  •  
    This undated file photo provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in New Hampshire shows David Kwiatkowski, a former lab technician at Exeter, N.H. Hospital Kwiatkowski was arrested in July at a hospital in Massachusetts where he was receiving medical treatment and charged in New Hampshire with tampering with needles and infecting at least 31 people who were treated at Exeter Hospital’s cardiac catheterization lab with hepatitis C. Thousands more people treated at hospitals where he worked are being tested. Records and interviews conducted by The Associated Press show that authorities could have halted Kwiatkowski’s career four years ago, after he was fired from a Pittsburgh hospital. But he went on to work at 10 more hospitals, none of which knew about his history.

    Med tech’s arrest shows flaws in system
    Associated Press
    Radiology technician David Kwiatkowski stands accused of infecting at least 31 Exeter Hospital patients with hepatitis C by stealing fentanyl syringes and replacing them with dirty ones tainted with his blood. Now, thousands of hospital patients who may have crossed paths with Kwiatkowski in eight states — Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Maryland, Michigan, New Hampshire, New York and...

  •  
    Drew Peterson.

    Judge to rule Wednesday on Peterson mistrial
    Associated Press
    The judge at Drew Peterson's murder trial on Tuesday lambasted prosecutors who for the third time in as many weeks broached a subject they were told not to mention in front of jurors — again raising the possibility that the case could end with the judge letting the former police officer go free. Judge Edward Burmila seemed unmoved by repeated apologies by an attorney for the state and said...

  •  
    Authorities say this surveillance footage shows a man walking out of a West Chicago bank after robbing it Tuesday morning.

    Man robs West Chicago bank
    By Paul Biasco
    A man who robbed a West Chicago bank Tuesday morning is believed to be the same person who robbed a Bloomingdale bank last week, according to police.

  •  
    Tony Borcia

    Bartlett man charged in death of Libertyville boy on Petite Lake
    By Lee Filas
    A Bartlett man is accused of having alcohol and cocaine in his system when he struck and killed a 10-year-old boy in a boating accident on Petite Lake in July, authorities said Tuesday. David Hatyina, 50, has been charged with five counts of aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol that resulted in death, and two counts of reckless homicide in the July 28 death of Tony Borcia of...

  •  
    Terrence Wittman

    Village censures trustee for outburst at Taste of Roselle
    By Elisabeth Mistretta
    Roselle officials censured Trustee Terrence Wittman on Monday, following a heated public argument with the head of the Taste of Roselle Commission during the annual festival early this month. Volunteers called for his resignation, but Wittman refused and offered an apology. "I admit that was wrong and I am ... very sorry for the public outburst and altercation," he said.

  •  
    A new Illinois law establishes fees for livestock producers to help the state Environmental Protection Agency administer a federal pollution program for animal feeding operations

    Quinn signs agriculture laws at state fair
    Associated Press
    Gov Pat. Quinn signed five new agriculture laws as the state's farmers deal with a drought. Quinn said it's an important time to support Illinois farmers and the state's agriculture industry.

  •  
    Fans gather for a performance by Yellow Ostrich XX on Aug. 3 at Lollapalooza in Chicago’s Grant Park.

    Renovations start in Grant Park after Lollapalooza
    Associated Press
    Promoters of the Lollapalooza music festival in Chicago say they will pay about $150,000 to restore Grant Park after this year's event. Officials said landscaping work started Tuesday in Grant Park, which has hosted Lollapalooza for the last eight years.

  •  

    State allows mini horses as service animals
    Associated Press
    Miniature horses that have been trained to help disabled people will be allowed in Illinois schools and other public places under a new state law.

  •  

    Huntley Unit District 158, teachers union request mediation
    By Larissa Chinwah
    After months of negotiating sessions, the Huntley Unit District 158 school board and the Huntley Education Association have agreed to move discussions forward with a mediator, a joint press release from both parties said. Although District 158 teachers will be starting the year without a new contract, all parties remain committed to seeing this through without affecting the school year or...

  •  
    Bill Mueller

    Lombard mayor Mueller fighting cancer, West Nile virus
    By Marie Wilson
    Lombard Village President Bill Mueller, who has been hospitalized since Aug. 5 battling cancer, now is also fighting West Nile virus. Mueller, 76, was transported to Elmhurst Memorial Hospital Aug. 5 and went into intensive care the next day, a village spokeswoman said. Doctors on Tuesday determined he has West Nile virus in addition to the cancer multiple myeloma, which causes a low red blood...

  •  
    A West Chicago Community officer keeps guard over a gas leak along Route 64 in West Chicago Tuesday. The road was closed from Kautz to Powis. Motorists were encouraged to take alternate routes.

    Two gas leaks shut down Route 64 in St. Charles, West Chicago
    By Paul Biasco
    A roughly two-mile stretch of Route 64 remains shut down in St. Charles and West Chicago due to two separate gas leaks. The St. Charles Fire Department sent out an alert about two leaks on Route 64 about 12:30 p.m. indicating the leaks were at Powis Road and Route 64 in West Chicago and at 4051 E. Main St. in St. Charles.

  •  

    D50 names administrator
    Daily Herald report
    Lisa West has been named the new assistant principal at Woodland Intermediate School, Woodland Elementary District 50 officials announced.

  •  

    Voting by mail application online
    Daily Herald report
    Registered voters in Lake County, including students away at school and traveling snowbirds, who want to vote by mail in the November election can download an application for a ballot at LakeVoterPower.info.

  •  

    YMCA offers health screenings
    Daily Herald report
    Rosalind Franklin University Health System's mobile health unit, Community Care Connection, has scheduled stops at both Lake County Family YMCA branches in September.

  •  

    Fox Valley police reports
    Steven E. Saylor, 47, of Elgin, was arrested and later charged with aggravated assault after threatening others with a kitchen knife shortly before 7:30 p.m. Saturday in the 300 block of Locust Street, according to police reports. Saylor saw his girlfriend with other men, who he threatened to stab.

  •  
    The Algonquin planning and zoning commission has given its approval to turn the incomplete Riverside Plaza development into apartments rather than condos.

    Commission gives thumbs-up to rentals for Riverside Plaza in Algonquin
    By Elena Ferrarin
    A plan to turn the half-built Riverside Plaza development in downtown Algonquin from condos to apartments was recommended for approval by the planning and zoning commission, but with conditions that pave the way for a future condo conversion, officials said.

  •  
    Jaari Williams

    Two charged in Batavia car burglaries
    By Susan Sarkauskas
    Two people are charged with burglarizing unlocked cars on the northeast side of Batavia last week. They were caught when a resident, suspicious about seeing a man walking around outside with a flashlight at 4 in the morning, called police.

  •  
    Former Sugar Grove Police Chief Brad Sauer was sworn in as temporary Kane County coroner Tuesday.

    Former Sugar Grove police chief named temporary Kane coroner
    By James Fuller
    Brad Sauer, recently retired as Sugar Grove police chief, is the new, temporary, Kane County coroner. Sauer was sworn in Tuesday following confirmation of the appointment by the county board. He'll be on the job until a new coroner is elected in November. Sauer said he won't take any pension benefits from the position.

  •  
    David Miller of Musco Lighting takes a reading during a test of the new lights Monday at Memorial Field in Glen Ellyn.

    Lights go on at Glen Ellyn’s Memorial Field
    By Christopher Placek
    Eighteen months after Glenbard High School District 87 officials proposed illuminating Memorial Field in Glen Ellyn for night use, the lights are finally on. Six light towers now stand above the Glenbard West practice field on Crescent Boulevard and Monday evening marked the first time officials flipped the switch.

  •  

    Despite choice, most Naperville students stay put
    By Justin Kmitch
    Just as officials at two Naperville-area school districts predicted, few families, when offered the choice to move from a "failing" school, took the districts up on the offer. Naperville Unit District 203 alerted families at Mill Street Elementary School earlier this month that they were allowed to transfer to other district schools. Indian Prairie Unit District 204 offered parents at Georgetown...

  •  

    Kane County OKs mosque despite protest from neighbors
    By James Fuller
    A proposed new Muslim worship center survived both a Kane County attendance test and the actual vote Tuesday. Muslim leaders appealed to the county board to reject a formal challenge by neighbors. Leaders said given recent attacks against Muslims, this new place of worship just outside Carpentersville is more important than ever to help combat ignorance of their religion.

  •  

    Arlington Heights wants resident input on capital improvements
    By Melissa Silverberg
    Arlington Heights is looking for residents’ input through an online survey about what future construction projects they would like to see as part of the village’s five-year capital improvement program.

  •  

    New downtown, pensions highlight Buffalo Grove town hall meeting
    By Steve Zalusky
    Buffalo Grove's new downtown proposal, state pension reform and civility at public meetings were among the topics Monday when Buffalo Grove Village President Jeffrey Braiman, Lake County Board Chairman David Stolman and state Rep. Sidney Mathias held a town-hall meeting at the Vernon Township Community Center.

  •  
    Nicholas Toscano

    Gang member gets 8 years for shooting man in West Chicago
    By Josh Stockinger
    An admitted gang member was sentenced to eight years in prison Tuesday for shooting a man in the shin last year outside a West Chicago apartment building. Prosecutors said the victim was injured as he walked with a man who had warned the defendant to stop loitering there.

  •  

    McSweeney abandons appeal of ballot decision
    By Daily Herald report
    David McSweeney, the Republican candidate vying for the 52nd House District, announced he won't appeal the Illinois State Board of Elections' decision allowing his opponent, independent Dee Beaubien of Barrington Hills, to remain on the Nov. 6 ballot.

  •  

    E. Dundee president threatens to de-annex warring neighbors
    By Lenore T. Adkins
    East Dundee Village President Jerald Bartels is so fed up with a pair of warring neighbors and their wives, that he's ready to kick them all out of town and let Kane County deal with them. "I'm at the point that the next conversation that I want to have on this piece of property is de-annexing both of them," Bartels said Monday night. "That is where I am with that, because it has been a draw on...

  •  

    Tractor lease to save DuPage Forest Preserve District money
    By Elisabeth Mistretta
    DuPage forest preserve officials Tuesday approved an agreement with agricultural-machinery manufacturer Case IH to lease roughly $200,000 worth of equipment for $1 a year for the next decade. The machines will be used at St. James Farm Forest Preserve near Warrenville, including for events such as its Family Field Day in May, officials said.

  •  

    Anti-violence initiative in Chicago clears hurdle
    Associated Press
    A leader with an anti-violence group says a partnership with Chicago's police department to help curb violence is finally moving forward. CeaseFire executive director Tio Hardiman says the group has received written assurance that its workers won't be asked to act as police informants.

  •  

    City, Blue Cross team up on detecting fraud
    Associated Press
    Chicago officials are teaming up with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois on healthcare fraud detection and prevention. City officials say the work could potentially recover millions of dollars in misspent money for taxpayers.

  •  
    Jordan “Buddy” Janus, 11, of Carpentersville flies high in a dragon at “A Special Night for Special Kids” at South Elgin's Riverfest Express last year. Jordan loves going on the rides, especially the roller coaster and carousel.

    S. Elgin Riverfest to host special-needs kids, families
    By Hailey Czarnecki
    Since 2001, South Elgin's Riverfest Express has reached out to families with "A Special Night for Special Kids." From 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 15, special-needs families can enjoy free carnival rides, entertainment and food, courtesy of the festival's sponsors. Event organizers say it's their favorite night of the festival.

  •  

    District 211 asks new students to register soon
    Palatine-Schaumburg High School District 211 encourages all high school students new to the community to register for classes at the high school as soon as possible. By registering as early as possible, new students will be able to take advantage of special summer programs designed to help familiarize them with their new high school.

  •  

    Northwest suburban police blotter
    By Freida Gad
    Thieves stole 20 flags, 20 flag sticks, two ball washers, two sets of tee markers and two yard markers from Makray Memorial Golf Course, 1010 S. Northwest Hwy., Barrington, Aug. 4.

  •  
    The park center at Recreation Park in Arlington Heights would undergo significant changes under a referendum package the Arlington Heights Park District board could present to voters in November. The board is expected to vote on a referendum package tonight.

    Arlington Hts. park board considering referendum options tonight
    Daily Herald report
    The Arlington Heights Park District board is expected to decide tonight whether to ask voters in November to approve a multimillion-dollar bond issue that would fund major park improvements, eight months after residents narrowly rejected a costlier proposal. The board is scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. at the district's administration center, 410 N. Arlington Heights Road.

  •  
    Pedro Terrazas

    Aurora man convicted of long-term sex assaults on child
    By Susan Sarkauskas
    An Aurora man will be sentenced to at least 32 years in prison for the predatory criminal sexual assault of a child. A jury Aug. 9 found Pedro Terrazas guilty of assaulting the girl for eight years, as he watched her while her mother was at work.

  •  

    Lincolnshire Art Festival is this weekend
    By Russell Lissau
    The 15th annual Lincolnshire Art Festival will kick off Saturday and continue through Sunday in the Village Green shopping center on Milwaukee Avenue.

  •  
    You never know what you might find, like these ceramic and mosaic pieces featured at a previous year’s fair.

    Take a walk with the Arlington Hts. Art Guild
    Submitted by the Arlington Heights Art Guild
    The Arlington Heights Art Guild invites art lovers to North School Park Sunday, Aug. 19, for A Walk in the Park, the fine arts and crafts show they have been putting on for 41 years.

  •  

    2nd man running for Geneva 1st Ward
    By Susan Sarkauskas
    Mike Bruno, a member of Geneva's Historic Preservation Commission, is running for alderman in the 1st Ward.

  •  

    Fire department says recreational fires OK
    By Susan Sarkauskas
    Enough rain has fallen that Geneva has lifted its ban on outdoor fires, the fire department announced Tuesday.

  •  
    Kristina Kovarik

    Gurnee mayor steps up for residents claiming unfair taxes to sewage district
    By Bob Susnjara
    Gurnee Mayor Kristina Kovarik has gone to bat for some residents who have questioned why they pay taxes to the North Shore Sanitary District, but don't receive service. Kovarik said she visited the sanitary district board last week and asked that a meeting be scheduled to discuss the issue. Kovarik said the move was prompted by research submitted to her by resident Jerry Kolar, who lives on...

  •  
    The sun rises over a grain silos in Ashland, Ill. Crops as well as wildlife and livestock are struggling from the dry weather and a heat wave over much of the country.

    USDA: Rain, cooler weather helping corn, soybeans
    Associated Press
    Cooler weather and rain in the middle of the country have slowed the deterioration of the nation's corn and soybean crops, but experts said the drought isn't over and the recent respite won't make much of a difference. In the 18 states that grow most of the nation's corn, the U.S.DA rated 51 percent of the crop as poor or very poor last week. A week earlier, it was 50 percent.

  •  

    When does school start for you?
    Suburban schools open this week and next, a far cry from the days when Labor Day was the traditional end of summer and beginning of classes. Here is the schedule for many suburbans schools.

  •  

    Northwest sububan police blotter
    By Freida Gad
    Burglars broke two locks on a 2001 United Express trailer belonging to contractors working at a home on the 800 block of South Beverly Lane in Arlington Heights and used a cutting torch to cut a cable locking tools together, stealing items valued at $10,000 before fleeing in a blue van.

  •  
    President Barack Obama addresses the crowd during a campaign stop Monday, Aug. 13, 2012, in Boone, Iowa.

    Familiar foe: In Ryan, Obama sees twofold target
    Associated Press
    DES MOINES, Iowa — In his run for a second term, President Barack Obama had an opponent before he had an opponent: House Republicans. They shellacked him in the midterm elections, blocked much of his legislative agenda and pushed economic views that are wildly different from his. Mitt Romney put a campaign face on all that for Obama: Paul Ryan.

  •  
    Penn State University President Rodney Erickson

    Penn State receives accreditation warning
    Associated Press
    PHILADELPHIA — Penn State has been put on notice by an accrediting organization that says the university’s status is “in jeopardy” based on recent developments in the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal.

  •  
    Defense Secretary Leon Panetta is interviewed by The Associated Press, Monday, Aug. 13, 2012, at the Pentagon.

    Panetta: Syria no-fly zone not on front burner
    Associated Press
    WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Leon Panetta says plans to set up a no-fly zone over parts of Syria are “not on the front burner,” despite persistent calls from rebel forces there that they need the added protection from escalating regime airstrikes.

  •  

    Triple suicide attack kills 20 in Afghanistan
    Associated Press
    KABUL, Afghanistan — Three suicide bombers killed at least 20 people on Tuesday in a normally peaceful city in southwestern Afghanistan, an official said.

  •  
    The shell of a burned out car is seen in a neighborhood of Amiens, France, Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2012. Dozens of young men rioted in a troubled district in northern France after weeks of tensions, pulling drivers from their cars and stealing the vehicles, and burning a school and a youth center. The police department in Amiens says at least 16 officers were hurt by the time the riot ended Tuesday, some by buckshot.

    Riot engulfs troubled French district in north
    Associated Press
    PARIS — Months of tension between police and young people in a troubled district of northern France exploded on Tuesday, with dozens of youths facing off against riot officers in a night of violence. Sixteen officers were injured, a preschool and public gym were torched, and at least three passing drivers in Amiens were dragged from their cars.

  •  
    Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney speaks at a campaign event at Flagler College, Monday, Aug. 13, 2012, in St. Augustine, Fla.

    GOP ticket faces growing pains as Dems attack
    Associated Press
    DENVER — The newly shaped Republican presidential ticket is fighting growing pains amid charges from President Barack Obama’s re-election team that challenger Mitt Romney favors his new running mate’s controversial plans to overhaul Medicare and cut trillions of dollars from social programs.

  •  
    Brazos County Constable Brian Bachmann, who was shot and killed while serving an eviction notice near Texas A&M University on Monday, Aug. 13, 2012 in College Station, Texas.

    Veteran officer, gunman die in Texas shootout
    Associated Press
    COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Serving an eviction notice near Texas A&M University turned deadly for Brazos County Constable Brian Bachmann when the resident opened fire on him, leading to the death of the officer and another man before the gunman was killed.

  •  
    Riad Hijab, Syria’s defected former prime minister, speaks at a press conference at the Hyatt Hotel in Amman, Jordan, Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2012. Hijab is the highest-ranking political figure to defect from Assadís regime and in his first public comments since leaving his post and fleeing to Jordan he said Tuesday that the regime was near collapse and urged other political and military leaders to tip the scales and join the rebel side.

    PM who defected says Syrian regime near collapse
    Associated Press
    AMMAN, Jordan — Syria’s prime minister who defected to the opposition said Tuesday that Bashar Assad’s regime was near collapse and urged other political and military leaders to tip the scales and join the rebel side.

  •  

    Conn. homeowner billed 25 years for streetlights
    Associated Press
    CHESHIRE, Conn. — Connecticut Light & Power has reimbursed a woman almost $10,500 after acknowledging it billed her for 25 years for the electricity used to power streetlights near her home.Grace Edwards tells the Hartford Courant she discovered the billing error after a prospective buyer for the house in Cheshire asked for a history of utility charges.

  •  
    Phone companies are losing the high-speed Internet game. In the second quarter, the landline phone industry lost broadband subscribers for the first time, as cable companies continued to pile on new household and small business customers, thanks to the higher speeds they offer in most areas.

    Phone companies losing broadband subscribers
    Associated Press
    Phone companies are losing the high-speed Internet game. In the second quarter, the landline phone industry lost broadband subscribers for the first time, as cable companies continued to pile on new household and small business customers, thanks to the higher speeds they offer in most areas.

  •  
    Several auto dealerships in Libertyville have made or plan to make improvements to their facilities.

    Libertyville gives auto dealers a break to renovate
    By Mick Zawislak
    Some of the new offerings on auto dealers row in Libertyville feature more than the latest models of cars and trucks. Several dealers in Libertyville have made or are planning improvements to their facilities. Part of the equation is a village incentive, enacted four years ago, that shares a portion of any new sales tax. "We wanted to make sure our dealerships remained relevant to maintain our...

  •  
    Rama Suresh, artistic director and founder of Mythili Dance Academy, goes over some of the intricate moves of classical Indian dance with her pupils during a recent session at Jazzercise in Peoria.

    Indian dance grows roots in Peoria
    Associated Press
    It's an art form whose origins go back more than 1,000 years ago and roughly 8,200 miles away.But it's continuing right here in central Illinois, where the ancient art of Bharathanatyam - the classical dance of southern India - is being passed down to a new generation of dancers. It's a long way in more than one sense from the arts-rich Indian city of Chennai - famous for Bharathanatyam and the...

  •  
    Aung San Suu Kyi

    Fort Wayne’s Burmese hoping for Suu Kyi visit
    Associated Press
    Activists in Fort Wayne's Burmese community are trying to arrange a visit to the city by Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi.The group hopes that the democracy advocate from their native Myanmar will travel to Fort Wayne as part of her September trip to the United States, during which she will receive the Congressional Gold Medal in Washington.

  •  

    Bipartisan screening committee for federal judges
    Associated Press
    U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin says a bipartisan screening committee is being formed to assist him in selecting federal judges for the Northern District of Illinois. The district currently has three judicial vacancies. Before making recommendations to President Barack Obama, Durbin says he'll consult Republican Sen. Mark Kirk, who has established a similar selection process.

  •  

    Primary polls open in Wisconsin
    Associated Press
    Primary election polls are open across Wisconsin. A four-way Republican race for the U.S. Senate is at the top of the ticket and is the only statewide contest. Two congressional districts and dozens of legislative races are also on the ballot.

  •  
    Bob White, of Des Plaines, with Joey, one of the adoptable residents.

    Cat rescuers, Petco create adoption center for homeless felines
    Submitted by Denise Smith Rodd
    A new Cat Adoption Center in Mount Prospect is a stress-free "showroom" for homeless cats, where they are cared for and shown to prospective families.

  •  

    Dawn Patrol: Motorola Mobility tax deal gone; barn fire charges
    By Paul Biasco and Lee Filas
    Motorola Mobility losing tax credits due to job cuts. Crystal Lake teens accused of setting fire to 5 McHenry County barns. Suburban Muslim groups alarmed after second attack. Charges pending against Algonquin woman accused of leaving daughter in bar. Des Plaines police officer facing second federal lawsuit.

  •  

    Magnitude 7.3 quake hits eastern Russia
    Associated Press
    TOKYO — The U.S. Geological Survey says a magnitude 7.3 earthquake has hit the waters off of far eastern Russia. There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries and no tsunami was generated.The quake hit just before 1 p.m. local time Tuesday. It was centered in the Pacific Ocean 160 kilometers (100 miles) east of Poronaysk, Russia, at a depth of more than 625 kilometers (388 miles).

Sports

  •  
    Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Chad Billingsley throws to a Pittsburgh Pirates batter in the sixth inning of the baseball game Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2012, in Pittsburgh. The Dodgers won 11-0. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

    Dodgers beat Pirates 11-0 behind Billingsley, Cruz
    Associated Press
    PITTSBURGH — Chad Billingsley can't put a finger on why he's been pitching so much better since a stint on the disabled list that spanned the All-Star break.Dodgers teammate Hanley Ramirez has a theory, though."I was thinking about that today," said Ramirez, who acquired in a trade two days after Billingsley began his streak of five consecutive wins on July 23. "I think maybe I am good luck."Billingsley pitched eight dominant innings and Los Angeles won for the fifth time in six games, routing the Pittsburgh Pirates 11-0 Tuesday night.Billingsley (9-9) allowed five hits and one walk in improving to 7-1 in his career against the Pirates.Billingsley waited out a 55-minute delay at the beginning, then struck out five and improved to 5-0 with a 1.56 ERA in five starts since a July stint on the disabled list due to elbow inflammation. He had lost all five of his previous outings before going on the DL."You know, honestly, nothing much," Billingsley said when asked what's been different since coming off the DL. "I've been throwing just fastballs and commanding the fastball pretty well lately, and just mixing in offspeed. As far as my thought process, it hasn't changed."Luis Cruz tied career highs for hits and RBIs with three each. Ramirez added three hits, two RBIs and two runs as Los Angeles beat the Pirates for the eighth straight time dating to last season.Matt Kemp added two hits and two runs, James Loney went 2 for 5 with a run and an RBI and Andre Ethier had two runs and two RBIs for Los Angeles, which matched its highest-scoring game of the season."You've got everybody chipping in," Ramirez said. "Not only one guy, the whole team is going out there and contributing."Shawn Tolleson worked a perfect ninth to preserve the Dodgers' seventh shutout of the season. The Pirates have been blanked 10 times.Pittsburgh has lost five of six and is 3-6 on its season-long 11-game homestand.That's bringing back memories of last season in Pittsburgh, where there were high hopes the Pirates would have their first winning season since 1992 when they were 53-47 on July 26. Instead, a 19-43 collapse the rest of the way resulted in the franchise's seventh consecutive 90-loss season."We are doing a lot better than we did last year," outfielder Andrew McCutchen said. "We are still in a good position and where we need to be. It's not like we are 30 games out of it. We're still fighting, and we need to keep playing like we are the team that everybody is scared to play against."Wild card leaders just a week ago, Pittsburgh's grip on the second wild card spot has slipped to a half-game lead over the surging Dodgers."This is our worst patch of play probably during the season," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. "Every team that I have been on has a patch of play like this. We know what we are dealing with and we have to find a way to turn it around."Pittsburgh's Kevin Correia (9-7) had won seven straight decisions, tied for the longest active streak in the majors.Auditioning for a spot in the starting rotation during the stretch drive, Correia gave up five earned runs and seven hits in six innings. Only four hits off Correia left the infield."I felt good out there and I think that I made a lot of good pitches," Correia said. "Obviously things didn't really go my way for a few innings, but I had chances after that to make a good pitch and get out of the inning and I missed a couple."Shane Victorino had an RBI grounder in the third, and the Dodgers loaded the bases without hitting a ball to the outfield to begin a three-run fourth. Infield singles by Kemp and Ramirez sandwiched Ethier reaching on an error by Pirates second baseman Neil Walker put Los Angeles in position.Kemp scored on Loney's groundout, and Ethier and Ramirez were driven in by a line-drive single by Cruz — the only ball of the inning to leave the infield.

  •  
    The Giants’ Buster Posey slides in to score in front of Washington Nationals catcher Jesus Flores in the eighth inning Tuesday in San Francisco. Posey scored on a single by Brandon Belt.

    Giants dispatch Nats 6-1
    Associated Press
    Madison Bumgarner pitched a five-hitter and Brandon Belt had three hits and three RBIs, leading the San Francisco Giants to a 6-1 win over the Washington Nationals on Tuesday night in a matchup between NL division leaders.

  •  
    Los Angeles Angels starter Zack Greinke struck out five and walked one in a win over Cleveland on Tuesday at home.

    Greinke gets 1st win for Angels
    Associated Press
    Zack Greinke won for the first time in four starts since being acquired by the Angels, Albert Pujols homered and drove in four runs and Los Angeles beat the Cleveland Indians 9-6 on Tuesday night.

  •  
    Tampa Bay second baseman Ryan Roberts jumps over the Mariners’ Trayvon Robinson as he completes his throw to first base for a double play Tuesday night in Seattle.

    Mariners upend Rays, 3-2
    Associated Press
    Eric Thames' two-out single in the bottom of the ninth inning gave the Seattle Mariners a 3-2 victory on Tuesday night and snapped the Tampa Bay Rays' seven-game winning streak.

  •  
    Cubs starter Chris Volstad dropped to 0-9 with Tuesday night’s 10-1 loss to the Houston Astros at Wrigley Field.

    No such luck as Cubs’ Volstad stays winless
    By Bruce Miles
    The stars seemed aligned Tuesday night for Chris Volstad to pick up his first victory as a Cub. After all, the Cubs were playing the last-place Houston Astros, against whom they had broken out of an offensive funk Monday. It wasn't to be. It wasn't even close.

  •  

    Tuesday’s boys golf scoreboard
    High school varsity results from Tuesday's boys golf meets, as reported to the Daily Herald.

  •  

    Tuesday’s girls golf scoreboard
    High school varsity results from Tuesday's girls golf meets, as reported to the Daily Herald.

  •  
    Cubs starter Chris Volstad delivers a pitch against the Houston Astros Tuesday during the first inning at Wrigley Field.

    Cubs' Volstad falls to 0-9 with loss to Astros
    Associated Press
    Lucas Harrell has been giving the Houston Astros a chance to win each time he takes the mound.. Harrell pitched eight effective innings and Brett Wallace and Fernando Martinez hit three-run homers as the Astros beat the Cubs 10-1 on Tuesday night. Chris Volstad (0-9) lasted just five innings, allowing eight hits and four runs in his latest bid for his first big league win since July 10, 2011.

  •  
    Minnesota Twins catcher Ryan Doumit, left, tags out the Detroit Tigers’ Delmon Young as he tries to score from second on a single by Gerald Laird Tuesday during the eighth inning in Minneapolis.

    Fister pitches 8 strong innings for Tigers
    Associated Press
    Miguel Cabrera became the first player to reach 100 RBIs this season with a run-scoring single and Doug Fister pitched eight strong innings for the Detroit Tigers in an 8-4 win over the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday night. Fister (7-7) did not allow an earned run and struck out seven to win for the third time in four starts.

  •  
    White Sox pitcher Jose Quintana pitches against the Toronto Blue Jays Tuesday during first inning in Toronto.

    Quintana ends winless skid, White Sox beat Toronto
    Associated Press
    Addison Reed wasn't about to let another win slip out of Jose Quintana's grasp Tuesday. All three of Reed's blown saves this season have come in games started by Quintana, including two in the past month as Quintana suffered through a five-start winless stretch. "It kind of meant a little more," Reed said of his 21st save in 24 chances. "I was trying to get (Quintana) the win today. It was nice to settle it up for him."

  •  

    LZ’s Drago drums up a baseball future at Illinois
    By Joe Aguilar
    Lake Zurich catcher Anthony Drago earned MVP honors at a high-profile summer baseball tournament and earned a future in his sport of choice at Illinois.

  •  

    Fremd already in fine form
    By John Leusch
    After a strong runner-up finish in Conant's Early Bird Invite on Monday, Fremd's girls golf team came back and won the Barrington Invite on Tuesday at the Bonnie-Dundee Golf Course in Carpentersville. Winning their first tourney in coach Christine Vlaming's five seasons, the Vikings came in with a score of 318, led by junior Jennifer Kim (76), senior Angie Kim (77), junior Dorothy Feng (82) and freshman Katie Hur (83).

  •  
    Steve Stricker watches his drive from the first tee during the final round of the PGA Championship golf tournament on the Ocean Course of the Kiawah Island Golf Resort in Kiawah Island, S.C., Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

    Better system for picking U.S. Ryder Cup team
    By Len Ziehm
    The first phase to determine who will be playing in next month’s Ryder Cup matches at Medinah is over.Point standings, accumulated over two years, determined the eight automatic berths on the U.S. team after Sunday’s PGA Championship was completed. Those earning spots were Tiger Woods, Bubba Watson, Jason Dufner, Keegan Bradley, Webb Simpson, Zach Johnson, Matt Kuchar and Phil Mickelson.In past years the U.S. captain named his picks the day after the PGA, but that was changed this time. U.S. captain Davis Love III will name four (as opposed to just two in the past) picks Sept. 4 in New York.The new system is much better than the old, in that it allows the captain to pick the players who are playing the best leading into the biennial matches.That means Love can analyze play in three tournaments, two of them part of the pressurized FedEx Cup playoffs, before filling out his roster for the Sept. 25-30 spectacular at Medinah.Love will be looking for experienced — and hot — players for his four selections.The automatic eight are short on experience. Dufner, Bradley and Simpson have never played in the biggest team competition in golf and Watson and Kuchar have played only once.Love will want some veterans to back them up, even though Mickelson — the last of the automatic qualifiers — will make his ninth straight appearance. That’s a record for consecutive, as well as all-time, appearances.Though he wouldn’t say it at Monday’s news conference, Love is sure to name Steve Stricker to the team.Stricker was 10th on the point list but is Woods’ preferred partner. Hunter Mahan, one spot in front of Stricker and a two-time winner this season, figures to make the U.S. squad for the second time as a captain’s pick.The other two picks are up for grabs, with performances in this week’s Wyndham Championship and the first two FedEx playoff events — The Barclays and Deutsche Bank Championship — critical in Love’s view.He will make his picks on the Tuesday of the third FedEx tourney, the BMW Championship. It will be held at Crooked Stick in Indianapolis this year after having a home at Cog Hill in Lemont.The Western Golf Assn. wanted to move its PGA Tour stop out of Chicago this year to avoid oversaturation with the Ryder Cup.If Love is worried about experience, he could pick Jim Furyk (11th in the point standings) or even dip into the Champions Tour ranks for Fred Couples. If he wants an exciting young star, Ricky Fowler and Dustin Johnson would be possibilities.Unfortunately there won’t be a local player on the U.S. squad.Mark Wilson, D.A. Points and Kevin Streelman loomed as possibilities, however remote, early in the year, but Wilson was in 23rd place in the standings with Points 31st and Streelman 69th. All were too far back to merit consideration.The European team is chosen differently, with captain Jose Maria Olazabal making only two picks, both on Aug. 27, the day after the Johnnie Walker Championship concludes in Scotland.Ten members of the European team are chosen off point standings that are finalized after the Johnnie Walker event.Big week for NU:Northwestern’s golf programs had an impact far beyond the college level last weekend.Two NU alums — Chris Wilson (2007) and Scott Harrington (2003) — went to a playoff to determine the title in the Web.com Tour’s Price Cutter Charity Classic in Springfield, Mo., with Wilson winning.Illinois’ Luke Guthrie tied for 10th in that event, the sixth time in as many pro starts on the PGA and Web.com circuits that he has finished in the top 20.And NU sophomore Nicole Zhang reached the semifinals in the U.S. Women’s Amateur. That’s the best finish by a Wildcat in either the men’s or women’s U.S. Ams since Dillon Dougherty was runner-up in 2004.Luke Donald’s best in the U.S. Am was a semifinal finish.Here and there:

  •  
    Olympic gold medalist Conor Dwyer throws out the ceremonial first pitch before the Cubs took on the Astros at Wrigley Field on Tuesday. Dwyer won a gold medal as a member of the U.S. 4x200-meter freestyle relay team.

    Cubs’ Garza running out of time to return this season
    By Bruce Miles
    Cubs pitcher Matt Garza isn't anywhere near ready to throw a ball, and time is running out for him to return to action this season. The Cubs won't completely rule out Garza, but they want to take the long view as he recovers from a "stress reaction" in his right elbow.

  •  
    St. Louis Cardinals center fielder Jon Jay cannot reach a ball hit by Arizona Diamondbacks’ Stephen Drew Tuesday during the third inning.

    Kelly strong, Cardinals beat Diamondbacks 8-2
    Associated Press
    ST. LOUIS — Rookie Joe Kelly pitched into the seventh inning of what could be his final start before Jaime Garcia comes off the disabled list, and the St. Louis Cardinals got home runs from Matt Holliday and Jon Jay in an 8-2 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday night.Miguel Montero hit a two-run homer for the Diamondbacks, who have lost four of six to drop to .500. They are 0-4 against the Cardinals this season.Ian Kennedy (10-10) made throwing errors on consecutive plays to help the Cardinals score two unearned runs in the seventh for a three-run cushion, and gave up both homers for a four-game total of eight long balls.Kelly (3-5) gave up two runs in 6 1-3 innings and matched his career best with six strikeouts, lowering his ERA to 3.41 — trailing only Kyle Lohse’s 2.72 in the rotation.

  •  
    Kansas City Royals starter Jeremy Guthrie pitches to an Oakland Athletics batter Tuesday during the first inning.

    Guthrie shuts down A’s in Royals’ 5-0 win
    Associated Press
    KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Jeremy Guthrie allowed only three singles in seven innings, and the Kansas City Royals rolled to a 5-0 win over the Oakland Athletics on Tuesday night.Guthrie, who struck out a season-high eight, ran his scoreless streak to 15 innings. He has yielded eight hits and struck out 14 in his past two starts, victories over the A’s and the Chicago White Sox.Guthrie (5-12) is 2-3 in five starts with the Royals, who acquired him in a July 20 trade with Colorado for left-hander Jonathan Sanchez.Tim Collins and Greg Holland completed the shutout for Kansas City. Collins struck out all three batters he faced in the eighth inning, boosting his total to 77 — a Royals’ strikeout record for a left-handed reliever.Alex Gordon and Eric Hosmer delivered run-scoring singles in the Royals’ five-run fifth inning that also featured sacrifice flies by Chris Getz and Billy Butler.

  •  
    Cincinnati Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips catches a line drive hit by New York Mets Daniel Murphy Tuesday during the second inning.

    Bruce’s home run in 9th lifts Reds over Mets 3-0
    Associated Press
    CINCINNATI — Jay Bruce hit a three-run homer in the ninth inning and the Cincinnati Reds won their fourth game in a row, beating the New York Mets 3-0 Tuesday night.The NL Central leaders and the Mets were a combined 0 for 18 with runners in scoring position before Bruce connected with no outs.Brandon Phillips drew a leadoff walk in the ninth from Manny Acosta (1-3), New York’s fifth pitcher. Ryan Ludwick followed with single that sent Phillips to second.Left-handed reliever Josh Edgin came in to face the lefty-hitting Bruce, who sent a drive into the left-field seats. It was Bruce’s 23rd homer of the season and second in the Reds’ last two games — both off lefties.

  •  
    Naperville North’s Raymond Knoll tees off during the Vern McGonagle Memorial High School Golf Championship, held at the Naperville Country Club.

    Naperville North boys, Waubonsie girls win City Championship
    By Orrin Schwarz
    Naperville North continued its strong start to the boys golf season, winning the McGonagle Naperville City Championship at Naperville Country Club. Waubonsie Valley won the girls title.

  •  
    The Philadelphia Phillies’ Jimmy Rollins hits a solo home run Tuesday during the first inning against the Miami Marlins.

    Kendrick dominant for Phillies in 1-0 win
    Associated Press
    MIAMI — Kyle Kendrick pitched five-hit ball for seven innings and Jimmy Rollins homered off Josh Johnson to start the game Tuesday night, leading the Philadelphia Phillies to a 1-0 victory over the Miami Marlins. Charlie Manuel earned his 700th win as a manager with the Phillies’ second straight shutout. Cole Hamels opened the series between NL East rivals with a 4-0 victory. The Marlins have not scored in 27 innings.Kendrick (5-9) struck out six while throwing 61 of 87 pitches for strikes. He was lifted for pinch-hitter Laynce Nix in the eighth. Kendrick has won seven straight against the Marlins dating back to September 2008.Josh Lindblom and Jonathan Papelbon each pitched a hitless inning. Papelbon walked Carlos Lee with two outs then got Giancarlo Stanton to ground out for his 26th save.Johnson (7-9) went eight innings and allowed three hits. He struck out seven and walked one.Rollins hit Johnson’s second pitch into the right field stands for his 14th homer of the year. It was his 41st career lead-off home run.Miami’s best opportunity to score came in the sixth after Bryan Petersen led off with a single and advanced to third on a pair of groundouts. Lee popped out to end the inning.NOTES: Johnson is 2-3 with a 2.04 ERA in his last six starts against Philadelphia. ... Kendrick is 7-0 with a 2.28 ERA against Miami in his last nine appearances, making eight starts. ... Rollins passed Larry Bowa for most games played (1,731) at shortstop for the Phillies. ... Miami’s 23-year old catcher Rob Brantly made his major league debut. Brantly, who was acquired from the Detroit Tigers on July 23, went 0 for 3. ... Phillies RHP Roy Halladay (6-6, 3.80 ERA) will take the mound in Wednesday’s series finale against LHP Mark Buehrle (9-11, 3.80 ERA), who will be looking for his 12th consecutive 10-win season.

  •  
    The New York Yankees’ Nick Swisher, right, greets pitcher Hiroki Kuroda after Kuroda threw a two-hitter Tuesday against the Texas Rangers at Yankee Stadium in New York. The Yankees won 3-0.

    Kuroda pitches 2-hitter, Yankees beat Rangers 3-0
    Associated Press
    NEW YORK — Hiroki Kuroda pitched a two-hitter and the New York Yankees got consecutive homers from Nick Swisher and Mark Teixeira in a 3-0 victory over the Texas Rangers on Tuesday night.Kuroda held Texas hitless until Elvis Andrus’ infield single leading off the seventh, outpitching All-Star lefty Matt Harrison in a crisp duel at Yankee Stadium. The right-hander walked two and struck out five in his fourth career shutout and second this season.The surging Yankees won for the sixth time in seven games. They’ve taken the first two in a four-game set between the AL’s top two teams.

  •  
    The Baltimore Orioles’ Mark Reynolds (12) celebrates his three-run home run with Matt Wieters (32) and Chris Davis (19) Tuesday during the sixth inning against the Boston Red Sox.

    Reynolds hits 2 HRs as Orioles beat Red Sox 7-1
    Associated Press
    BALTIMORE — Mark Reynolds homered twice and drove in four runs, Omar Quintanilla also went deep, and the Baltimore Orioles beat Josh Beckett and the Boston Red Sox 7-1 Tuesday night.Wei-Yin Chen (11-7) gave up one run, nine hits and a walk in six-plus innings for the Orioles, who moved 10 games over .500 (63-53) for the first time since June 24. Chen allowed at least one hit in each inning but was effective in minimizing the damage.Beckett (5-10) surrendered six runs and six hits, including two home runs, in 5 1-3 innings. It’s been a nightmare season for the right-hander, 1-6 in 12 starts since May 20. In his past two outings against Texas and Baltimore, Beckett has yielded a combined 14 runs and five homers in 10 1-3 innings.Reynolds hit a solo shot off Beckett in the fifth and greeted Mark Melancon with a three-run drive in the sixth. After totaling 113 homers over the three previous seasons, Reynolds has only 11 this year. It was his first multihomer game since last Sept. 21, when he connected twice against Beckett.Playing in his fifth major league game, Baltimore’s Manny Machado was held hitless for the first time. But he made two fine plays at third base, where he has yet to make an error.Boston stranded 12 and went 1 for 10 with runners in scoring position, a shortcoming fueled by cleanup hitter Adrian Gonzalez. He made the final out in the first, third and fifth innings, stranding a runner on second or third each time, and finished 0 for 4 with a walk.Before the game, Gonzalez and teammate Dustin Pedroia dodged questions regarding a report that said they met with team owner John Henry and team president Larry Lucchino last month to complain about manager Bobby Valentine’s handling of the team.Valentine also declined to comment.Quintanilla hit Beckett’s first pitch of the third inning over the right-field wall to put the Orioles up 1-0. He has four homers this season (including one with the Mets), after hitting only two in 227 games before this year. Boston used a double by Cody Ross and an RBI single by Carl Crawford to pull even in the fourth.Pedroia tripled with two outs in the fifth before Gonzalez grounded out. In the bottom half, Reynolds hit an opposite-field drive over the right-field wall to put Baltimore back on top.Reynolds’ homer, on Melancon’s first pitch, capped a five-run sixth.The loss dropped the Red Sox to 57-60. Boston lost its 60th game last year on Sept. 10, following 85 wins.NOTES: A moment of silence was observed before the game for former Boston star Johnny Pesky, who died Monday. ... The Orioles placed LHP Troy Patton (ankle) on the 15-day DL and recalled RHP Steve Johnson from Triple-A Norfolk. ... The Red Sox activated RHP Andrew Bailey (thumb) from the 60-day DL. He got the last out in the eighth. Boston traded C Kelly Shoppach to the Mets following a waiver claim. Ryan Lavarnway started behind the plate for Boston and went 1 for 4. ... Boston’s Jacoby Ellsbury singled in the first inning to extend his hitting streak against Baltimore to 37 straight games, the longest by a Red Sox player against one team. ... Beckett has a strikeout in each of his 299 major league games, the second-longest streak to begin a career since 1900 behind Dwight Gooden (349). ... Rookie Miguel Gonzalez starts for the Orioles on Wednesday night against Boston’s Aaron Cook, who makes his first career appearance at Camden Yards.

  •  
    The Atlanta Braves’ Martin Prado celebrates in the dugout after hitting a three-run home run Tuesday during the seventh inning.

    Tim Hudson, Braves shut out Padres, 6-0
    Associated Press
    ATLANTA — Tim Hudson combined with three relievers for a five-hit shutout, Martin Prado hit a three-run homer, and the Atlanta Braves beat the San Diego Padres 6-0 on Tuesday night.Hudson (12-4) allowed two hits and one walk in 6 2-3 innings and won his sixth straight decision.After being held to five hits in a 4-1 loss to Eric Stults and the Padres on Monday night, the Braves had 10 hits, including Dan Uggla’s 14th homer in the fifth inning.The Braves began the day 5½ games behind first-place Washington in the NL East, their biggest deficit since trailing by 6 games on July 5.Jonny Venters, Luis Avilan and Craig Kimbrel completed the shutout.Yonder Alonso led off the ninth with a single off Kimbrel, but he was stranded at third base when Cameron Maybin took a called third strike to end the game.Clayton Richard (9-12) left the game trailing 3-0 after giving up two hits in the seventh. Prado hit a 3-2 pitch from right-hander Brad Boxberger over the center field wall, pushing the lead to 6-0. It was Prado’s sixth homer of the season and first since June 20.Richard allowed five runs and nine hits in 6 1-3 innings. The Padres lost for only the third time in 11 games. San Diego’s only baserunner through four innings came on Chase Headley’s first-inning walk. The Padres’ first hit off Hudson was Mark Kotsay’s single to left field to lead off the fifth. Hudson retired the next seven batters.Hudson rebounded from his previous start when he gave up a season-high six runs in 4 1-3 innings of a no-decision at Philadelphia.Richard, coming off 2-0 win over the Cubs, allowed up a run in the first. Michael Bourn led off with a triple and scored on Freddie Freeman’s groundout.Uggla’s homer to lead off the fifth pushed the lead to 2-0. The Braves added a run in the sixth on three straight singles by Prado, Freeman and Chipper Jones.Hudson was pulled after giving up a one-out single to Alonso in the seventh. Padres left-hander Tom Layne, called up from Double-A San Antonio before the game, struck out Brian McCann, Uggla and pinch-hitter Tyler Pastornicky in a perfect eighth inning in his major league debut. NOTES: Padres LHP Alex Hinshaw was designated for assignment. ... C Yasmani Grandal, on the 15-day DL with a strained right oblique, took batting practice with the Padres before flying to San Diego on Tuesday night. Grandal will begin a rehab assignment Wednesday with Class A Lake Elsinore. ... Kotsay will receive $1.3 million in 2013 under his new deal with the Padres, agreed to last week. ... Braves bench coach Carlos Tosca’s son Matt performed the national anthem on his violin. ... Braves OF Matt Diaz, on the DL since July 21, will have surgery on his injured right thumb on Wednesday. He is expected to miss the remainder of the season. ... Braves LHP Paul Maholm will face Padres RHP Edinson Volquez when the four-game series continues on Wednesday night.

  •  
    Cubs prospect Jorge Soler connects fires the ball to second as the Class A Peoria Chiefs took on the Beliot Snappers Monday night in Beliot, Wisconsin. Soler signed a 9-year, $30 million contract this summer.

    Cubs’ future looks bright ... with power
    By Joe Aguilar
    The smile stretches on Jorge Soler's face like a ball smoked off his bat. It's almost enough to take divert your attention from the linebacker-wide shoulders and muscular arms on his 6-foot-3, 205-pound frame. The gold chain around his neck is nearly as thick as his thighs. "Big guy — grande, fuerte," said Peoria Chiefs player/coach Kenny Socorro with a grin, acknowledging an observation while craning his neck and translating for the large, strong ballplayer standing next to him.

  •  
    Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee Tuesday and still hopes to be ready for the season opener Sept. 9. Urlacher was ready for the start of training camp but has not practiced since July 31.

    This version of three Bears barely ho-hum
    By Mike Imrem
    This week is proof that the world as we knew it is over. Fortunately that doesn't mean that Iran has the bomb and is inclined to use it. It just says that the current week's events at Bourbonnais were much less eventful than they would have been at any other time during the past half-century. Three stories involving the Bears hit the headlines and were greeted with different levels of interest from none to some.

  •  

    (No heading)
    By John Lemon

  •  
    Brian Urlacher

    Urlacher has surgical procedure on left knee
    By Bob LeGere
    At last now the Bears know they're without eight-time Pro Bowl middle linebacker Brian Urlacher for the remainder of the preseason. Urlacher, his teammates and Bears coaches still believe he can return in time for the regular-season opener, following Tuesday's arthroscopic debridement of the left knee he injured in last year's season finale. There is no guarantee he'll be 100 percent by then, but many players return in 2-4 weeks from similar minimally invasive surgeries.

  •  
    Craig Steltz attempts to tackle Broncos running back Knowshon Moreno during the Bears’ preseason opener last Thursday. Steltz has been having a good camp and shined during 1-on-1 blitz drills this week.

    Could Bears’ Steltz push for starting spot?
    By Bob LeGere
    BOURBONNAIS — For now, veteran strong safety Craig Steltz is paired with rookie free safety Brandon Hardin on the second team. But based on Steltz’s training camp performance, it’s difficult to argue that he shouldn’t be pushing Major Wright for the starting job.“Craig’s always involved in the mix,” defensive backs coach Jon Hoke said of the fifth-year player from LSU. “He’s a guy who’s always going to be in the hunt because he’s so consistent day-in, day-out. He does his job. He’s got very good instincts for the position.”Already this week, the 6-foot-1, 210-pound Steltz has a 2-interception day and stood out in a rare defensive back vs. running back, 1-on-1 pass rush drill, where he flashed interesting blitz ability.“You can’t get anybody any more solid,” defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli said. “You can count on the guy. He’s going to be in position, he knows what to do, and he’s really an excellent tackler and good ball skills. Just a heck of a player to have on our football team.”Growth potential:Lost amid the morass that was the offense in the preseason opener was some unimpressive defensive play of backups in the secondary.That group includes three draft picks, cornerbacks Isaiah Frey and Greg McCoy, and safety Brandon Hardin. None of them appeared ready for prime time.“That was the first time for them, so it was a little bit of an eye-opener for them,” defensive backs coach Jon Hoke said. “They didn’t play as physical as they would have liked to and didn’t make as many plays.“Our young guys have a long way to go. After the game we were disappointed. They were disappointed in the way they played. The older guys, for the limited time they got, they did their job for the most part. We’ve got a lot of work to do, but I think we’re making progress every day.”Filling the void:Defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli admits his group will miss Brian Urlacher for however long he’s out.“He’s a Hall of Fame player. What else is there to say?” Marinelli said. “He’s got a presence to him, no question about it. The leadership is special. But we’ll work with the guys we have right now.”Marinelli downplays the difficulty factor of Urlacher fill-in Nick Roach making the transition from the strong side to middle linebacker.“There’s not a transition because he’s great in space, he understands, he’s smart, he’s good tackler, and he’s a very good linebacker,” Marinelli said. “You could put him at all three spots and he’s going to be very good.”Sitting it out:Lance Briggs (day off) joined fellow linebackers Brian Urlacher (knee) and Dom DeCicco on the sidelines Tuesday. Guard Chilo Rachal, defensive tackle Stephen Paea (ankle) and defensive tackle DeMario Pressley remain out.

  •  
    The Big East has hired Mike Aresco to be commissioner of the conference now in rebuilding mode, a person familiar with the decision said Tuesday. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the conference was still working on an official announcement.

    Big East picks CBS VP Aresco as commissioner
    Associated Press
    The Big East on Tuesday hired CBS executive vice president Mike Aresco to be commissioner of a conference now in rebuilding mode. Aresco has been a vice president in charge of programming for CBS since 1996. He's handled the network's contract negotiations with the NCAA for the rights to the men's basketball tournament. He also negotiated CBS's 15-year deal with the Southeastern Conference. "He has all of the characteristics that we need in a Commissioner," University of South Florida President Judy Genshaft said in a statement released by the conference.

  •  
    Donald Fehr, center, executive director of the NHL Players’ Association, stands with players, from left, the Blackhawks’ Steve Montador, the Ottawa Senators’ Jason Spezza, the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Sidney Crosby and the Washington Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin as he speaks to reporters following collective bargaining talks in Toronto.

    NHLPA makes 1st proposal to owners
    Associated Press
    TORONTO — The National Hockey League Players’ Association has made its first proposal in the latest round of collective bargaining talks with the NHL.The union says its proposal to the league includes a smaller percentage of revenues for players and an expanded revenue sharing program to help struggling teamsDonald Fehr, the executive director of the NHL Players’ Association, says players are set to surrender as much as $465 million in revenue under the proposal if the league continues to grow at an average rate. He says that number could balloon to $800 million if the league grows at the same rate it has over the last two seasons.That proposal called for lowering the players’ share in revenue and introducing new contract restrictions, including a five-year cap on deals.The current CBA expires Sept. 15. The NHL has said there will be a lockout if a new agreement isn’t in place by then. The regular season is slated to start on Oct. 11.

  •  
    The extra playoff spot in Major League Baseball this season has thickened the races, with several teams well within October’s reach despite taking mediocre records into the stretch run. That’s having an impact in the seats — as has some good weather, signs of life in the economy and other factors. MLB-wide attendance is up again, about 4 percent from 2011.

    With more teams in race, MLB attendance up again
    Associated Press
    The extra playoff spot in Major League Baseball this season has thickened the races, with several teams well within October's reach despite taking mediocre records into the stretch run. That's having an impact in the seats — as has some good weather, signs of life in the economy and other factors. MLB-wide attendance is up again, about 4 percent from 2011.

  •  
    Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods have played in the same tournament 12 times this year. McIlroy has finished ahead of Woods seven times, including wins at the Honda Classic and the PGA Championship. They both tied for 40th at the Masters. McIlroy has seven top 5s in those events, along with three missed cuts.

    Tiger’s biggest threat in pursuit of major record
    Associated Press
    The next major is eight months away. The next showdown is nine days away. Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy are assured of being paired together next week at The Barclays for the start of the FedEx Cup playoffs. And while these playoff events are more about making money than making history, this could become meaningful down the road. Woods has never faced a rival with this kind of potential.

Business

  •  

    Mt. Prospect holds entrepreneurship meeting
    Submitted by Village of Mount Prospect
    Potential and existing businesses in Mount Prospect are invited to a Business Roundtable Discussion to share experiences and build their professional networks 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 16 at Mia's Cantina Mexican Grill and Tequila Bar, 143 W. Prospect Ave.

  •  

    Catamaran to move headquarters from Lisle to Schaumburg
    Daily Herald Reports
    Pharmacy benefits management company Catamaran Corp., formerly known as SXC Health Solutions, said it will relocate its corporate headquarters from Lisle to Schaumburg.

  •  
    Andrea and Bobby Tsambarlis, founded the Riviera Restaurant in downtown Arlington Heights. Now, the restaurant’s latest owner is relaunching it as Campbell Street Hot Dogs ‘N’ More, hearkening back to his earlier restaurant experience.

    Arlington Hts. Riveria gives way to hot dogs
    By Deborah Donovan
    The Riviera Restaurant, a staple for more than 30 years in downtown Arlington Heights, is gone. Its replacement, Campbell Street Hot Dogs, represents owner Keith Kottke's return to his own roots. "It's an old-style Chicago hot dog stand like I had when I started out on my own 23 years ago," he said.

  •  
    Groupon Inc. shares lost a fifth of their value after the largest daily-deal website reported second-quarter revenue that missed estimates as economic weakness in Europe curbed online coupon sales.

    Deals fatigue? Groupon stock 27 percent down
    Associated Press
    Groupon's stock is 27 percent cheaper Tuesday, but that doesn't make it a bargain. Its stock fell as analysts slashed targets and ratings on the online deals company after it reported its first-ever quarter-to-quarter decline in gross billings, a measure of how much money Groupon collects from customers. Groupon blamed the weak economy in Europe and unfavorable currency-exchange rates. But analysts pointed to a more troubling possibility: online deals fatigue.

  •  
    Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com ¬ The Blue 60 restaurant and bar in Mundelein is facing penalties for multiple liquor-law violations.

    Mundelein’s Blue 60 to keep liquor license
    By Russell Lissau
    Despite repeated legal problems, Mundelein’s Blue 60 restaurant and bar can continue to serve alcohol — but the operators must make some changes, village officials said.The concessions — including an earlier closing time — essentially keep it operating while owner Steve Itsines looks for someone to buy the bar. If officials had decided to yank Blue 60’s liquor license, alcohol could not to be served at the property for one year, regardless of who owns it or what the business is called.

  •  
    U.S. retail sales rose in July by the largest amount in five months, buoyed by more spending on autos, furniture and clothing. Retail sales rose 0.8 percent in July from June, the Commerce Department reported Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2012. The increased followed three months of declines, including a 0.7 percent drop in sales in June.

    U.S. retail sales rose solid 0.8 percent in July
    Associated Press
    Hopes that the economy may emerge from its slump got a lift Tuesday from a report that Americans increased their spending at retailers in July by the most in five months. From cars, electronics and sporting goods to furniture, building supplies and garden equipment, every major category of spending rose last month. It was a heartening start to the second half of the year.

  •  
    Paint shop workers attend to Volkswagen Passat sedans at the German automaker’s plant in Chattanooga, Tenn. U.S. wholesale prices increased in July from June, pulled up by higher costs for cars and light trucks and the biggest increase in corn prices in nearly six years.

    U.S. wholesale prices rose 0.3 percent in July
    Associated Press
    U.S. wholesale prices increased in July from June. Higher auto and food costs were offset by a drop in energy prices. The producer price index, which measures price changes before they reach the consumer, increased a seasonally adjusted 0.3 percent last month, the Labor Department reported Tuesday. That followed a 0.1 percent gain in June.

  •  
    Budget Director Jeffrey Zients

    Looming spending cuts hit more than defense
    Associated Press
    It's not just the Pentagon and defense contractors that face a funding crisis from broad government spending cuts in January. Domestic programs are on the chopping block too, in ways that could affect average Americans more. Fewer air traffic controllers, border guards, FBI agents and park rangers would be on the job. Less meat might get inspected, and fewer people would get winter heating subsidies.

  •  

    U.S. business inventories up 0.1 percent in June
    Associated Press
    U.S. companies barely increased their stockpiles in June from May, and sales plunged by the largest amount in more than three years. Business inventories edged up a slight 0.1 percent in June after a 0.3 percent gain in May, the Commerce Department reported Tuesday. Sales fell 1.1 percent, the sharpest decline since March 2009 when the economy was still in recession.

  •  

    Saks posts second-quarter loss on charges
    Associated Press
    Saks Inc. saw its loss widen in the second quarter from a year ago, as results were dragged down by charges related to closing stores and opening a fulfillment center in Tennessee. But the luxury department store chain reiterated its sales forecast for the second half of the year, underscoring how wealthy shoppers are proving to be resilient in a yo-yo economy.

  •  
    Just a few years after Chinese companies lined up to sell shares on Wall Street, a growing number are reversing course and pulling out of U.S. exchanges. This week, Focus Media Holding Ltd., announced its chairman and private equity firms want to buy back its U.S.-traded shares and take the Shanghai-based advertising company private. The deal would value Focus Media at $3.5 billion, according to financial information firm Dealogic.

    Chinese companies pull out of U.S. stock markets
    Associated Press
    Just a few years after Chinese companies lined up to sell shares on Wall Street, a growing number are reversing course and pulling out of U.S. exchanges. This week, Focus Media Holding Ltd., announced its chairman and private equity firms want to buy back its U.S.-traded shares. Smaller companies also are withdrawing from U.S. exchanges. In a sign of official encouragement, a Chinese business magazine said a state bank has provided $1 billion in loans to help companies with listings abroad move them to domestic exchanges.

  •  

    Retail sales gain sends U.S. stocks higher
    Associated Press
    Stocks moved higher Tuesday after a surprising gain in retail sales in July provided more evidence that American shoppers are still spending even as their counterparts in Europe and Asia slow down. The Dow Jones industrial average rose 41 points to 13,211 at noon. The broader S&P 500 index added five points at 1,409 and the Nasdaq composite index rose 9 points to 3031.

  •  

    Europe on the edge of recession
    Associated Press
    Europe is edging closer to recession, dragged down by the crippling debt problems of the 17-country euro bloc, official figures showed Tuesday. Eurostat, the European Union's statistics agency, revealed that the economies of both the eurozone and the wider 27-country EU shrank by a quarterly rate of 0.2 percent in the second quarter of the year. In the first quarter,

  •  
    Trader William McInerney, center, works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. U.S. stocks fell Monday as evidence piled up that the global economic slowdown is dragging on Asia.

    Futures rise ahead of retail sales report
    Associated Press
    Stock futures are moving higher ahead of a report on U.S. retailers. Dow Jones industrial futures are up 21 points to 13,158 and the broader S&P futures have risen 1.6 points to 1,404.20. Nasdaq futures are up 3 points at 2,731. Economists expect the government to report that retail sales rose 0.3 percent last month.

  •  
    Pedestrians walk along a street illuminated by lights at night in the Plaka district of Athens, Greece.

    Greece raises money to pay off bond next week
    Associated Press
    Greece's debt management agency says it has raised (euro) 4.06 billion ($5.01 billion) in an auction of short-term debt, money it will use to repay a bond next week. But the debt-crippled country saw its borrowing costs rise, while demand for the 13-week treasury bills was much lower than in last month's issue.

  •  

    Oil prices up ahead of US retail sales data
    Associated Press
    The price of oil inched up above $93 a barrel as the market looked ahead to the release of data on U.S. oil stockpiles and retail sales later Tuesday.By early afternoon in Europe, benchmark oil was up 32 cents to $93.05 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract fell 14 cents to close at $92.73 in New York on Monday.

  •  

    Luxury cars do poorly in new crash tests
    Associated Press
    Most midsize luxury cars — including the Mercedes-Benz C-Class — performed poorly in a new frontal crash test developed by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.The new test is designed to replicate what happens when a car strikes another car or a fixed object like a tree or utility pole. The test strikes 25 percent of a car's front end into a five-foot rigid barrier at 40 miles per hour.

  •  
    Better sales in the U.S. and healthy demand for its mainstay home-improvement products helped Home Depot’s net income rise 13 percent in its fiscal second quarter.

    Home Depot 2Q profit rises on better U.S. sales
    Associated Press
    Better sales in the U.S. and healthy demand for its mainstay home-improvement products helped Home Depot's net income rise 13 percent in its fiscal second quarter. The world's biggest home-improvement retailer also boosted its full-year earnings outlook Tuesday, citing its performance so far this year.

  •  
    Americans are carrying more credit card debt than a year ago, yet the late-payment rate for card holders remains near an 18-year low, an analysis of consumer-credit data shows.

    Number of new credit cards issued up 4 pct in 2Q
    Associated Press
    Americans are carrying more credit card debt than a year ago, yet the late-payment rate for card holders remains near an 18-year low, an analysis of consumer-credit data shows.The average credit card debt per borrower in the U.S. grew about 6 percent in the second quarter from a year earlier, credit reporting agency TransUnion said Tuesday.

Life & Entertainment

  •  
    Sue Waskelis of Lisle loves trying new recipes and counts Cook’s Illustrated magazine as her go-to source.

    Cook of the Week: Retiree pleases neighbors with block party beans
    When the folks on Lisle's Hawthorne Lane get together for their annual summer block party, Sue Waskelis shares some tried and true fare. "It is nice to get together with neighbors," Sue said. "Life can be so busy, but our block party gives everyone a chance to visit." With a menu that begins with each family's own meat to grill, Sue looks to add a side dish that is not too complicated to prepare, does not require refrigeration and is easy to transport.

  •  

    Chicago jazz saxophonist dies at 88
    Associated Press
    Earle Lavon Freeman, a tenor saxophonist and National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master, was being remembered Tuesday as a jazz great who made every song his own with a husky, melodic sound.

  •  
    Terre Blair, wife of Marvin Hamlisch, arrives for his funeral service, in New York’s Temple Emanu-El, Tuesday.

    Stars come out to bid Marvin Hamlisch farewell
    Associated Press
    Friends and admirers of Marvin Hamlisch including former President Bill Clinton and Liza Minnelli gathered Tuesday to bid farewell to the celebrated songwriter hailed as "the people's composer." Clinton called Hamlisch, whose casket was covered in his favorite yellow freesias, a "great, giving genius." Sir Howard Stringer, chairman of Sony Corp., called him "the merriest of minstrels."

  •  

    George Jones sets one last road tour
    Associated Press
    Country music icon George Jones says he's ready for one last go-round on tour before retiring from the road. Jones says in a statement Tuesday that 2013's The Grand Tour will be his last after more than 50 years on the road. He plans approximately 60 dates and says it's hard to quit doing what he loves, "but the time has come."

  •  
    Branford Marsalis Quartet’s “Four MF’s Playin’ Tunes”

    Drummer propels Branford Marsalis Quartet
    Associated Press
    Don't let the understated title of the new Branford Marsalis Quartet album mislead you into thinking this is some loosely arranged jam session. Saxophonist Marsalis leads one of the most cohesive, intense small jazz ensembles on the scene today. The group's three long-standing members — Marsalis, pianist Joey Calderazzo and bassist Eric Revis — each contribute original tunes to "Four MFs Playin' Tunes."

  •  
    Ashley Dye, 22, of Bartlett, second from left, is on the current cast of “Bad Girls Club Mexico,” on Oxygen.

    Bartlett 'Bad Girl' now among suburban reality stars
    By Jamie Sotonoff and Dann Gire
    Remember back in 2002, when Crystal Lake's Jim Verraros was on this new show called "American Idol"? And the following year, Wheaton's Kelly Jo Kuharski was a finalist on "The Bachelor"? They were among the first in a decade full of suburban people featured on reality TV. Casting directors clearly love the suburbs. Among the suburban residents on reality TV this summer are Ashley Dye, of Bartlett, who is on Oxygen's "Bad Girls Club Mexico."

  •  
    The Vintage Transport Extravaganza combines earlier eras of automotive and locomotive technology.

    Vintage Transport Extravaganza now in its 22nd year
    By Matthew Avery
    Just as Detroit is known for its automobile industry, Chicago has a rich railroading past. It is only fitting that these two unique forms of transportation come together each year at America's largest railroad museum for the Vintage Transport Extravaganza in Union.

  •  
    Matcha green tea powder brings vibrant flavor to ice cream and other recipes.

    Matcha ado about green tea ice cream
    By Penny Kazmier
    I've made green tea ice cream before by steeping green tea in hot cream, straining the liquid and then following a basic ice cream recipe, but I've never been happy with the results. My efforts resulted in bland ice cream that lacked the level of green tea flavor I desired. But that ice cream I had at a recent cooking club dinner had one ingredient I had never heard of and that ingredient made all the difference: matcha green tea powder.

  •  
    Matcha green tea powder brings vibrant flavor to ice cream and other recipes.

    Matcha Green Tea Ice Cream
    Green Tea Ice Cream

  •  
    This 1964 file photo shows author Helen Gurley Brown. Brown, longtime editor of Cosmopolitan magazine, died Monday, Aug. 13, 2012 at a hospital in New York after a brief hospitalization. She was 90.

    Helen Gurley Brown, the original Carrie Bradshaw
    Associated Press
    Before there was "Sex and the City," there was "Sex and the Single Girl." And before there was Carrie Bradshaw, there was Helen Gurley Brown. True, Carrie, the fun-loving and fashionable sex columnist of the HBO series, was fictional. But such was the influence of Brown, the long-serving Cosmopolitan editor (and "Sex and the Single Girl" author) who died Monday at age 90, that her admirers reached into pop culture as well as recent American history to describe her importance.

  •  

    Apple Bundt Cake
    Apple Bundt Cake: Sue Waskelis

  •  

    Easy Baked Beans
    Easy Baked Beans: Sue Waskelis

  •  

    Night life events: Brew with an Air & Water show view
    Catch the Chicago Air & Water show from the best seat in the house — the Sand Bar Beer Garden, a pop-up beer garden with unlimited food and drink. Located at the northeast corner of the North Avenue Beach Boat House, the beer garden is open from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday through Sunday, Aug. 17-19.

  •  
    Robert Pattinson attends the premiere of “Cosmopolis” at the Museum of Modern Art in New York on Monday.

    Pattinson returns to spotlight on ‘The Daily Show’
    Associated Press
    Robert Pattinson couldn't lay low forever after learning last month that his girlfriend Kristen Stewart had an affair — he has a film to promote. So on Monday, he was in New York for round of media appearances, including a chat with Jon Stewart on "The Daily Show" and the premiere of "Cosmopolis," a thriller based on a Don DeLillo novel.

  •  
    Kristin Chenoweth issued a statement Monday expressing “deep regret” that she is unable to return to the CBS legal drama “The Good Wife,” after sustaining injuries on set during filming.

    Injuries force Chenoweth to exit CBS’ ‘Good Wife’
    Associated Press
    Kristin Chenoweth says injuries she sustained while filming the CBS legal drama "The Good Wife" last month will prevent her from returning to the show. In a statement issued Monday she expresses "deep regret" she'll be unable to return in her recurring role "at this time." She'll appear in the season premiere, airing Sept. 30.

  •  
    Kenny G, smooth jazz saxophonist, has filed for divorce after 20 years of marriage to Balynda Helene Benson-Gorelick, according to court records.

    Kenny G files for divorce after 20-year marriage
    Associated Press
    Kenny G is playing the final note on his marriage after 20 years. Court records show the musician filed for divorce Thursday in Los Angeles, citing irreconcilable differences.

  •  
    First lady Michelle Obama, left, Olympic gold medalist Gabby Douglas and host Jay Leno chat Monday during a taping of “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.”

    Gabby Douglas a winner in ‘Tonight’ appearance
    Associated Press
    Olympic champion Gabby Douglas basked in the "Tonight" spotlight and the admiration of fellow guest Michelle Obama, but the teenager already is thinking ahead to 2016. Host Jay Leno, who noted that Douglas' last name was an anagram for "USA gold," asked Monday if the gymnast intended to compete in the next Summer Games, in Rio de Janeiro. "Oh, definitely," she replied, reaffirming previous statements.

  •  
    In “Sound Shapes,” the platformer has been pared down to its bare essentials. But there’s still huge potential for this small gem.

    The beat goes on in Sony’s ‘Sound Shapes’
    Associated Press
    In "Sound Shapes," developer Queasy Games boils the platformer down to its bare essentials. Your "character" is a tiny ball that can roll, accelerate and jump. On each screen, the object is to collect all the floating discs (musical notes), which are what put the sound in "Sound Shapes." As you progress through each level, the music gets more intense as the action gets more challenging.

  •  
    “The Kingmaker’s Daughter” by Philippa Gregory

    ‘Kingmaker’s Daughter’ finds Gregory in fine form
    Associated Press
    Philippa Gregory, the reigning queen of historical fiction, brings readers to the brink of insanity with the latest saga in her The Cousins' War series. "The Kingmaker's Daughter" focuses on Anne Neville, whose rich and powerful father helped Edward of York overthrow Henry VI to become king of England. Gregory's fourth novel about the civil war begins with Anne's presentation to the newly crowned Edward and the woman he has secretly wed, Elizabeth Woodville.

  •  
    Jamie Spencer, riding Cape Blanco, won the Arlington Million at Arlington Park in 2011.

    Best bets: The running of the Million
    By Scott Morgan
    The 30th running of the Arlington Million is set for Saturday, Aug. 18, at Arlington Park in Arlington Heights. Ravinia Festival and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra present Mozart's opera seria work “Idomeneo.” And the American Cancer Society's Bark for Life comes to the Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates.

Discuss

  •  

    Editorial: Turnaround at Lake County Fair encouraging
    The Daily Herald Editorial Board
    A Daily Herald editorial recognizes changes that revitalized the Lake County Fair and reminds neighboring regions of the viability and community-building value of a county fair.

  •  

    Teen Film Fest a terrific collaboration
    Letter to the editor: Deb Whisler of the Arlington Heights Memorial Library draws our atnetion to last week's Teen Film Fest, and marvels at the planning, the creativity and the fun that can happens when dedicated people work together. "Congratulations to all the creative-thinking partners on the Teen Film Fest Committee," she writes. "You are all a cause for our community's applause!"

  •  

    Johnson has village headed right way
    Letter to the editor: Carol Uhlarik of Elk Grove Village thinks Mayor Craig Johnson has done as excellent job shepherding the village through the economic downturn. "He is part of the solution, not the problem," she writes.

  •  

    The Secret Park is no secret to litter
    Letter to the editor: The Weber kids of Buffalo Grove love their "secret" Emmerich Park, but they don't love the litter that has collected there. They are having a cleanup day on Aug. 18 and invite people to come join them.

  •  

    Library: $16 million on hand pays bills
    Letter to the editor: Arlington Hts. Memorial Library Executive Director Jason Kuhl responds to last week's letter that asserted the library has $16 million of "excess taxation" on hand. Kuhl says that money isn't cash just sitting around gaining interest -- it is the property tax receipts that will pay the library's operating costs until it dwindles and the next installment of taxes comes along.

  •  

    Parks and schools are teaming up now
    Letter to the editor: Ray Berry of Arlington Hts. counters a letter from last week, saying that in his experience, the Arlington Hts. park district and school district share multiple facilities now. "The park district and school districts already are teamed up," he writes. "They have been for at least the past couple decades."

  •  

    Please check Medicare facts first
    A Hoffman Estates letter to the editor: In the future, you may wish to ask yourself who is spreading such rumors and why such a person would want to scare seniors with such incorrect information.

  •  

    Teachers’ pay now more than equitable
    A Barrington letter to the editor: I blame the teacher unions for leading teachers to believe that they continue to be underpaid, overworked and that their pay and benefits are inferior when compared to private industry.

  •  

    We need assurances on health care
    A Barrington Hills letter to the editor: I hear many criticisms of "Obamacare" but hear no alternatives with any meat on the bone.

  •  

    Troubled by ECC public safety, truck schools
    A Burlington letter to the editor: How about a traffic study to see what impact relocating ECC's trucking school will have on such a populous traffic route? How about the public safety training facility having an indoor firing range? Do we really need to be subjected to air and noise pollution? Just because we are a small, rural community doesn't mean we should be taken advantage of.

  •  

    Armed patrons mean same or worse outcome
    A Hampshire letter to the editor: I believe that having armed citizens in the Colorado theater shooting would have changed nothing, except for more innocent people being shot in the crossfire. The assailant wore head-to-toe full combat protection and a gas mask.

  •  

    No wonder approval of Congress waning
    A Sleepy Hollow letter to the editor: William Hicks' July 26 letter to the editor regarding the Republican House members refusing to compromise on the issue of raising the debt ceiling last summer and the negative impact their intransigence has had upon the economy is one of the reasons Congressional approval is at an all-time low.

  •  

    Good idea to not name suspects
    A Wood Dale letter to the editor: Thank you for your policy of not printing names of suspects in mass killings. The irresponsible TV media does not do the same.

  •  

    Milton Twp. cleanup was top-notch
    A Milton Township letter to the editor: After the fierce storm passed through DuPage County on July 1, it left a path of destruction. The unincorporated area I live in Milton Township was especially hit hard, downing many, many trees and branches. It had looked like a tornado had hit, but it was just the results of winds up to 90 mph.

  •  

    No more redefining of ‘gay,’ ‘marriage’
    A Naperville letter to the editor: I've honestly had enough — enough of the Daily Herald splashing the words "gay" and same sex "marriage" all over the paper, and enough of the redefinition of these words. Semantics and the accurate use of words reflect on our collective intelligence as a nation, and are important to me as an educator.

«Jul

Aug 2012

Sep»
S M T W T F S
29 30 31 1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 9 10 11
12 13 14 15 16 17 18
19 20 21 22 23 24 25
26 27 28 29 30 31 1