Daily Archive : Sunday April 6, 2014
News
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Hollywood legend Mickey Rooney dies at 93
Actor Mickey Rooney, a Hollywood legend whose career spanned more than 80 years, has died. He was 93. Los Angeles Police Commander Andrew Smith said that Rooney was with his family when he died Sunday at his North Hollywood home. Smith said police took a report but indicated that there was nothing suspicious and it was not a police case and he had no additional details on the circumstances of...
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Conference on 1997 slaying of Palatine girl postponed
A news conference to detail the arrest of an Illinois man suspected in the murder of a 14-year-old Palatine girl who went missing in 1997 has been postponed until Tuesday, Racine County (Wis.) authorities said this morning. The sheriff's office is going to discuss its breakthrough in the 17-year mystery surrounding the slaying of Amber Gail Creek, whose body was found Feb. 9, 1997, in the...
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Official says ship detects possible transmission
An Australian official overseeing the search for the missing Malaysia Airlines plane says underwater sounds picked up by equipment on an Australian navy ship are consistent with transmissions from black box recorders on a plane.
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Some hear race echoes in Virginia gay marriage ban
To some people in Virginia, the fight over legalization of same-sex marriage echoes a decades-old battle over the state’s 1924 law banning marriage between white and black people. “You’re talking about pure prejudice as the basis of both laws,” argued Philip J. Hirschkop, who as a young lawyer in the 1960s represented an interracial couple that successfully challenged...
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Pistorius to finally answer questions on shooting
More than a year after he killed his girlfriend, Oscar Pistorius is expected to finally answer questions about why he shot Reeva Steenkamp through a toilet door when his murder trial resumes this week and his defense lawyers begin presenting the evidence they hope will save the Olympic athlete from going to prison for 25 years to life. Pistorius’ account that he killed Steenkamp by mistake...
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Experts decode germs’ DNA to fight food poisoning
Chances are you’ve heard of mapping genes to diagnose rare diseases, predict your risk of cancer and tell your ancestry. But to uncover food poisonings? The nation’s disease detectives are beginning a program to try to outsmart outbreaks by routinely decoding the DNA of potentially deadly bacteria and viruses.
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Gay men divided over use of HIV prevention drug
It’s the Truvada conundrum: A drug hailed as a lifesaver for many people infected by HIV is at the heart of a rancorous debate among gay men, AIDS activists and health professionals over its potential for protecting uninfected men who engage in gay sex without using condoms.
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Antique phonograph stands out at St. Charles show
It took 10 years for Paul Baker to restore his 107-year-old Multiphone coin-operated phonograph. It was the showstopper Sunday at the Chicagoland Antique Advertising, Slot-Machine & Jukebox Show at the Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles.
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Family moved by support after toddler’s tragic death
Emanuel Szyszka said he's been stunned by the outpouring of support his family has received in the wake of the tragic death of his 3-year-old sister, Zuzanna Bzdek, who police said was killed by her father, Robert Bzdek, in a murder-suicide. Szyszka has started a fundraiser online to help with funeral expenses. "The reaction has boggled my mind," Szyszka said.
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Body found in Evanston could be that of missing Des Plaines woman
Des Plaines police are working with Evanston and Cook County authorities to determine whether a body discovered Sunday along Lake Michigan is that of a 61-year-old Des Plaines woman missing since late February. The body was found near Clark Sheridan Park, authorities said, and recovered by the Cook County medical examiner’s office, which is working with police to determine cause death and...
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Age Well DuPage event gives seniors tools for healthy living
Hundreds of seniors and soon-to-be seniors from all over DuPage County gathered Sunday in Glen Ellyn to learn how to stay active, fit and healthy as they get older. The College of DuPage hosted the second annual Age Well DuPage event, which provided information about everything from how to navigate the federal Medicare program to the physical benefits of tai chi and gardening.
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Near Fort Hood, church service honors fallen
The church program pictured an empty road being enveloped by the dark clouds of a sweeping thunderstorm, and the service’s lesson was from Isaiah 35:4, “Be strong, fear not.” The preacher implored those gathered Sunday that they would find hope in God, but also acknowledged the question on everyone’s mind: Why Fort Hood — again?
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Fire destroys Warrenville home Sunday morning
A house in Warrenville was destroyed early Sunday by a fire that investigators believe was caused by improperly discarded smoking materials. No one was injured in the blaze, Warrenville authorities said.
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Revolutionary War figures honored at Elk Grove Cemetery
Since it formed in 1889, the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution has been on a mission to locate, record, and identify with a special bronze marker the grave sites of brave men and women who battled for independence during the Revolutionary War. That mission brought members of the society to Elk Grove Cemetery on Sunday, where they dedicated markers to two Revolutionary war...
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Walk for a cause in Lincolnshire
Stevenson High School’s Best Buddies group will host a friendship walk at the Lincolnshire campus on Sunday, April 13.
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Schaumburg police campaign yields 72 tickets
From March 13-17, Schaumburg police issued 11 speeding tickets, 11 tickets for cell phone use by driver, 6 for seatbelt violations, 18 for insurance violations and 26 for other moving and equipment violations. It was part of the St. Patrick’s Day campaign funded by the Sustained Traffic Enforcement Program.
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Skowron to chair Mt. Prospect police/fire board
Former Mount Prospect trustee Michaele Skowron, a member of the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners, has been appointed chairwoman of the board.
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Kane County’s ‘No Refusal’ event nets 10 DUI arrests
The latest “No Refusal” event held the Saturday before St. Patrick’s Day in Kane County netted 10 drunken driving arrests. Held from 11 p.m. March 15 through 3 a.m. March 16, 10 motorists were arrested and three refused to consent to chemical tests until authorities got a warrant. “From our perspective, it should reinforce the message that we are prepared to seek a...
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Lake County forest preserve improvements planned
The Lake County Forest Preserve District board will meet Tuesday morning to discuss improvements at the Fox River Forest Preserve near Barrington and other issues.
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Woman fights off would-be abductor near Elgin hospital
Elgin police are investigating the attempted abduction Friday night of a woman near Advocate Sherman Hospital. A woman reported that a man approached her while she was sitting in her vehicle in a parking lot, opened the door to the vehicle and began striking her in the head.
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Des Plaines Food Fight nets 3,338 pounds
The Des Plaines Chamber of Commerce’s 12th annual “Food Fight” brought in 6,558 pounds of food for the Self-Help Pantry. The Kiwanis Club of Des Plaines won the challenge with 3,338 pounds of collected food.
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CLC hosts alcohol screenings
The College of Lake County Health Center will conduct free, anonymous screenings for alcohol problems as part of National Alcohol Screening Day on Thursday, April 10.
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Young adult lit author to visit Elk Grove
Neal Shusterman, author of "The Schwa Was Here" and other popular young adult literature, will visit Grove Junior High School in Elk Grove Village on Wednesday, April 9.
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Warren High hosts free arts festival
Warren Township High School hosts an arts festival Thursday night.
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GOP seeks coverage choices in health law they hate
At the prodding of business organizations, House Republicans quietly secured a recent change in President Barack Obama’s health law to expand coverage choices, a striking, one-of-a-kind departure from dozens of high-decibel attempts to repeal or dismember it. Democrats describe the change involving small-business coverage options as a straightforward improvement of the type they are eager...
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Afghan election hailed as Taliban threat remains
Afghans and the international community hailed its presidential election as a triumph of democracy over violence Sunday, despite complaints about ballot shortages and sporadic fraud after millions of people braved a Taliban threat to vote for a new president. But some cautioned against declaring a premature defeat of the Islamic militants.
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Christian Life editor, philanthropist dies at 92
Family and friends are not only mourning the loss of Janice Gosnell Franzen, the longtime editor of Wheaton-based Christian Life Publications, but are heartbroken the 92-year-old philanthropist won't be able to enjoy the long-awaited launch of her autobiography “Be an Angel?” next week. Jay Renstrom, the son of one of Franzen's first-cousins, said the beloved lady's three passions in...
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West Dundee native leads dorm with goal of inclusion
Bullied as a kid growing up in West Dundee, Brandon Rohlwing thought about suicide. Now he is the leader of the new alternative gender floor of his dorm at Roosevelt University and a spokesman for a worldwide suicide-prevention group.
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When it comes to trial, clothes make the defendant
While preparing clients for trial, one of the biggest issues facing DuPage County Public Defender Jeff York is often his client's wardrobe. “I usually will ask my client, 'If you're going to church with your grandmother, what would you wear?'” he said. That's when a special wardrobe closet at the public defender's office often comes into play.
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Surging heroin deaths across Ill. draw alarm, ire
Coroners from the suburbs, Chicago and across Illinois say heroin overdose deaths have spiked in recent years, given the relative cheapness, purity, potency and broad availability of the drug. “We have to firmly get out the message that heroin is a highly addictive drug that will kill you,” said Richard Jorgensen, DuPage County coroner.
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A look at heroin use, deaths in some U.S. states
In Illinois, heroin’s impact is felt from the suburbs of Chicago to those near St. Louis. In DuPage County, the number of heroin deaths stayed in the 20s each year from 2007 through 2011, then rose to 43 in 2012 and 46 last year. Here's a look at numbers in all our states.
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Hidden no more: Heroin in suburbs
What the Daily Herald addressed more than a decade ago as a “Hidden Scourge” is hidden no more. In the years since our first series of extensive reports on the effects of heroin on lives in the suburbs, the deadly addiction has grown relentlessly more visible.
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5 things to know about heroin use, getting help
Long a scourge of the back alleys of American life, heroin is spreading across the country. The death of actor Philip Seymour Hoffman in February only underscored a problem many American communities already were combating: the rising use of — and deaths from — heroin. Here are five things to know about this issue:1. Rising use in recent years
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Heroin across America: We're all paying
The death of actor Philip Seymour Hoffman spotlighted the reality that heroin is no longer limited to the back alleys of American life. Once mainly a city phenomenon, the drug has spread — gripping postcard villages in Vermont, middle-class enclaves in suburban Chicago, the sleek urban core of Portland, Ore., and places in between and beyond.
Sports
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UConn women force battle of unbeatens
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Connecticut Huskies are back in a very familiar position, undefeated and playing for a national championship. They’ll be going for an unprecedented ninth national championship after Breanna Stewart scored 18 points and the Huskies advanced to another title game with a 75-56 win against Stanford on Sunday night.It wasn’t easy early, though the Huskies (39-0) did part and set up the highly anticipated championship showdown of undefeated teams.They will square off against Notre Dame, an 87-61 winner over Maryland, on Tuesday night in the title game. It will be the first women’s national title game between unbeaten teams.“It wouldn’t be any fun if you didn’t beat teams that were any good,” UConn coach Geno Auriemma said of the matchup with Notre Dame. “I think women’s basketball needs rivalries like this, teams that aspire to be great and want to win championships.”The Huskies also won their 45th straight game after overcoming another sluggish start. Stewart, the Associated Press player of the year, missed her first four shots and UConn was up just 28-24 at halftime. But Connecticut settled down and put the Cardinal away in the second half, outscoring them 47-32. Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis found her shooting stroke, scoring all of her 15 points in the second half.Bria Hartley added 13 points for UConn and Stefanie Dolson and Moriah Jefferson each finished with 10.Stanford (33-4) lost its third national semifinal since reaching the 2010 championship against UConn, which the Huskies also won. All-American Chiney Ogwumike finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Amber Orrange scored 16 points, and Lili Thompson had 12.Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer had promised the Cardinal wouldn’t go down easy, and her team never stopped competing.Thompson, a freshman, hit four of her first five shots for 10 quick points, helping the Cardinal get off to a good start early. The Cardinal led by as much as six a couple times, the last at 22-16 with 12:32 left when Mikaela Ruef banked in a jumper just before the shot clock expired with 5:39 to go. It was the third sluggish start for the Huskies, who missed shot after shot and had a couple tough shooting stretches in the first half. The first lasted more than 5 minutes and the second nearly 7 minutes. Then they finally got going.The Huskies scored 12 straight to finish the half on a 12-2 run. Kiah Stokes hit a free throw, then Hartley hit the Huskies’ lone 3 of the half with 4:42 left. Then Stewart got it going, hitting a jumper with 3:03 left after missing her first four shots. She finished the spurt stealing the ball from Thompson and finishing the fast break with a layup, drawing the foul for a three-point play and a 28-22 lead. Stanford at least got a jumper from Orrange with 1:38 left, but the Cardinal had the ball with the chance at the last shot and couldn’t connect when Taylor Greenfield’s 3-point attempt hit harmlessly off the rim.In the second half, it was all UConn.The Huskies hit four of their first five shots in starting the half with an 8-3 run. Ogwumike’s 3-pointer with 19:01 left making it 30-27 was as close as the Cardinal would get down the stretch as UConn pushed the lead to as much as 21 within the final minute to set up the Huskies’ next game.
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Former Saint signs 1-year deal with Bears
The Bears on Sunday agreed to terms on a one-year contract with former Saints center Brian de la Puente, a three-year starter who was an unrestricted free agent. The 28-year-old former undrafted free agent is expected to back up 35-year-old starter Roberto Garza this season and could succeed him as the Bears' center of the future.
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Who will the Bulls face in playoffs?
By winning their final five games of the regular season, the Bulls could get to 50 wins. They'll probably need to win out to have a chance to edge Toronto for the No. 3 playoff seed in the East. Both teams finish with relatively soft schedules.
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Sox offense looks exciting, but bullpen and defense must improve
After a single week of play, we try to extrapolate a 162-game campaign because sometimes uncertainty is a little too difficult to handle. The truth is, there’s still a lot about the 2014 White Sox that we don’t know because of the arrival of new, young, unproven talent and it will be weeks or months before we have a clearer idea of this team’s identity.
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Cubs make their hits count
After scoring a grand total of 8 runs over their first five games, the Cubs came out swinging Sunday. They scored 4 runs in the first inning and 4 in the sixth to beat the Phillies at Wrigley Field.
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Two losses don’t affect Villanueva
Pitcher Carlos Villanueva has been a go-along, get-along guy for the Cubs in his role as a swing man. He lost twice as a reliever last week in Pittsburgh, but he got rewarded with a victory in Sunday's 8-3 Cubs win over the Phillies.
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Wolves fall to Iowa in shootout
The Chicago Wolves earned a point for the 24th time in their last 25 home games, but the Iowa Wild claimed a 4-3 shootout victory Sunday at Allstate Arena in Rosemont.Center Pat Cannone scored 2 goals and Alexandre Bolduc notched the other for the Wolves (40-20-5-5), while goaltender Matt Climie stopped 29 shots in regulation and overtime and rejected 5 of 6 in the shootout. Iowa’s Dylan Labbe provided the shootout’s only goal in the sixth round.
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Notre Dame women cruise into title game
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Kayla McBride wouldn’t let Notre Dame’s pursuit of a perfect season end. The All-American senior guard had one of the most impressive games of her career in Sunday night’s national semifinal, scoring 28 points to lead Notre Dame to an 87-61 win over Maryland. She seemingly did whatever she wanted, shedding defenders with behind-the-back dribbles and quick cross-overs before scoring. She set the tone for Notre Dame and her Irish teammates followed her lead into Tuesday night’s championship game.The Irish (37-0) will play the winner of UConn and Stanford. It’s the third time in four years that Notre Dame has been in the title game. The Irish are looking for their first title since winning it all in 2001. Notre Dame played without senior Natalie Achonwa, who suffered a torn ACL in the regional final victory over Baylor. The entire team wore shirts in warmups with Achonwa’s No. 11 and the 6-foot-3 forward’s nickname “Ace” on the back. She helped her team warm up, passing the ball and offering words of encouragement. Muffet McGraw, who was The Associated Press coach of the year, was concerned coming into the game about her team’s ability to rebound against the bigger Terrapins without Achonwa. It proved to be no problem for the Irish, who dominated the Terrapins (28-7) on the boards. The Irish outrebounded the Terps 50-21, including a 19-4 advantage on the offensive end. It was the widest rebounding margin ever in a Final Four game shattering the previous mark of 19 set by Louisiana Tech in 1989. Maryland broke the national semifinals record for fewest rebounds in a game of 25 set by Minnesota in 2004. Notre Dame also befuddled Maryland on defense, forcing them into turnovers and poor shots with ever-changing defenses. Terps’ star Alyssa Thomas was constantly double-teamed and rarely got a good look at the basket. She finished with 14 points. Thomas ended her career as the school’s all-time leading scorer and rebounder. She had waited four years to make the Final Four and her only trip was a short one. Coach Brenda Frese took her out with 1:33 left and the game well out of reach. Frese gave her star a long hug. This was Maryland’s first trip to the Final Four since winning the championship in 2006. The Terps were intent on crashing the party and ruining Notre Dame’s perfect season. For the first 12 minutes they were able to keep the game close with some hot shooting. They only trailed 23-21 before McBride and Notre Dame took control with a 10-0 run. McBride had the first five points hitting a layup and converting a nifty three-point play. Taya Reimer, who replaced Achonwa in the starting lineup, scored her first points of the game on a layup to cap the burst and make it 33-21. The teams traded baskets over the next few minutes and the Irish led 37-27 before closing the half by scoring 11 of the final 15 points, including a beautiful pass from Reimer to a cutting McBride for a layup — a play often run between Achonwa and McBride. The first half was similar to the first meeting in the regular season when the Irish jumped all over the Terrapins, taking a 22-point advantage before Maryland rallied. There was no comeback this time.McBride made sure of it, scoring from all over the court. She had five straight points, including a 3-pointer and a pullup jumper that made it 59-37 with 15:46 left. The Terrapins could only get really any closer the rest of the way. McBride, who also pulled down seven rebounds, was coming off one of her worst games of the season against Baylor in the regional final. In that contest, she picked up quick fouls and sat the bench for most of the first half. She finished with 11 points, going 2 for 9 from the field. She reached that point total midway through the first half.
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Hawks over the Teravainen hype?
The hoopla surrounding 19-year-old center Teuvo Teravainen looks as if it has officially subsided, at least in the eyes of Blackhawks Joel Quenneville. Teravainen sat out his third straight game Sunday and hasn’t dressed in 6 of the 9 games since his arrival from Finland.
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Morin sparks Blackhawks to victory
Jeremy Morin provided just the spark the Blackhawks needed with a goal and an assist in a 4-2 victory over the Blues Sunday afternoon at the United Center.
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Blackhawks topple Blues 4-2
The Blackhawks are taking a more direct approach to generating offense without injured star forwards Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane.So far, it’s working.Rookie Jeremy Morin scored and set up Patrick Sharp’s go-ahead goal in the second period, and injury-depleted Chicago held on to defeat the St. Louis Blues 4-2 on Sunday afternoon at United Center for its third straight win.The Blackhawks ground out the victory despite playing without Toews’ powerful skating and Kane’s puck-handling skills for the third game. Forward Brandon Saad was a last-minute scratch.“We’ve simplified our game quite a bit,” said Sharp, who scored his team-leading 33rd goal. “We’re not trying to make as many plays offensively. We’re battling hard. “Usually when you battle hard individually and as a team, good things happen. We’ve raised our battle level lately, but we’re just keeping things simple. Getting pucks in, getting pucks out.”And some younger players, such as Morin, are getting more ice time and showing just how deep defending Stanley Cup champion Chicago is.“I’m just taking it day by day every time I’m in the lineup, trying to make the most of it,” Morin said. “We’re comfortable out there. “I’m just playing the game right now and letting things come.”Marcus Kruger and Ben Smith also scored for Chicago, which closed to one point behind Colorado for second place in the Central Division and home ice in the first round of the playoffs. The Blackhawks have three games left. The Avalanche, who host Pittsburgh on Sunday night, have five games left.Toews, Chicago’s captain, sat out his third game with an upper-body injury suffered last Sunday when he was drilled by Pittsburgh defenseman Brooks Orpik. Kane, who has resumed skating, missed his ninth with a lower-body injury suffered against the Blues on March 19.Toews and Kane are expected to return for the start of the playoffs.Jaden Schwartz and Vladimir Sobotka connected for St. Louis, which lost its second straight and remained two points behind idle Boston for the NHL’s overall point lead and race for the Presidents’ Trophy.Both the Blues and Bruins have four games remaining.Chicago’s Corey Crawford made 21 saves and St. Louis’ Brian Elliott made 31.“We had moments where we did everything to ourselves and gave them opportunities really out of nothing,” Elliott said. “It’s a wake-up call right now and we’ve got to figure it out.”The Blues skated without two of their top forwards, including leading goal scorer Alexander Steen who missed his third game with an upper-body injury. Vladimir Tarasenko has been sidelined since mid-March with a hand injury.The Blues, who were shut out by Colorado on Saturday, have scored two goals or fewer in eight of their past 10 games.St. Louis coach Ken Hitchcock said his team is looking a “little bit tired” and needs to “find a way to re-energize” and start skating, buzzing and shooting again in the offensive zone. “Our offensive game is based on offensive energy,” Hitchcock said. “When we don’t have it, we don’t have near enough zone time. “We score by volume (of chances) and when we don’t get the volume we don’t score. The last couple of games we haven’t gotten the volume we normally get.”Blues defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk agreed.“A lot of our offense comes when we’re grinding away down low,” he said. “When we’re shooting, there’s rebounds and we’re beating guys to pucks.”Chicago dominated territorially in the chippy first period and outshot the Blues 11-3, but trailed 1-0 after 20 minutes.
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Kalish, Cubs rip Phillies 8-3
Ryan Kalish hit a two-run double and an RBI triple and the Chicago Cubs beat the Philadelphia Phillies 8-3 on Sunday to avoid a sweep at Wrigley Field.Cubs starter Carlos Villanueva allowed a run in five innings in his first start and third outing of the season.A.J. Burnett, who signed a one-year, $16 million contract with the Phillies after he spent the last two seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates, allowed eight runs, four earned, in 5 2-3 innings. He struck out three but walked six.The Cubs scored four runs in the first and sixth innings.Kalish opened up the scoring with an RBI triple in the first. It was his first hit since Sept. 11, 2012, when he played for the Boston Red Sox. The Cubs extended their lead to 4-0 on sacrifice flies by Nate Schierholtz and Ryan Sweeney and Starlin Castro’s RBI double.The Cubs scored eight runs and were 4 for 40 with runners in scoring position in their previous five games.The Phillies scored a run on Chase Utley’s groundout in the fifth to cut the lead to 4-1. Manager Ryne Sandberg challenged the call that Utley was out at first, but the review confirmed it. Ryan Howard lined into an inning-ending double play.The Phillies went 1 for 15 with runners in scoring position. They scored two runs off reliever Jose Veras in the ninth.The Cubs added four runs in the sixth. With runners on first and third, shortstop Jimmy Rollins fielded a grounder deflected by Burnett, but Rollins didn’t touch second base or throw to first as a run scored. Kalish then hit a two-run double and Anthony Rizzo added an RBI single.Villanueva made his first start after he pitched in relief in two extra-inning games against the Pirates. He allowed game-winning hits in both games.
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Sale shuts down Royals, Sox win 5-1
Chris Sale gave up four singles in eight scoreless innings as the Chicago White Sox defeated the Kansas City Royals 5-1 on Sunday. Alexei Ramirez and Tyler Flowers each drove in a pair of runs as the White Sox won the series finale after dropping the first two games.
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Some names Sox fans should follow this season
The White Sox have their deepest minor-league system in years, and beat writer Scot Gregor looks at some key prospects that could help at the major-league level this season or in the near future.
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Despite all obstacles, Bulls just keep getting better
With everything that has gone wrong for the Bulls, it's hard to believe they're headed for a better finish than last season. Two wins over the final six games will secure a better record than the 45-37 they posted a year ago. Here are a few reasons why it happened.
Business
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Ex-McDonald's managers say they withheld workers' pay
Two former store managers of Oak Brook-based McDonald's Corp., assisting with a campaign to raise pay for fast-food workers, said they helped withhold employees' wages at the restaurant chain after facing pressure to keep labor costs down.
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Angry families want GM prosecuted for defects
WASHINGTON — The families of those who died in General Motors cars with defective ignition switches want prosecutors to go after GM insiders responsible for letting the problems fester for more than a decade — and perhaps for covering them up.“The only way the public is going to be protected from this negligence by companies is if there will ultimately be prison sentences,” said Leo Ruddy of Scranton, Pa., whose 21-year-old daughter Kelly was killed in 2010 when her Chevrolet Cobalt veered inexplicably off the highway and crashed. Family members attended hearings in Washington last week that stoked those sentiments. Lawmakers confronted GM CEO Mary Barra with what they said was evidence that, in 2006, a company employee intentionally tried to conceal the switch problem. And the head of the nation’s auto safety watchdog said GM withheld critical information that connected the failing switch to air bags that didn’t deploy in a crash. “I don’t see this as anything but criminal,” said Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-New Hampshire, a former state prosecutor.However, even if an employee or employees did conceal information, it’s uncertain whether they would be charged with a crime. Legal experts say it’s easier to prove wrongdoing by a corporation than by individuals. The internal documents that can be used to build a case against the company might be inadmissible as evidence against individuals. And it can be hard to prove that individuals knowingly made false statements.The Justice Department didn’t bring charges against any individuals last month when it closed a yearslong investigation of Toyota. GM has acknowledged that in 2004 and 2005, engineers submitted proposals to fix the switches in Cobalts, Saturn Ions and other small cars, but the fixes were never implemented. GM says upper management only became aware of the problem last year. A recall of the small cars, now up to 2.6 million vehicles, began in February. On Wednesday, Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., accused one GM employee of a cover-up. Ray DeGiorgio, the lead switch engineer on the Cobalt, said in a deposition last year for a lawsuit against GM that he never approved a change to the ignition switch. But McCaskill produced a document from GM’s switch supplier that showed DeGiorgio signed off on a replacement, but with the same part number. Failing to change a part number makes the part harder to track.Appearing Sunday on ABC’s “This Week,” McCaskill said, “There is no reason to keep the same part number unless you’re trying to hide the fact that you’ve got a defective switch out there that in fact ended up killing a number of people on our highways.” Paul Rothstein, a Georgetown University law professor, wouldn’t speak specifically about DeGiorgio, but said someone “caught in a lie” could be more vulnerable to individual prosecution. Barra called the failure to change the part number “unacceptable.” She said the company has not yet fired any employees in connection with the recall. But she said if inappropriate decisions were made, GM will take action, including firing those involved.Barra said at the hearing that DeGiorgio still works at GM. The company declined to make him available for an interview. “If you can go to jail for insider trading and things like that, which is just making money, if you do something that caused a loss of life ... (the penalty) should be more than just a few dollars,” said Ken Rimer, whose stepdaughter died in a 2006 accident after a faulty switch prevented air bags from deploying.
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Costs of climate change steep but tough to tally
The economic and financial impact of global warming is complex and not well understood. Overall, changes in climate are expected to cause significant disruptions that also exact an economic toll. Here's an explanation of how, according to a 49-page summary from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change which met in Yokohama near Tokyo this week.
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Citi Foundation to aid 10 U.S. cities
The Citi Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Citigroup Inc., will donate $50 million to improve youth employment opportunities in 10 large U.S. cities, the chairman of the organization told The Associated Press.
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Millenials hit hard; elder Americans recoup wealth
The damage inflicted on U.S. households by the collapse of the housing market and recession wasn’t evenly distributed. Households headed by someone 40 years or younger have been the hardest hit. Net worth for older Americans has already recouped the losses.
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Nonprofit insurers struggle with new health care
A smorgasbord of options and lower prices for consumers were two of the chief selling points for President Barack Obama as he promoted his overhaul of the nation’s health insurance industry. But rather than promote competition, the co-ops and smaller nonprofits in some states have languished behind major insurers.
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High-speed trading advantage is noting new
Many people were shocked by reports that some on Wall Street are trying to get what may be an unfair advantage by engaging in high-frequency trading. Please. Yes, markets can be rigged. But leveraging speed to exploit information asymmetries has been central to financial markets since their inception.
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U.S. vacation home sales jumped 30%
Sales of U.S. vacation homes jumped 30 percent in 2013, while the share of investor purchases declined, the National Association of Realtors said.
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Tesla fights New Jersey fan on direct car sales
Tesla Motors Inc. appealed New Jersey’s ban on direct auto sales, arguing that the decision thwarts the company’s mission of providing sustainable transportation and unfairly favors entrenched franchise dealers.
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Minimum wage value falling but fairness is debated
The federal minimum wage has been below what’s needed to keep a family of three out of poverty since 1980. It’s also well shy of the peak of its buying power almost half a century ago. Is the current $7.25 hourly minimum fair? Is now the time to raise it, and if so, by how much? There is no objective answer. It depends on the political slant of lawmakers or the views of economists being asked.
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Survey: U.S. companies added jobs in March
A private survey shows that U.S. companies increased hiring at a healthy pace last month, suggesting that the jobs market is recovering from a brutal winter.
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How to save money on your summer vacation hotels
Summer vacationers looking for deals on hotel rooms are going to have to search a little harder. The average cost of a room now stands at $110, up 4 percent from last year and 8 percent from two years ago. But that doesn’t mean that hotel stays need to break the bank. Here are some tips to save on your family’s summer lodging.
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Former JPMorgan and UBS bankers plan to start London hedge fund
JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s former global head of equity finance and three other bankers have started a London hedge-fund firm, as they try to profit from Europe’s economic recovery.
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Schlafly beer trademark flap headed to trial
A family dispute between a prominent conservative activist in St. Louis and her beer-making nephew is headed to federal trademark court. Phyllis Schlafly opposes her nephew Tom’s efforts to trademark the name “Schlafly.”
Life & Entertainment
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What to do about traveler's diarrhea
Flying would take a good 15 hours, but the parents knew their four kids were hardy adventurers and the whole family was looking forward to the trip-of-a-lifetime to China. The children were fully vaccinated, but mom and dad were also hoping to avoid any cases of dreaded travelers' diarrhea which would really put a damper on their grand plans.
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Images: ACM Awards
The stars of country music hit the red carpet for the Academy of Country Music Awards on Sunday in Las Vegas.
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Strait, Urban and Lambert win big at ACMs
George Strait won his second entertainer of the year — 25 years after he won his first — and Miranda Lambert and Keith Urban teamed up to earn top honors Sunday night at a jam-packed Academy of Country Music Awards that had a little something for everyone.
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‘Captain America’ sequel bows with $96 million
Continuing the success of their superhero franchise, “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” has set a record as the biggest domestic April release ever. The Disney sequel debuted with $96.2 million topping the previous record holder, 2011’s “Fast Five,” which opened with $86.2 million.
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Sunday picks: Roots rocker plays In-Laws in Gurnee
Folk musician Bucky Halker joins roots artist Chris Vallillo in a concert of folk music at the In-Laws Restaurant. Morton Grove native and comedian Jeff Garlin returns this weekend for a series of shows at Zanies. See what happens when furry Elmo gets his hands on Abby Cadabby's magic wand in “Sesame Street Live: Can't Stop Singing” at the Sears Centre Arena.
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Sage the Gemini imparts minimalist vibe
There is a distinct old school West Coast vibe to rapper Sage the Gemini’s first album “Remember Me.” Minimalist beat structures blend with an assured lyrical approach to make this debut memorable indeed.
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2 horns up for Dio tribute album
One of the greatest heavy metal vocalists, Ronnie James Dio left an indelible mark on the genre through his work with Rainbow, Black Sabbath and his solo career. The tribute album “Ronnie James Dio: This Is Your Life” brings some of the biggest names in metal to honor Dio, who died in 2010 of stomach cancer.
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New building toys go beyond the old wooden block
Building and construction toys have been a fixture in playrooms since, well, forever, and there are several reasons for their enduring appeal. “Directions aren’t necessary, no rules or instructions are needed. Children are just provided space to grow,” says Judith Ellis, founder and chairwoman of the Toy Design department at New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology. “Construction toys empower children. They offer a child a chance to be adventurous — to ask, ‘what if,’ to think abstractly, developing creative intelligence. Building develops strategic thinking. It provides visionary perspective and it increases attention spans,” Ellis says.
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Legendary stars play ‘Game of Thrones’ in-laws
Like every “Game of Thrones” fan, Charles Dance was gobsmacked by last season’s next-to-last installment. That episode, “Red Wedding,” made good on its title with a massacre staged by the bride’s father, Lord Walder Frey, who meant to settle a score with his hall of guests, and did. “I got quite a shock!” says Dance.
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Star-studded ‘Superstar’ to tour North America
The 1970s rock opera “Jesus Christ Superstar” is being resurrected for a North American arena rock tour this summer, led by a former boy band member, an R&B siren and a punk icon. The musical written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice about the last days of Jesus will start a 54-city tour in New Orleans on June 9. It will star punk legend John “Johnny Rotten” Lydon as King Herod, Michelle Williams of Destiny’s Child as Mary Magdalene, Brandon Boyd of Incubus as Judas and JC Chasez of ‘N Sync as Pontius Pilate. Ben Forster, the winner of the U.K.’s prime-time contest show “Superstar,” will play the son of God.
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Playing the brain training game
Improvements in vocabulary, better big-picture thinking and greater empathy rank among upsides to the aging brain. But it’s worries about the downsides that are compelling Americans to spend more than $1 billion on “brain fitness,” a number that will continue to rise dramatically, according to market research firm SharpBrains.
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Bayeux boasts D-Day history, ancient tapestry
There’s a digital clock on display outside the visitors center in the charming Normandy town of Bayeux — but it doesn’t tell the time. It’s counting down the days until the 70th anniversary of D-Day in June. But World War II-related tourism comprises only part of the attraction of Normandy, a region rich in history and natural beauty, not to mention the famous Bayeux Tapestry. The countryside also features quaint cities and centuries-old châteaus, as well as apple farms and windswept coastlines. Bayeux, about three hours by bus from Paris, is a great place to start.
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In-flight entertainment rises to a whole new level
If you were lucky enough to be on a certain Virgin-Australia flight from Brisbane to Sydney recently, you would have boarded to the chorus from the musical, “The Lion King.” And it wouldn’t have been piped in music or a bunch of spring break juniors singing off key. It would have been the actual cast from the production playing in Sydney. Talk about taking in-flight entertainment up a notch.
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AMC’s ‘Turn’ dramatizes Revolutionary War spy ring
The new AMC drama “Turn” shines an overdue light on the members of the Culper Ring, young Americans who find themselves part of an espionage network destined to help the Continentals beat their British oppressors during the Revolutionary War. It premieres Sunday.
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HBO, Mike Judge team up for a comic look at 'Silicon Valley'
Before he created “Beavis and Butt-Head” and “King of the Hill,” Mike Judge worked as an engineer in Silicon Valley. “It's a lot of anti-social introverted people thrown together,” he says. “A lot of these guys would not fit in another workplace.” But together, they make a humorous gang of nerds in hoodies, who spend their days writing code in hopes of becoming the newest startup millionaires. And that's the premise behind “Silicon Valley,” the new HBO comedy he has made with Alec Berg that premieres April 6.
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No need to choose between style and utility with these kitchen gadgets
Every year the International Home + Housewares Show puts thousands of new products on display, and retailers and the press scramble to find ones you’ll want to see and maybe buy. Here are creations that provide you with great-looking ways to make your home function better.
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Preparing space for senior relatives
Retrofitting a space for an aging relative is a delicate task. Remember that your mother or father has spent a lifetime as an independent soul. Most parents are uncomfortable with their children seemingly taking over their life.
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Milsek polish superb at cleaning, protecting wood
Q. I just read your recommendations for Milsek as the best wood cleaner for cleaning greasy kitchen cabinets. That is what I am trying to do with mine — get the old grease off them. I am not planning on repainting — just cleaning.
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Screen tips for the front door
I like to have some natural ventilation in the spring and fall and more light from the front door, but I don’t like how a screen door looks. What other methods are there to add screening to the door?
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The old luster of Mount Vernon’s ‘new room’
The public is betting the forst look of a 14-month, $600,000 restoration of Mount Vernon, President George Washington's estate
Discuss
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Editorial: The relentless threat of heroin addiction
A Daily Herald editorial warns of the relentless nature of heroin addiction and the tenacious response that is needed to combat it
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7 million reasons not to repeal the ACA
Columnist Gene Lyons: So it turns out that millions of people dealt with the Affordable Care Act enrollment cutoff pretty much the way they habitually deal with the April 15 income tax filing deadline: procrastinating until the last minute to ensure maximum stress and standing in line.
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‘Un-American’ Kochs undeserving as targets
Columnist Kathleen Parker: Rush Limbaugh can relax. The popular “demon of the right” has been replaced at least through the midterms by the Koch brothers, Charles and David. Who? Exactly. Though cable and online news junkies know the names, the vast majority of Americans probably have no idea who the Kochs are. They’re about to find out.
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Are Catholic reforms truly happening?
An Arlington Heights letter to the editor: So, after we have all tried to stay “faithful” and proclaimed “that is the past, the pope is making changes!” the Italian bishops reiterate to the world that they don’t have to inform authorities if they suspect a child is sexually abused
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‘Too much traffic’ at gun ranges a lame excuse
A Mount Prospect letter to the editor: What other lame excuses can the anti-gun fanatics come up with? If I had the money, I’d develop one of the thousands of vacant properties in one of the thousands of empty business centers, away from homes, schools, churches, etc. I’d build or update an existing property with a modern, safe, soundproofed range, and with more than enough parking and adequate traffic control to satisfy those afraid that an “increase in gun owner’s traffic” (during regular business hours) will disrupt their own driving schedules that also contribute to “too much traffic.”
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Things to consider on unionized athletes
A Spring Grove letter to the editor: Looks like the “semi-professional” college athletes will soon get their chance to join a union. This may open up a few ways to also solve many other fiscal problems.
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Critics overdo privacy concerns
A Lake Zurich letter to the editor: Why is everyone getting bent out of shape over their privacy rights?
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Pay teachers, let trustees buy snacks
A Carpentersville letter to the editor: Thank you, Bob Johnson, for your letter regarding the importance of community colleges. You failed to explain, though, what trustees do that requires so much training that a single trustee should be reimbursed in two years what my husband, an adjunct professor with a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago, earns in a year.
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Put efforts into stopping real waste
An Elgin letter to the editor: It is interesting to observe as a new concept is proposed, gathers support, and becomes written as proposed legislation. However, sometimes this process is just wrong, no matter how many jump on the bandwagon. I am referring to the attempt to squash the 13th check received by IMRF retirees.
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