Daily Archive : Thursday October 31, 2013
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News
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Whether it's Halloween or life, stories provide the thrills
You can keep your grisly costumes and gory movies. For true Halloween frights, nothing beats a scary story from master storyteller Jim May. “The fear is inside you. It's not on the screen,” May says. “There's nothing like your imagination.”
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Chicago families sue over soot from petcoke piles
Four southeast Chicago families have filed a lawsuit against several companies, contending black dust from piles of “petcoke” — a byproduct of the oil refinery process — is consistently blowing into their homes.
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Dist. 203 Kennedy students learn of JFK through his words
Who was John Kennedy?Ask a middle schooler two generations removed from our 35th President, and you might assume answers to range from a president to an unfaithful husband to a man who died of an assassin’s bullet 50 years ago this November.
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DuPage carjacker who fled country now in custody
A nuclear engineer who was believed to have escaped the country after being sentenced to 40 years in prison for carjacking is in the custody of federal authorities. In addition, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has issued an order prohibiting Buhrman from working at the Dresden Nuclear Power Plant in Morris .
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District 211 selects Daniel Cates as next superintendent
The Palatine-Schaumburg High School District 211 board decided to hire its next superintendent from within by choosing Daniel E. Cates as its next superintendent.
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Streamwood school staff save man with CPR, AED
Some staff members at a Streamwood school are being honored next Thursday for using CPR and an automated external defibrillator to save the life of a delivery man.
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Mexican Day of Dead ‘Skeleton Lady’ spreads look
Mexico’s elegant and classy “Skeleton Lady” is getting new attention more than a century after she was born, inspiring some movie and rock stars in the U.S. to don Halloween costumes based on the macabre figure that has grown to symbolize the Day of the Dead.
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Cary man gets five years in fraud scheme
Federal authorities announced Thursday that a Cary business owner was sentenced to more than five years in prison for an international fraud scheme.
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Cook forest preserve engineer charged in kickback plot
A former Cook County Forest Preserve District engineer faces federal bribery charges for, prosecutors say, accepting $10,000 in kickbacks for work performed at two district facilities.
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Snags set back air traffic control system update
After a decade of work and billions of dollars spent, the modernization of the U.S. air traffic control system is in trouble. The ambitious and complex technology program dubbed NextGen has encountered unforeseen difficulties at almost every turn.
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Venetian Village man pleads not guilty to shooting neighbor in September
A Venetian Village man accused of shooting a neighbor with a gun during a night of drinking in September pleaded not guilty in Lake County court early Thursday. Frank Geu, 44, of the 36000 block of N. Alice Drive, was charged with aggravated battery, aggravated discharge of a firearm, and two counts of reckless discharge of a firearm after shooting a neighbor on Sept. 14 in the neighbor's garage.
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Four suburban men indicted in bank fraud scheme
Four suburban men have been indicted on federal charges in relation to a fraud scheme involving the sales of 26 gas stations in four states, authorities said. A fifth defendant, the brother of one of the other men, was separately charged with alleged tax offenses that came to light through the bank fraud investigation.
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Glen Ellyn exploring property tax to help pay for fire company
Seeking to address the revenue shortfall at the Glen Ellyn Volunteer Fire Department, village officials are exploring multiple funding options, including the possibility of levying a property tax on residents is on the table.
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Ask a question, and let our School Checker answer
Where are the public schools better -- in the city or in the suburbs? It’s one of the questions you can explore with the Daily Herald School Checker. Pick a suburb, any suburb, and pull up the school test results. Then pick Chicago and pull up the school test results for it.What you find may just surprise you. That’s only one of the things you can do with the Daily Herald School Checker at...
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Israel strikes Russian weapons shipment in Syria
Israeli warplanes attacked a shipment of Russian missiles inside a Syrian government stronghold, officials said Thursday, a development that threatened to add another explosive layer to regional tensions from the Syrian civil war.
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Iraqi PM: Terror ‘found a second chance’ in Iraq
Terrorists “found a second chance” to thrive in Iraq, the nation’s prime minister said Thursday in asking for new U.S. aid to beat back a bloody insurgency that has been fueled by the neighboring Syrian civil war and the departure of American troops from Iraq two years ago.
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Momentum builds for gay marriage vote next week
After months of energetic lobbying, both sides in the Illinois same-sex marriage debate are ready for a vote next week that supporters say would fulfill a pledge by the sponsor to bring the issue back to Springfield.
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Elgin not in bad shape, Institute for Truth in Accounting says
Like in many municipalities in Illinois, Elgin’s pension funds are underfunded, but the city’s finances are overall doing OK, says Sheila Weinberg, founder and CEO of the Institute for Truth in Accounting. The group examined Elgin’s audited comprehensive annual financial report dated Dec. 31, 2012.
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Antioch man charged with sexual assault
Police on Wednesday arrested an 18-year-old Antioch man on charges he sexually molested a girl in July 2012.
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Kane chairman sticking to guns on vetting of coroner increase
Kane County Board Chairman Chris Lauzen reiterated Wednesday that a request for more money by Coroner Rob Russell won't be voted on until Lauzen, the auditor and finance director review the reasons behind it. Lauzen says it amounts to a 12 percent budget increase, at the last minute of the fiscal year.
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Man involved in Des Plaines standoff guilty of gun possession
A Des Plaines man involved in an armed standoff with police last September pleaded guilty unlawful possesison of a firearm by a felon this week in Skokie. In exchange for his guilty plea, Matthew Weber-Mixon, 29, was sentenced to three years in prison, court records show.
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Not much developer interest in downtown building
Friday is the deadline for potential developers to submit proposals for possibly revamping the historical downtown Huntley mill. The village last year bought the former mill at 11801 Main St. for $115,000 as part of an ongoing effort to give its downtown a face-lift.
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Washington boy finds giant maple leaf
While playing in leaves, a 4-year-old Washington boy found a maple leaf almost as big as he is.
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Village might expand ash tree replacement program
West Dundee officials will consider pumping more money into one of its tree programs designed to help residents replace ash trees destroyed by the emerald ash borer.
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Palatine man charged with sexual assault
A Cook County judge set bail at $100,000 Thursday for a Palatine man charged with predatory criminal sexual assault. Authorities say Cory M. Mucy, 19, sexually molested a 12-year-old girl several times during April 2013.
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Class action lawsuit filed over stolen health data
Two Kane County residents have filed a class action lawsuit against Advocate Health, arguing the hospital network was negligent in allowing a July break-in at a Park Ridge office in which laptop computers containing health and other information for 4 million people were stolen. The hospital group won't comment directly on the lawsuit, but said it's taken steps to prevent this from happening again.
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Hoffman, Schaumburg Jaycees hosting pizza contest
Anyone interested in tasting pizza from a variety of places in the Hoffman Estates and Schaumburg area are invited to attend a pizza contest Nov. 7 hosted by the Hoffman Estates and Schaumburg Jaycees.
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Fox Valley police reports
A 2003 Chrysler PT was found burning at 9:51 a.m. Sunday on the 14N400 block of McCornack Road near Elgin, according to a sheriff’s report. The owner, a Gilberts man, told police the vehicle had been stolen.
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Tri-Cities police reports
Someone broke down a door to a home on the 34W600 block of Colley Drive near St. Charles between noon and 4 p.m. Monday and caused $100 damage to a safe, according to a sheriff’s report.
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Texas flooding kills 1, prompts dozens of rescues
One man was killed as heavy rains across Central Texas swelled rivers and creeks and triggered flash flooding Thursday, prompting dozens of rescues across a region that’s been dealing with a long, punishing drought.
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Report cards show achievement gains at Lake County high schools
Lake County high schools made upward strides in the past academic year — some significantly — in results from the state's annual standardized test given to juniors. Educators credit, among other things, students for taking more rigorous Advanced Placement classes. Schools showing marked progress include Antioch, Lakes, Grant, Warren high schools.
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How one Kane County school bucked the odds
Kaneland John Stewart Elementary School Principal Laura Garland says there is no "magic solution" to improving students scores on state-mandated standardized tests. Just lots of hard work and attention paid to how individual students are doing, which is how Stewart School moved backin to the win column with its scores documented in the 2013 state report card.
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Report card shows huge dips, some gains across Fox Valley
Despite a significant drop in test scores, administrators at Fox River Grove School District 3 are happy the tiny district's roughly 500 students are doing far better than the rest of the state on standardized tests. The two-school district, like many others throughout the Fox Valley, faired poorly in the Illinois Standards Achievement Test with its composite score dipping 15.9 percentage points...
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Former South Barrington cop pleads guilty to several felonies
A South Barrington officer pleaded guilty to official misconduct, forgery and possession of a controlled substance Wednesday in Chicago. In exchange for his guilty plea to the felonies, Keith Baker, 31, was sentenced to 24 months probation and ordered to pay more than $1,400 in fines.
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3 suburbs among ‘10 best towns’ in Illinois
Three Northwest suburbs scored very well on a recent ranking of the "Best Cities in Illinois" by Movoto Real Estate, as Mount Prospect, Arlington Heights and Palatine were among those named to the Top 10.
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Officials identify one of the women found dead in Antioch apartment
Lake County coroner officials have released the identity of one of the two women found dead in an Antioch apartment earlier this week. The 82-year-old victim was identified as Dorothy Varner. Assistant Coroner Orlando Portillo said Varner’s cause of death remains under investigation.
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Arlington Hts. lawyer describes car crash into his building
John Biestek was walking toward his Arlington Heights law office's library Thursday morning when his assistant stopped him in the hallway for a short chat. A second later, the law library sounded like it blew up.
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Police: Naperville brawl suspect says cop uniform looked like costume
Police say a man who hit a Naperville cop during a downtown street brawl had a convenient and timely excuse -- he thought the officer’s uniform was a Halloween costume. Authorities aren’t necessarily buying it, though. "This guy had been drinking and was fighting in the street," Sgt. Lou Cammiso said Thursday. "How much credibility do you lend to that statement?"
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Chicago police to have $93 million in overtime
Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy says the department expects to spend $93 million on overtime this year. He said the overtime was due to the creation of Operation Impact, a program that floods Chicago’s 20 most violent crime zones with police.
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Aurora to salute veterans with ‘Healing Fields’
The Healing Field of Honor will feature 2,013 flags when it opens Sunday in Aurora to honor members of our armed forces.
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Lt. governor presents college success guide
Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon has unveiled her plan to help Illinois colleges and universities reduce costs and raise their graduation rates.
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Naperville band to honor town founder with ‘Captain Joe Naper March’
The Naperville Municipal Band is continuing the trend of honoring the city’s founding father with a march to be played in Joseph Naper’s honor Sunday at the ensemble’s annual fall concert at 3 p.m. at Wentz Concert Hall, 171 E. Chicago Ave. “I got the fleeting idea that we would close the concert with the Joe Naper March,” Ron Keller, band director, said.
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Belgian pleads not guilty to violating export law
A 36-year-old Belgian businessman has pleaded not guilty to trying to ship products that could be used in nuclear-related programs from a Schaumburg company to Malaysia, via Belgium.
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State property inventory lacks basics, audit shows
The Illinois agency that keeps track of all taxpayer property has such a poor listing of it that it includes only one of the state’s nine universities and omits one-quarter of the Prairie State’s 130 parks, according to an audit released Thursday.
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Accomplice in bat attack sentenced
A 22-year prison sentence was handed the woman who was the getaway driver for a man who used a baseball bat to beat two women, including a Northern Ireland exchange student who suffered severe brain injuries.
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Chicago completes upgrade of 911 call center
Chicago officials say a renovation of the city’s 911 call center will improve service and make the whole operation cheaper to run.
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City notes success with Chicago Cultural Plan
The city of Chicago says it has addressed more than half of the initiatives outlined a year ago in its Chicago Cultural Plan. The plan calls for making arts a core subject at Chicago Public Schools, providing tax incentives for creative industry startups and developing a large-scale new festival and permanent festival grounds.
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2 downstate jails allowing e-cigarettes
Two county jails in southern Illinois are allowing inmates to use electronic cigarettes, and other counties are considering it. Jails often ban inmates from smoking cigarettes, but White County and Saline County are letting inmates use the nicotine-infused vapor inhalers.
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HGTV star coming to Arlington Hts.
Meg Caswell, host of HGTV’s “Meg’s Rooms,” will appear at the AT&T store, 585 E. Palatine Road, Arlington Heights, from noon-2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2.
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Historic Barrington home open to public
Barrington will host an open house at the historic, 115-year-old White House at 145 W. Main St. on Nov. 17-18. The village plans to turn the house into a community/cultural center by Barrington's Sesquicentennial in 2015.
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Arlington Heights library collecting books for charity
The Arlington Heights Memorial Library is collecting books for kids ages infant through 16 a;ll during November. Drop them off at the library by Dec. 1.
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Madigan: Check sex offender list before trick or treating
Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan is reminding parents to check the state's sex offender registry before sending kids trick-or-treating tonight. Madigan also noted that many county and local law enforcement agencies also keep sex offender registries online. Authorities will be doing compliance checks all night throughout Illinois at the homes of registered sex offenders.
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Arlington Heights students enjoy school garden harvest
The garden club at Thomas Middle School in Arlington Heights held its first harvest celebration this month to serve and taste the foods they spent the year growing. The event highlighted healthy and sustainable food that is easy for families to grow themselves, said school officials.
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Teacher, administrator data not ready until January
One segment of information usually included in the state report cards — demographic and salary data of teachers and administrators — is not yet available. Standardized test scores, class size data, student demographics and financial details were released Thursday. But information about teachers and administrators may not be ready until January, according to the Illinois State Board of Education.
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Wauconda still hoping to join water group
More than a month after Wauconda was spurned by an agency that provides drinking water to part of Lake County, village officials still are trying to salvage a relationship with the group. “I think it’s possible,” Trustee Linda Starkey told the Daily Herald in an email.
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Q&A with marathon winner Megan McClowry
Q&A with Megan McClowry, a nurse from Naperville now working in Uganda, who won the Haile Gebrselassie Marathon in Ethiopia.
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Suburban runners win Ethiopian marathon
Ethiopian runners have frequently won the Chicago Marathon. Last weekend, two suburban Chicago runners won the Ethiopian marathon. Jason Doland, 43, an engineer from Inverness, and Megan McClowry, 25, a nurse from Naperville now working in Uganda, both took first place in the inaugural Haile Gebrselassie Marathon Oct. 20 in Hawassa, Ethiopia.
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Lindenhurst on track for Lake Michigan water
Another key step in bringing Lake Michigan water to Lindenhurst has been cleared and pending actions are on track to move the process from discussion to design. The village has officially agreed to allow Lake County to establish a special taxing district to raise up to $46 millon to extend lake water to Lindenhurst, Lake Villa unincorporated Grandwood Park and Fox Lake Hills possibly by the end...
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Changes pursued in U.S. security clearance system
Federal officials say they are retooling aspects of the nation’s security clearance system, including the process of re-evaluating the behavior of employees and contractors who have access to sensitive information, according to testimony at a Senate hearing Thursday.
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Va. AG office: Tech gunman bears burden
The Virginia attorney general’s office says a state Supreme Court ruling reversing a negligence finding against the state in the 2007 massacre at Virginia Tech supports its contention that the gunman bears the burden of the killings.
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Toronto police say they have mayor drug video
Toronto’s police chief said Thursday they have recovered a video deleted from a computer that appears to show Mayor Rob Ford smoking from a crack pipe. Police Chief Bill Blair said he was “disappointed” after viewing the video, but that there was nothing in the video that would provide grounds to press charges.
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UK hacking prosecutor: Brooks, Coulson had affair
In a blockbuster declaration at Britain’s phone hacking trial, a prosecutor said two of Rupert Murdoch’s senior tabloid executives — Rebekah Brooks and Andy Coulson — had an affair lasting at least six years. Prosecutor Andrew Edis made the disclosure Thursday during Coulson’s and Brooks’ trial on phone hacking and other charges, the first major criminal case to go to court in the hacking saga.
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Raoul discusses state’s fiscal crisis at Elmhurst College
Illinois State Sen. Kwame Raoul will discuss “Illinois’ Fiscal Crisis: Decades in the Making” on Nov. 18 as a part of Elmhurst College’s “Fixing Illinois: A Great State’s Problems and Promise” lecture series.
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Mental health treatment ordered for McHenry County man
A 24-year-old man will receive inpatient mental health treatment after he was found not guilty by reason of insanity in his mother’s stabbing death.
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Inmate who escaped from jail in Decatur recaptured
After a four-hour manhunt, authorities have recaptured an inmate who escaped from jail in Decatur just as he was to begin serving a prison sentence for aggravated battery.
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Wis. firefighters hope to carry heroin antidote
La Crosse firefighters could become one of the first groups of emergency responders in Wisconsin allowed to carry a lifesaving drug for heroin users.The department is asking the state for permission to administer Narcan, an antidote given for an opiate overdose.
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Ex-Milwaukee police officer gets guns returned
A Wisconsin judge has ordered nine guns returned to a former Milwaukee police officer on duty disability retirement for mental health issues.
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Dist. 204 moves elementary report cards online
Elementary parents in Indian Prairie Unit District 204 can view their students’ report cards online beginning at 4 p.m. Friday as the district uses an Internet-based system for the first time. The system already allows parents to view attendance, contact information and class assignments, so “the natural progression is for report cards as well,” said Kathy Pease, assistant superintendent for...
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Algonquin official picked to lead state arborist group
The Illinois Arborist Association has tapped Algonquin’s parks and forestry superintendent to help lead the nonprofit organization that instructs its members on proper tree care. Steve Ludwig, an Algonquin employee since 1995, was named president elect during the organization’s annual conference last week.
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Report: Snowden gets tech support job in Russia
A lawyer for former NSA systems analyst Edward Snowden says his client has found a technical support job at a Russian website.
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China, other Asians angry over embassy spy reports
China and Southeast Asian governments demanded an explanation from the U.S. and its allies on Thursday following media reports that American and Australian embassies in the region were being used as hubs for Washington’s secret electronic data collection program.
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Texas club auctions right to hunt endangered rhino
Plans to auction a rare permit that will allow a hunter to take down an endangered black rhino are drawing criticism from some conservationists, but the organizer says the fundraiser could bring in more than $1 million that would go toward protecting the species.
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Despite hurdles, some Northwest suburban high schools trending upward
They're not typically among the highest performers, but several Northwest suburban high schools -- Rolling Meadows, Bartlett, Schaumburg and Maine East among them -- have shown marked improvement on standardized testing, according to state report cards released Thursday. “Every student comes in with different strengths and talents and we're all about taking each student as far as they can...
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School report cards: Why more suburban schools are labeled failing
More than 600 schools statewide joined the ranks of those failing to meet standards, according to the released today by the Illinois State Board of Education. Nearly 600 schools made the grade, while 3,169 are deemed failures, according to the state. A change in the testing and grading of those tests is behind the decline.
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Rain expected to linger throughout the day
Isolated storms and rain are expected to wash out Halloween this year. Most areas have seen about a half inch of rain fall overnight, and another inch is expected to fall into this afternoon.
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Dawn Patrol: Cook Challenge winner; state school report cards
Elgin man wins Cook of the Week Challenge. School report cards go live. Aurora man found guilty of wife’s 1990 murder. Gogo to move headquarters from Itasca to Chicago. Oberweis edging closer to U.S. Senate run. 8 Antioch students return to class after pill scare. Red Sox win World Series. Bulls pick up options on Teague, Butler.
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Some DuPage schools keep more scores above new benchmarks
For administrators at many of DuPage County's top-performing elementary schools, the release each year of state report card data usually brings an extra reason to celebrate during Halloween festivities. But this year's data offers a more complicated story, as higher cutoff scores mean fewer students met the mark to be classified as meeting or exceeding state standards. “What used to be a...
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Elgin event was sparked by Newtown, Conn., shooting
Last year’s tragic school shooting in Newtown, Conn., sparked conversations across the country about violence prevention. One of those conversations resulted in “Elgin: Safe City — Peaceful City,” a community forum open to the public from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Judson University. The forum is organized by the Coalition of Elgin Religious Leaders.
Sports
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2013 Elgin Sports Hall of Fame Foundation Scholarship Winners
Presenting the 2013 Elgin Sports Hall of Fame Foundation scholarship winners.
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Elgin Sports Hall of Fame Foundation has made monumental strides
The Elgin Sports Hall of Fame Foundation has come a long way in 34 years. The ESHOFF was born in 1980, an idea actually hatched in the late 1970s by former Elgin Courier-News sports editor Stan Shalett and former Elgin Country Club golf professional Terry Carlson. Having been a Shalett protege at that time, I clearly remember Stan and Terry talking about the idea, but I doubt either of them thought 34 years ago the ESHOFF would become what it has — an organization that has awarded over $353,000 in scholarship money to Elgin area student-athletes, as of Sunday night will have inducted 158 people into the Hall of Fame, and has awarded countless Outstanding Achievement Awards.
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Images: Glenbrook North at Wheaton North playoff football
Wheaton North hosted Glenbrook North in the first round of the IHSA football playoffs on Friday in Wheaton.
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IHSA playoffs: First-round matchups with days, times
Here are the first-round pairings for the IHSA state football playoffs with dates and times as released by the IHSA on Monday.
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Cubs put up sign to test effect on rooftop view
The Chicago Cubs briefly installed a mock-up of a large advertising sign at Wrigley Field to test its effect on views into the stadium from surrounding rooftops that are home to private clubs. The rooftop owners quickly objected after Wednesday’s test run, renewing their promise to file a lawsuit if the 650-square-foot sign goes up as planned in right field as early as next year.
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Dolphins beat Bengals on OT safety
Cameron Wake sacked Andy Dalton for a safety with 6:38 left in overtime, and the Miami Dolphins beat the Cincinnati Bengals 22-20 on Thursday night. On third-and-10 from the 8, Dalton retreated to the goal line and was tackled by Wake coming up the middle for the third overtime safety in NFL history. The officials signaled safety, and the call was upheld following a replay review.
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Rose definitely a dramatic work in progress
Thursday started with concern over Derrick Rose's sore neck. It ended in celebration after he hit the winning shot in the Bulls' victory over the Knicks. Don't be surprised if the superstar point guard has some more ups and downs left in him during the season.
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Thursday’s girls volleyball scoreboard
High school varsity results from Thursday's girls volleyball matches, as reported to the Daily Herald.
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Collins, Pitino bring common threads to new job
Given their bloodlines and new jobs, Minnesota’s Richard Pitino and Northwestern’s Chris Collins have quite a bit in common. Both are in their 30s. They’re the sons of well-known coaches, and they already seem to have a bond heading into their first season in the Big Ten.
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Rough night for Bulls ends in triumph
Derrick Rose’s official return to the United Center could have easily ended as a tale of failure. But he shook off a tough shooting night and drain a one-handed pull-up with 5.7 seconds lft, giving the Bulls an 82-81 win over New York.
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Balanced Marmion ready for Fenton
Speak with Marmion coach Dan Thorpe throughout the football season and you hear a lot about pulling guards.
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Aurora Central counting on ground game
Within its game plan Aurora Central Catholic won’t fool anybody. The Chargers will run the football.
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Aurora Christian hoping to get healthy
Representing a school that repeatedly stresses its appreciation for the Almighty, the Aurora Christian football team has had ample opportunity to do just that. “This team has prayed more than any other team I’ve had, just because they’ve faced more adversity than any other team I’ve had,” said Eagles coach Don Beebe. The adversity has been a wave of injuries that have shelved quarterback Austin Bray, lineman Jonah Walker, receivers Noah Hagerty, Brandon Walgren and Noah Roberts, tight end Jackson Carpenter, linebackers Trevor Hills and Dan Clapp and defensive back Chase Tomney.
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Without a grouse, Grant’s Rous heads for the house
Grant's Kurt Rous is the latest head coach in Lake County to step down to spend more time with his family. He revealed his game plan this week to Grant athletic director Dick Knar. Rous, a 1988 graduate of Grant who’s coached and taught at his high school alma mater for nearly two decades, directed the Bulldogs’ football team for the last eight seasons.
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For Antioch’s Hill, thinking big just comes naturally
Thinking big just comes naturally for Antioch sophomore running back Griffin Hill. He's one of 9 children but has found plenty of ways to stand out. He's a starter on varsity and he's carrying a perfect 4.0 grade point average.
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St. Patrick, Geneva could be in a shootout
In 2012, after Geneva missed the playoffs after eight consecutive trips, Vikings coach Rob Wicinski held the equivalent of a three-day minicamp. “They could have said, ‘I’m done, this guy’s nuts,’” Wicinski said.
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Kaneland’s experience concerns Hampshire
If there is something like a good loss, perhaps Kaneland experienced one Week 8.
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St. Charls East ready for challenge at Stevenson
Look in the mirror. That’s all St. Charles East coach Mike Fields will ask of his team after Saturday’s Class 8A first-round playoff football game at No. 6 seed Stevenson (7-2). Look in the mirror and said they left it on the field.
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Images: Bulls vs. Heat
Images from the Chicago Bulls' home season opener at the United Center in Chicago against the New York Knicks. The Bulls won 82-81.
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Lakes levels up, claims 3A regional crown
Lakes’ young volleyball kids played like veterans again Thursday night. Sophomore Megan Behrendt pounded 16 kills, freshman McKenna Lahr added 8 kills, and sophomore Maddie Demo dished out 20 assists, as the Eagles defeated Grayslake Central 26-24, 25-22 to capture the championship of the Class 3A Lakes regional.
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Game video: Elk Grove vs. Lake Zurich
Elk Grove takes on Lake Zurich Saturday in the first round of the Class 7A playoffs. Follow the game here with video from High School Cubs, then come back later for the replay and highlights.
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Game video: Aurora Central Catholic vs. Chicago King
Aurora Central Catholic takes on Chicago King Saturday in the first round of the Class 4A playoffs. Follow the game here with video from High School Cubs, then come back later for the replay and highlights.
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Geneva comes from behind to beat Batavia
The modern-day Hatfields and McCoys traveled to Addison Thursday night to engage in their fourth girls volleyball regional championship in the last six years.
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Game video: Montini vs. Morgan Park
Montini takes on Morgan Park Saturday in the first round of the Class 5A playoffs. Follow the game here with video from High School Cubs, then come back later for the replay and highlights.
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Warren savors one tough regional repeat
The celebration that mattered most went off flawlessly. And there standing in the middle of McHenry’s East Campus court with fellow senior captain Allyson Mitchell, without a wobble, was Warren setter Rachel Ziegler. She and Mitchell smiled, cradling the regional championship plaque as parents snapped pictures. “We have so much heart and we want it so bad this year,” Ziegler, the three-year varsity player, said after the Blue Devils outlasted the host school 31-29, 25-19 to win the Class 4A McHenry regional Thursday night. It was the second regional title in a row for Warren (24-13), which will play Huntley in Tuesday’s 6 p.m. sectional semifinal at Belvidere North.
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Game video: Waubonsie Valley vs. Naperville North
Waubonsie Valley takes on Naperville North Saturday in the first round of the Class 8A playoffs. Follow the game here with video from High School Cubs, then come back later for the replay and highlights.
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Game video: Naperville North vs. Plainfield Central volleyball
Naperville North takes on Plainfield Central Thursday night for the Class 4A regional championship at Yorkville. Follow the game here with video from High School Cube, then come back later for the replay and highlights. Game time is 6 p.m.
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Game video: St. Charles East vs. Stevenson
St. Charles East takes on Stevenson Saturday in the first round of the Class 8A playoffs. Follow the game here with video from High School Cubs, then come back later for the replay and highlights.
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Sycamore denies Kaneland regional title
Kaneland got the start it wanted Thursday night in the Class 3A Sandwich regional championship game. The finish was another story.
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St. Charles East rallies late at York
It wouldn’t be Halloween without a good scare. With her team trailing York 23-21 in the decisive third game, St. Charles East girls volleyball coach Jennie Kull admitted a few negative thoughts started to creep into her head right before she called a timeout to rally the troops.
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Batavia won’t overlook DeKalb
Batavia’s football success makes it tempting to look ahead in the Class 6A playoff bracket. Bulldogs coach Dennis Piron made sure that doesn’t happen.
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Christian Liberty makes 2A sectional semis
Christian Liberty took a class hike into the Class 2A girls volleyball tournament this year.The Chargers proved they were the class of their regional. With Vivian Barclay and Cassie Swiderek leading the attack and getting their cues from setter Jenna Pavlik, the Chargers defeated Woodlands Academy 24-26, 25-20, 25-15 for the championship of the Willows Academy regional in Des Plaines.
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Stevenson reaches win No. 30, stops Buffalo Grove
When it comes to regional play, Stevenson’s Tim Crow knows how to get the best out of his Patriots. They captured their fourth straight title and ninth in 12 seasons under their veteran coach on Thursday night at the Buffalo Grove Class AA girls volleyball regional. With the 25-22, 25-18 triumph over No. 11-seeded and host Bison, No. 3 Stevenson (30-7) advances to the Conant sectional on Tuesday night to meet No. 2 Carmel (31-7) in the 7 p.m. semifinal.
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Pain in the neck doesn’t get Rose down
The Derrick Rose injury watch returned briefly on Thursday. Rose revealed at the morning shootaround he suffered a neck injury at some point during Tuesday’s loss to Miami. So for a few hours, his participation in the home opener against New York was in question.
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D-Rose hits game-winner in Bulls’ home opener
Derrick Rose made a baseline floater with 5.7 seconds left to lift the Bulls to an 82-81 victory over the New York Knicks on Thursday night in his first home game since he injured his left knee 18 months ago. Rose had 18 points on 7-of-23 shooting and committed four turnovers. But there was no doubt who was getting the ball after Tyson Chandler went 1 for 2 at the line to give New York an 81-80 lead with 10.8 seconds remaining.
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St. Charles North survives scare from Wheaton North
On a night celebrated by many for strange and scary occurrences, St. Charles North received a scare of its own by a feisty Wheaton North team at the Class 4A South Elgin regional championship game. Fortunately for the No. 2 seeded North Stars, the nightmare amounted to merely a scary dream, and they defeated the upset-minded No. 7 Falcons to advance to the Geneva sectional on Tuesday against St. Charles East. The North Stars won 25-18, 24-26 and 26-24, but both teams found itself digging down deep.
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Upset not in cards for Metea
Metea Valley’s Ellie Petersen believes her Mustangs team is right up there with a potent Plainfield North squad, but she won’t get another chance to prove it.
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Harvest Christian makes it 3 regionals in a row
The Halloween party they called the Class 1A Harvest Christian regional girls volleyball championship Thursday night at the Mitchell Swaback Athletic Center in Elgin was more of a trick for No. 2 Westminster Christian, and a treat once again for the two-time defending regional champion and top-seeded hosts. The Warriors (21-12-3) came out of the gates strong, splitting the first 18 points with the Lions, giving Harvest all it could handle in the onset. But from that point on, after Harvest coach Kim Floyd and assistant Kevin Sauer called for time and gave the squad a little chin music, the hitting duo of senior Sydney Doby (who was under the weather) and freshman Mikayla Robinson seemed to answer the bell and remind Harvest of who it really is. Doby and Robinson dominated the front line for 19 kills in the Lions’ 25-11, 25-9 regional title win over their west side Elgin neighbors. Harvest (26-11), a three-time regional winner, will advance to play Newark Tuesday at 7 p.m. in a sectional semifinal hosted by the Lions. North Shore Country Day takes on St. Francis de Sales in the 6 p.m. semifinal.
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Burlington Central rolls to regional title
If the Burlington Central girls volleyball team ends the season in the same place it did the last time it won a regional championship, the Rockets will be happy campers. Exhibiting dominance from start to finish, Central rolled to a 25-15, 25-14 win over host Genoa-Kingston Thursday nigh to claim the championship of the Class 3A G-K regional. The regional title is the Rockets’ first since they finished second in the Class 3A state finals in 2008. BC (26-11) will take on Lakes at 7 p.m. Tuesday in one semifinal of the Burlington Central sectional. Lakes defeated Grayslake Central 31-29, 25-19 Thursday to win the Lakes regional. Marian Central and Regina Dominican square off in Tuesday’s 6 p.m. semifinal at Rocket Hill.
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Waubonsie Valley gets 30th win, regional championship
Waubonsie Valley left Thursday night’s Class 4A Bolingbrook regional final with its first regional plaque since 2010 and a school-record 30th win and can thank one particular element of its game.
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Glenbard West knocks off Schaumburg
Glenbard West coach Pete Mastandrea takes comfort in the fact that outside hitter Natalie Schilling is only a sophomore. Schilling provided the bulk of the offense needed for the No. 1-seeded Hilltoppers as she finished with 15 kills in a 25-21, 25-13 victory over eighth-seeded Schaumburg in Thursday’s Class 4A regional final at West Chicago. Glenbard West (34-3) advances to Tuesday’s sectional semifinal at Geneva where the Hilltoppers will face Geneva at 6 p.m. Schilling’s 15 kills were part of a 29-kill effort by the Hilltoppers.
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Bulls stories, notes, photos and graphics
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Lake Zurich gets it going, bounces Barrington
Getting their offensive attack going was not an easy task for the top-seeded Lake Zurich girls volleyball team on a rainy Halloween night Thursday in Highland Park. But after struggling to a narrow 25-22 victory over No. 9 Barrington in the opening game, the Bears really got the job done in the second game as they posted a convincing 25-16 victory over the Fillies to win a Class 4A regional championship. Lake Zurich (33-4) advances to the Conant sectional semifinals Tuesday at 6 p.m. against No. 5 Glenbrook North, which eliminated No. 4 Libertyville.
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Crystal Lake South breezes to regional crown
Crystal Lake South’s girls volleyball team had absolutely no interest in playing a third game. After winning the first game 25-14, the Gators trailed rival Crystal Lake Central 19-8 in the second game and a third game seemed inevitable. But, keyed by a 12-2 run, top-seeded South rallied to win the second game 25-23 and the Class 4A Dundee-Crown regional championship over second-seeded Crystal Lake Central Thursday night in Carpentersville.
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Huntley avenges last year with regional title
After letting a late lead slip away, Huntley was determined not to let it happen again. The Red Raiders dominated DeKalb in Game 3 from start to finish, wrapping up a regional title with a 25-17, 24-26, 25-13 win. Emily Westermeyer led the way with 9 kills in the final of the Class 4A Jefferson regional Thursday night.
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Bears at Packers? In a word: HUGE
Coach Marc Trestman appreciates the significance of the Bears-Packers rivalry, but that's not the only reason Monday night's game is important to his team.
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McCown more prepared for Packers this time
Bears quarterback Josh McCown is much more prepared to face the Packers at Lambeau Field Monday night than he was two years ago.
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Football: Scouting Week 1 playoff, Lake County
Here's a look at the Week 1 football playoff matchups for the teams of Lake County.
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Bengals’ Jones a fantasy game-changer?
Marvin Jones and Kenny Stills have been two of the hottest receivers in the NFL. See why John Dietz is concerned about their short-term fantasy value going forward.
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Girls cross country: Sectional scouting, Northwest
Here's a look at Saturday's girls cross country sectionals involving schools from the Mid-Suburban League plus St. Viator.
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Planting the seeds of playoff change
The power of change is a funny thing. There it is, right in the palm of your hand. Only you can’t see it. This week’s Eyes on Five looks at the power of change sitting in a bunch of palms right now.
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Scouting first-round playoff games in the Fox Valley
Scouting first-round playoff games in the Fox Valley.
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Indeed, Meade and Carmel swiftly advance
Of the 25 kills registered by his Carmel team on Thursday night, Carmel coach David Pazely seemed most proud of the team-leading 6 kills from Morgan Meade. “It’s because Morgan stayed after practice to work on hitting the ball,’’ Pazely said. “And now, she’s helped bring us a regional crown.” Was it even a half and hour? That’s how fast the 31-game winner from Carmel put away Glenbrook South to win the regional championship at home. Carmel blitzed the Titans 25-13, 25-12 and now will head to the Conant sectional Tuesday night for a matchup against Stevenson.
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Scouting this weekend’s DuPage County football games
A roundup of first-round football playoff games for the DuPage County coverage area
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Boys cross country: Sectional scouting, Northwest
Here's a look at Saturday's boys cross country meets featuring teams from the Mid-Suburban League plus St. Viator, Maine West and Leyden.
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Aerial partnership helps Hersey soar into postseason
The quarterback-receiver combination of Jack Warner-to-Eddie Miklasz has taken Hersey to new heights. The pair has combined 52 times this season for 945 yards and 12 touchdowns. And that air show has helped lead Hersey into the state playoffs for the first time since 2004. The Huskies meet Fenwick at 7 p.m. Friday at Elmhurst College in a Class 7A matchup.
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Owner of Breeders’ Cup Sprint favorite has savoir-faire
Pucks and ponies? It doesn't get much better than that. Plus Bears, baseball and more in Spellman's Scorecard.
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Blackhawks’ Khabibulin knows he has to be better
Nikolai Khabibulin wanted to make a better first impression. But three games into his second stint with the Blackhawks, the 40-year-old goalie is a hot topic for all the wrong reasons. Khabibulin is coming off two poor starts, the second of which saw him pulled from Tuesday’s 6-5 win over Ottawa just past the halfway point trailing 4-2. Only Jonathan Toews’ heroics, where he rallied the team with a natural hat trick, prevented Khabibulin from losing.
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Kane’s plus-minus rating is ... what?!?
The number jumps out at you from the Blackhawks’ statistics page. Patrick Kane is minus-9. “Sometimes you get the tough breaks and other times there are probably plays I could make to keep the puck out of our net,” Kane said. “It’s a number that obviously doesn’t look good, but at the same time it’s not something that’s going to change overnight."
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Scouting Week 1 of the playoffs, Northwest
Here's a look at the first round of the high school football playoff matchups featuring teams from the Mid-Suburban League.
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Game video: Conant vs. Jacobs
Conant takes on Jacobs Friday night in the first round of the Class 7A playoffs. Follow the game here with video from High School Cubs, then come back later for the replay and highlights.
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Game video: Dundee-Crown vs. Oak Park-River Forest
Dundee-Crown takes on Oak Park-River Forest Friday night in the first round of the Class 8A playoffs. Follow the game here with video from High School Cubs, then come back later for the replay and highlights.
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Presenting the 2013 Elgin Sports Hall of Fame Outstanding Achievement Award winners
Presenting the 2013 Elgin Sports Hall of Fame Foundation Outstanding Achievement Award winners.
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Presenting the 2013 Elgin Sports Hall of Fame inductees
Presenting the 2013 inductees to the Elgin Sports Hall of Fame.
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Game video: Hersey vs. Fenwick
Hersey takes on Fenwick Friday night in the first round of the Class 7A playoffs. Follow the game here with video from High School Cubs, then come back later for the replay and highlights.
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Game video: Schaumburg vs. Chicago Schurz
Schaumburg takes on Chicago Schurz Friday night in the first round of the Class 7A playoffs. Follow the game here with video from High School Cubs, then come back later for the replay and highlights.
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Game video: Neuqua Valley vs. O’Fallon
Neuqua Valley takes on O'Fallon Friday night in the first round of the Class 8A playoffs. Follow the game here with video from High School Cubs, then come back later for the replay and highlights.
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Game video: Fenton vs. Marmion
Marmion takes on Fenton Friday night in the first round of the Class 6A playoffs. Follow the game here with video from High School Cubs, then come back later for the replay and highlights.
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Why the Sox looked West for new hitting coach
The White Sox announced the hiring of hitting coach Todd Steverson Thursday. Steverson wants Sox hitters to lay off bad pitches and have "selective aggressiveness."
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Epstein’s plate loaded with plenty of issues
Cubs president Theo Epstein has not been heard from since the end of September. Not only does Epstein still have to hire a field manager, he has a whole host of other issues on his plate, too.
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Nebraska favored to win Big Ten women’s title
Nebraska was picked to win the Big Ten women’s basketball title this season, while Penn State guard Maggie Lucas was chosen Preseason Player of the Year in a vote by conference coaches and media.
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Michigan State picked to win Big Ten
Michigan State was a unanimous pick to win the Big Ten conference, and guard Gary Harris was selected Preseason Player of the Year, making it a Spartans sweep in a vote by conference media. With four starters back from a team that went 27-9 and advanced to the round of 16, expectations are again soaring.
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Delany says power conferences hope to stay in DI
Giving the power conferences more autonomy in a restructured NCAA could help address the “existential threats” that plague college sports at their highest level, Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany said. The five conferences — the Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12, SEC and ACC — don’t want to leave the NCAA or even form their own division, Delany said Thursday. But they need the power to make decisions that directly affect the financial and educational well-being of their athletes.
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McDaniel has become the closer for Notre Dame
Some know Notre Dame's Cam McDaniel as the hunky football player whose good looks sent a photo viral and had female hosts of NBC’s “Today” show swooning over him. Before that moment of celebrity, McDaniel was primarily known as the back coaches turn to when they are trying to ice a victory for the Fighting Irish.
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Boilermakers coach ready to face Buckeyes
Purdue coach Darrell Hazell speaks reverently about the six seasons he worked for coach Jim Tressel, the longest stop so far in his 27-year coaching odyssey, the players he coached and what he learned in Columbus, including the lesson of not getting too emotional about these sorts of games.
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Ohio State’s Hyde makes up for 3 lost games
Ohio State running back Carlos Hyde was suspended for the first three games this season. But he could very well hit 1,000 yards rushing. He’s certainly making up for lost time.
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Resilient Red Sox lift Boston in wake of bombings
For fans, players and political leaders who celebrated the Red Sox’s World Series title with cries of “Boston Strong,” the championship provided a jubilant finish to a season that was shadowed nearly from the start by the April bombings at the Boston Marathon. “We needed this,” said Mark Porcaro of Boston. “They were an easy team to get behind because they stood up for us when we needed them most.”
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Tri-Cities All-Area Girls Volleyball Team
Introducing the Daily Herald's girls volleyball all-area team for the Tri-Cities.
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Wheeling’s Garcia, Maine West’s Herrera leave their mark
Maine West's Nelson Herrera and Wheeling's Jose Garcia co-captain the Daily Herald's all-area boys soccer team, chosen from schools in the Mid-Suburban League plus St. Viator, Maine West, Leyden and Christian Liberty.
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Dazzling dunk video by Streamwood’s Marcus Lewis
Streamwood native Marcus Lewis, a 6-foot-4, 185-pound senior guard for Eastern Kentucky, gained a reputation as a high-flying dunk artist in high school when he won the Chicago High School Classic Dunk Contest. Now his artistry and power has received national attention via aYouTube video of EKU’s annual dunk contest to start the college basketball season. Check out three dunks that earned him perfect scores from several EKU judges in the team's annual contest.
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Multiple skills made Waubonsie’s Minarick so valuable
With one of the state’s top setters on the roster, Waubonsie Valley opened the 2013 season with a 5-1 offense designed to allow Rachel Minarick to get her very talented hands on as many passes as possible.
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Chicago Fire puts Yallop in charge
The Chicago Fire introduced Frank Yallop as its new coach and director of soccer operations on Thursday, replacing Frank Klopas and Javier Leon.
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Forward, fast, for Lake Zurich’s Walding
It’s the final season of high school volleyball for Lake Zurich's Kristen Walding. And yet another year where she has crossed over the 1,000 mark in assists. Walding is the captain of the Daily Herald Lake County all-area team after leading the Bears to the North Suburban Conference championship and a 31-4 regular-season record.
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Girls volleyball: Lake County all-area team
Here's a look at the Daily Herald's all-area girls volleyball team, reflecting the efforts of teams in the North Suburban Conference plus Carmel Catholic, Grayslake Central and Grayslake North.
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Antioch’s Hernandez takes starring role
Antioch's Iven Hernandez headed into Wednesday’s Class 2A sectional semifinal against Grayslake Central with a school record-tying 32 goals to go along with 12 assists. Named all-state, the junior forward is the captain of the Daily Herald Lake County all-area team.
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Boys soccer: Lake County all-area team
Here's a look at the Daily Herald's all-area boys soccer team, reflecting the efforts of teams in the North Suburban Conference plus Carmel Catholic, Grayslake Central and Grayslake North.
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Larkin’s Kofie about much more than volleyball
Larkin senior Olivia Kofie made many fans during her four-year varsity volleyball career, the most fervent of which are a group of five and six year olds living in an orphanage half a world away. Kofie traveled last December to Accra, Ghana, with her father, Moses Kofie. He emigrated from Ghana to Elgin in 1987, once Olivia’s grandfather had become financially stable enough in the Elgin area to send for him. Moses eventually studied and played soccer on scholarship at Judson College, now Judson University. That’s where he met Joy, Olivia’s mother. Moses Kofie returned to Ghana with Olivia as part of a 16-person, two-week mission through the Two Pennies Ministry, which is affiliated with the First Baptist Church of Elgin. The group included nurses, teachers, coaches and construction workers. They constructed a new church and held medical clinics for the orphans and area widowed mothers. Moses taught soccer lessons in the afternoon heat. Olivia, who will choose between nursing and business when she begins her studies on an athletic scholarship at Western Michigan next fall, assisted with the nursing aspect of the mission. She took temperatures and checked blood pressure. All the while she gravitated toward the children and vice versa.
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Girls volleyball/Fox Valley all-area team
Presenting the 2013 Fox Valley all-area girls volleyball team.
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Boys soccer/Fox Valley all-area team
Presenting the 2013 Fox Valley all-area boys soccer team.
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Streamwood’s No. 10 — Ascencio — was truly a 10
By the end of the year, Streamwood senior center midfielder Nestor Ascencio will rack up accolades reserved only for those in the high upper-crust of the prep soccer game. Ascencio, who helped lead the Sabres to their best season in program history at 15-3-3, already has earned all-Midwest, all-state and all-conference honors and is likely to pick up his second all-American award in as many seasons. But for Streamwood’s unquestioned leader, all of it ranks a distant second to what truly matters most to him. “What meant the most to me was being able to spend time with my brothers on the field,” said Ascencio, referring to his teammates. “All I tried to do was do my part and do what I had to do to make this team win whether that was giving out an assist or scoring a goal. All that mattered at the end of the day is that we came out with the win.” Ascencio’s top-shelf play this year has earned him an additional honor in the form of being named the honorary co-captain of the Daily Herald’s All-Area boys’ soccer team. Dundee-Crown senior Ben Stone, who helped lead his team to an undefeated regular season and a Fox Valley Conference Valley Division title, also was strongly considered for the prestigious honor.
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St. Charles North’s Krage delivers dream season
When Taylor Krage — or any outside hitter — goes up for a big swing to put away a key point, she has a lot of information to process in a very short amount of time.
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Boys soccer: Tri-Cities all-area team
Introducing the Daily Herald's boys soccer all-area team for the Tri-Cities.
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Happy return for Heinrich, St. Charles East
St. Charles East coach Paul Jennison has a favorite cliché, “If you don’t concede a goal, you cannot lose.” While it might be common sense, what isn’t common is the defensive play of St. Charles East senior Kevin Heinrich.
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The DuPage County Girls Volleyball All-Area Team
Introducing the Daily Herald's all-area girls volleyball team for DuPage County.
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Lake Park’s Catalano committed to being the best
Three years ago Mike Catalano was just getting used to making his away around the halls of his new school, Lake Park.
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Waliczek extends Barrington’s fine setting tradition
With three setters being named Daily Herald all-area girls volleyball captains from 1999 to 2012, Barrington has built quite a tradition at that position. When she entered Barrington as a freshman, setter Claire Waliczek didn’t plan on joining those three Fillies — Victoria Zimmerman, Lexi Zimmerman and Nellie Spicer. “I’ve always been used to setters not getting a lot of recognition,” she said. “It’s the big hitters who get that. And I guess I never thought I was good enough. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d join them.” Dreams do come true. So do chances of playing at the Division I level. Waliczek will arrive on the Mercer College campus in Macon, Ga., to play volleyball late next summer as the 2013 Cook County Daily Herald all-area girls volleyball honorary captain.
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The DuPage County Boys Soccer All-Area Team
Introducing the Daily Herald's boys soccer all-area team for DuPage County.
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Girls volleyball: All-area team, Northwest
Here's a look at the Daily Herald's all-area girls volleyball team, reflecting the efforts of Mid-Suburban League schools plus St. Viator, Maine West, Leyden and Christian Liberty.
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Boys soccer: All-area team, Northwest
Here's a look at the Daily Herald's all-area soccer team, reflecting the efforts of Mid-Suburban League schools plus St. Viator, Maine West, Leyden and Christian Liberty.
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Images: Daily Herald Soccer and Volleyball Team Captains
Images of Daily Herald All-Area Team Captains in boys soccer and girls volleyball.
Business
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Interactive menu devices hit suburban restaurants
Regular customers of Chili's in Naperville, Rosemont and other suburban locations likely have noticed a new, upgraded interactive menu on their table. Instead of using a stylus, customers now can use a 7-inch Android touch screen Ziosk tablet to order some food or drinks, pay for the bill with its credit card reader, or even play games or watch pay-on-demand content for 99-cents per visit. “This has been designed to be a server's assistant,” said Ziosk CEO Austen Mulinder.
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Food stamp cuts kick in as Congress debates more
More than 47 million Americans who receive food stamps will see their benefits go down starting Friday, just as Congress has begun negotiations on further cuts to the program.
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FAA eases rules on electronic devices on planes
Airline passengers won’t have to “turn off all electronic devices” anymore — they’ll be able to read, work, play games, watch movies and listen to music from gate to gate under new guidelines from the Federal Aviation Administration. But they still can’t talk on their cellphones through the flight.
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No October jinx this time for the stock market
October, with its history of big crashes on Wall Street, didn’t scare off investors this time. To the contrary, the stock market seemed unstoppable. The Standard & Poor’s 500 index closed at a record high seven times and ended the month up 4.5 percent. The market climbed even after October began with the 16-day government shutdown and the threat of a potentially calamitous U.S. default.
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Unsold Dominick’s to close Dec. 28
Dominick’s supermarkets will close Dec. 28 if individual stores haven’t been sold by then, the company said in a memo to employees Thursday.
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Legislation would require Decatur jobs in ADM deal
New legislation would bring jobs to Decatur as a condition for Archer Daniels Midland Co. to receive state incentives it wants to keep its headquarters in Illinois. State Sen. Andy Manar introduced an amendment Thursday.
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Mt. Prospect reaches out to local entrepreneurs
Mount Prospect will relaunch its Entrepreneur’s Cafe series next month, giving residents a chance to learn the ins and outs of opening their own businesses. The first Entrepreneur's Cafe led to the establishment of a successful downtown restaurant. “We knew that there were people in town interested in starting a business but who were either intimidated or confused by the process,” said Dawn Fletcher Collins, executive director of the Mount Prospect Chamber of Commerce.
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Federal report supports FutureGen in Illinois
Although a final recommendation is still pending, the U.S. Department of Energy said in a report that the FutureGen power project in western Illinois should go forward. The agency released the final environmental study on Wednesday. It says the project, whose cost is now pegged at $1.65 billion, would help meet the country’s long-term goal of developing diverse energy sources and do it without significant environmental impacts.
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Kraft to remove artificial dyes from 3 products
Kraft says it plans to remove artificial dyes from three macaroni and cheese varieties that come in kid-friendly shapes, a move that comes as people increasingly reach for foods they feel are natural. The change doesn’t affect Kraft’s plain elbow-shaped macaroni and cheese with “original flavor.”
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Promises, promises: A big one that got away
President Barack Obama’s soothing promise that Americans happy with their health insurance could simply keep it was doomed from the start, and everyone familiar with the market seemed to recognize that except the president. Even his aides said four years ago, early in the huge push for his health care law, that he wasn’t to be taken literally on that point. But he kept making the promise, literally and forcefully.
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Lowe, father of IBM personal computer, dies at 72
William C. Lowe, who was credited with fostering collaboration within the computer industry and led the team that developed IBM’s PC, died on Oct. 19 in Lake Forest, Ill., of a heart attack, his daughter Michelle Marshall said. He was 72.
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Average U.S. rate on 30-year mortgage at 4.10 pct.
Average U.S. rates on fixed mortgages fell for the second straight week and are at their lowest levels in four months. Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday that the average rate on the 30-year loan declined to 4.10 percent from 4.13 percent last week. The average on the 15-year fixed loan eased to 3.20 percent from 3.24 percent.
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McDonald’s to sell bagged coffee next year
Fans of McDonald’s coffee will soon be able to brew a cup of it at home. The world’s biggest hamburger chain says it will test selling a variety of packaged ground and whole-bean coffee at supermarkets and other retail outlets starting next year. The test will also include single-cup servings.
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Lowe, father of IBM personal computer, dies at 72 in Lake Forest
The former IBM executive credited with helping to bring personal computers to the masses has died in Lake Forest. William C. Lowe oversaw the birth of IBM’s first personal computer, which was introduced in retail stores in 1981. He died on Oct. 19 of a heart attack. He was 72.
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Indiana GE plant job cuts trimmed slightly
Negotiations between GE and union officials have slightly reduced the number of job cuts being made at the company’s southern Indiana refrigerator factory.About 130 workers at the GE Appliances factory in Bloomington will no longer have jobs effective Friday, although that number is down from about 160 jobs the company announced in early September.
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Fewer Americans seek unemployment aid for 3rd week
The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits fell 10,000 last week to a seasonally adjusted 340,000, a sign that employers are laying off very few workers. The Labor Department said Thursday that the four-week average rose 8,000 to 356,250, the highest since April. The 16-day partial government shutdown and backlogs in California due to computer upgrades inflated the average.
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Facebook to limit news feed ads to win back teens
Facebook Inc. will limit news feed advertisements that have driven revenue gains and said younger teens aren’t using its website as much as they used to. The world’s most popular social-networking service gave up most of its 18 percent stock increase in extended trading after Chief Financial Officer David Ebersman said on a conference call Wednesday that news feed promotions won’t rise significantly.
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Japan ends ban on Wisconsin poultry products
apan has lifted a ban on Wisconsin poultry products that was instituted after birds in Jefferson County showed signs of exposure to avian flu. A routine inspection done four months ago found some birds had antibodies to low-pathogen avian influenza, indicating they could have been exposed to the disease.
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Red ink runs at Sony again, cuts profit forecast
TOKYO — The “White House Down” flop added to earnings woes at Sony Corp. in the latest quarter, dragging the entertainment and electronics giant to a 19.3 billion yen ($196 million) loss.The action movie’s lackluster box office performance, especially compared with last year’s releases of “21 Jump Street” and “The Amazing Spider Man,” contributed to a 17.8 billion yen ($181 million) operating loss for Sony’s pictures division, the company said Thursday. Sales for the July-September quarter rose 10.6 percent from a year earlier to 1.78 trillion yen ($18.1 billion), thanks mainly to the favorable impact of the yen’s decline against the U.S. dollar. Adjusted for the 20 percent drop in the value of the yen, revenue fell 9 percent.The company’s sales of digital cameras and video cameras fell while its television, music and smartphone businesses improved. Sony slashed its profit forecast for the fiscal year ending in March to 30 billion yen from 50 billion yen, due to weak sales and strong price competition.Rival Panasonic, meanwhile, said its quarterly profit improved to 63.3 billion yen ($644 million) from a 698.6 billion yen loss the year before. Panasonic, like Sony, has benefited from weaker yen. While its domestic sales fell 4 percent, sales overseas climbed 11 percent. Total revenue of 1.88 trillion yen ($19.1 billion) was up 3 percent from a year earlier after taking a hit from the sale of Sanyo businesses carried out in the current fiscal year. Panasonic raised its sales forecast to 7.4 trillion yen ($75.3 billion) and doubled its profit forecast for the fiscal year to 100 billion yen ($1 billion).
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World stocks sink on fear Fed will trim stimulus
Fears that the U.S. Federal Reserve bank will begin cutting its stimulus to the American economy sooner than expected spooked world markets on Thursday, driving shares down. The Fed’s announcement that it would maintain its $85 billion monthly bond purchasing scheme was widely expected, and cheered, by investors. But the bank’s economic outlook was rosier than anticipated and could indicate that it will begin to reduce those purchases — a process known as tapering — soon.
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Italy’s unemployment soars to record
Italy’s jobless rate rose more than forecast in September to an all-time high as companies failed to hire amid concerns about the persisting recession, the longest since World War II. Unemployment increased to 12.5 percent from a revised 12.4 percent in August, the Rome-based national statistics office Istat said in a preliminary report today. The September rate, the highest since the data series began in the first quarter of 1977, was above the 12.3 percent median of ten estimates in a Bloomberg survey.
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NYC moves closer to tobacco-buying age of 21
Young New Yorkers who want to light up will soon have to wait for their 21st birthdays before they can buy a pack of smokes after lawmakers in the nation’s most populous city voted overwhelmingly to raise the tobacco-purchasing age from 18 to 21.
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Lufthansa profits slide amid restructuring
German airline Lufthansa says net profit for the first nine months of the year fell 65 percent, to 247 million euros ($340 million) from 697 million euros in the same period a year ago. The company said restructuring costs and one-time effects played a role in the profit decline. It said Thursday it was making progress in controlling costs and that its passenger business — which includes Lufthansa, local carrier Germanwings, Swiss, and Austrian Airlines — improved their contributions to earnings.
Life & Entertainment
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Kenny Rogers brings Christmas tour to Naperville
Country star Kenny Rogers returns to the Chicago area with his holiday show "Christmas & Hits Through the Years" with special guest Linda Smith at North Central College's Pfeiffer Hall in Naperville on Saturday, Dec. 21.
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AP: Dylan’s Newport guitar to be auctioned in NYC
The sunburst Fender Stratocaster that a young Bob Dylan played at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival when he famously went electric, perhaps the most historic instrument in rock ’n’ roll, is coming up for auction, where it could bring as much as half a million dollars. Though now viewed as changing American music forever, Dylan’s three-song electric set at the Rhode Island festival that marked his move from acoustic folk to electric rock ’n’ roll was met by boos from folk purists in the crowd who viewed him as a traitor.
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Yoko Ono: ‘Thankful’ for McCartney’s comments
Yoko Ono says she’s thankful Paul McCartney appears to have gotten over his grudge against her. McCartney, in a recent Rolling Stone interview, said he’s getting along fine with the widow of John Lennon, his old songwriting partner. The bad feelings had gone back decades, to when the Beatles were falling apart and other group members resented the appearance of Lennon’s new girlfriend in the recording studio.
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Marvin Gaye’s children sue over ‘Blurred Lines’
Two of Marvin Gaye’s children have countersued Robin Thicke and his collaborators on the hit “Blurred Lines” for copyright infringement. The suit filed Wednesday in a Los Angeles federal court accuses Thicke and fellow singers Pharrell and T.I. of copying Gaye’s hit “Got to Give It Up.”
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Claire Danes to host Nobel Peace Prize concert
Claire Danes has been tapped to host the 20th anniversary Nobel Peace Prize concert in December. The Emmy-winning “Homeland” actress will host the Dec. 11 event in Oslo, Norway.
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Smart dazzles in Marriott's regional premiere of 'Mary Poppins'
A few years ago, reviewing the national tour of “Mary Poppins” in Chicago, I wondered how Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire might re-imagine the show in the round. I got my answer Wednesday at the opening of Gary Griffin's cannily calibrated, wonderfully sung regional premiere featuring the ideally cast Summer Naomi Smart as the titular nanny. With her crystalline voice and no-nonsense demeanor, Smart makes it difficult to imagine any other Chicago actress in the role.
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Ham and cheese-stuffed French toast fits into fall menu
Because French toast is such a perfect fall dinner — warm and comforting — I kept the fillings savory with ham, cheddar cheese and turkey. But if you’d rather go sweet, you could substitute jam, peanut butter, cream cheese, fresh berries, even chocolate chips.
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Ham And Cheese Stuffed French Toast Loaf
Ham and Cheese Stuffed French Toast Loaf
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‘Man of Tai Chi’ packs flimsy plot
If for some reason you find yourself in a theater watching the martial arts adventure “Man of Tai Chi” — say, you’re on the lam from the cops, hiding out at the multiplex and all 13 other titles are sold out — feel free to take a nap during the non-fight sequences. You won’t miss anything if you drift off, but it’ll be hard to do anyway. Most of the movie consists of loud, visually dynamic fights, between Beijing deliveryman Tiger Chen — played by Tiger Chen — and a parade of international pugilists of various combat styles. In between is the flimsiest tissue of a plot.
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Steenburgen trumps quartet of aging stars in Sin City comedy
Consider “Last Vegas” a terrestrial “Cocoon” meets “The Hangover” for the AARP demographic. It stars Robert De Niro, Michael Douglas, Kevin Kline and Freeman as childhood buddies reuniting as seniors for a fling in Sin City. Then, the luminous, funny, self-deprecating and appealingly self-confident Mary Steenburgen purloins the movie and shows how underserved the men’s characters are here.
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It’s ‘About Time’ a romantic fantasy like this came along
Richard Curtis’ “About Time” presents us with a full-blown romance between a couple, half of whom just happens to be able to go into a dark, quiet place, squeeze his fists and presto! He winds up in what ever place and time he wishes to be. Although a bit chauvenistic, the fantasy “About Time” is not about time at all, but about what we choose to do with time that makes all the difference.
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Stop defacing screeners for the press to review
We already say nothing about how cable and network TV devalue the movies by using them as backdrops for animated promos and station logos fixed in the corners of the screens. Now, movie distributors want to force critics to review visually altered versions of films that the public will not see. Dann says this is unethical, plus injurious to the art form. And he will not be a party to that.
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Gyptian brings the heat on 4th album
After the Nicki Minaj-assisted 2010 hit, “Hold You,” reggae star Gyptian returns with his fourth album, which is a subtle blend of dancehall, soca and R&B rhythms. “Sex, Love & Reggae” is a creative and courageous step away from Gyptian’s previous albums, and it has the potential to introduce him to new fans.
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Visually stunning 'Ender's Game' really an ethics lesson in da-skies
The idea that humanity banks its entire future on a some spunky junior high kids to win a potential intergalactic war with alien crustaceans borders on the ludicrous. Yet, Gavin Hood's visually stunning 2-D translation of Orson Scott Card's book “Ender's Game” neatly pulls it off with aplomb, with an appealing break-out performance by Asa Butterfield.
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Easy revamps for healthier pizza night
When I’m talking with parents, they’re almost ashamed to admit how often they rely on pizza for an easy family dinner. Want to know a secret? We have a pizza and movie night almost every Friday night, and I love it.
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Complicated 'Darlings' awash in delicious ambiguities
The phrase “it's complicated” appears more than once in “Kill Your Darlings.” And you better like things complicated to fully appreciate this film, starring Daniel Radcliffe as a young Allen Ginsberg. Though based on historical fact, the film is awash in delicious and difficult ambiguities.
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Mediocre 'Diana' no royal romantic treat
Let's start with the relatively good news: “Diana,” a new biopic about the last two years of Princess Diana's life, is not nearly as horrendous as some of the reviews in her homeland may have led you to believe. (“Car-crash cinema,” one British paper opined.) Now the bad news: It's just not very good despite having Naomi Watts as Diana.
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'Free Birds' serves up helping of fun
Finally, there's a movie vegetarian parents can enjoy with their impressionable offspring. The animated adventure “Free Birds” follows a couple of modern-day turkeys who travel back in time to the first Thanksgiving and try to alter history, thus saving their brethren for generations to come. With some help from the vocal gifts of Woody Harrelson, Amy Poehler and, to a lesser extent, Owen Wilson, the comedy offers even poultry fans a few pleasures.
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Voila! Brooklyn backdrop suits Gaultier exhibit
Jean Paul Gaultier can barely contain his enthusiasm to be in Brooklyn. Make that his enthusiasm for New York. And life, in general. He recently christened the Brooklyn Museum exhibit “The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk.” Being that this is Gaultier, keep in mind that this is no static fashion exhibition with gowns behind glass.
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Grandparents raising grandchildren on the rise
The Illinois Department on Aging says the number of grandparents raising grandchildren has increased dramatically in the last 25 years. The U.S. Census Bureau found in 2012 that more than 275,000 grandparents are living with their grandchildren in Illinois.
Discuss
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Suburban transit needs bigger share
The suburbs are being shortchanged on transit funding, a Daily Herald editorial says. The distribution of transit money across the region is so lopsided, and the unmet transit needs in the suburbs so large, that something needs to be done differently.
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School Checker expands your power on schools
Columnist Jim Slusher: Information, it is said, is power, and in that vein, today we’re giving you a profound boost toward control of your local schools.
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A question of competence
Columnist Richard Cohen: If Barack Obama has an image, it is of the infinitely cool, cerebral leader. The man can give a rousing speech, but he is, at heart, a planner and a plodder. Yet this same man has lately so mishandled both domestic and foreign policy that he is in mortal peril of altering his image.
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Barring gay marriage blocks religious freedom
A Libertyville letter to the editor: There is no religious freedom when any citizens are forced by law to follow faiths other than their own in order to access any civil right
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Lawmakers not representing people
A letter to the editor: Our representatives have voted to “kick the can” down the road, run up more debt and do nothing to reduce spending.
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Shivering in fright over meat industry
An Arlington Heights letter to the editor: I am not scared of all the witches, zombies and assorted goblins wandering about on Halloween. What really scares me is the meat industry.
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Smooth drive, but worth the cost?
A Bartlett letter to the editor: So, the new two-mile stretch of Lake Shore Drive cost $64 million or, calculated another way, $32 million per mile. Is it paved with gold? Good intentions? Union contracts?
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Collaboration helped bring about water ordinance
A letter to the editor: Recently the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago’s Board of Commissioners unanimously approved the Cook County Watershed Management Ordinance (WMO). It was adopted with an effective date of May 1, 2014
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Thanks for support of Lords Park Zoo
An Elgin letter to the editor: The board of directors for the Friends of Lords Park Zoo wish to thank the numerous attendees and contributors to its Sept. 29 fundraiser, held at Imago’s in Elgin.
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When Dems should be Party of No
A Wheaton letter to the editor: When it comes to Social Security, Democrats, including the president, U.S. senators, U.S. representatives and Democratic voters should become the Party of No.
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Fence painter should not be punished
A Warrenville leter to the editor: I live on Riverside Avenue in Warrenville and walk my dog along Batavia Road every day. I always thank God for this beautiful fence painting along a drab line of fences.
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Losing the nation as we once knew it
An Elgin letter to the editor: On Friday, Oct. 18, views from William G. Parrot of McHenry and Paula Coughlan of Elburn are both right on. The views are dittoed by myself and I hope many others from this area. Parrot’s letter on the barricades at the Washington memorials and other national parks across the country last week, keeping our veterans and families from seeing them was well said.
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