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Daily Archive : Sunday October 27, 2013

News

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    Elgin Police Chief Jeff Swoboda knocks down Aurora Police Chief Greg Thomas Sunday night at the 2nd Annual Tuition Knockout police boxing event in Aurora. The main event featured the two chiefs while earlier events featured other officers and investigators and officials.

    Cops, civic leaders punch it out for charity
    By Matt Arado
    Police officers and civic leaders from Aurora, Elgin and other suburban communities put on headgear and padded gloves Sunday night and duked it out in the ring for charity. The boxers, a group that included Aurora Police Chief Greg Thomas and Elgin Police Chief Jeff Swoboda, helped raise money for a youth scholarship program organized by the Aurora chapter of the National Latino Peace Officers...

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    Photographer Jerry Jerusalem takes a shot of Brian Neal of Chicago during Sunday's open casting call for extras or the upcoming NBC TV show “Chicago PD” at Shooting Star Studios in St. Charles.

    TV hopefuls turn out for 'Chicago PD' casting call in St. Charles
    By Mark Black
    Hundreds of TV hopefuls attended an open casting call Sunday in St. Charles for chance to appear as background actors on the upcoming NBC police drama “Chicago PD.” The show, a spinoff of the NBC show “Chicago Fire,” will be filmed in the Chicago area and utilize real police and fire personnel when possible to bring authenticity.

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    Sen. Ted Cruz stands in front of pheasants that were shot during a hunt hosted by Rep. Steve King on Saturday in Akron, Iowa. Cruz attended the Iowa GOP's annual fundraising dinner in Des Moines on Friday.

    Cruz burnishes conservative leadership credentials in Iowa
    Washington Post
    Sen. Ted Cruz used a series of long-scheduled appearances here this weekend to cast himself as the natural leader of a burgeoning conservative movement that nearly derailed the new health-care law.

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    Oscar Martinez, 77, center, greets diners at the Carnation Cafe at Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif. The chef is the park's longest-tenured employee, beginning as a busboy nearly 57 years ago. He says he loves his job, and a new poll from the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs finds he's not alone: Nine out of ten workers 50 and older say theyíre satisfied with their work.

    Not happy with work? Wait until you're 50 or older
    Associated Press
    Not happy with your job? Just wait. A study by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research finds that 9 in 10 workers who are age 50 or older say they are very or somewhat satisfied with their job. Older workers reported satisfaction regardless of gender, race, educational level, political ideology and income level.

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    ASSOCIATED PRESS Former school bus monitor Karen Klein talks with a reporter at her home in Greece, N.Y. Klein became known as the bullied bus monitor at the center of a 10-minute cellphone video that unleashed a flood of donations. After the video was posted online showing kids cursing Klein out, threatening and insulting her, a campaign to send her on vacation raised more than $700,000.

    Bullies: They're not just in middle school
    Associated Press
    Was a losing team bullied? Is your angry spouse a bully? How about that co-worker who's always criticizing you? Or the politicians who forced a government shutdown? Bullies aren't just for middle schoolers. These days, they're everywhere.

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    Judge dismisses suit stemming from Aurora hospital stabbing
    By Harry Hitzeman
    An elderly woman who was stabbed by a mentally ill man at the then Provena Mercy Medical Center in Aurora more than three years ago will not be receiving any monetary damages from the hospital. A judge recently dismissed a lawsuit filed on behalf of Naomi Leeth Johnson after her granddaughter, who was acting as their attorney, failed to appear in court.

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    Tony Award-winner Karen Ziemba stars as matchmaker Dolly Levi in Drury Lane Theatre’s entertaining revival of Jerry Herman’s “Hello, Dolly!”

    ‘Hello, Dolly!’ retains its charm at Drury Lane
    By Barbara Vitello
    On the heels of “Next to Normal,” the challenging, contemporary musical about mental illness, Drury Lane Theatre in Oakbrook Terrace returns to more familiar fare with Rachel Rockwell’s revival of “Hello Dolly,” Jerry Herman’s cheery, very hummable tuner about a late 19th century matchmaker’s effort to get her clients — and herself — happily...

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    Adam R. Bileck

    Bond set at $350,000 for suspect in fiery Lake County crash
    By Steve Zalusky
    A Lake County judge set bond at $350,000 this morning for a Wisconsin man charged with causing a fiery crash early Friday that destroyed two townhouses and significantly damaged another in Hainesville. Adam R. Bileck, 32, of Kenosha, Wis., was charged with aggravated DUI, driving with a revoked license, having no valid driver’s license and leaving a property damage scene.

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    Baghdad municipality workers clear debris Sunday while citizens inspect the site of a car-bomb attack in the Sha’ab neighborhood of Baghdad. Insurgents on Sunday unleashed a new wave of car bombs in Shiite neighborhoods of Baghdad, killing and wounding some dozens of people, officials said.

    Wave of attacks kills at least 66 people in Iraq
    Associated Press
    A series of attacks including car bombings in Baghdad, an explosion at a market and a suicide assault in a northern city killed at least 66 people Sunday across Iraq, officials said, the latest in a wave of violence washing over the country. Coordinated bombings hit Iraq multiple times each month, feeding a spike in bloodshed that has killed more than 5,000 people since April.

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    Victor Ball sprinkles mosquito repelling granules along Lake Pit outside the George C. Page Museum at the La Brea Tar Pits on Wednesday in Los Angeles. On Monday, the museum celebrates a century of excavation at the La Brea Tar Pits, considered the richest and most diverse collection of Ice Age fossils.

    Scientists dig for fossils in LA a century later
    Associated Press
    Digs over the years at the Le Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles have unearthed bones of mammoths, mastodons, saber-toothed cats, dire wolves and other unsuspecting Ice Age creatures that became trapped in ponds of sticky asphalt. But it’s the smaller discoveries — plants, insects and rodents — in recent years that are shaping scientists’ views of life in the region 11,000 to 50,000 years ago.

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    Lou Reed performs at the Lollapalooza music festival in Chicago in 2009.

    Lou Reed, iconic punk poet, dead at 71
    Associated Press
    Lou Reed was a pioneer for countless bands who didn’t worry about their next hit single. Reed, who died Sunday at age 71, radically challenged rock’s founding promise of good times and public celebration.

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    Three firefighters were injured Sunday afternoon after a ceiling collapsed in this condo building in unincorporated Lake County where they were fighting a blaze officials say was likely started by a furnance or hot water heater.

    Three firefighters injured in condo fire near Gurnee
    By Melissa Silverberg
    Three firefighters were injured while battling a fire at a condo building in Gurnee on Sunday afternoon. The two-alarm fire was under control within an hour, but five families were displaced, officials said.

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    Former Wyoming Sen. Alan Simpson says politicians “have been tickling their constituents for so long,” that neither voters nor campaigns know another way.”

    After shutdown, few talking about budget solutions
    Associated Press
    Something is noticeably absent from congressional candidates’ rampant finger-wagging over this month’s bipartisan deal to extend the nation’s borrowing limit and reopen government: concrete proposals to fundamentally alter the U.S. balance sheet. Blame politics as the chief reason for the lack of solutions offered by 2014 incumbents and challengers.

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    Caleb Tameling, 8, of Lombard plays with a train set Sunday during the grand opening of GiGi’s Playhouse National Achievement Center in Hoffman Estates. The awareness and resource center provides programs for children and adults with Down syndrome.

    GigGi’s Playhouse celebrates opening of new achievement center
    By Steve Zalusky
    Supporters and participants celebrated the grand opening Sunday of the new GiGi's Playhouse National Achievement Center in Hoffman Estates. The 10,000-square-foot facility offers an expanded menu of programs for children and adults with Down syndrome, including “GiGi University,” a progressive learning center.

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    Rep. Darrell Issa, Chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, said Sunday on CBS’s “Face the Nation” that the president had been poorly served by Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius “in the implementation of his own signature legislature.”

    Sebelius to face tough questioning on health law
    Associated Press
    Republicans said Sunday they intend to press Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius on the Obama administration’s troubled launch of healthcare.gov, the online portal to buy insurance, and concerns about the privacy of information that applicants submit under the new system.

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    Correction officers leave the Pontiac Correctional Center in Pontiac, Ill. While top Chicago brass lobbies lawmakers to stiffen prison sentences for gun crimes — meaning more inmates in crowded prisons — The Associated Press has learned that overtime pay for those who guard those inmates jumped 34 percent last year.

    Illinois prisons overtime jumped last year
    Associated Press
    Overtime pay for Illinois’ prison guards jumped 34 percent last year as the state grappled with its overcrowded penal system and Gov. Pat Quinn’s decision to close some facilities, The Associated Press has learned.

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    Chicago Bears kicker Robbie Gould cheers on a young fan Sunday during the Run for the Gould 5K and Kids Dash in Kildeer. Gould and TruCore Pilates sponsored the run to provide funds to the Goulden Touch charity which provides support to food banks, cancer research and other causes.

    Gould uses week off to lead charity 5K
    Daily Herald report
    It may have been a bye week for the Bears, but kicker Robbie Gould wasn’t using his Sunday off for a day of rest. Gould greeted and cheered on hundreds of runners Sunday during his inaugural Run for the Gould 5K and Kids Dash, which kicked off from the Whole Foods Market in Kildeer.

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    This combination of photos from Nov. 22, 2012, and Sunday, Oct. 13, 2013, shows the differences in a section of the boardwalk in front of Lucky Leo’s arcade in Seaside Heights, N.J., from immediately after Superstorm Sandy hit and now nearly a year later.

    How Sandy went from ‘boring’ to killer superstorm
    Associated Press
    It was Superstorm Sandy's enormity that set off alarms in the people who knew weather, especially those living in the New York area. For a week forecasts placed Sandy on its path toward New York and it was it sticking to it. Here's a look at what made Sandy the storm it was.

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    Palatine fundraiser collects record $10,000
    Daily Herald report
    The Palatine Township Senior Center’s “Get Wild About Girls Night Out” fundraiser raised a record $10,000 the benefit the center this year, organization officials said. More than 230 girlfriends, mothers and daughters enjoyed great food, drinks, shopping, and getting pampered at the 8th annual edition of the fundraiser, held at Durty Nellie’s in downtown Palatine.

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    Palatine Food Drive kicks off 10th season of giving
    Daily Herald report
    The 10th annual Palatine Food Drive is now underway with drop boxes located throughout the village to accept nonperishable food items along with baby formula and diapers for young families in need. The drive, which benefits the Palatine Township Food Pantry, continues through Monday, Nov. 25, when organizer Lavelle Law, Ltd. and other volunteers will collect items and deliver them to the food...

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    Kane County sheriff’s investigators examine the scene of a fatal crash Sunday afternoon on Route 38 west of Elburn. One person was killed and two injured in the head-on collision.

    One dead, two injured in Kane County crash
    By Melissa Silverberg
    One person was killed and two others injured in a two-vehicle crash Sunday afternoon west of Elburn in unincorporated Kane County. The Kane County sheriff’s department responded to the crash on Route 38 west of Meredith Road about 12:30 p.m., authorities said.

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    Healthcare forum:
    Daily Herald report
    The League of Women Voters-Lake Forest/Lake Bluff Area will present “Obamacare, Just the Facts, Part II” on Nov. 7, 7 to 8:30 p.m.

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    Protecting the Mill Creek Watershed:
    Daily Herald report
    Protecting the Mill Creek watershed is the topic of the Lake County Audubon Society’s general meeting at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 4, in the second floor meeting room of the Libertyville village hall, 118 W. Cook Ave.

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    K-9 Rescue shopping party:
    Daily Herald report
    Our House of Hope K-9 Rescue hosts its annual holiday shopping party on Sunday, Nov. 3, at the Adler Park-Bob Davis Lodge (behind the pool), 1500 Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville.

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    Make-A-Wish fundraiser:
    Daily Herald report
    A fundraiser for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Illinois will be held at 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2, at the Midlane Golf Resort, 4555 W. Yorkhouse Road, Wadsworth.

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    1 dead, 1 injured in Zion shooting
    Daily Herald report
    A shooting at a party in Zion left one person dead and another injured early Sunday morning, police said. The Zion Police Department responded to the 2400 block of Gilboa Avenue at 12:54 a.m. Sunday for multiple reports of gun shots being fired.

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    Senate Minority Leader, Republican Mitch McConnell of Kentucky is seen in the Capitol on Oct. 14. Republicans in Congress don’t usually fight for tax increases, but GOP senators balked when Democrats proposed delaying a new temporary fee on everyone covered by health insurance.

    Here’s a tax increase Republican lawmakers support
    Associated Press
    Republicans in Congress don’t usually fight for tax increases, especially ones that are part of President Barack Obama’s health care law. But GOP senators balked when Democrats proposed delaying a new temporary fee on everyone covered by health insurance.

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    Former Vice President Dick Cheney, seen here in a file photo from earlier this year, said Sunday in an interview that Republicans need to look to a new generation of leaders as the party deals with poor approval ratings following a 16-day partial-government shutdown.

    Cheney: Republicans need to look to new generation
    Associated Press
    Dick Cheney said Sunday that Republicans need to look to a new generation of leaders as the party deals with poor approval ratings following the government shutdown. The former vice president said Republicans have faced challenges before and it’s healthy for the party to work to rebuild.

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    Daily Herald e-edition is available
    Daily Herald staff report
    The technical issues with the Daily Herald e-edition have been resolved. The e-edition is working again. We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience.

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    George LeClaire/gleclaire@dailyherald.com Even in the light of day, some places give off a "weird vibe," says ghost hunter and Elgin native Vince Sheilds, right, as he visits White Cemetery in Barrington with business partner Frank Rosko. White coauthored the Chicago Haunted Handbook, which features "99 ghostly places" in the suburbs and city.

    Elgin native and friends seek evidence for ghost stories
    By Burt Constable
    Did you ever go someplace and get an eerie feeling, the heebie jeebies, think you saw or heard something that isn't there, and end up scaring yourself? Vince Sheilds did that 99 times for his new "Chicago Haunted Handbook" of ghostly places in the suburbs and city. “We do this because we like doing this. It's fun,” says Sheilds, 29, who grew up in Elgin before graduating from Huntley...

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    Mojave Desert gunman’s life crumbled to bloody end
    Associated Press
    Sergio Munoz was known around this small desert city to acquaintances as a personable dad, and to police for his long rap sheet. In recent weeks, he began losing the moorings of a stable life — his job, then his family. Kicked out of the house, he had been staying at a friend’s place, using and dealing heroin.

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    California Gov. Jerry Brown decided late Friday not to take action on a state parole board’s decision to grant parole to Sara Kruzan, thereby allowing the decision to go into effect, his spokesman Evan Westrup said Saturday.

    California governor allows freedom to woman who killed pimp
    Associated Press
    California Gov. Jerry Brown has decided to allow freedom to a woman who received a life sentence when she was a teenager for killing her former pimp. Brown decided late Friday not to take action on a state parole board’s decision to grant parole to Sara Kruzan, thereby allowing the decision to go into effect, his spokesman Evan Westrup said Saturday.

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    New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie comforts Kerri Berean, 33. Christie was in many ways the face of the storm, whether he was embracing President Barack Obama during a visit to the battered coast or consoling a tearful 9-year-old girl who had lost her house and told the governor she was scared. A year later though, some of his admirers have become detractors.

    New Jersey’s Christie blames aid delay on D.C.
    Associated Press
    In an interview with The Associated Press as the anniversary of the Oct. 29 megastorm approached, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie blamed Congress, which took three months to approve a $50.7 billion relief package for the region, and a thicket of red tape put in place to prevent the type of fraud that occurred after Hurricane Katrina.

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    Police officers wait outside a residence Sunday in the Sunset Park neighborhood of Brooklyn where five people, including a toddler, were stabbed to death. Emergency responders found three of the victims dead at the residence just before 11 p.m. Saturday. Two others were taken to Brooklyn hospitals, where they were pronounced dead.

    NYC police: 5 dead after Brooklyn stabbings
    Associated Press
    New York City police pressed forward Sunday in investigating the deaths of four children and a 37-year-old woman who were stabbed at a Brooklyn residence, saying a person of interest had been taken into custody.

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    Schaumburg Police Officer Frank Russo, who died Nov. 1, 2008, shared his love of martial arts with children Frank Jr. and Teresa.

    Schaumburg aims to better employees' health, lives
    By Eric Peterson
    In the five years since Schaumburg Police Officer Frank Russo died from undiagnosed hypertensive cardiovascular disease while on the job, a Schaumburg employee health initiative is making it easier for workers to learn about hidden physical problems and seek improvement in all aspects of their lives. “We do have a wellness committee,” Schaumburg Benefits and Wellness Manager Jeff...

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    Sleep Out Saturday raised more than $130,000 last year for Bridge Communities' transitional housing program, which serves about 120 families.

    DuPage's Sleep Out Saturday reminder of homelessness
    By Robert Sanchez
    To combat what's being called a “family homelessness crisis,” about 2,000 DuPage residents will forgo their beds Nov. 2 as part of Sleep Out Saturday. The event is organized by Bridge Communities, a Glen Ellyn-based nonprofit that helps homeless families get back on their feet. “People ask us why we didn't do it in July,” said Mark Milligan, of Bridge Communities.

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    Jane Hughes Gignoux leads a Death Cafe discussion at her New York City home. Death Cafes, where people talk freely about death-related issues, are rapidly spreading through the U.S. and the world.

    At these coffee klatches, death is on the agenda
    Associated Press
    Len Belzer is among a growing number of people around the world who are interested enough in death to gather in small groups in homes, restaurants and churches to talk about it. “When you’re at a cocktail party and you lead off by saying, ‘What do you think about death?’ it’ll be, ‘C’mon, man, it’s a party! Chill out!’ says Belzer, a retired radio host from Manhattan.

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    Emergency crews respond to the scene where a ride malfunctioned Thursday at the North Carolina State Fair.

    Ride operator charged after N.C. fair accident
    Associated Press
    Wake County Sheriff Donnie Harrison said after inspecting the ride, investigators determined it had been tampered with and critical safety devices were compromised.

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    At a brick kiln, workers greet each other Saturday while preparing the kilns to fire bricks, early in the morning on the main highway leading to Bagram, on the outskirts of Kabul, Afghanistan. In the last two years, as U.S. and NATO troops prepare to leave Afghanistan, brick makers said business has dropped by almost half.

    U.S. inspectors to lose access to Afghan projects
    By Rajiv Chandrasekaran and Scott Higham
    Only about 20 percent of the country will be accessible to U.S. civilian oversight personnel in 2014, according to an analysis conducted by the special inspector general for Afghanistan reconstruction and obtained by The Washington Post.

Sports

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    Sorry, Schaumburg, I’m just being true to my school
    By Mike Imrem
    Even fifty years later, or 100 years later, or a full millenium later, be true to your school remains the theme as the the state high school playoffs begin this weekend. So, sorry, Schaumburg, but the pick here is for the mighty-mighty Schurz Bulldogs to pull an upset.

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    Boston Red Sox’s Jonny Gomes celebrates his three-run home run off St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Seth Maness, left, during the sixth inning of Game 4 of baseball’s World Series Sunday in St. Louis.

    Red Sox beat Cards 4-2 to even series at 2-all
    Associated Press
    Jonny Gomes hit a tiebreaking, three-run homer in the sixth inning and the Boston Red Sox rallied to beat the St. Louis Cardinals 4-2 Sunday night, tying the World Series at two games each. Game 5 is Monday night as Cardinals ace Adam Wainwright faces Jon Lester in a rematch of the opener when Boston romped.

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    Joakim Noah, who played only 19 minutes in the preseason, as able to practice Sunday. The Bulls open their season Tuesday night at Miami.

    Bulls hope to be at full strength for opener
    By Mike McGraw
    Both Joakim Noah and Kirk Hinrich practiced on Sunday, and it appears the Bulls will be at full strength for Tuesday’s season opener in Miami. Their projected starting lineup never played together during the 8-0 preseason. “I feel 100 percent right now,” Noah said at the Berto Center. “I’m having no problem with my groin. I wanted to play in that last preseason game, but Thibs said no. I was ticked about it, but I think it was the right decision.”

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    Mike McGraw’s Western Conference preview
    1. Los Angeles ClippersCoach: Doc Rivers (1st season); Last year: 56-26Outlook: Credit the Clippers for recognizing that maybe the talent wasn’t holding the team back. The big splash this summer was pulling coach Doc Rivers away from the Celtics. Rivers’ primary task is building some chemistry between Chris Paul and Blake Griffin.2. San Antonio SpursCoach: Gregg Popovich (18th season); Last year: 58-24Outlook: Same old, same old. People keep writing off Tim Duncan and the Spurs as being over the hill, but the fade hasn’t happened yet. Now Kawhi Leonard is stepping up as a new star to replace Manu Ginobili.3. Oklahoma City ThunderCoach: Scott Brooks (6th season); Last year: 60-22Outlook: First, the Thunder traded James Harden, then let his replacement, Kevin Martin, walk as a free agent. Any lineup with Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook will be good, but it’s not clear when Westbrook will be back from his playoff knee injury.4. Memphis GrizzliesCoach: Dave Joerger (1st season); Last year: 56-26Outlook: Reaching the conference finals was a step forward for the Grizzlies. Now they’ll continue with the same basic cast, plus SG Mike Miller and an unproven coach to replace Lionel Hollins.5. Houston RocketsCoach: Kevin McHale (3rd season); Last year: 45-37Outlook: This should be interesting. Dwight Howard tried playing injured last year and failed with the Lakers. Does he have it in him to bounce back and carry a franchise? Meanwhile, Jeremy Lin needs to prove he’s a playoff-caliber point guard, and the Rockets must figure out what to do with C Omer Asik, now an expensive backup.6. Golden State WarriorsCoach: Mark Jackson (3rd season); Last year: 47-35Outlook: The Warriors figure to be on the rise as long as they keep riding Stephen Curry. Andre Iguodala might be a nice backcourt complement. But Golden State’s investment in injury-prone Andrew Bogut seems shaky, and there’s no real point guard on the roster.7. Minnesota TimberwolvesCoach: Rick Adelman (3rd season); Last year: 31-51Outlook: Adelman has a long tradition of getting teams into the playoffs. Maybe if he finally gets a chance to play PG Ricky Rubio and PF Kevin Love together for a full season it will happen. There’s a lot of average on the Timberwolves’ roster, though.8. Denver NuggetsCoach: Brian Shaw (1st season), Last year: 57-25Outlook: Shaw set a cautious tone for the season in Chicago on Friday by saying he thinks the Nuggets overachieved last year. Now Andre Iguodala is gone and Danilo Gallinari is recovering from ACL surgery, so don’t expect repeat success.9. Dallas MavericksCoach: Rick Carlisle (6th season); Last year: 41-41Outlook: Dirk Nowitzki’s golden years aren’t going so well. Now the Mavs will try a new backcourt featuring Monta Ellis, Jose Calderon and Devin Harris. Maybe it will work.10. Los Angeles LakersCoach: Mike D’Antoni (2nd season); Last year: 45-37Outlook: Ignore the myths. Kobe Bryant is not coming back from a torn Achilles tendon in time to start the season. He probably should sit out the season and allow the Lakers to have both cap room and a high draft pick a year from now.11. New Orleans PelicansCoach: Monty Williams (4th season); Last year: 27-55Outlook: There are some mismatched pieces with a combination of Jrue Holiday, Eric Gordon, Tyreke Evans and Austin Rivers manning the one, two and three spots. But second-year PF Anthony Davis looked good in preseason, so the Pelicans may fly.12. Portland Trail BlazersCoach: Terry Stotts (2nd season), Last year: 33-49Outlook: LaMarcus Aldridge wants out but has two years left on his contract. The Blazers pulled in some minor additions last summer and return rookie of the year Damien Lillard, while rookie guard C.J. McCollum (broken foot) will start the season on the injured list.13. Utah JazzCoach: Tyrone Corbin (4th season); Last year: 43-39

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    Mike McGraw’s NBA predictions
    East finalsBulls over PacersWest finalsSpurs over ClippersNBA FinalsSpurs over BullsMost Valuable Player1. Derrick Rose, Bulls2. Kevin Durant, Thunder3. LeBron James, HeatCoach of the Year1. Doc Rivers, Clippers2. Rick Adelman, T’wolves3. Frank Vogel, PacersRookie of the Year1. Victor Oladipo, Magic2. Alex Len, Suns3. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, PistonsMost Improved Player1. John Wall, Wizards2. Bismarck Biyombo, Bobcats3. Eric Bledsoe, SunsSixth Man Award1. Omer Asik, Rockets2. Jamal Crawford, Clippers3. Jarrett Jack, CavsDefensive Player of the Year1. Tony Allen, Grizzlies2. LeBron James, Heat3. Joakim Noah, BullsAll-NBA first teamDerrick Rose, BullsChris Paul, ClippersLeBron James, HeatKevin Durant, ThunderMarc Gasol, GrizzliesAll-NBA second teamJames Harden, RocketsTony Parker, SpursCarmelo Anthony, KnicksPaul George, PacersDwight Howard, RocketsAll-NBA third teamStephen Curry, WarriorsDeron Williams, NetsBlake Griffin, ClippersKevin Love, T’wolvesAl Horford, HawksRising stars teamKawhi Leonard, SpursJimmy Butler, BullsNikola Vucevic, MagicJeremy Lamb, ThunderGreg Monroe, PistonsAll-underratedMareese Speights, WarriorsWayne Ellington, MavericksKyle Singler, PistonsChris Singleton, WizardsGreivis Vasquez, KingsAll-overratedDeMarcus Cousins, KingsMonta Ellis, MavericksTristan Thompson, CavaliersGeorge Hill, PacersAndray Blatche, Nets

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    Mike McGraw’s Eastern Conference preview
    1. BullsCoach: Tom Thibodeau (4th season), Last year: 45-37Outlook: Thibodeau led the Bulls to the best record in the East twice, so why can’t he do it again with a healthy Derrick Rose? Everything seems to be lining up well for the Bulls, but being healthy for the playoffs is what matters most.2. Miami HeatCoach: Erik Spoelstra (6th season), Last year: 66-16Outlook: LeBron James is the best, but age could be an issue with the Heat. SG Ray Allen, who saved the Finals last year, is now 38. Chris Andersen is 35, Udonis Haslem 33 and Mike Miller went back to Memphis. The competition in the way of a third straight title should also be stronger.3. Indiana PacersCoach: Frank Vogel (4th season), Last year: 49-32Outlook: The biggest reason for the Pacers’ jump was SF Paul George blossoming into a superstar. Danny Granger used to be the team’s top scorer. Now that he’s back from injury, will he enhance the brand or get in George’s way?4. Brooklyn NetsCoach: Jason Kidd (1st season), Last year: 49-33Outlook: This probably is a one-shot wonder but should be fun to watch. Remember, Bulls beat Nets in playoffs by refusing to guard two weakest scorers. Now those spots are filled by SF Paul Pierce and PF Kevin Garnett. Is PG Deron Williams up to the task of running this show?5. New York KnicksCoach: Mike Woodson (3rd season), Last year: 54-28Outlook: This is more psychological experiment than basketball team. Knicks added Toronto bust Andrea Bargnani, NY native Metta World Peace to join Carmelo Anthony’s shoot-a-thon. Questions: Will PG Raymond Felton have another huge year? Will Amare Stoudemire play even half the season?6. Atlanta HawksCoach: Mike Budenholzer (1st season), Last year: 44-38Outlook: Hawks have been cleaning house but still have C Al Horford and PG Jeff Teague and added PF Paul Millsap from Utah. Lack of competition keeps Atlanta in playoffs.7. Washington WizardsCoach: Randy Wittman (3rd season), Last year: 29-53Outlook: Maybe this is the year when the Wizards’ collection of young talent starts to blossom. PG John Wall needs to reach expectations, while C Nene staying healthy would help.8. Detroit PistonsCoach: Maurice Cheeks (1st season), Last year:Outlook: This is going to be a tough mix, with PG Brandon Jennings and SF Josh Smith fighting for shots. But a tall inside tandem of Greg Monroe and Andre Drummond is a nice asset.9. Cleveland CavaliersCoach: Mike Brown (6th season), Last year: 24-58Outlook: Drafting UNLV SF Anthony Bennett and signing injury-prone C Andrew Bynum were questionable calls. But, with PG Kyrie Irving playing well and most everyone else in the East looking to tank, a playoff run is possible.10. Milwaukee BucksCoach: Larry Drew (1st season), Last year: 38-44Outlook: The Bucks made the playoffs last season but haven’t built much. They swapped Brandon Jennings for Detroit’s low-assist PG Brandon Knight and signed free-agent SG O.J. Mayo. Shot-blocking center Larry Sanders might be Milwaukee’s best player.11. Charlotte BobcatsCoach: Steve Clifford (1st season), Last year: 21-61Outlook: The Bobcats spent some money this summer to pull in former Utah PF Al Jefferson. Now they need one of their many high draft picks to blossom. So far PG Kemba Walker has done the best, but C Bismack Biyombo had a good preseason.12. Toronto RaptorsCoach: Dwane Casey (3rd season), Last year: 34-48Outlook: Should the Raptors try to ride their forward-heavy lineup to the No. 8 playoff spot, or sustain heavy losses and hope to get some suspicious lottery luck next spring and draft Toronto native Andrew Wiggins? The latter sounds like a better option.13. Orlando MagicCoach: Jacque Vaughn (2nd season), Last year: 20-62Outlook: Rookie Victor Oladipo played well in preseason, while SF Tobias Harris and C Nikola Vucevic have shown promise. So the Magic might be better but not good enough to ruin lottery chances.

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    Wolves take ‘big step back’
    By Daily Herald News Services
    The Chicago Wolves were blanked by the Charlotte Checkers, falling 5-0 on Peanut Awareness Day at Allstate Arena in Rosemont. Goaltender Jake Allen made 27 saves for the Wolves (3-5-0-1), who were unable to dent netminder John Muse. He (2-0-0) kicked out 27 shots to post his second shutout in as many games.

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    Blackhawks’ Bickell no longer pressing
    By Tim Sassone
    If there’s a bright spot for the Blackhawks at the moment it’s left wing Bryan Bickell, who has a goal in each of the last four games since coach Joel Quenneville returned him to the third line.

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    Blackhawks game day
    By Tim Sassone
    Blackhawks vs. Minnesota Wild scouting report

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    Brent Seabrook tries to cheer up to Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford after Minnesota’s Justin Fontaine scored during the third period of Saturday’s 5-3 loss to the Wild at the United Center.

    So far, Blackhawks’ special teams not so special
    By Tim Sassone
    There are reasons to be concerned for the Blackhawks through the first 11 games, especially on special teams, where they rank last in the league in penalty killing and 15th on the power play. Penalty killing was a strength last season, but trading Michael Frolik to Winnipeg has proved to be a problem already, particularly when it comes to finding the right guy to pair with Marcus Kruger.

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    Miami Heat small forward LeBron James (6) waves to fans during a timeout of an NBA preseason basketball game against the Brooklyn Nets, Friday, Oct. 25, 2013, in Miami. The Nets won 108-87. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz)

    LeBron James shows off Miami by bike in new Nike spot
    Associated Press
    MIAMI — For his latest commercial, LeBron James wanted to feature some of his favorite things about Miami.A new spot featuring the Miami Heat star and four-time NBA MVP was released by Nike on Sunday night. Dubbed “Training Day,” it shows hundreds of people joining James as he rides his bike through Miami’s streets, swims in the ocean, jogs through the city and plays pickup basketball on an outdoor court.Many of his workout partners in the video are children.“So much fun, man,” James told The Associated Press on Sunday. “The message is obvious. I want people to feel like they’re at one with me and I had a lot of fun, shooting it all over Miami and to have all those kids, it was great.”The spot shows a small number of kids, on their bicycles, waiting for James outside his home in the morning. As James pedals through the streets — waving to a group of men playing dominoes outside, a Miami tradition — the crowd behind him steadily grows. He dives into the ocean for a swim, then pedals back to AmericanAirlines Arena for some shooting and conditioning on the Heat practice court as his workout partners wait outside.James is an avid cyclist, and it’s not uncommon for his bike to be stored near the door of the garage the players use at the team’s home arena.“They allow me to have a lot of input on the spots that come out and they’re basically geared to who I am and what I do on a day-to-day basis,” James said. “It was great to put that together.”The release of the spot coincides with the LeBron 11, his latest signature shoe. James and the two-time defending NBA champion Heat open the season Tuesday against Chicago.———Commercial link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmWMz10Ftko

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    Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning (18) greets Washington quarterback Robert Griffin III (10) after the Broncos beat the Redskins 45-21 in Denver.

    Manning leads Broncos to 45-21 win vs. Washington
    Associated Press
    DENVER — Peyton Manning overcame four turnovers and Denver scored the last 38 points Sunday in a come-from-behind 45-21 victory over former Broncos coach Mike Shanahan and his new team, the Washington Redskins. Manning finished with 354 yards and four touchdown passes to offset his three interceptions and lost fumble. His first two turnovers led to points that gave the Redskins (2-5) a 21-7 lead early in the third quarter. From there, Manning led the Broncos (7-1) on two long scoring drives, then the go-ahead score on a 35-yard touchdown pass to Knowshon Moreno. Robert Griffin III finished with 132 yards passing, one score and two interceptions for Washington before hurting his left knee.Griffin’s replacement, Kirk Cousins, threw an interception that Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie returned 75 yards for Denver’s final points.

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    Pittsburgh Steelers strong safety Will Allen sits on the bench during the fourth quarter in Oakland, Calif., Sunday. The Raiders won 21-18.

    Raiders beat Steelers 21-18 for rare post-bye win
    Associated Press
    OAKLAND, Calif. — Terrelle Pryor ran 93 yards on the first play from scrimmage for the longest touchdown run by a quarterback, and the Oakland Raiders won following a bye week for the first time since 2002, beating the Pittsburgh Steelers 21-18 Sunday.Darren McFadden added two touchdown runs and the defense did the rest for the Raiders (3-4), who had been outscored by more than 13 points a game in losing their last 10 games out of the bye.Ben Roethlisberger struggled against heavy pressure from Oakland’s front, and Shawn Suisham missed two short field goals as Pittsburgh (2-5) squandered any momentum gained during back-to-back wins following an 0-4 start.

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    New Orleans Saints defensive back Chris Carr (31) breaks up a pass intended for Buffalo Bills tight end Scott Chandler (84) during the first half in New Orleans, Sunday.

    Bills fade against prolific Brees, Saints 35-17
    Associated Press
    NEW ORLEANS — Thad Lewis’ toughness was no match for Drew Brees’ talent. Lewis fumbled on the first play against the Saints, staying on the ground after linebacker David Hawthorne knocked his breath away with a hard helmet shot on a read-option. He got up slowly and played the rest of the game, but the Bills could not keep pace as Brees threw for 332 yards and five touchdowns to lead New Orleans to a 35-17 win on Sunday. “I caught my breath and told the doctors I was OK and that I was ready to go back in,” Lewis said of that initial hit. “We’re a resilient team, but being resilient is not good enough.” Lewis, making his third career start in place of injured rookie EJ Manuel, had some good moments. He threw for 234 yards and a touchdown, leading the Bills to a brief 10-7 lead in the second quarter.That advantage disappeared for good with one defensive mistake. The Saints caught linebacker Jerry Hughes in a mismatch with rookie wide receiver Kenny Stills, who beat him down the sideline for a 69-yard touchdown. “You feel really, really terrible as a coach when that happens,” Buffalo coach Doug Marrone said. “I put him in a bad situation.”Buffalo went three-and-out on its next possession, and Brees led a 77-yard touchdown drive right before the half as New Orleans took control. Lewis was under duress throughout, getting sacked four times, throwing an interception and losing another fumble that set up the Saints for their first touchdown. “You can’t make mistakes like that against a good football team and a quarterback like Drew,” Marrone said. “We thought coming into the game we were going to see some pressure. That’s natural in this league anytime you put a young quarterback out there who doesn’t have a lot of experience.” Lewis kept coming back, though. He was perfect when the Bills tied the score at 7 in the first half, going 5 of 5 on a 72-yard drive and capping it off with a 13-yard strike to Steve Johnson in traffic. Tashard Choice led Buffalo with 45 yards on 15 carries as C.J. Spiller sat out due to a sprained ankle. Johnson and tight end Scott Chandler each had seven catches for 72 yards, though Johnson appeared to be laboring through leg pain in the second half.Brees completed passes to 10 targets.“You never know whose day it’s going to be,” Brees said. “We always come in with a game plan that has opportunities for everybody.”Saints tight end Jimmy Graham played after missing practice most of the week with a left foot injury and scored on 13- and 15-yard passes over the middle.Stills scored twice and Lance Moore snagged a 15-yard scoring pass in his return from a hand injury that sidelined him three games.The game matched Marrone against his former boss in New Orleans, Sean Payton.Graham’s second touchdown gave the Saints (6-1) a 28-10 lead in the third quarter. Buffalo (3-5) closed to 28-17 on Fred Jackson’s 1-yard TD, set up by a pair of roughing-the-passer penalties called on reserve defensive back Corey White.But Brees responded by rolling right and lofting a 42-yard pass into the end zone, where Stills outmaneuvered rookie defensive back Nickell Robey to make the catch.Buffalo stayed close early thanks to New Orleans’ missed opportunities.Consecutive false starts by Brees helped stall one threat that ended with kicker Garret Hartley’s second miss of the first half, this time from 38 yards.Lewis quickly moved Buffalo into Saints territory with completions of 17 and 14 yards to Johnson, then found Johnson again for the touchdown. Lewis fumbled a third time when flattened from behind by Saints linebacker Junior Galette, but Buffalo guard Doug Legursky recovered, and Lewis responded with a 22-yard completion to Chandler. That helped fuel a nine-play drive which set up Dan Carpenter’s 37-yard field goal for a 10-7 lead.

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    Baylor Bears running back Shock Linwood (32) runs past Kansas Jayhawks safety Isaiah Johnson (5) for a touchdown run in the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday in Lawrence, Kan. Baylor won 59-14.

    College football ranking breakdown
    Associated PRess
    Breaking down The Associated Press college football poll after Week 9 of the regular season. On one side, the top four teams in the nation: Alabama, Oregon, Florida State and Ohio State. On the other, everybody else. Baylor is the lone team still toeing that line.

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    Red Bulls beat Fire to secure Supporters’ Shield
    Associated Press
    Peguy Luyindula had three assists and the New York Red Bulls beat the Chicago Fire 5-2 on Sunday to finish with Major League Soccer’s best record.

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    Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) celebrates scoring on a 1-yard touchdown run against the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth quarter.

    NFL roundup: Detroit comes back over Cowboys
    Associated Press
    DETROIT — Matthew Stafford’s 1-yard lunge over a pile of linemen with 12 seconds left and Calvin Johnson’s 329 yards receiving lifted the Detroit Lions to a 31-30 comeback win over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday.Stafford threw a 22-yard pass to Johnson, who had the second-most yards receiving in NFL history, to set up his winning score. The quarterback seemed to catch his hometown Cowboys by surprise — some of them appeared to expect him to spike the ball.Johnson’s total trails only the 336 yards receiving Flipper Anderson had for the Los Angeles Rams against New Orleans on Nov. 26, 1989, in a game that went into overtime.The Lions (5-3) overcame four turnovers and a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter against Dallas (4-4).CHIEFS 23, BROWNS 17KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Alex Smith threw for 225 yards and two touchdowns, and the Kansas City Chiefs held off the scrappy Cleveland Browns late in the fourth quarter to preserve a victory and remain the NFL’s lone undefeated team.The Chiefs (8-0), off to their best start since 2003, built a 20-7 lead late in the first half before the Browns (3-4) made it a game.Jason Campbell, starting in place of the ineffective Brandon Weeden, threw for 293 yards and two touchdowns for the Browns.The Chiefs kept stopping the Browns down the stretch. They forced a turnover on downs with just over 2 minutes left, and Ryan Succop kicked his third field goal in the closing seconds to help seal the victory.SAINTS 35, BILLS 17NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Drew Brees passed for five touchdowns and 332 yards, and the New Orleans Saints pulled away for a victory over the Buffalo Bills.Saints tight end Jimmy Graham played after missing practice most of the week with a left foot injury and scored on 13- and 15-yard passes over the middle, powering through tackles at the goal line both times.Rookie Kenny Stills had touchdowns of 69 and 42 yards for the Saints (6-1) and Lance Moore snagged a 15-yard scoring pass in his return from a hand injury that sidelined him three games.Thad Lewis was sacked four times, intercepted once, lost two fumbles and appeared shaken up at times, but stayed in the game for the Bills (3-5), finishing with 234 yards passing and one touchdown. Buffalo’s Fred Jackson scored on a 1-yard run. PATRIOTS 27, DOLPHINS 17FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — The New England Patriots shook off a dismal first half and another mediocre performance by Tom Brady to beat the Miami Dolphins.Trailing 17-3 after gaining just 59 yards in the half, the Patriots quickly turned the game around in the third quarter with two touchdowns in a span of seven plays.The Patriots (6-2) outscored the Dolphins (3-4) in the third quarter 17-0. Miami lost its fourth straight game.Brady completed 13 of 22 passes for just 116 yards, but threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to Aaron Dobson with 6:32 gone in the third quarter that began the comeback.49ERS 42, JAGUARS 10LONDON (AP) — Colin Kaepernick led the way with his arm and with his feet, throwing for one touchdown and running for two more to lead the San Francisco 49ers over the Jacksonville Jaguars at Wembley Stadium.Kaepernick ended up with 164 yards passing and 54 yards rushing, and Frank Gore also ran for two scores for the 49ers (6-2).The Jaguars (0-8) were the “home” team at London’s iconic soccer venue, playing in the British capital for the first of their four-year run of regular-season NFL games in London. It was the eighth regular-season NFL game at Wembley, the home of England’s national soccer team, and the second this year. The Minnesota Vikings beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 34-27 last month.GIANTS 15, BENGALS 7PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Josh Brown kicked a career-high five field goals, Eli Manning played error-free and the New York Giants beat the Philadelphia Eagles.

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    New England Patriots cornerback Kyle Arrington (25) breaks up a pass intended for Miami Dolphins wide receiver Mike Wallace (11) in the third quarter.

    Patriots shake off poor half, beat Dolphins 27-17
    Associated Press
    FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — One solid quarter after a dismal first half was all the New England Patriots needed to beat the Miami Dolphins.The Patriots shook off another mediocre performance by Tom Brady and played strong defense in the second half to beat the Dolphins 27-17 on Sunday.Trailing 17-3 after gaining just 59 yards in the opening half, the Patriots quickly turned the game around in the third quarter with two touchdowns in a span of seven plays.The Patriots (6-2) outscored the Dolphins (3-4) in the third quarter 17-0. Miami lost its fourth straight game.Brady completed 13 of 22 passes, only the fifth time this season he went over 50 percent, but threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to Aaron Dobson with 6:32 gone in the third quarter that began the comeback. He threw for 76 of his 116 yards in the third quarter when the team scored 17 points. In their first seven games, the Patriots were outscored 44-9 in that period.New England got the ball for the second time in the third quarter after Caleb Sturgis’ 46-yard field goal attempt hit the right upright.Stevan Ridley rushed 23 yards to the Miami 41, a 23-yard completion to Rob Gronkowski moved the ball to the 18 and Brandon Bolden ran 4 yards. Then Brady threw his touchdown pass to Dobson, cutting the deficit to 17-10.The Patriots regained possession two plays after the kickoff when Logan Ryan sacked Tannehill, forcing a fumble that was recovered by Rob Ninkovich at the Miami 13. It was one of six sacks against Tannehill, who began the game having been sacked an NFL-high 26 times.Three plays later, Bolden scored on a 2-yard run. Stephen Gostkowski’s extra point tied it at 17 with 6:42 left in the quarter.New England took the lead for good when Gostkowski’s 48-yard field goal made it 20-17 with 8 seconds left in the third period. The Patriots appeared to score a touchdown on the drive when Brady hit Gronkowski for a 30-yard completion into the end zone. But it was nullified by a holding penalty against left tackle Nate Solder.Then Brady led the Patriots on their longest drive of the game, 13 plays covering 82 yards and ending with Ridley’s 3-yard touchdown run with 7:14 left in the game.The outlook was much bleaker in the first half when the Patriots struggled to stop the Dolphins running game and couldn’t generate a passing attack.Miami rushed for 103 yards in the half, more than it picked up in four of its six games this season. And Brady was held to six completions on eight attempts for just 25 yards.Brady’s first pass of the game was intercepted by Dimitri Patterson and returned 2 yards to the Patriots 40. That set up an 11-play drive capped by Tannehill’s 4-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Gibson. But Gibson left the game later in the first quarter with a knee injury and didn’t return.Tannehill, who threw a career-high three touchdown passes a week earlier in a 23-21 loss to the Buffalo Bills, made it 14-0 on a 5-yard scoring pass to Daniel Thomas about five minutes into the second quarter.The Patriots scored with 3:43 left in the half on Gostkowski’s 34-yard field goal, but Sturgis connected on a 52-yard field goal for the Dolphins 30 seconds before intermission.After the kickoff, Brady took a knee and was booed as New England let time expire.

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    Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson (81) pulls in a 54-yard reception as Dallas Cowboys cornerback Brandon Carr (39) and Dallas Cowboys defensive back Jeff Heath (38) defends in the fourth quarter.

    Johnson-led Lions rally to beat Cowboys 31-30
    Associated Press
    DETROIT — Calvin Johnson almost broke an NFL record, and could celebrate the feat because of a comeback capped by his quarterback.Matthew Stafford’s 1-yard lunge over a pile of linemen with 12 seconds left and Johnson’s 329 yards receiving lifted the Detroit Lions to a 31-30 win over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday.Stafford threw a 22-yard pass to Johnson, who had the second-most yards receiving in NFL history, to set up his winning score. The quarterback seemed to catch his hometown Cowboys by surprise. Some of them, including linebacker Sean Lee, appeared to expect him to spike the ball.Johnson’s total trails only the 336 yards receiving Flipper Anderson had for the Los Angeles Rams against New Orleans on Nov. 26, 1989 in a game that went into overtime.The Lions (5-3) overcame four turnovers and a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter against the Cowboys (4-4).Dallas seemed to set itself up to win three straight to stay alone atop the NFC North when Tony Romo threw his second touchdown — and third overall in the game — to Dez Bryant for 50 yards with 6:45 left for a 27-17 lead.The Cowboys, though, allowed Reggie Bush to cap a long drive with a 1-yard TD, then had to settle for Dan Bailey’s third field goal with 1:02 left.With no timeouts, the Lions went from their 20 to the Cowboys end zone thanks to a 17-yard pass to Johnson, a 40-yard connection with Kris Durham and Johnson’s 14th reception that gave them the ball at the Dallas 1.Instead of spiking the ball, Stafford took the snap and leaped with his arms extended to beat the team he rooted for growing up in Highland Park, Texas.The No. 1 overall pick in 2009 was 33 of 48 for 488 yards —his second-highest total — with a 2-yard TD pass to Johnson in the first quarter and two interceptions.Bush had 92 yards rushing and a score. He had 30 yards receiving on eight receptions, including one on Detroit’s last drive.Romo was 14 of 30, failing to complete half his passes for the first time since 2009, for 209 yards without a turnover.Dallas began the game without two starters on both sides of the ball: DeMarco Murray and Miles Austin on offense, DeMarcus Ware and J.J. Wilcox on defense.The Lions struggled to take advantage because they were careless with the ball. Stafford threw two interceptions in the first half to Lee. Bush fumbled early in the third period and Johnson fumbled later in the quarter.In a matchup of two of the NFL’s best passing teams and worst against the pass, punters were on the field twice in the first quarter.Detroit broke the scoreless tie with 54 seconds left in the quarter when Stafford converted a fourth down with a 2-yard pass to Johnson, who made sure his 87-yard reception during the drive wasn’t wasted. Johnson could’ve and probably should’ve caught a pass on Detroit’s next possession that Lee intercepted.Bailey made a 53-yard field goal, matching his career high, to make it 7-3.Stafford didn’t seem to see Lee lurking when he was in the perfect position to pick off a short pass at the Cowboys 22 and return it 50 yards. After running on the next play, Romo threw two straight passes to Bryant — after not making him the intended receiver once. Bryant caught the second one with his left hand, pinning it against his shoulder pad for a go-ahead, 5-yard TD with 46 seconds left in the first half.Bailey kicked another 53-yard field goal to give Dallas a 13-7 lead late in the third quarter.Despite adding to the lead, Bryant wasn’t happy. He flapped his arms and screamed at Romo on the sideline. And after the loss, Bryant was still steaming mad.

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    San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick is congratulated by a teammate after scoring on a 9-yard touchdown run during the first half at Wembley Stadium, London, on Sunday.

    Kaepernick leads 49ers over Jags 42-10 in London
    Associated Press
    LONDON — Colin Kaepernick led the way with his arm and with his feet, throwing for one touchdown and running for two more Sunday to lead the San Francisco 49ers over the Jacksonville Jaguars 42-10 at Wembley Stadium.Kaepernick ended up with 164 yards passing and 54 yards rushing to improve the team to 6-2. Frank Gore also ran for two scores.The Jaguars (0-8) were the “home” team at London’s iconic soccer venue, playing in the British capital for the first of their four-year run of regular-season NFL games in London.They had plenty of fan support, too, with many of the 83,559 spectators waving their giveaway Jaguars flags throughout the evening.None of that affected what was happening on the field, and on the field it wasn’t pretty for the Jags.Kaepernick made his first big play on San Francisco’s first possession, quickly throwing to fullback Bruce Miller on the right sideline for a 43-yard gain.A few plays later, Kaepernick scrambled for 4 1/2 yards on a 3rd and 5, setting up Gore for a short gain and a first down.After an incomplete pass, Gore ran 19 yards for the first touchdown.Kaepernick took over the scoring after that, running 13 yards and diving into the corner for the second touchdown late in the first quarter, then passing to Vernon Davis in the corner of the end zone for another, and finally holding it and scrambling for 7 yards and a touchdown.And all in the first half.Besides a 38-yard field goal by Josh Scobee in the waning seconds of the half to make it 28-3, Jacksonville had little to be happy about. But the 49ers fumbled in their own territory late in the third quarter, giving the Jaguars their best chance to score. They took it as Chad Henne tossed a 29-yard touchdown pass to Mike Brown to make it 28-10 with 3:00 to go.But the Niners bounced right back, first with Kyle Williams returning the kick 47 yards before getting pushed out of bounds. Kendall Hunter ran 41 yards on the next play, bringing the ball to the Jacksonville 13.Gore then ran for 9 yards, 2 yards and the final 2 on three straight plays for the touchdown.San Francisco linebacker Dan Skuta scored the final points, recovering a fumble and running it back 45 yards for a touchdown after Marcedes Lewis let the ball loose following a 6-yard completion from Henne.Sunday’s encounter was the eighth regular-season NFL game at Wembley, the home of England’s national soccer team, and the second this year. The Minnesota Vikings beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 34-27 last month.Next year, there will be three games in London. The Jaguars will face the Dallas Cowboys in their second game of the four-game stretch, while the Detroit Lions will play the Atlanta Falcons and the Miami Dolphins will take on the Oakland Raiders.NOTES: R&B artist Ne-Yo sang “The Star-Spangled Banner” and Laura Wright sang “God Save the Queen.” ... Former San Francisco quarterback Joe Montana and receiver Dwight Clark were the honorary captains for the 49ers. ... It was San Francisco’s second game at Wembley. The Niners beat the Denver Broncos 24-16 in 2010.

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    New York Giants kicker Josh Brown (3) celebrates as Philadelphia Eagles’ Colt Anderson (30) reacts after Brown kicked a field goal during the first half.

    Giants beat Eagles 15-7 on Brown’s 5 FGs
    Associated Press
    PHILADELPHIA — The New York Giants went from 0-6 to right in the middle of the NFC East race in six days.Josh Brown kicked a career-high five field goals, Eli Manning played error-free and the Giants beat Philadelphia 15-7 Sunday.With Dallas losing to Detroit, the Giants (2-6) are just two games behind the Cowboys (4-4) in the NFL’s weakest division. “We still believe,” Manning said. “These last two weeks we’ve played our best football, together as a team, both sides, helping each other out, relying on each other. We’ve got to continue to build off that.”Michael Vick returned for the Eagles (3-5) after missing 2˝ games with a hamstring injury, but clearly wasn’t healthy and was removed for rookie Matt Barkley late in the second quarter.The Giants snapped an eight-game road losing streak while extending Philadelphia’s home losing streak to 10 games. The Eagles’ last win at the Linc was over the Giants on Sept. 30, 2012.Chip Kelly’s high-flying offense that racked up at least 425 yards in each of the first six games has been grounded. The Eagles followed a 17-3 loss to Dallas with another poor offensive performance. They had just 201 yards of offense and have totaled 479 the past two weeks. “We’re instable at the quarterback spot. We haven’t played well at quarterback and it’s cost us the last two games,” Kelly said.LeSean McCoy, the NFL’s leading rusher, was held to 48 yards on 15 carries. DeSean Jackson had 63 yards receiving on eight catches.The Giants haven’t allowed a touchdown on defense in the last 10 quarters.“We’ve simplified things,” defensive end Justin Tuck said. “(Defensive coordinator) Perry Fewell has done a great job putting in game plans that have allowed athletes to be athletes.”The Eagles finally scored when Zak DeOssie’s snap sailed over punter Steve Weatherford’s head and Najee Goode picked it up and ran 2 yards for a touchdown with 4:11 left. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen him do that before, not even on the practice field,” Giants coach Tom Coughlin said of DeOssie.New York opened the season with six losses before defeating Minnesota 23-7 last Monday night. Manning was 25 of 39 for 246 yards and didn’t throw an interception for the second consecutive game after getting picked 15 times in first six weeks.Barkley finished 17 of 26 for 158 yards and one interception.“Matt has been thrown in twice into tough situations,” Kelly said. “He gave us a little spark, a little energy.”Vick was reduced to being an immobile pocket passer. He completed 6 of 9 for 31 yards, threw an interception, was sacked and got called for intentional grounding. The Eagles managed 27 total yards in the four series Vick played. Barkley came in and drove the Eagles 78 yards in just over a minute late in the second quarter. But on first down from the 2, Barkley was sacked by Terrell Thomas and fumbled. Jacquian Williams recovered at the Giants 12.Brown kicked field goals of 40, 44, 33 and 46 yards on four straight possessions in the first half to give the Giants a 12-0 lead. Antrel Rolle intercepted Vick’s second pass and sacked him for a 12-yard loss inside the Eagles 10 on the next series.The Giants moved the ball easily throughout the game, but couldn’t get it in the end zone. They had a first down at the 5 on the series they settled for Brown’s 33-yarder.Brown connected from 27 yards to make it 15-0 in the fourth quarter. Vick strained his left hamstring late in the first half of a win at the Giants on Oct. 6. Nick Foles was impressive in a victory at Tampa Bay, but was awful in a loss to Dallas. Foles sustained a concussion on the final play of the third quarter last week.Barkley made his NFL debut against the Cowboys and threw three interceptions in the fourth quarter. The fumble on his first series against the Giants gave him four turnovers on his first four drives.

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    St. Louis Cardinals’ Allen Craig trips over Boston Red Sox third baseman Will Middlebrooks as he tries to score from third in the ninth inning during Game 3 of the World Series. Craig was awarded home due to interference on the play.

    Obstruction call becomes talk of baseball world
    Associated Press
    ST. LOUIS — By Sunday morning, most everyone had become an expert on the obstruction rule.“How can u make a call like that in the World Series,” rapper Lil Wayne tweeted.“Worst ending to a World Series game ever!” PGA golfer Hunter Mahan posted.“Obstruction of justice,” Arizona Cardinals kicker Jay Feely wrote.No matter that the Official Baseball Rules have a slightly different take on what happened between the Cardinals and Red Sox in Game 3 at Busch Stadium.But anytime someone scores the winning run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning without even touching home plate — called safe on an extremely rare ruling by an umpire — it’s bound to cause a little ruckus.On this point, all sides seemed to agree: Allen Craig’s wild trip over Boston third baseman Will Middlebrooks likely made for the most crazy, chaotic October finish of all-time.And it gave St. Louis a 5-4 win Saturday night and a 2-1 edge.“As a baseball fan, you hate to see a game end like that,” pitcher Adam Wainwright said Sunday before Game 4. “Obviously I’m on the Cardinals, so I’m fortunate the rule is the way it is. And you hate to say it, but he impeded the process of running home.”“But I totally understand why Red Sox players would be upset about that. That is just a horrible way to lose a baseball game, no question about it,” he said.For more than a century, the World Series has delivered dramatic endings — Kirk Gibson’s homer, Carlton Fisk’s shot, David Freese’s drive on this very same field in 2011.There have been plenty of kooky plays — Reggie Jackson turning his hip to get hit by a throw, Roger Clemens throwing part of a broken bat toward Mike Piazza, an out in the 1970 Series when the catcher missed the runner and the runner missed the plate.But no one had seen anything quite like this.“Never,” umpire crew chief John Hirschbeck said.“Never,” third base umpire Jim Joyce said after making the call.Said Craig: “I didn’t know if I was out or safe or not.”Craig was awarded home after getting tangled with Middlebrooks. A wild throw set off the sequence, and Middlebrooks was sprawled in the baseline and kicked up his legs as Craig tripped over him.Running on a banged-up foot, Craig headed home and the throw by left fielder Daniel Nava beat him. Catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia made the tag in plenty of time and Craig never reached the plate. But umpire Dana DeMuth signaled safe, having seen Joyce’s call at third base.Both teams immediately rushed to the plate. Middlebrooks threw down his glove and joined the Boston argument. The Cardinals came out to celebrate.The fans took awhile to react, unsure of what they’d just witnessed.“I think maybe 75 percent of the guys didn’t know what happened,” Cardinals star Carlos Beltran said.“I wasn’t sure why he was called safe,” Middlebrooks said.Middlebrooks said any contact was accidental. Doesn’t matter, though. The play is covered by Rule 2.00 and Rule 7.06, and makes it clear that obstruction is called anytime a runner is impeded.“It does not have to be intent. There does not have to be intent. OK?” Hirschbeck said.Not OK, Boston pitcher Jake Peavy said.“It’s a joke,” Peavy groused.Saltalamacchia was more forgiving.“At the end of the day, if it was obstruction, you’ve got to call it. It’s part of the game,” he said. “I don’t know the rulebook in and out. To me, it didn’t look like it was obstruction.”How rare was it?The last time a big league game ended on an obstruction call was 2004, when umpire Paul Emmel said Seattle shortstop Jose Lopez blocked Carl Crawford’s sightline. Emmel was the first base umpire Saturday night.Longtime Red Sox fans remember a noncall that went against them in the 1975 World Series. In Game 3, Cincinnati’s Ed Armbrister bunted in the 10th inning and bumped into catcher Carlton Fisk. There was no interference called, Fisk made a wild throw and Joe Morgan hit a winning single.

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    Luol Deng looked comfortable and confident on the floor as the Bulls went undefeated in the preseason.

    Luol Deng happy Derrick Rose is back with Bulls
    By Mike McGraw
    Derrick Rose wasn't the only Bulls player who played well in preseason. Luol Deng averaged 16.4 points, taking advantage of the open space on the floor. “Last year was tough. It allowed me to see, not only how valuable he is, but also I had to do a lot last year. I had a good season, but I did a lot out of character."

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    Naperville Central advances to sectional
    By Chris Walker
    Naperville Central came out in attack mode during Saturday night’s Class 3A Metea Valley regional title game against the host Mustangs.

Business

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    Toyota’s in-house lender is leveraging the automaker’s AA- credit rating and cash to offer low rates and keep customers coming back.

    Toyota’s new weapon: A financing arm Detroit can’t match
    Bloomberg
    Toyota’s $37 billion cash pile and credit ratings that outrank General Motors and Ford enable its Toyota Financial Services unit to offer more loans and take on riskier borrowers. The operation, with $95 billion in assets, handles more of affiliated dealers’ direct loans and leases in the U.S. than any other automaker’s captive lender, or wholly owned finance arm. Toyota also uses intense data systems to keep buyers from straying to GM or Ford.

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    Apple Inc. introduced new iPads in time for holiday shoppers, as it battles to stay ahead of rivals in the increasingly crowded market for tablet computers.

    Apple bets on fan devotion in iPad debut with higher pricing
    Bloomberg
    Apple Inc. is responding to growing competition in tablet computers by holding firm to a strategy of selling iPads at a premium.Even as rivals such as Amazon.com Inc., Samsung Electronics Co. and Google Inc. introduce tablets at lower prices, Apple Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook went in the opposite direction this week.

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    Career Coach Q&A: Mid-career transition, job change fears
    Joyce E.A. Russell, The Washington Post
    Career Coach Joyce E.A. Russell answers questions from readers about mid-career transition and job change fears.

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    Work Advice: Boomers vs. boomerangs
    By Karla L. Miller
    Karla L. Miller writes an advice column on navigating the modern workplace. Each week she will answer one or two questions from readers.

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    Amazon.com raised the minimum order size needed for free shipping to $35 from $25. The change, made Monday, comes ahead of the busy holiday shopping season. It also comes after Walmart.com made a similar change earlier this month.

    Amazon.com raises free shipping minimum to $35
    Associated Press
    The online retailer raised the minimum order size needed for free shipping to $35 from $25. The change, made Monday, comes ahead of the busy holiday shopping season. It also comes after Walmart.com made a similar change earlier this month.

  •  
    Luanne Lynch, 57, was laid off from her clerical job in March and still hasn’t managed to replace it. It was her third layoff in the past decade. Americans searching for jobs are finding a lot of hesitance to hiring them. Older people have higher rates of long-term unemployment and a new poll by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research illuminates some of the challenges they’re facing.

    For jobless over 50, a challenging search for work
    Associated Press
    The AP-NORC Center poll found 55 percent of those 50 and older who have sought a job in the past five years characterized their search as difficult, and 43 percent thought employers were concerned about their age. Further, most in the poll reported finding few available jobs (69 percent), few that paid well (63 percent) or that offered adequate benefits (53 percent). About a third were told they were overqualified.

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    A new study that attempts to quantify the benefits of self-driving cars and trucks says they hold the potential to transform driving by eliminating the majority of traffic deaths, significantly reducing congestion and providing tens of billions of dollars in economic benefits.

    Leaving the driving to a computer has big benefits
    Associated Press
    A new study says self-driving cars and trucks hold the potential to transform driving by eliminating the majority of traffic deaths, significantly reducing congestion and providing tens of billions of dollars in economic benefits. But significant hurdles to widespread use of self-driving cars remain, the most important of which is likely to be cost.

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    Jorge Farber, owner of Madelaine Chocolates, poses for portraits at his factory in the Queens borough of New York. Madelaine Chocolates, damaged during Super Storm Sandy, has partially recovered and is continuing repairs.

    Some small businesses still wait for Sandy grants
    Associated Press
    Small business owners who applied for grants after Superstorm Sanday are more likely to have gotten money by now from private sources like corporations, charities and chambers of commerce rather than the government. The problem: States must, by law, follow certain steps to give grants. But a lack of planning and negative attitudes about businesses also stand in the way of getting money quickly to companies that need it, according to people who study disaster recovery.

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    Fund investors may face a bigger tax bill for 2013
    Associated Press
    April 15 is still a ways away, but it’s not too early to start thinking about taxes for 2013. A confluence of factors means that many mutual fund investors are likely to face bigger tax bills.

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    A man rolls a joint with Canadian-grown marijuana at his room in the old quarter area of Hanoi. Western-grown marijuana is available in Vietnam and popular among its elite, a result of its passion for imported products and the widespread involvement of Vietnamese diaspora gangs in the cultivation of marijuana in North America and Europe.

    Canadian weed finds export market in Asia
    Associated Press
    Potent marijuana grown indoors in Canada and the United States is easy to buy in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, say regular smokers, and sells for up to 10 times the price of locally grown weed. That’s perhaps surprising given that marijuana is easy to cultivate regionally, and bringing drugs across continents is expensive and risky. “The quality and reputation of the Canadian cannabis is such that it could be worth the trouble and cost of importing,” said Martin Bouchard, a professor in criminology at Canada’s Simon Fraser University.

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    Wary federal workers look to next budget talks with caution
    The Washington Post
    Having survived the 16-day shutdown, federal workers are getting ready for the next round in the congressional budget fight. But this time they’re keeping a wary eye on their cornerman, even as they try to block the big blows from Republicans across the ring.

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    The FDA is set to decide this month whether to lump e-cigarettes in with conventional smokes as part of its oversight of the $90 billion U.S. tobacco market. Such a step would set the stage for greater restrictions on production, advertising, flavorings and online sales.

    E-cigarette marketing seen threatened under FDA scrutiny
    Bloomberg
    The FDA is set to decide this month whether to lump e-cigarettes in with conventional smokes as part of its oversight of the $90 billion U.S. tobacco market. Such a step would set the stage for greater restrictions on production, advertising, flavorings and online sales. “We do anticipate becoming a regulated industry, so it is very possible the way in which we advertise will change,” said Andries Verleur, co-founder of e-cigarette maker VMR Products.

  •  
    Always keep your emergency fund in a bank account that’s easily accessible.

    The shutdown’s lesson: You need an emergency fund
    Associated Press
    Thousands of government workers were out of work for more than two weeks, causing many of them to fall behind on their bills. Although they will receive back pay, the event highlights how quickly, and unexpectedly, financial situations can change. The shutdown also showed that no jobs are safe, even government positions which are normally thought of as the safest.

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    Repair industry has seen many changes over the years
    By Doug McAllister
    I was thinking the other day about all the changes I have seen in automotive technology since I got into this business back in the early ’70s. For the most part all of these improvements have been good and the reliability and drivability of today’s automobile is very good. Yet it has come with a steep learning curve.

Life & Entertainment

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    Chris Brown was arrested early Sunday in Washington after a fight broke out near the W Hotel near the White House.

    Chris Brown expected in D.C. court on assault charge
    Associated Press
    Chris Brown was expected to appear in court Monday on an assault charge after a fight broke out over the weekend near a Washington hotel, which could further snarl the Grammy Award-winning R&B singer’s ongoing legal troubles. Brown and another man were charged Sunday with felony assault in the altercation that started just before 4:30 a.m., D.C. police spokesman Paul Metcalf said. It happened near the W Hotel, not far from the White House.

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    Johnny Knoxville attends a special screening of “Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa” Oct. 21 at the Sunshine Landmark Theater in New York.

    ‘Bad Grandpa’ sinks ‘Gravity’ to top box office
    Associated Press
    Apparently astronauts are no match for Jackass. Paramount’s “Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa” topped the weekend box office with $32 million, according to studio estimates Sunday, sinking three-week champ “Gravity” to second place. “Bad Grandpa” stars Johnny Knoxville as an accident-prone grandfather in the hidden-camera comedy.

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    A display of pumpkins is part of the fun at the annual Sycamore Pumpkin Festival.

    Sunday picks: Pumpkins aplenty in Sycamore
    By Scott Morgan and Laura Stewart
    Head out to Sycarmore for the last day of the Sycamore Pumpkin Festival. Listen to ghost stories in the park, play zombie mini-golf and more. If you've loved comedian Alonzo Bodden on NBC's “Last Comic Standing,” then don't miss him in person at Schaumburg's Improv Comedy Showcase. This is the last day to catch those lovable alpacas on display at the 2013 Illinois Alpaca Show at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Grayslake.

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    In-laws wrestle with how to deal with email bombs
    By Carolyn Hax
    Q. Although my daughter-in-law can be effusively appreciative, she frequently scolds me or my husband. I have received emails that do not say, “Dear MIL, thank you for your help,” but only, “You left the garage door open and a raccoon could have turned over the garbage. You need to be more careful.”

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    Kenny Rogers long ago cemented his legacy in the world of popular music, and we’ll get another reminder of this on Sunday when he’s finally inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

    Kenny Rogers reflects on long shadow of his legacy
    By Chris Talbott, Associated Press
    Kenny Rogers still records and performs — when the mood strikes him — but he’s glad he no longer lives the life of a pop star. “I wouldn’t be out there today if you paid me,” he joked. Rogers long ago cemented his legacy in the world of popular music, and there will be another reminder of this when he’s finally inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame on Sunday.

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    Some candy for the holiday is OK in moderation and can teach children how to regulate how much they eat.

    Parents shouldn’t get spooked by kids’ Halloween haul
    By Samira Kawash
    Across the nation, parents like me are bracing for the annual sugar rush known as Halloween. I’ve got pounds of mini-treats to pass out to neighborhood goblins and ghouls. But many parents struggle to balance our kids’ mania for sweets with a nagging feeling that all that candy can’t be a good thing.

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    Century Tile, which has 12 stores in the area, has been providing a lot of customers with vinyl tile made by Karndean that has the realistic look of wood or stone.

    New products, technology make homeownership a breeze, not to mention stylish
    By Jean Murphy
    Home ownership is not always glorious. Things go wrong occasionally. So it is comforting to know that new products and technology are constantly coming down the pipeline to solve myriad home-related issues.

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    The chemistry between James Spader as Raymond “Red” Reddington and Megan Boone as Elizabeth Keen has clicked right away in NBC’s new series “The Blacklist.” It airs at 9 p.m. Mondays on NBC.

    Two stars in sync on NBC thriller ‘The Blacklist’
    By Frazier Moore, Associated Press
    They set “The Blacklist” in Washington, but in truth it inhabits a Manhattan studio where “Law & Order” lived for two decades. Judging from its out-of-the-gate robust ratings, good reviews and swift full-season pickup, this new NBC crime thriller could be settling in for a long stay of its own. The unlikely partners at the heart of the show are played by James Spader and Megan Boone, and an all-important chemistry between them clicked right away.

  •  
    The King Charles Troupe featuring unicycling basketball players returns to perform with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus in the show “Built to Amaze!”

    Comic basketball act’s return helps circus build upon tradition
    By Scott Morgan
    It’s a tradition for the Chicago Bulls to go on an extended series of road games so that one of three ongoing Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus tours can roll into the Chicago area for back-to-back engagements, first at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont (Nov. 1-11) and then at the United Center in Chicago (Nov. 20 through Dec. 1). But local b-ball fans won’t entirely miss out on the game since the unicycling basketball-playing King Charles Troupe is back touring with the circus.

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    Professional photographer Larry Racioppo created this library stand from scrap lumber, yellow “caution” tape and orange plastic construction fencing to display his personal photo album showing the destruction in the Belle Harbor section of the Rockaways in New York. The album is among 200 photographs on display in the exhibit “Rising Waters: Photographs of Sandy,” which opens at the Museum of the City of New York on Tuesday, Oct. 29, on the one-year anniversary of Sandy’s destruction.

    Sandy storm survivors’ photos make up NYC exhibit
    By Ula Ilnytzky, Associated Press
    Larry Racioppo, a retired photographer for the city Department of Housing and Preservation, created a large 22-page diary and album for his photographs of Superstorm Sandy from scrap plywood and orange “caution” tape. His album is one of 200 images of Sandy at an exhibition at the Museum of the City of New York. “Rising Waters: Photographs of Sandy,” which opens Tuesday, Oct. 29, on the one-year anniversary of the storm, was culled from 10,000 submissions from New York, Long Island and New Jersey.

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    A carriage tour stops in front of a home in the historic Battery in Charleston, S.C. Charleston, the oldest city in South Carolina, was founded in 1670.

    Charming Southern cities: Savannah and Charleston
    Associated Press
    In “Gone With the Wind,” Scarlett O’Hara, comparing Savannah and Charleston to the much younger city of Atlanta, called the older locales “aged grandmothers fanning themselves placidly in the sun.” Today the two waterfront cities are among the South’s most popular tourist destinations, attracting millions of visitors annually with their history, restaurants and streetscapes.

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    In “Duke: A Life of Duke Ellington,” Terry Teachout provides a portrait of a talented musician obsessed with his quest for respectability who remained evasive and deceptive in his dealings with band members and other close associates.

    Duke Ellington: The man and his music
    By Jerry Harkavy, Associated Press
    Duke Ellington died nearly 40 years ago, but for jazz fans of a certain age his musical creativity and elegant style remain timeless. Fans remain familiar with the music, but the man himself is still shrouded in mystery. Terry Teachout, the Wall Street Journal drama critic, penetrates that veil with "Duke," a portrait of a talented musician obsessed with his quest for respectability who remained evasive and deceptive in his dealings with band members and close associates.

  •  
    Older sinks may have been only 6 to 7 inches deep, while today’s kitchen sinks can be about 9 to 10 inches deep, which means you need lower drain lines installed under the sink for proper drainage.

    A ‘deep’ question about a new kitchen sink
    By Ed Del Grande
    Q. I’m working with my plumber to replace my old kitchen sink with a new updated model that will fit my countertop. He tells me I need to re-pipe all the drain lines under the new sink as well. I trust my plumber, but may I also get your thoughts on this matter?

  •  
    Joyce Sherman of Prospect Heights is looking for an update that will make her space more suitable for entertaining.

    Living room blues
    By Joyce Sherman of Prospect Heights
    So after staring at my paint deck and walls for 12 years, changing my mind at least 43 times, I still can’t figure out what I need to do to make this room livable, warm and inviting. Other than when I’m sitting on the second-hand couch looking at paint chips, no one in my family ever sits in this room.

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    Basement access through stone foundation basement may be tricky
    By Henri de Marne
    Q. Our tiny cottage has a stone foundation with a trapdoor in the living room for access to the basement. We are getting a trifle arthritic to climb the ladder monthly to change water filters and add salt to the water conditioner — not to mention the fact that we are not the favorite site at which to work for boiler maintenance.

  •  
    Maureen McWaid and Steve Thoren, owners of the Wing Mansion, 972 W. Highland Ave., Elgin, are the grand prize winners of this year’s contest. Their focus was on “Best Use of a Bold Color Combination, Non-Professionally Painted.”

    Winners announced in prestigious painting competition
    Winners of the 27th annual Chicago’s Finest Painted Ladies & Her Court competition, sponsored by the Chicago Paint & Coatings Association, have been announced. This unusual beautification project for homes all around Chicago and its suburbs has received national attention. Several former award-winning houses have been featured in the book “Painted Ladies, U.S.A.” by Larsen & Pomada.

Discuss

  •  
    Sen. Dick Durbin

    Editorial: Complex problems and the politics of distraction
    The Daily Herald Editorial Board
    Sen. Dick Durbin's Facebook post about a presumed insult to the president created a buzz last week. But like so much of what happens in Washington, a Daily Herald editorial says, it did not help solve any of our problems.

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    Bill Hybels

    Belief in God’s work calls us to support the immigrants
    By Bill Hybels
    Guest columnist Bill Hybels: If you told me 10 years ago that I would be writing about immigration reform, I never would have believed you. The issue of immigration, however, has landed in our church’s lap.

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    Let’s talk more about Social Security
    A McHenry letter to the editor: Why does Social Security matter to all of us, not just those in retirement? Consider the multiplier effect — for every $1 paid in benefits, the economy adds $2. The combined spending of Social Security recipients supports 9 million jobs.

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    A pair of random thoughts
    An Elk Grove Village letter to the editor: Who’s to blame for the morass in Washington? President Obama and the Dems? The Republicans? No. Blame Chief Justice John Roberts for justifying Obamacare as constitutional.

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    The rich get breaks as poor still suffer
    An Elk Grove Village letter to the editor: The U.S. economy might be improving some, but it is still a shambles and has been since well before a recession was declared in 2008. Recessions reduce the income and quality of life of most average Americans.

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    Disabled marathoner an inspiration to all
    My times were 4:05, 4:09, 3:54, 3:43 and 4:21. Not bad, but nothing to really brag about either. I was really bummed out about how my 2013 marathon went. Then I saw on NBC the story of Maickel Melamed’s 2013 Chicago Marathon. He’s the 38-year-old man from Caracas, Venezuela, who has muscular dystrophy.

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    Sticker shock on health insurance
    A Grayslake letter to the editor: Obama promised that our medical insurance premium would not go up under his new health care act. Well, he lied or he was totally misinformed.

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    Citizens, groups helped veterans in need
    A Lake County letter to the editor: Once again, the generous citizens of Lake County have responded to the needs of our at-risk veterans in Lake County.

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    Obama promises. See a pattern?
    A Naperville letter to the editor: I can remember with regret the Obama promises that his administration would run with complete transparency. The debate on the health care bill would be carried live on MSNBC. Did I miss that?

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    Is football worth the injury potential?
    A Harvard letter to the editor: My dad played football in college to pay for his scholarship and without any encouragement from him I played high school football — and have a messed up shoulder to show for it. My cousin played for the NFL and when he left the game he never even watched it on television. He said, “It’s just a business.”

  •  

    What’s the point of rearview mirror law?
    A Lombard letter to the editor: It does not make any sense that Illinois has a law that forbids us from hanging obstructions from our car’s rear view mirror. What am I supposed to do if my car smells? I think everyone has had a small scented tree hanging from his or hers mirror at some point.

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