Daily Archive : Sunday August 26, 2012

News

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    Elgin High School teacher Carolyn Gilbert speaks about the 2008 attack on her by a student and the legislation resulting from it. She's expected to be at Gov. Pat Quinn's side Monday when he signs the measure into law.

    Elgin teacher says new law could have prevented attack against her
    By Kerry Lester
    It will never replace the eye she lost in the unexpected knife attack by a former student who had considered her a favorite teacher. Yet, Elgin High teacher Carolyn Gilbert says, new school safety legislation — slated to be signed by Gov. Pat Quinn Monday at the high school — could prevent future tragedies. "I just hope nobody else has to go through what I had to go through," Gilbert...

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    Palatine boy drowns while at family reunion
    By Paul Biasco
    A 13-year-old Palatine boy who was set to start eighth grade Monday died over the weekend after slipping from a rope swing near downstate Effingham.

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    Roosevelt University Athletic Director Mike Cassidy of Wheaton runs along Golf Road during his 27.8-mile trek from the campus in Schaumburg to the one in Chicago.

    Going extra mile to build athletics from scratch
    By Burt Costable
    The latest in a series of temporary offices for Roosevelt University Athletic Director Mike Cassidy spills beyond the flimsy cubicle wall and onto the floor's worn carpet, where a black electrical cord winds its way to a portable, battery-operated scoreboard. “I'm charging it right now,” Cassidy says, leaping from his chair to demonstrate how he can operate the new device with a...

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    In a victory for 13-year-old Abby Goldberg of Grayslake, Gov. Pat Quinn today announced he has vetoed legislation that would have placed limits on how communities deal with plastic bag litter. Abby this year launched an online petition urging Quinn to veto the bill, which would have barred towns from enacting bans on plastic bags.

    Quinn’s 'plastic bag' veto a victory for Grayslake teen
    By Steve Zalusky
    In a victory for 13-year-old Abby Goldberg of Grayslake, Gov. Pat Quinn today announced he has vetoed legislation limiting how communities deal with plastic bag litter. Abby this year launched an online petition urging Quinn to veto the bill, which would have barred towns from enacting bans on plastic bags.

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    This film image released by Lionsgate shows, from left, Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham and Terry Crews in a scene from “The Expendables 2.” The action sequel came in at No. 1 at the box office for the second week.

    ‘Expendables’ keeps its grip on No. 1
    Associated Press
    Hollywood may have run out of summer hits, but holdover movies easily topped the weekend box office again, led by Sylvester Stallone's "The Expendables 2." The sequel landed at No. 1 for the second-straight weekend with $13.5 million.

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    Terrence Nelson

    Suspects charged after Gurnee robbery, standoff
    By Paul Biasco
    Three men have been charged in connection to an armed robbery, which occured Friday night in Gurnee and lead to a multi-hour standoff with police less than a block from the Gurnee Police Station.

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    Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi attends a press event to announce her new venture, Team Snooki Boxing and the upcoming boxing matches featuring Ireland’s Hyland brothers, in New York, in this Jan. 12, 2012 file photo. Snooki gave birth to her first child early Sunday morning at Saint Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston N.J. according to MTV. A baby boy weighing 6lbs, 5oz.

    Snooki of ‘Jersey Shore’ delivers baby boy
    Associated Press
    Jersey Shore" star Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi early Sunday gave birth to her first child, a boy. The reality TV star and her fiance, Jionni LaValle, welcomed 6-pound, 5-ounce Lorenzo Dominic LaValle into the world at just before 3 a.m. Sunday at Saint Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, N.J., MTV said.

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    Stephanie Perkins, deputy director of PROMO, a statewide gay advocacy group, talks about a pending proposal in Springfield, Mo., to prohibit discrimination in housing, employment and public accommodations based on sexual orientation and gender identity. After initially endorsing the proposal, city leaders are now considering putting the issue before the voters.

    U.S. heartland cities debating gay rights measures
    Associated Press
    Across the heartland, from regional economic hubs in southwest Missouri such as Springfield to the Kansas plains and Nebraska college towns, the battle for gay rights is playing out in city halls and town squares, often with opponents of expanded nondiscrimination laws trying to reverse decisions by government officials.

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    American Taliban fighter John Walker Lindh, seen above on Jan. 24, 2002, is expected to testify today in Indianapolis during the first day of the trial over prayer policies in a tightly restricted prison unit where he and other high-risk inmates have severely limited contact with the outside world.

    American Taliban seeks group prayer in Indiana prison
    Associated Press
    An American-born Taliban fighter imprisoned in Indiana will try to convince a federal judge that his religious freedom trumps security concerns in a closely watched trial that will examine how far prisons can go to ensure security in the age of terrorism.

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    Sidney Mathias

    Illinois GOP delegates deal with storm as they make way to Tampa
    By Steve Zalusky
    The Republican convention in Tampa, Fla. should be relatively calm — at least when it comes to choosing a nominee for president. But from a weather standpoint, matters were getting stormy for several Illinois delegates. Faced with the threat of Tropical Storm Issac approaching the host city, several delegates were adjusting their travel plans Sunday, though none intended to skip the event...

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    Marge Youngs adjusts the flame on her stove at her home in Toledo, Ohio. When given a choice on how to fix Social Security’s serious long-term financial problems, 53 percent of adults said they would rather raise taxes than cut benefits for future generations, according to an Associated Press-GfK poll. “Right now, it seems like we’re taxed so much, but if that would be the only way to go, I guess I’d have to be for it to preserve it,” said Youngs, a 77-year-old widow. “It’s extremely important to me. It’s most of my income.”

    Poll: Raise taxes to save Social Security
    Associated Press
    Most Americans say go ahead and raise taxes if it will save Social Security benefits for future generations. And raise the retirement age, if you have to.

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    College of Lake County’s financial aid office. School officials said at least 11 students were improperly awarded scholarships together valued at nearly $11,400 and some of them apparently knew financial aid employees who were involved in the approval process.

    CLC discovers some employees, students in ‘cahoots’ on improperly awarded scholarships
    By Bob Susnjara
    College of Lake County officials have confirmed that four financial aid office employees were dismissed or transferred to other jobs after it was discovered they improperly awarded scholarships to some students. Scholarships valued at nearly $11,400 were received by at least 11 ineligible students for the fall 2011 or spring 2012 semesters, officials said. CLC board Chairman Richard Anderson...

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    Charity seeks warehouse space in Lake County
    Daily Herald report
    The Society of St. Vincent de Paul Chicago is seeking a donor in central Lake County to provide about 1,500 square feet of temporary warehouse pace to be used in September and October in advance of the opening of a new thrift store in the Greentree shopping center in Libertyville.

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    Lake County nurses group hosts program
    Daily Herald report
    The Council of Catholic Nurses of Lake County hosts its fall program on Saturday, Sept. 15, where the topic will be disaster preparedness planning for Lake County.

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    Ashley Hagstrom, 13, and her mother, Joan, of Glen Ellyn look over the art for sale by United Caribbean Artist Gallery Inc. during the Glen Ellyn Festival of the Arts at Lake Ellyn Park Sunday.

    Rain cuts short Glen Ellyn Arts Festival
    By Madhu Krishnamurthy
    Barely an hour into the second day of the Glen Ellyn Festival of the Arts, organizers were ready to call off the event due to bursts of rain making it hard for artists to keep their works safe and drawing few spectators. Sponsored by the Glen Ellyn Lions Club, the festival, now in its 43rd year drew a couple of thousand people to Lake Ellyn Park Saturday. Organizers let the artists decide when to...

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    Advice on choosing a college
    Daily Herald report
    Robert Franek, an expert on all matters "college" and author of Princeton Review's Best 377 Colleges, will conduct a strategy seminar and pep talk for teens applying to colleges and their parents at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 13 at the Vernon Hills High School Auditorium, 145 Lakeview Parkway, Vernon Hills.

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    Tax assessment help at CLC
    Daily Herald report
    The Lake County Assessment Office will host a tax assessment help center from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 28 at the University of Lake County, 1200 University Center Drive, Grayslake.

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    A man stands on a post with a stop sign as waves pass the seawall during the passage of Tropical Storm Isaac in Baracoa, Cuba, Saturda.

    Despite Isaac’s soaking, Keys residents laid back
    Associated Press
    Tropical Storm Isaac barely stirred Florida Keys residents from their fabled nonchalance Sunday, while the Gulf Coast braced for the possibility that the sprawling storm will strengthen into a dangerous hurricane by the time it makes landfall there.

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    Dan Schweers

    District 59 ramps up superintendent search
    By Madhu Krishnamurthy
    Elk Grove Township Elementary District 59 officials will use focus groups to help select a new superintendent to replace Dan Schweers, who is retiring July 31, 2013, officials said. Schweers, 54, announced earlier this year that after a 35-year career in education he would be stepping down to spend more time with his family and pursue other interests.

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    James Pellitteri, center, has handled a variety of duties as a Gurnee firefighter/paramedic, including this work as a training officer during a fitness and nutrition program in 2002.

    Accomplished Gurnee firefighter adds to impressive resume
    By Bob Susnjara
    Gurnee firefighter/paramedic James Pellitteri has another line to add to his considerable resume. Pellitteri has been promoted to captain and battalion chief for the Gurnee Fire Department. He was sworn in by Mayor Kristina Kovarik during a recent village board meeting.

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    Elgin man who can’t hear or speak unfit for trial
    By Harry Hitzeman
    A 33-year-old Elgin man, who can neither hear, speak nor sign, recently was ruled unfit to stand trial on charges that he attacked a woman near an Elgin bike path this past spring. Miguel Gonzalez-Moreno, of the 400 block of Lawrence Avenue, has been placed in the custody of the Illinois Department of Human Services and authorities have a year to help him understand the legal process and...

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    Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and Republican vice presidential candidate, Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis attend a campaign event at the Village Green Park, Saturday.

    Romney reaches out to women before GOP convention
    Associated Press
    Mitt Romney said it is "sad" that President Barack Obama's campaign is trying to link him to Rep. Todd Akin's statements about abortion, as top Republicans preparing for the party's nominating convention urged the GOP presidential challenger to reach out to women and Hispanics.The remarks came Sunday as Republicans descending on Florida prepared to cram four days of events into three because of...

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    People line up before the start of the Elgin Community College Job Fair in April.

    Illinois delegates in a survey identify one priority for their candidates: Fix the economy
    By Kerry Lester and Mike Riopell
    Jobs and the economy are the top issues for many in the suburbs as Republicans head for their national convention this week in Tampa, Fla., followed by Democrats next week in Charlotte, N.C. The parties differ sharply on how to kick-start the economy, and so do convention delegates from Illinois surveyed by the Daily Herald.

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    U. of Illinois reports record number of applicants
    Associated Press
    The University of Illinois says a record number of prospective freshmen applied this year for admission to its three campuses in Urbana-Champaign, Chicago and Springfield. The university says it received 48,000 applications for about 10,200 openings in the freshman class. It says that's nearly 2,800 more applications than it received last year, for an increase of 6 percent.

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    Six mattresses are shown stacked behind a Washington Park, Ill., home Friday where a 19-year-old St. Louis woman claims she was held captive for more than three years before managing to escape.

    Man charged in case of teen allegedly held captive
    Associated Press
    WASHINGTON PARK — A southwestern Illinois man was charged Saturday with aggravated criminal sexual abuse in connection with a St. Louis teenager who told police she was held captive in his home for three years and conceived a child with him before escaping.

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    Illinois law aims to improve physical education
    Associated Press
    A new Illinois law aims to strengthen physical education in the state's schools.Gov. Pat Quinn signed the legislation Saturday and called on Illinois residents to get healthy and take his "Walk Across Illinois Challenge."

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    Retirements leave gap at state parks
    Associated Press
    Whether it's overseeing trail maintenance, knowing when to pump water from a lake or helping mow the lawns, the on-site superintendents of Illinois' state parks play an important role in managing the state's natural heritage, from Starved Rock along the Illinois River to tiny natural sites in every corner of the state.

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    Hispanics set school, college enrollment records
    Associated Press
    The Pew Hispanic Center reports young Hispanics have reached a couple of education milestones. Last year, more than 2 million Hispanics ages 18 to 24 were enrolled in college and nearly a fourth of all pre-K through 12th grade public school students last year were Hispanic. Pew Hispanic Center says Latinos were 16.5 percent of all graduate and undergraduate students, the largest minority group on...

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    State suspends safety grant until Des Plaines explains reporting problem
    By Madhu Krishnamurthy
    The Illinois Department of Transporation has suspended a federal grant awarded to Des Plaines for traffic safety campaigns due to the city's possible overreporting of DUI arrest numbers and also potentially of overtime hours worked by city officers, documents show. Des Plaines city officials alerted IDOT about the accounting problem when it was first discovered last spring.

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    Khmer Rouge survivor Chea Nouen, 53, sheds tears as she narrates her experience in Khmer Rouge regime at Phnom Trung Bat, Kralanh district, about 40 miles northwestern of Siem Reap, Cambodia. More than three decades have passed since the Khmer Rouge ultras orchestrated the deaths of nearly 2 million, one out of every four Cambodians, and turned the country into a slave labor camp.

    Mass grave raises ghosts from Cambodia’s past
    Associated Press
    More than three decades after the Khmer Rouge ultra-revolutionaries orchestrated the deaths of nearly 2 million people, or one out of every four Cambodians, this country has not laid its ghosts to rest. The past came hurtling back earlier this month when a new mass grave was discovered in this village in northwestern Cambodia, one of the bloodiest killing grounds in the country.

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    Janna Hakim, 18, shows a poster featuring a picture of her mother, Faten, who was taken away from her home in August 2010 by ICE officials and deported to Ramallah, Palestine. Janna has since engaged in public efforts to reunite the family.

    What happens to kids when parents deported
    Associated Press
    A record number of deportations means record numbers of American children being left without a parent. Behind the statistics are the stories: a crying baby taken from her mother's arms and handed to social workers; teenage children watching as parents are dragged from the family home; immigrant parents disappearing into a maze-like detention system.

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    Bob Pudell of Medinah took this photo from the John Hancock Observatory during the Chicago Air & Water Show.

    DuPage photographers look high and low for perfect shot
    Each week's DuPage County Neighbor section includes at least one entry in our Photo Finish contest. Our photo staff picks some of their favorite submissions to run each week and then one overall monthly winner. This week's entries demonstrate that interesting photos may lurk almost anyplace you look.

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    Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney arrives at Adams Field Airport for a fundraising event on Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2012 in Little Rock, Ark.

    Cracks in the foundation appear ahead of GOP convention
    Associated Press
    This is the convention prelude of the Republicans' dreams — their nightmares, that is.Mitt Romney wanted to preside over a made-for-TV gathering showcasing his economic credentials and GOP unity. Instead, he's in Tampa with the national debate focused on rape and abortion and with the divisions within his party — and with running mate Paul Ryan on full display.

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    In this May 14, 2002 file photo, then-Air Force Lt. Col. Martha McSally is seen on Capitol Hill in Washington. After more than a decade of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, dozens of military veterans — Republicans and Democrats — are running for Congress this election year as voters have shown a fresh enthusiasm for candidates with no elected experience. This year, as the military has opened more jobs to women closer to the front lines, several of those veterans are females with battlefield scars and pioneering accomplishments.

    Duckworth just one battle-tested female war vet running for Congress
    Associated Press
    Tammy Duckworth lost both legs and partial use of an arm in a rocket-propelled grenade attack in Iraq. Another candidate in the 2012 elections flew an A-10 Warthog over Iraq and Afghanistan. Another was part of the 29th Infantry Brigade's medical operations near Baghdad.All are war veterans aiming to serve in Congress. All reflect an evolving U.S. military. All are female.

Sports

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    Bandits’ title game, and possibly series, washed out
    By Daily Herald News Services
    With a steady rain coming down all night, Game 2 of the National Pro Fastpitch Championship game between the Chicago Bandits and USSSA Prude was washed out, and NPF officials were in discussions to cancel the rest of the 2012 series.

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    White Sox starter Gavin Floyd makes early exit with elbow discomfort
    By Scot Gregor
    The White Sox won another game Sunday, their sixth in a row. But they might have lost starting pitcher Gavin Floyd for an extended period with an elbow injury. Floyd only lasted 2 innings before being pulled with discomfort in his elbow.

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    White Sox catcher Tyler Flowers rounds third after hitting what proved to be a game-winning 2-run homer off Mariners pitcherKevin Millwood in the seventh inning Sunday at U.S. Cellular Field.

    White Sox grooving on good times
    By Scot Gregor
    The White Sox aren't stupid. They know another bad stretch or three awaits them before the regular season wraps up on Oct. 3 with a game at Cleveland. But lately they've been overcoming obstacles and racking up wins. They followed the same script in Sunday's 4-3 win over the Mariners at U.S. Cellular Field that was cut short by rain.

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    Relieved Barney’s bloop breaks tough batting slump
    By Bruce Miles
    It had to be a big relief for Cubs second baseman Darwin Barney dunked an RBI single into right field Sunday to give them an insurance run. Barney had been mired in a 1-for-19 slump.

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    White Sox pitcher Jake Peavy, who grew up in Mobile, Ala., knows frightening devastation that hurricanes cause.

    Sox’ Peavy thinks about family as Isaac approaches
    By Barry Rozner
    As Tropical Storm Isaac becomes a hurricane and takes dead aim on his birthplace in Alabama, Jake Peavy will be watching closely and keeping his fingers crossed.

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    White Sox catcher Tyler Flowers gets congratulated by teammates and fans after hitting a two-run home run during the seventh inning Sunday at U.S. Cellular Field.

    Flowers’ homer gives Sox sixth-straight win
    Associated Press
    Tyler Flowers hit a go-ahead homer just before the final downpour and the Chicago White Sox beat the Seattle Mariners 4-3 in a rain-shortened game Sunday for their sixth straight victory.

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    Cubs starter Chris Volstad earned his first victory Sunday since July 10, 2011, when he was a member of the Marlins. He had gone 24 starts without a win, 4 short of the all-time record.

    Volstad finally bags elusive ‘W’
    By Bruce Miles
    Chris Volstad waited more than 13 months for a victory, so a couple of rain delays were nothing. Volstad finally got that elusive win Sunday as the Cubs shut out the Colorado Rockies 5-0 at Wrigley Field. There were a couple of rain-related waits, a 2-hour, 23-minute delay before the game started. Another downpour stopped the game after the Cubs batted in the eighth inning, making Volstad wait a little longer for the "W" to become official next to his name in the box score.

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    Grounds crew members take the tarp off the infield Sunday after a rain delay at Wrigley Field.

    Cubs triumph in rain-soaked marathon
    AssociAted Press
    Chris Volstad ended a 24-start winless streak Sunday, allowing three hits in 6 2-3 strong innings for his first victory in 13 months as the Chicago Cubs beat the Colorado Rockies 5-0 in a game shortened to eight innings by rain.

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    Who will make the Bears’ final 53?
    By Bob LeGere
    Twenty-two Bears who are on the roster for Thursday night's preseason finale will not make the final 53 — which must be determined by 8 p.m. the next day. "It's tough," said Bears coach Lovie Smith of the decisions. "We all dream about, if you're an athlete, making that game-winning play at the end or just being on an NFL team. That's the dream of everybody that comes here. Some of them, you have to cut that dream short a little bit. It's hard telling them that, but that's just a part of it."

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    Burlington stings Cougars with 7-6 win
    By Daily Herald News Services
    A constant light rain showered the Kane County Cougars and Burlington Bees on Sunday afternoon at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark, but it was Burlington who dried off with a 7-6 victory. Burlington (66-65, 34-28) grabbed the lead with 3 runs in the top of the second against starter Jason Mitchell.

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    There are five solid contenders for the AL Cy Young Award this season, and Chris Sale of the White Sox is one of them.

    Rongey: Sale has lots of competition in Cy Young race
    By Chris Rongey
    This has already been one of the better Cy Young races we've had in a while with 5 legitimate candidates for the award this time around. David Price, Justin Verlander, Felix Hernandez, Jered Weaver and Sale have all had terrific years. Chris Rongey believes the edge will go to the pitchers on playoff teams, and Sale is definitely in the conversation.

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    The special atmosphere and the zeal of faithful Cubs fans make Wrigley Field a unique experience that broadcaster Len Kasper would not trade for anything.

    Kasper: Lovable losers? Not so fast
    By Len Kasper
    While the Cubs have been called The Lovable Losers, it's a bit of a misnomer. We all know they haven't won the World Series since 1908, but this has been a winning franchise. In fact, only five teams all-time — the Yankees, Giants, Dodgers, Cardinals and Red Sox — have a better winning percentage.

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

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    Saturday’s girls volleyball scoreboard
    High school varsity results from Saturday's girls volleyball matches, as reported to the Daily Herald.

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

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

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    Saturday’s girls cross country scoreboard
    High school varsity results from Saturday's girls cross country meets, as reported to the Daily Herald.

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    Saturday’s boys soccer scoreboard
    High school varsity results of Saturday's boys soccer matches, as reported to the Daily Herald.

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

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    Saturday’s boys cross country scoreboard
    High school varsity results from Saturday's boys cross country meets, as reported to the Daily Herald.

Business

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    Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and President Barack Obama are on even footing when it comes to political advertising.

    You’d need six months to watch every presidential campaign ad
    Bloomberg News
    At 30 seconds a spot, and sometimes 60, it would take more than six months to watch all 526,633 presidential election ads that have run on television since the general election began in earnest in early April. It breaks down to roughly one spot promoting President Barack Obama or attacking Republican challenger Mitt Romney for every spot taking the opposite stance for the Nov. 6 election.

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    Dollar Thrifty car rental may be purchased by Hertz.

    Hertz said to be near $2.56 billion deal for Dollar Thrifty
    Bloomberg News
    Hertz Global Holdings Inc. may strike a deal to acquire Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group Inc. for about $2.56 billion in cash as soon as Sunday, people familiar with the negotiations said.

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    Isaac is disrupting air traffic across the country, especially along the Gulf Coast.

    Tropical Storm Isaac grounds hundreds of flights
    Associated Press
    Airlines cancelled hundreds of flights as Tropical Storm Isaac lashed southeastern Florida Sunday.

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    Men lay behind the seawall as waves brought by Tropical Storm Isaac splash over them in Baracoa, Cuba, Saturday.

    Rigs, platforms evacuate Gulf ahead of Isaac
    Associated Press
    The federal government says oil and gas operators are evacuating offshore platforms and rigs that could wind up in Tropical Storm Isaac's path through the Gulf of Mexico.

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    A surprise surge in gasoline prices is taking some of the fun out of summer.

    Gasoline rises to $3.759 a gallon
    Bloomberg
    The average price for regular gasoline at U.S. filling stations rose 6.8 cents in the past two weeks to $3.759 a gallon, according to Lundberg Survey Inc.

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    This is the Tesla Science Center at Wardenclyffe, the exterior of a Shoreham, N.Y., building that once housed the laboratory of physicist/inventor Nicola Tesla is shown.

    Web comic helps fuel donations to Tesla’s NY lab
    Associated Press
    A jolt of support from a popular Web cartoonist has re-energized a decades-long effort to restore a decrepit, 110-year-old laboratory once used by Nikola Tesla, a visionary scientist who was a rival of Thomas Edison and imagined a world of free electricity.

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    If you’ve got a co-worker that dresses inappropriately, the first step is to start lobbying your human resource department for guidelines.

    How to talk to inappropriately dressed co-worker
    By Karla L. Miller
    Q: My office has a receptionist in her late 20s. Our dress code is business casual (but that isn’t documented anywhere, such as in an employee handbook). This poor girl has obviously been sheltered, because she is unaware of “business” norms that most of us just seem to know. She wears racer-back tops with bra straps showing, sandals covered in crystals and buckles and fringe, and leggings. None of her outfits are offensive — they’re even cute for a weekend — just not appropriate for business. I’m senior to her, but not a supervisor. Would it be appropriate for me to say something?A: Well, let’s not be too hard on her for not being tuned in to the sartorial hive-mind (says the worker bee who enjoys a little bling). Sure, it’s safer to dress conservatively. But without an explicit dress code, an employer has only itself to blame if workers show up in tube tops and Daisy Dukes.So, start lobbying HR for written guidelines. The Society for Human Resource Management (www.shrm.org; login required) offers a template that specifies approved and unapproved wear, addresses religious attire and outlines disciplinary measures.Now, if — big if — you know she values your advice, you could suggest that her clothes don’t always reflect her professional status. Or play dumb: “Oh, Gidget, your bra straps are showing. I have safety pins in my desk if you need them.” Perhaps you could clue her in to those nifty new bra strap clips.Of course, that’s assuming you’re both women. I can’t think of a way for an older male colleague to safely comment on a female co-worker’s attire. And if it’s a younger guy and an older woman — or if it’s two guys. You know what? Maybe you should just let HR handle this.Q: I’ve been unemployed for four months. I’ve had several interviews, but no job has been a good fit. I’m searching job boards daily and have signed up for industry job newsletters. Also, I spend hours volunteering, networking at industry events and connecting with previous co-workers. I don’t feel it’s enough. Is there anything else I should be doing? I’m happy with my field and plan to stay there. Is there a missing piece to my job search puzzle?A: If you haven’t already, set up profiles on networking sites such as LinkedIn. Contact some headhunters. Don’t rule out a less-well-fitting interim job or networking events outside your industry. And make sure you have outlets to help stave off frustration and despair.Otherwise, you seem to be doing all you can with the pieces you control, and your multiple interviews suggest you’re doing it right. Best of luck.Ÿ Miller has written for and edited tax publications for 16 years, most recently for the accounting firm KPMG’s Washington National Tax office.

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    A secretly funded Democratic group is running a $500,000 national television advertising campaign spotlighting the Koch brothers as the money behind Republican groups that also don’t disclose their donors. As a giant check reading “Billionaires Special Interests” and pictures of the brothers flash on screen, a male narrator says, “Billionaire oil tycoons Charles and David Koch and their special-interest friends are spending $400 million to buy this year’s elections and advance their agenda.”

    Democratic group attacks Kock brothers in secretly funded ads
    By Bloomberg News
    A secretly funded Democratic group is running a $500,000 national television advertising campaign spotlighting the Koch brothers as the money behind Republican groups that also don't disclose their donors.

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    Credible leaders must be honest and have integrity, adhering to moral and ethical standards. Consistency is key to being seen as credible.

    Honesty, credibility key to being good boss
    By Joyce E.A. Russell
    Credibility is often considered to be at the foundation of leadership. Regardless of how smart, sophisticated and savvy you might be, if your colleagues or direct reports don't believe you, then they won't willingly follow.

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    Bill Cosby is trying to get a law passed in Massassachusettes to protect his brand and prevent his likeness from being used after his death to promote causes and products he does not support.

    Can a person protect identity after death?
    By Aisha Harris, Slate
    Bill Cosby is trying to get a law passed in Massassachusettes to protect his brand and prevent his likeness from being used after his death to promote causes and products he does not support. His efforts have raised raised some tricky questions about who owns a person's image after that person's death, and how long such ownership lasts. Can a person's identity, like a book or a film, ever enter into the public domain?

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    The price you pay for lobster in a restaurant is determined more by the restaurant market than the lobster market.

    The mystery of lobster market price
    By Matthew Yglesias, Slate
    It's clear that if you walk into a fish store that the price of live lobsters has indeed fallen sharply. But at the restaurants and seafood shacks that dot the coast, prices have fallen only modestly. Instead, the lobstermen's pain is leading to windfall profits for restaurant owners, fueling dark talk of price fixing in some quarters.

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    Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney arrives at Adams Field Airport for a fundraising event on Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2012 in Little Rock, Ark.

    Republican platform won’t spare mortgage tax deduction from cuts
    Bloomberg News
    Republican platform drafters refused to put their party on record for preserving the mortgage- interest deduction, giving Mitt Romney more flexibility to promote his plan to lower tax rates paid by corporations and the wealthiest Americans without increasing the federal debt.The platform panel, which met in before the Republican National Convention, defeated a proposed mortgage deduction amendment.The document, which was also amended to include a call for Federal Reserve audits, will be submitted this week for approval by the full convention.The mortgage interest vote was a shift in Republican policy from four years ago, when the party platform said that “because affordable housing is in the national interest, any simplified tax system should continue to encourage homeownership, recognizing the tremendous social value that the home mortgage interest deduction has had for decades.”Romney, the presumed Republican presidential nominee, has proposed lowering corporate and individual income-tax rates and eliminating some tax breaks, without specifying which ones. A Romney campaign adviser, former Senator Jim Talent of Missouri, urged delegates to reject the mortgage-interest plank to avoid muddying the call for a simpler tax system.Powerful statement“What we have now on tax reform and tax relief is a very powerful statement of principle” that is “in favor of a tax system that is simple, transparent, flat and fair,” Talent said. Platform drafters should “avoid getting into specific areas of the code” because “that would take away from the power” of the existing statement, he said.Others debating the platform disagreed, saying an endorsement of the mortgage-interest tax deduction would send a helpful signal to a housing market still trying to recover from the recession.“The mortgage-interest deduction is high on the list for all Realtors,” said April Newland, a convention delegate from the Virgin Islands. She termed it “the last vestige of why people would be interested in buying a home.”Important statementJohn Sigler, a delegate from Delaware, said platform backing for the mortgage-interest deduction would be “a very important policy statement” of the party’s commitment to “supporting the middle class” and “the uplifting of those that would like to enter the middle class” through homeownership.Kevin Erickson, a delegate from Minnesota, countered that exempting the deduction would undermine the party’s push for a rewrite of the tax code.“Comprehensive tax reform means the entire thing,” Erickson said “If it’s a fair, flat tax, we don’t need the deduction.”In another departure from past Republican policy, the platform panel’s economy subcommittee included a provision calling for an annual audit of the Fed, which regulates banks and sets interest rates.Romney said yesterday that “the Federal Reserve should be accountable” so he “would like to see the Fed audited” in a way that preserves its independence. He hasn’t endorsed legislation the House passed last month to have the Government Accountability Office, a watchdog of Congress, audit the Fed, including monetary policy deliberations.Appropriate flexibilityVirginia Governor Robert McDonnell, the panel’s chairman, told reporters the passage is drafted to ensure that the annual audit would be conducted “with the appropriate flexibility that it does not impair the independence of the Federal Reserve.” McDonnell said that “many of us believe” that, when “there is more sunshine and more accountability, it is a good idea.”The platform doesn’t advocate reviving the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy abandoned after almost two decades by President Barack Obama, said Abbott James, an Oakton, Virginia, gay Republican who attended the session. The 2008 platform referred to “the incompatibility of homosexuality with military service.”

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    The “use by” and “sell by” dates are not federally regulated in the United States, except for poultry and infant formula, and they often reflect when the product passes its peak quality rather than the product’s safety. As a result, consumers end up tossing food that’s safe to eat.

    40% of food is wasted in U.S.
    The Washington Post
    Americans throw away up to 40 percent of their food every year, cramming landfills with at least $165 billion worth of produce and meats at a time when hundreds of millions of people suffer from chronic hunger globally, according to an analysis released by the Natural Resources Defense Council.

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    David Champion is Nissan’s new executive adviser on vehicle quality.

    Nissan hires Consumer Reports top reviewer
    By Bloomberg News
    Nissan has hired the senior auto reviewer for Consumer Reports magazine to be the carmaker's new executive adviser on vehicle quality.

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    The perception that Rep. Paul Ryan understands the problems of small business owners could bring in votes — even though he was chosen largely because of his conservative stance on federal spending.

    Could Paul Ryan’s small business ties aid the GOP?
    Associated Press
    The obstacles that small businesses face hiring more workers are among the biggest issues in this presidential election. The perception that Rep. Paul Ryan understands their problems could bring in votes — even though he was chosen largely because of his conservative stance on federal spending.

  •  
    Americans have had fewer babies each year since the 2008 financial meltdown, with births falling to a 12-year low in 2011, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. The low birthrate and reduced immigration resulted in the smallest gain in population since World War II, which may hurt spending on everything from Huggies diapers to pregnancy kits, child care and education.

    American consumers with fewer babies limit spending
    Bloomberg News
    Americans have had fewer babies each year since the 2008 financial meltdown, with births falling to a 12-year low in 2011, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. The low birth rate and reduced immigration resulted in the smallest gain in population since World War II, which may hurt spending on everything from Huggies diapers to pregnancy kits, child care and education.

Life & Entertainment

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    A comforter is usually one of the first purchases for the dorm room.

    The do’s and don’ts of freshman dorm decorating
    The Washington Post
    In the coming weeks, thousands of tiny white rooms on campuses throughout the country will be welcoming their newest residents and their carloads of stuff. Freshman orientation for the Class of 2016 has actually been in full throttle for months at big-box stores.

  •  
    A video image of the Tupac Shakur hologram is displayed on a computer monitor at the Subtractive Studio in Santa Monica, Calif.

    Holograms raise afterlife issues for celebs
    Associated Press
    When Tupac Shakur rose from the stage in the California desert earlier this year, it was not only a jaw-dropping resurrection, but also the beginning of a new form of live entertainment. Advances in digital artistry make it all possible, presenting celebrity estates with new commercial and creative opportunities, but also some ethical quandaries.

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    A general view of Independence Square in downtown Charlotte, N.C. Delegates in town for the Democratic National Convention will find several places in and around Charlotte where they can soak up a little political history and culture.

    Controversial Charlotte awaits Democratic convention
    By Martha Waggoner
    When all is said and done, perhaps it was destiny that Charlotte host the Democratic National Convention — and that its choice be controversial. Still, delegates in town for the convention, which begins Monday, Sept. 3, will find several places in and around Charlotte where they can soak up a little political history.

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    Mya is a female Alaskan malamute who is about 1½ years old and weighs around 73 pounds.

    Be aware of these ailments as your dog ages
    When you share your life with a dog you understand the sheer pleasure of it — the relaxation of walking your dog, the exhilaration of having your dog "come" when you call him in obedience class and the calmness of sitting quietly, his head in your lap, as you scratch behind his ears.

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    Daily Herald File Photo Tom Drebenstedt, left, of Chicago, Chris Aupperle of Rockford and Kathy Chilis of Chicago enjoyed looking at a 1958 Porsche 356A (T2) Speedster during a previous year's Geneva Concours d’Elegance classic car show.

    Sunday picks: Motor over to the Geneva Concours d'Elegance
    By Scott Morgan and Laura Stewart
    Head out to the Geneva Concours d'Elegance today in downtown Geneva to see participants from across the country display antique, classic and modern automobiles. Garden enthusiasts are in for a treat today at the Heirloom Garden Show at Garfield Farm Museum in Campton Hills. It's lions, lagers, music and more at the Zoo Brew celebration at Brookfield Zoo this afternoon.

  •  
    Photographs of a naked Prince Harry in a Las Vegas hotel room have popped up online.

    What happens in Vegas, doesn't stay in Vegas
    Associated Press
    What happens in Vegas ... doesn't stay in Vegas. It is a marketing ploy, people. Really. Oh sure, you've seen the commercials, the ones that say anything goes here. Even the straight-laced are seen smoking cheap cigars and playing slots before they've left the airport. But Prince Harry is not alone. Everyone is fair game, especially when cameras are standard equipment on smartphones and Facebook is just a click away.

  •  
    Ladies can enjoy Galena’s historic Main Street during the 19th Annual Galena Girlfriends’ Getaway weekend Sept. 7-9.

    On the road: Girls’ weekend in Galena
    By Jacky Runice
    Mark your calendars for the annual Galena Girlfriends Getaway, a weekend strictly for females. Take part in a slipper party, belly dancing lessons and a Sunday brunch finale. There's also the huge On the Waterfront festival in Rockford covering 25 square blocks of the downtown area with seven stages offering more than 75 performers.

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    Frescoes painted by Ben Long can be seen in the Bank of America Corporate Center in Charlotte, N.C.

    5 free nonpolitical things to do in Charlotte
    Associated Press
    Charlotte, N.C., the Queen City — named after the wife of King George II, who ruled the colonies is best known as a business city, home to Duke Energy and Bank of America. Soon, Charlotte will be known as a city that hosted the Democratic National Convention. Here are five things to do for free.

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    Parking brake only as good as the cable
    By Doug McAllister
    Q. I have a 1996 Chevy S10 pickup truck. The parking break was used every day up until two weeks ago when, as I released it, the pedal came back slow. The next time I pushed the emergency brake pedal down to the floor, it would not release.

  •  
    Tub fillers can look and operate like a regular two-handle bathroom faucet. But as you noticed, they’re usually larger than a standard sink faucet.

    Ask the plumber: A tub filler can deliver an extra flow of water
    By Ed Del Grande
    Q. We have a whirlpool tub set up in our master bathroom and I'm having an issue with the fill valve. The faucet on the tub is old and loose and needs to be changed, but I can't figure out exactly what to get for a replacement.

  •  
    A dining room buffet offers a convenient and elegant spot for serving food and can be a fun place for seasonal displays.

    Buffets offer versatility in dining room and beyond
    By Mary Carol Garrity
    The best thing about buffets is they are an ideal addition to just about any room in your home. Here are some quick tips on how to pick and use a buffet to add style to your home.

  •  

    Mortgage complicated by husband and wife’s breakup
    By Tom Resnick
    Q. I got divorced about 10 years ago and moved out of town. My husband stayed in our home and was suppose to refinance and remove my name from the mortgage. He did not do that.

  •  
    Kindergartner Ryan Crawford, 5, right, plants vegetables with fellow students at Moss Haven Elementary school in Dallas, Texas. Gardens planted in schoolyards nationally are intended to encourage healthier eating, and also teach young students about the environment, science, teamwork, math and leadership.

    How gardens help students grow
    Associated Press
    Gathered in the large garden behind an elementary school here, a group of kindergartners watched as their teacher snipped some basil, let them smell the leaves, and then did the same with oregano."We do a lot of smelling out there. Looking. Digging," the teacher, LeaAnne Pillers, said. She took her class to the garden two or three times a week after it opened last spring at Moss Haven Elementary, and she's excited to get her new group out among the plants when school starts next week.

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    ‘Street creep’ can damage driveways, especially on downslopes
    By Dwight Barnett
    Q. We are purchasing a house in a nice new subdivision, but the house is at the lower end of a cul-de-sac. I was told the street incline could cause problems for the home. I thought maybe you could tell me what problems I may be buying.

  •  

    It takes a village to teach a rude child manners
    By Carolyn Hax
    Q. My best friend's daughter, 10, is a little (twit). She never smiles at you, and if she deigns to speak to you, it is a one-word answer spoken with hostility. When I walk into my friend's house, her daughter looks me up and down and refuses to say hello. If she speaks, it is by whispering either to her mother or a friend, and I can tell she is talking about the people present.

Discuss

  •  

    Editorial: Failed leadership at Antioch Rescue Squad
    The leadership failures at Antioch Rescue Squad demand the most serious corrective actions, a Daily Herald editorial says.

  •  

    Didn’t care for priest’s opinion
    An Arlington Heights letter to the editor: It would be comforting if the Rev. Corey Brost, the radical priest, would limit his radical views to the Clerics of St. Viator and not to the readers of the Daily Herald.

  •  

    Everyone should see Assange’s speech
    A Glen Ellyn letter to the editor: Every American should view Julian Assange's speech from his second floor perch at the Ecuadorean embassy in London imploring President Obama to renounce the U.S. witch hunt of WikiLeaks, restore respect and freedom to journalists worldwide, and end the persecution of Private Bradley Manning for his heroic role in revealing the truth about America's shameful Middle East wars.

  •  

    Time to criticize Obama on the issues
    A Wheaton letter to the editor: Like many in America, I'm fed up with the bipartisan smear campaigning. But this must never mean Americans shouldn't criticize candidates on the issues. I voted for Obama last time because I thought it was time for a person of color to be president. Mr. Obama has not let me down on that issue.

  •  

    Pick real estate agent wisely
    A Huntley letter to the editor: You really don't have to give your homes away just to satisfy someone's greed. Shop around for a real estate agent and if in doubt contact the Better Business Bureau. You will find a real real estate person.

  •  

    How about a cure for West Nile?
    A Carpentersville letter to the editor: What I'm not hearing is any reports of scientists developing a vaccine against the West Nile virus. What century are we living in? Is West Nile the new polio? Summer should not be lived in fear.

  •  

    Campton Night Out a big success
    A Campton Hills letter to the editor: We would like to thank all the organizations, local businesses, sponsors and volunteers that helped make the 6th National Night Out at the Village of Campton Hills a successful and well attended event.

  •  

    Thin line between news gathering and insensitivity
    By Jim Davis
    Columnist Jim Davis: When the quest for news collides with a grieving family's request for privacy, sometimes it's best to back off -- or find another solution.

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