Daily Archive : Friday July 25, 2014
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News
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Elgin may ease residency requirements
Some upper-level Elgin officials would no longer be required to live within city limits if a new proposal is OK’d by the city council. A city committee this week voted 7-2 to abolish residency requirements for certain positions that have a technical focus, such as corporation counsel. “It’s hard to find good people,” Councilman Toby Shaw said. “You need every...
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Memorial service set for mom who saved boy
A memorial service for Karen Wessel, the Arlington Heights mom who died after heroically saving a 9-year-old boy from drowning in a Wisconsin lake , will be held Saturday, Aug. 2. The service will begin at 11 a.m. at Our Lady of the Wayside, 434 W. Park St. in Arlington Heights.
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Audience moved by Mundelein teen’s performance
Cast and audience shared an emotional performance of “The Secret Garden” Saturday night at Mundelein High School. Senior Monica Tipperreiter debuted in the role she had been meant to play one of the leads in the high school musical last spring.
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Rockin’ The Blocks continues Saturday in Palatine
The Rockin’ The Blocks community block party featuring food, family fun and plenty of live music got underway Friday night and will continue from noon to 11 p.m. Saturday at the corner of Brockway and Slade streets.
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These siblings splitting $20 million 17 ways
BEACHWOOD, N.J. — A lottery-playing tradition started by the matriarch of a large New Jersey shore family paid off for her 17 children this week when the group won a $20 million jackpot that will partly be used to help family members recover from 2012’s Superstorm Sandy.
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Taiwan plane survivor crawls out, phones dad
XIXI, Taiwan — The 10 survivors of Taiwan’s worst air disaster in more than a decade include a 34-year-old woman who called her father after scrambling from the wreckage and seeking help at a nearby home.
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Teams converge on remote site of Algerian plane crash
PARIS — Aviation experts, criminal investigators and soldiers began converging Friday on an isolated patch of restive Mali to search for clues that might explain why an Air Algerie jetliner fell from the sky in a storm and apparently disintegrated on impact.
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Sugar Grove honors longtime firefighter as Citizen of the Year
It was fitting that Wayne Parson was thinking of others while he was being honored as Sugar Grove Citizen of the Year.Parson said he was reminded of the many previous honorees who wwere present as he received the award during the Sugar Grove Corn Boil 2014 festivities at Volunteer Park Friday.
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Obama aide: We’re preparing for impeachment attempt
The White House is preparing for a Republican attempt to impeach President Barack Obama as he takes executive actions on immigration and health care policies stalled in Congress, senior adviser Dan Pfeiffer said. “I would not discount that possibility” of an impeachment attempt, Pfeiffer told reporters.
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Rodeo, demo derby still ahead at DuPage fair
The DuPage County Fair is swinging into the home stretch Saturday and Sunday with two of its biggest draws: the Latting IPRA Rodeo and the demolition derby. The rodeo takes over the grandstand at 1 and 6:30 p.m. Saturday at the fairgrounds, 2015 Manchester Road, Wheaton.
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Images: Friday at the Lake County Fair
The Lake County Fair had plenty to offer on Friday, July 25. Friday's events included crazy cow relay races, musical entertainment, battle of the bands, food, rides and games. Plenty of activity in the livestock barns too.
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Sheriff: 300 homes burned in record Washington wildfire
TWISP, Wash. — About 300 homes — twice as many as previously estimated — have burned in the largest recorded wildfire in Washington state history, a county sheriff said Friday.
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Officials: 1 dead, 6 hurt in West side shooting
Chicago authorities are reporting that one person was killed and six others wounded while standing on West Side street corner. A Chicago Fire Department spokesman said Friday one person was dead at the scene of the shooting in the East Garfield Park neighborhood. The spokesman says two people were hospitalized in critical condition, two are in fair condition and one is in good condition. One of...
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Elgin man faces 6 years in prison for domestic attack
Elgin man faces prison for domestic attack
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Aurora police investigating spiritual healer scam
Authorities are investigating a scam staged by a woman claiming to be a spiritual healer who inveigled three people out of nearly $8,000 since early July, Aurora police said. The suspect, who went by the name of Esperanza and operated out of an apartment on the 700 block of High Street, apparently distributed fliers that advertised spiritual advice and healing, according to a police department...
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Christie campaigns for Rauner in Chicago
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie stopped in Chicago Friday to campaign for Republican Bruce Rauner, calling his bid to defeat Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn “among the most important governor’s races in the country.” Christie said he’s fighting for Rauner because he believes he will create jobs and improve education.
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Carpentersville man pleads guilty to bomb threats
Akiel Davis of Carpentersville pleaded guilty Friday to making bomb threats that disrupted business in September 2013 at Kane County courts in St. Charles Elgin, Carpentersville, Geneva and Aurora.
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NHTSA to investigate Hyundai Sonata air bag problem
DETROIT — U.S. safety regulators are investigating whether an electrical problem can knock out the air bags on some older Hyundai Sonatas.The probe announced Friday covers about 394,000 midsize cars from the 2006 through 2008 model years.
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I-90 reopens after truck fire
The Jane Addams Tollway has reopened after a semitrailer truck caught fire near Huntley about 4 p.m. Friday. State police said the both directions of the tollway were open by 6:40 p.m.
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SIU to hold special election for student rep
Southern Illinois University plans to hold a special election this fall because of an error which officials say invalidated its Board of Trustees student representative election.The Southern Illinoisan reports that SIU President Randy Dunn says there was confusion about whether an eligibility check was completed for all the candidates vying for the post.
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Plainfield man sentenced in pregnant woman’s death
A 37-year-old Illinois man was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences without parole for the murder of a pregnant woman and her fetus in Wisconsin.Brian Cooper of Plainfield was sentenced in Door County Circuit Court Thursday. He was found guilty in May of two counts of first-degree intentional homicide, the Door County Advocate reported.
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O’Hare worker accused of taking computers
A worker at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport is accused of stealing two computers from military foot lockers that were being shipped overseas.
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Bulls’ Noah releases PSA in fight against violence
Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah has unveiled an effort to tamp down the city’s gun violence, including a public service announcement in which he stars. In the PSA, Noah asks Chicago “what do you stand for.” City residents are then shown what they stand for, including positivity and resolving conflict without violence. Bulls forward Derrick Rose says he stands “for my...
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South suburban man gets 1 year in grant fraud scheme
The husband of a former suburban Chicago police chief has been sentenced to one year in prison for his role in a $1.25 million grant fraud scheme.
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Durbin hails new Chicago gun intelligence effort
Days after a stray bullet turned an 11-year-old girl into yet another victim of Chicago’s gun violence, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin hailed a new facility designed to help authorities track illegal guns and link them to crimes across the city, state and country.
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Hoffman Estates Chamber collecting school supplies
The Hoffman Estates Chamber of Commerce & Industry invites you to join its members in the 2014 “Tools For Success” program through Aug. 8. This community-focused program provides new school supplies to children in the community who may otherwise start school empty-handed.
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Conant H.S. to celebrate 50th Sept. 20
Conant High School’s 50th Anniversary Celebration Dinner is open to staff, retirees, alumni and adult community members affiliated with the school in Hoffman Estates. It will take place at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20, at the Hyatt Regency Woodfield in Schaumburg.
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Elk Grove Dist. 59 board approves early learning center
Elk Grove Township Elementary District 59 is moving forward with plans to construct a 55,000-square-foot early childhood learning center addition on the east side of Holmes Junior High School in Mount Prospect.
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Fred Fest concert in Port Barrington Aug. 17
Fred Fest, an annual reunion concert of well-known, Barrington-trained musicians, will be held from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 17, at the Fox River Forest Preserve on Roberts Road in Port Barrington. Admission is $20. The concert benefits the Preservation Foundation of the Lake County Forest Preserves.
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Elgin will be looking for new operators for BMX track
Elgin’s BMX track closed abruptly after their operators had their sanctioning agreement revoked by the national governing body. Jim Barton said he found out Thursday that USA BMX made the move, which caught him and his wife Jenna off-guard.“They kept telling us, we’re not going to pull your sanction,” he said. “Next thing you know, they did.”
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Arlington Park trainer Wayne Catalano, hospitalized with pneumonia, doing better
Longtime Arlington Park trainer Wayne Catalano, hospitalized since Tuesday after being diagnosed with pneumonia, is doing better, his wife said Friday.
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Israel to blame? Hamas? Comparing 2009 with 2014
The third Gaza war is playing out much like the first one more than five years ago: The harrowing civilian toll in Gaza is now at the center of the discourse, eclipsing the rocket attacks by Hamas militants that were the stated reason for the Israeli assault. Then as now, a question persists: Beyond the carnage, are Israel’s airstrikes against civilian locations achieving anything at all?
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Israel, Hamas accept 12-hour pause; talks extended
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said the search for a lasting cease-fire in Gaza will extend into the weekend, as Israel and Hamas signaled readiness to halt hostilities for 12 hours. Kerry said mediators want the initial pause to build into a weeklong truce for the Islamic Eid festival, an idea he said hasn’t been made final. Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu “has indicated his...
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Obama urges Latin leaders, GOP to help on migrants
WASHINGTON — Pressing for swift action, President Barack Obama on Friday urged Central American presidents and congressional Republicans to help ease the influx of minors and migrant families crossing the southwest border of the U.S.
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Summer construction improving 3 schools in Dist. 203
Construction this summer is adding multipurpose space, improving security and updating science facilities at three schools in Naperville Unit District 203, including Naperville North High School, where a chemistry lab that used to be an art room is getting a facelift. “We’re just really updating this lab and allowing the students to have a true chemistry experience,” said...
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Warren students lauded at national conference
Students at Warren Township High School in Gurnee recently were recognized at a national gathering of Future Business Leaders of America.
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Back to school at District 50
Woodland Elementary District 50 officials have announced when school resumes.
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New hoophouses at College of Lake County
College of Lake County has two new hoophouses for horticulture on the Grayslake campus. Knowing how to use hoophouses is vital for sustainable agriculture students who want to start their own business or work for a small farm growing local food, said Rory Klick.
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Guilty plea in North Aurora child exploitation case
Duncan Murphy of England pleaded guilty Friday to sexual exploitation of a child in a 2013 North Aurora case.
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Des Plaines voters to weigh in on alternative electricity supplier
Des Plaines voters will choose this November whether they want city officials to investigate if an alternative electricity supplier offers better rates than ComEd. A referendum on the Nov. 4 ballot will ask voters to give the city council the authority to ink a deal with a different supplier — if aldermen so choose after evaluating different suppliers and rates.
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Same-sex marriage ban struck down for Miami area
MIAMI — A Florida judge on Friday overturned the state’s ban on same-sex marriage in a ruling that applies to Miami-Dade County, agreeing with a judge in another county who made a similar ruling last week.
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Elgin police finalist for international award
The Elgin Police Department was selected among eight finalists for an international award because of its success in reducing motor vehicle burglaries throughout the city. More than 100 law enforcement agencies submitted applications for the IACP/Thomson Reuters Award for Excellence in Criminal Investigation given by the International Association of Chiefs of Police.
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What happened the day Malaysia Flight 17 was downed
It was lunchtime when a tracked launcher with four SA-11 surface-to-air missiles rolled into town and parked on Karapetyan Street. Fifteen hundred miles to the west, passengers were checking in for Malaysia Airlines Flight 17. It had been a noisy day in this eastern Ukrainian town, residents recounted. Plenty of military equipment was moving through. But still it was hard to miss the bulky...
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Gurnee village hall now a place to safely dispose of medical waste
Gurnee residents who want to safely dispose of syringes or other medical waste don’t need to look beyond village hall. “You’re always afraid of loose sharps just getting in the trash,” Gurnee Assistant to the Village Administrator Erik Jensen said of why the village collection point was opened.
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Elburn woman, Darien man plead guilty in marijuana case
Two people pleaded guilty to lesser charges Friday, in a $2.7 million marijuana-trafficking case. Crystal Westerlin of Elburn and Dean Dziuba of Darien pleaded guilty to charges of felony possession of marijuana. Three other people, including Westerlin's husband, still face trafficking charges in Kane County court.
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Fisherman rescued from Fox River dam in Algonquin
A fisherman who drifted too close to the Algonquin dam was rescued from the Fox River early Friday morning. Peter Van Dorpe, Assistant Chief with the Algonquin/Lake in the Hills Fire Department, said the unidentified man drifted too close to the Algonquin Dam when fishing at about 7:15 a.m., and was swept into the boil.
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Dogs, cats steal show at Algonquin Founders’ Day
The second day of the Algonquin Founders’ Days Festival began Friday as folks filed in with dogs and cats in tow. Some of the dog owners were dressed to match their pups, while cats were kept calm in pet carriers.
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No cameras yet for Geneva doctor’s sex assault trial
No cameras are being allowed in court, for now, at hearings in the case of Geneva doctor Mark Lewis, who has been charged with aggravated criminal sexual assault.
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Roselle hotel gets new name
A Roselle hotel has been rebranded as a Holiday Inn Express as part of revitalization of the property that includes completing an unfinished banquent center.
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Glenbard West student spearheads work to revive garden
When Marty Keane, a rising senior at Glenbard West High School, was looking for an Eagle Scout project, he wasn't sure what he wanted to tackle. Then, following his grandmother's advice, he decided to refurbish his school's long-neglected Shakespeare Garden. The results were amazing.
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Northwest suburban police blotter
An Arlington Heights man was arrested in Barrington after an accident at Main Street and Hart Road and charged with DUI, possession of marijuana, no insurance and failure to reduce speed.
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Northwest suburban police blotter
A female resident of Buffalo Grove was scammed out of an undisclosed amount of money after she received a phone call from a man claiming to be from Homeland Security, police said.
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Feds probe Dodge Charger alternator complaints
DETROIT — The U.S. government’s road safety agency is investigating complaints about engine stalling and alternator failures in Dodge Charger sedans.The probe covers about 123,000 Chargers from the 2011 and 2012 model years.
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Suspected meth lab closes Randall Road in Sleepy Hollow
One direction of Randall Road in Sleepy Hollow was shut down early Friday as authorities investigated what they thought might be a rolling meth lab during a traffic stop. “Because a rolling meth lab can be so dangerous and explosive, we shut the road down to call our local fire department and the Illinois State Police,” Police Chief James Linane said.
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DuPage board candidate pleads guilty in Wisconsin dispute case
DuPage County Board candidate Jeremy Custer pleaded guilty this week to disorderly conduct and criminal damage to property related to a domestic incident in Wisconsin. “I regret that this happened, and I’m happy that it’s resolved,” said Custer, who will face incumbent county board member Grant Eckhoff during November’s general election.
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Moving Picture: CPA by day; drag racer after work
Bruce Jones, managing partner at Porte Brown LLC accounting firm in Elk Grove Village, has been drag racing since 2012. Jones races a 1964 Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt, which is both a show car and a race car. The car grabs immediate attention and respect as it heads down the quarter-mile stretch in nine seconds.
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Lunch special: Pope lines up for self-serve meal
Do you make the pope pay for lunch? Pope Francis popped in unannounced at the Vatican workers’ cafeteria Friday and lined up, tray in hand, along with stunned diners. Cashier Claudia Di Giacomo told Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore Romano that when Francis presented his tray with a plate of cod, a bowl of fusilli pasta without sauce, a side of grilled tomatoes and...
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Youthful entrepreneurs sell their wares at Aurora farmers markets
Meet four girls who someday may be your boss. The four, ages 11 to 16, are selling their wares at Aurora's farmers markets as part of the city's Young Entrepreneurs program. The girls make their own products, set their own prices and run their own booths. And it seems to be working.
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ATF director to tour new Chicago gun center
The director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is set to tour a new Chicago center that authorities hope will help stem gun-related violence in the nation’s third latest city. B. Todd Jones will join U.S. Senator Dick Durbin Friday to tour the downtown facility, called the Gun Crime Intelligence Center.
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Michigan dog owner may be charged in fatal attack
The owner of two dogs that fatally mauled a man as he jogged along a rural Michigan road could be charged after the attack, which was the third since 2012 involving canines from the same property, officials said.
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Baby dies after being left in hot car in Kansas
Police say a 10-month-old girl has died after being left in a hot car outside a house in south Wichita. Officers found the girl unresponsive inside the car Thursday evening. She was pronounced dead a short time later.Police say the child was in the car for about two hours. She was the foster child of two men. The car was parked outside their home. Police took the men in for questioning.
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Fighter relieved he won’t be charged in stabbing
A professional mixed martial artist says prosecutors’ decision to not charge him in the fatal stabbing of an intruder at his New Mexico home is a relief.The District Attorney’s office in Las Cruces announced Thursday that an investigation did not produce evidence to prove that Joseph Torrez killed 25-year-old Sal Garces on Jan. 1 without legal justification.
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One hurt as fire damages Naperville heating and cooling business
One person was treated for minor burns Thursday as a fire caused roughly $75,000 damage to Dutchman Heating & Cooling Inc. at 400 E. Ogden Ave. in Naperville. Authorities did not identify the injured person.
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Police: Green Bay man shoots self after car chase
uthorities say a Green Bay man has died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot after shooting at a random car and at sheriff’s deputies on a Marinette County highway. Sheriff’s officials say a couple in the car told investigators a man in a black SUV began shooting at them on Highway 141 near Wausaukee and struck their vehicle.
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Mystery dolls were meant to spread cheer, not chill
They sent a creepy feeling through several Southern California families, but authorities say the person who left porcelain dolls on doorsteps didn’t mean any harm.The Orange County Sheriff’s Department said Thursday that someone had left the dolls wearing nightgowns and lace dresses at as many as eight homes in a San Clemente neighborhood this week.
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Cause sought for gunfight between patient, doctor
Authorities are attempting to determine why a patient fatally shot a caseworker at a hospital complex in a Philadelphia suburb and whether a psychiatrist who pulled out his own gun and wounded the patient had concerns about him.The psychiatrist, Dr. Lee Silverman, was grazed in the temple during the gunfight in his office Thursday afternoon with patient Richard Plotts, Delaware County District...
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Kudzu that ate south heads north as climate changes
As the climate warms, the vine that ate the U.S. South is starting to gnaw at parts of the North, too.
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Air crashes set year on course to be deadliest since 2005
Three fatal airline crashes in a week mean 2014 is shaping up to become the worst year in almost a decade for passenger fatalities.The crash of a McDonnell Douglas MD-83 aircraft on the fringes of the Sahara desert yesterday follows the loss of an ATR-72 turboprop in storms in Taiwan on July 23 and the downing of Malaysian Air Flight MH17 over Ukraine last week.
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Drug abuse fought in name of St. Charles man who succumbed to heroin
The Chris Walk Night Out Against Substance Abuse will be held Saturday in memory of Chris Foley, a St. Charles man who died of a heroin overdose in July 2007 after a 10-year struggle. “The thing with addiction is you’ve got to get people talking about it. It carries a stigma,” said Vicki Foley, Chris’s mom and president of the not-for-profit group ChrisWalk. “Just...
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Wisconsin mink production up 8 percent last year
Wisconsin continues to lead the nation in the production of mink pelts, accounting for one in three U.S. pelts last year. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says Wisconsin produced 1.13 million mink pelts last year. That was up almost 8 percent from in 2011, the last year for which figures were available.
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Aurora aldermen OK medical marijuana zoning rules
The second largest city in Illinois is getting ready for the medical marijuana industry with new zoning rules. Aldermen in Aurora unanimously approved the rules this week. They require marijuana growers and retailers to submit their plans for operations, security and disposal to the city west of Chicago after being issued a state license.
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Cook County to get $4.7 million for construction
Cook County is getting more than $4.7 million from the state for construction projects, including new roofs for buildings at area colleges.In a news release, Gov. Pat Quinn’s office says the projects — funded by the governor’s $31 billion Illinois Jobs Now! program — include physical education and library buildings at Northeastern Illinois University.
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Lifelong interest becomes Illinois bee business
Doug Leedle’s fascination for bees began at an early age growing up near Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. His father was an avid beekeeper. Doug studied bees for a 4-H project and kept his interest through the years. He had various jobs related to the agricultural field before landing in Southern Illinois to work in a grain processing operation in Benton.
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Dawn Patrol: Mom dies saving boy; Traffic problems on eastbound I-90
Mundelein teen gets second chance at play tonight; Arlington Hts. mom dies saving boy in Wisconsin lake; Bensenville community rallying to help grieving family; McHenry man charged with murder; Fremd graduate killed in California motorcycle crash; missing Palatine man found in California; Bears start training camp today; Arlington trainer Catalano hospitalized with pneumonia.
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North Central science center plan too big, panel says
Historic preservation commission members in Naperville who denied North Central College's request to demolish six structures to make way for a new science center said Thursday night they were most concerned with the mass of the proposed science building. “I just don't understand the mass,” commissioner Larry Larsen said. "This size is just exponential growth."
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Lake County joining heroin fight with anti-overdose drug
The Lake County Opioid Initiative was created two years ago in part to curb the rise in heroin deaths throughout the county. Part of that effort now includes equipping all police officers with a spray that instantly counteracts the effects of an overdose. "It will definitely help stop some of these overdoses from turning fatal,” one official said.
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Wheaton World Tour celebrates city’s diversity
Hundreds of people had a chance to learn more about the various cultures that are present in Wheaton during the second annual Wheaton World Tour Thursday. “The event is intended to acknowledge and celebrate the diversity of our great city of Wheaton, acknowledging that we came from many different places no matter how long we may have lived in town,” said Renee Webb, former...
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Cary-Grove High theater gets overhaul
Cary-Grove High School's theater facilities are getting a facelift this summer. The Crystal Lake High School District 155 school board this week approved spending roughly $3.7 million to renovate and overhaul the Cary school's 50-year-old theater, main entrance, and lobby restrooms. “It's a complete tear down and rebuild of the theater. It's a significant project,” district spokesman...
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Crews building classroom additions in Glen Ellyn District 41
Crews are working this summer on the start of a two-year, $15 million project to add classrooms to all four elementary schools in Glen Ellyn District 41. When the work is complete, Churchill, Franklin, Lincoln and Forest Glen schools each will have four new classrooms. Churchill also will get an additional art room and two bathrooms.
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Hanover Park adopts temporary ban on pawn shops, some lenders
Concerned by their growing numbers, Hanover Park officials have temporarily banned any new pawn shops, "cash for gold" and other lenders from opening up in town. There are 14 such businesses in town. “It has a little bit of a predatory feel to it,” Trustee Bill Cannon said in a phone interview. “When you have that kind of situation, it's even more important to make sure you're...
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Outcry saves rare redwood from chopping block
A rare redwood tree in a small Northern California city will be replanted instead of being sawed down to make way for planned railway tracks.The San Francisco Chronicle reported Wednesday that the 52-foot-tall chimeric coast redwood in Cotati will be dug up next month.
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Images: Photo Contest Finalists
Each week you submit your favorite photo. We pick the best of the bunch and select the finalists. Here are the finalists for the week of July 21.
Sports
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Dunn savoring WNBA farewell tour
On Tuesday, Indiana Fever head coach Lin Dunn roamed the sidelines in Chicago for perhaps the last time, barring a playoff matchup with the Chicago Sky. Dunn is retiring at the end of the summer after 44 years of coaching basketball. Her career includes a successful run as the head women's coach at Purdue.
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Abreu’s 30th homer blasts Sox past Twins 9-5
Manager Robin Ventura is no longer surprised when Jose Abreu hits a long home run or does something else spectacular. Abreu hit his major league-leading 30th homer and drove in three runs, leading the White Sox past the Minnesota Twins 9-5 on Friday night. "I think we're past the point of unexpected with him," Ventura said. "You just expect him to be in the middle of things when it's happening."
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Reinsdorf hospitalized in Cooperstown
The White Sox say owner Jerry Reinsdorf has been hospitalized after feeling lightheaded in Cooperstown, New York. The team says all tests Friday night indicate he is fine. The 78-year-old Reinsdorf, also chairman of the Bulls, is coherent and resting comfortably, according to the club.
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Long games don’t bother Renteria
There's no doubt the pace of baseball games has slowed these days, often to a crawl. The Cubs are big offenders, but manager Rick Renteria said many factors contribute to the length of games and that good pitching and defense speed things up.
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Big thrill for Cary resident at Cubs game
Aimee Suyko, a breast-cancer survivor from Cary, had the honor of throwing out a ceremonial first pitch at Wrigley Field before the Cubs' game Friday against the St. Louis Cardinals.
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Cubs climb out of 3-0 hole and best rival Cardinals
No matter how bleak things have looked for the Cubs this season, manager Rick Renteria has been consistently positive, noting how his team always "grinds." The Cubs did just that Friday in a 7-6 victory over the Cardinals before the largest crowd of the season at Wrigley Field.
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Furyk, Petrovic, share Canadian Open lead
Two-time winner Jim Furyk birdied two of his last four holes Friday for a 7-under 63 and a share of the Canadian Open lead with Tim Petrovic.The 44-year-old Furyk, the 2006 winner at Hamilton and 2007 champion at Angus Glen, matched Petrovic at 10-under 130 at Royal Montreal. Petrovic followed his opening 64 with a 66.
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Allen plans to lead by example
It hasn't taken long for five-time Pro Bowl defensive end Jared Allen to establish himself as a leader by example on a Bears defense looking to rebound from a disastrous 2013 season.
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Rookie CB Fuller has eye-opening first day
Bears rookie first-round draft pick Kyle Fuller made an exceptional first impression, intercepting 2 passes Friday morning in the team's first training camp practice.
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Kristufek’s Arlington selections for July 26
Joe Kristufek's selections for July 26racing at Arlington International.
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Dallas Cowboys LB McClain convicted in Alabama
A judge on Friday convicted Dallas Cowboys linebacker Rolando McClain of resisting arrest and disorderly conduct in his Alabama hometown and imposed an 18-day jail term that could interrupt the player’s bid to restart his career.
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With Nibali in command, Tour is about 2nd place
Ramunas Navardauskas gave Lithuania and his American team a stage victory Friday at the Tour de France. Now cycling’s great showcase is reduced to this — the race for second place behind Vincenzo Nibali.The Italian, who has all but won the yellow jersey, cruised to the finish in Stage 19 in the rain-splattered pack behind the Lithuanian’s breakaway. Only a mishap of the highest order during Saturday’s time trial would deny Nibali victory in Paris on Sunday.
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FIFA rejects calls to strip Russia of World Cup host duties
ZURICH — FIFA rejected calls to move the 2018 World Cup from Russia, saying the tournament “can achieve positive change.”Russia’s alleged involvement in shooting down a Malaysia Airlines plane over Ukraine last week prompted calls from some lawmakers in Germany to review the country’s hosting rights.On Friday, FIFA issued a statement saying it “deplores any form of violence” and questioning the purpose of relocating the sport’s showcase tournament.“History has shown so far that boycotting sport events or a policy of isolation or confrontation are not the most effective ways to solve problems,” FIFA said, adding that global attention on the World Cup “can be a powerful catalyst for constructive dialogue between people and governments.”The conflict between Ukraine and pro-Russia separatist rebels escalated days after the World Cup ended in Brazil.On July 13 in Rio de Janeiro, Russian President Vladimir Putin attended a World Cup hosting handover ceremony with Brazilian counterpart Dilma Rousseff. Both then sat next to FIFA President Sepp Blatter to watch the final at the Maracana Stadium, won by Germany.FIFA, which has Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko on its executive committee, said a World Cup in the country “can be a force for good.”“FIFA believes this will be the case for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia,” the governing body said.Blatter already rejected calls to strip Russia of the tournament after it annexed the Crimea this year.“The World Cup has been given and voted to Russia and we are going forward with our work,” Blatter said in March.In a separate statement Friday, Mutko said a U.S.-led boycott of the 1980 Moscow Olympics had been a mistake.“So there’s no sense in reacting to politicians trying to make names for themselves,” Mutko was quoted saying by Russian news agency R-Sport. “We’re preparing in a calm way, building facilities, getting ready for the World Cup.”Russia has announced a $20 billion budget for building and renovating 12 stadiums, and other construction projects, for the first World Cup in Eastern Europe.“FIFA has stated many times that sport should be outside politics,” Mutko said. “Hosting an event like this, we’re doing it for athletes from all over the world, for footballers, for the fans.”
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Spellman’s Scorecard: Well wishes for Wayne Catalano
A few days after winning yet another big race at Arlington International, trainer Wayne Catalano is in a fight for his life.
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Is it right move to trade for Kevin Love?
The Chicago Bulls reportedly are willing to trade Taj Gibson, Doug McDermott and Nikola Mirotic to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Kevin Love. Mike North wonders if Bulls fans agree.
Business
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U.S.: Russia is firing across border into Ukraine
Ukraine and Russia traded accusations of cross-border shelling as the U.S. said Russia now has 12,000 troops on the frontier and there are signs it’s planning to supply heavier weapons to rebels in east Ukraine. A Ukrainian border checkpoint at Marynivka in the Donetsk region “was attacked from Russian territory by mortars, Grad missile systems and artillery,” twice yesterday evening.
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Russian execs fear lasting damage from plane crash
MOSCOW — Having for months dismissed Western sanctions on Russia as toothless, business leaders here are now afraid that the downing of the Malaysian jetliner will bring about an international isolation that will cause serious and lasting economic damage.Throughout the Ukrainian crisis, U.S. and European sanctions had mainly targeted a handful of individuals, sparing economic ties. Then last week the U.S. imposed penalties on some of Russia’s largest corporations. And when the airliner was shot down just a day later in Ukraine, allegedly by separatists with Moscow’s support, concern grew in Russia that the sanctions would only get worse as President Vladimir Putin shows little sign of cooperation. Reinforcing those concerns, the European Union said Friday it is planning newer, tougher penalties on businesses.“Over the past few months, there was a sense that Mr. Putin acted decisively, forcefully, and correctly, and that everybody else in the world would accommodate themselves to that reality and we’d get back to something like business as usual,” said Bernard Sucher, a Moscow-based entrepreneur and board member of Aton, an independent investment bank. “Now we’re talking about real fear.”It’s not clear how quickly that fear and the country’s overall economic pain might soften Putin’s foreign policies. He keeps tight control over business leaders and still enjoys a high popularity rating. But some analysts note the fear of tougher sanctions may in fact already be having an impact, for example by keeping Russia from trying to annex eastern Ukraine the way it did with Crimea in March.After that move, which triggered a deep freeze in relations with the West, stock markets in Russia dropped only to later rebound as investors understood the country’s trade relations would remain largely unscathed. Europe, which is in frail economic health, dared not block energy imports from Russia or the trade in goods such as cars. Oil companies like BP and ExxonMobil continued their operations in Russia, with some even signing new deals.The U.S. took a tougher stance, but until last week was also careful to limit sanctions to asset freezes on individuals who were perceived to have had a hand in destabilizing Ukraine.On July 16, the night before the Malaysia Airlines jet was shot down, Russian markets appeared to have fully recovered, with the MICEX stock index adding 23 percent since March 1.Then last week, the U.S. announced new sanctions that had investors in Russia fear a turn for the worse. The U.S. shut off its financial markets for a broad swath of defense companies as well as Russia’s largest oil company, Rosneft, gas producer Novatek, which is half-owned by a close Putin ally, and a major bank, VEB. The move offered business executives a glimpse of what they had thought would never happen: serious international isolation.According to Alexis Rodzianko, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Russia, those sanctions were the first to really pack a punch because they were “broader and more specific: they went beyond the symbolic.”Rodzianko said anecdotal evidence suggests some investment decisions were delayed, “particularly when people were just considering coming in to the market.”When the Malaysian airliner went down one day later, investors worried conditions would deteriorate further.The stock market has fallen over 6 percent since Thursday last week. Investors keep pulling money out of the country. They withdrew $74.6 billion in the first six months of the year, a figure forecast to reach $100 billion for the whole of 2014 — almost twice the $60 billion in withdrawals seen last year.
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Russia’s war on McDonald’s targets Filet-O-Fish, burgers
Russia said earlier this week that it had no intention of answering Western sanctions by making it harder for Western companies to conduct business in Russia. But all bets are off, apparently, when you threaten the Russian waistline. The Russian federal consumer protection agency Rospotrebnadzor filed a lawsuit against Oak Brook-based McDonald’s alleging too many calories in, for example, the Filet-o-Fish.
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Investors ‘bullish’ on acquiring properties in Arlington Heights, elsewhere
The Metrolofts in downtown Arlington Heights, which was the center of a bankruptcy of its developer, was purchased for about $3.8 million by an attorney and a real estate developer who have been buying distressed properties around the suburbs. One was raised in Arlington Heights and the other in Mount Prospect.
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Amazon, Visa reports bring Dow under 17,000
NEW YORK — Investors got some bad news about the American shopper on Friday, driving down stocks and sending the Dow Jones industrial average to a loss for the week. Two major U.S. companies — the retail giant Amazon and the credit card processor Visa — both said the second half of the year was looking more troubled than originally expected. The cautious outlook from two companies so heavily exposed to consumer spending spooked investors, causing the stock market to fall at the open and remain lower throughout the day. “Visa put a lot of caution into the market this morning,” said Quincy Krosby, a market strategist at Prudential Financial.The Dow Jones industrial average dropped 123.23 points, or 0.7 percent, to 16,960.57. It’s the first time the Dow has closed below the psychologically notable 17,000-point mark since July 9. The Standard & Poor’s 500 fell 9.64 points, or 0.5 percent, to 1,978.34 and the Nasdaq composite fell 22.54 points, or 0.5 percent, to 4,449.56. With Friday’s selling, the Dow fell 0.8 percent this week. The S&P 500 closed basically unchanged and the Nasdaq rose 0.4 percent this week.Visa was the biggest decliner among the blue chips, falling $7.97, or 3.6 percent, to $214.77. The credit card processor reported an 11 percent rise in quarterly profit but cut its full-year forecast on concerns about growth overseas. Because the Dow is a price-weighted index, and Visa is the most expensive stock in the Dow, Visa was having an outsized impact on it. Roughly 60 points of the Dow’s decline can be attributed to Visa.Investors have closely watched Visa ever since the company went public in 2008. Credit cards that use Visa’s payment system are in nearly person’s pocket, and each time a consumer buys a product with a Visa card the company takes a small percentage.To see Visa give a cautious outlook is worrisome, Krosby said.“Visa represents the consumer and the consumer is one of the most important pieces for the future of this economic recovery,” she said. Amazon’s quarterly results didn’t help boost investor sentiment either. Amazon’s stock slumped 10 percent after the online retail giant late Thursday posted a much wider loss than analysts had forecast, hit by expenses. The Seattle-based company is focused on spending the money it makes to expand into new areas and products, including a smartphone, the Fire, which starts selling Friday. Amazon fell $36.60 to close at $324.01, the biggest decliner in the S&P 500 index.Investors retreated from riskier stocks and moved into traditional havens at times of uncertainty: bonds and gold. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note eased to 2.47 percent from 2.50 percent late Thursday as demand for the government bond rose. Gold climbed $12.50, or 1 percent, to $1,303.30 an ounce.Despite the disappointing news from those consumer-focused companies, corporate earnings from the latest quarter have been solid. Of the 230 companies that have reported so far, 76 percent have beaten profit expectations and 67 percent have beaten sales expectations, according to FactSet. So far the S&P 500 is averaging a 6.7 percent earnings growth this quarter compared to a year ago. Investors had expected earnings to be up 4.9 percent when the results started to roll in at the beginning of July.Even with Friday’s declines, the stock market remains near all-time highs, and the S&P 500 closed at a record Thursday..That made some investors cautious.“I continue to see the level of complacency in the (stock) market to be unnerving,” Scott Clemons, chief investment strategist at Brown Brothers Harriman, which manages $25 billion in assets for private investors. “All of this geopolitical tension, the market trading near all-time highs, I think the market is at a critical state right now.”
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Government to evaluate Chevy Impala air bag performance
DETROIT — The U.S. government’s highway safety agency has decided to seek further information from General Motors about air bag failures in some Chevrolet Impala full-size cars.The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began an inquiry into the issue after receiving a petition from Donald Friedman of Xprts LLC, a Santa Barbara, California, company that examines crashes. Friedman examined an April 2011 car crash in Hidalgo County, Texas, that severely injured an elderly man named Roberto Martinez. His wife, Aurora, was driving their 2008 Impala when it was hit on the passenger side by an SUV and forced into a concrete highway divider. The passenger air bags didn’t deploy, and Roberto suffered permanent brain injuries, according to a lawsuit filed by the couple against GM. He died about 10 months later. Friedman alleges that because Roberto Martinez was bounced around during the incident, the weight sensor in the passenger seat misread his weight and didn’t fire the air bag. The air bag is supposed to inflate for anyone other than a child or small adult. Friedman says the cars should be recalled and the computers reprogrammed. The petition says GM used the same system in other models from 2004 through 2010. The inquiry, which is not a formal investigation, covers about 320,000 Impalas from the 2007-2009 model years.GM may be getting greater scrutiny from NHTSA after the company admitted knowing about a deadly ignition switch problem in some of its older small cars for more than a decade, yet it didn’t recall them until this year. Eventually the company recalled 2.6 million cars for that problem, and the agency fined GM the maximum $35 million for failing to disclose information in the case.The Martinez case was settled out of court about two years ago, said the couple’s attorney, Manuel Guerra. He would not disclose the sum.Friedman said in an interview Friday that even though the lawsuit was settled, he filed the petition so the government would address the problem. “It seemed to me that it was an important thing to get in front of NHTSA and have the other vehicles that could have had the same defect taken care of,” he said.Although NHTSA’s inquiry so far hasn’t found any defects, the agency will seek more data from GM “in an abundance of caution,” NHTSA said in documents posted Friday on its website.GM spokesman Alan Adler says the company will cooperate. He said GM did its own review and decided not to take any action, although he would not comment on the reasons for that decision.
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Orders for US durable goods up 0.7 percent in June
WASHINGTON — Orders for long-lasting manufactured goods rebounded in June after a May decline, helped by a recovery in demand in a key category that signals business investment plans.Orders for durable goods increased 0.7 percent in June on a seasonally adjusted basis following a 1 percent decline in May, the Commerce Department reported Friday.A category viewed as a proxy for business investment plans rose a solid 1.4 percent, recovering after a revised 1.2 percent drop in May. It was the best showing since orders in this core capital goods category rose 4.7 percent in March.The strength last month came from solid gains in demand for commercial aircraft and machinery. Analysts expect economic activity will strengthen in the second half of the year, helped by stronger factory production.The 0.7 percent overall increase was in line with economists’ expectations and pushed total orders to $239.9 billion. So far this year, orders are up 3.5 percent over the same period last year.Analysts were encouraged by the solid rebound in June, saying it should set the stage for further growth in coming months.“June’s strong orders data and other survey evidence suggest that business investment will continue to grow at a decent rate in the second half of the year,” said Paul Dales, senior U.S. economist at Capital Economics. He said he expects growth would rebound to 3.2 percent in the April-June quarter.Demand for transportation products rose 0.6 percent, reflecting a big 8.2 percent gain in orders for commercial aircraft which offset a 2.1 percent drop in demand for motor vehicles. The drop in auto demand was expected to be temporary given strong sales of new cars this year.Orders for machinery rose 2.4 percent while demand for primary metals such as steel increased 0.9 percent.Orders for computers and related products dropped 13.9 percent but that followed a big 11.5 percent increase in the previous month.The overall economy went into reverse in the January-March quarter, with output shrinking at an annual rate of 2.9 percent. That reflected in part a severe winter that disrupted U.S. economic activity, from factory production to shopping.Many economists believe growth rebounded to a rate around 3 percent in the April-June quarter and they are looking for momentum to build even more in the second half of this year.The optimism is based on a belief that the five-year-old economic recovery is finally gaining traction, with businesses confident enough to step up hiring. That uptick in hiring is expected to power stronger consumer spending and more factory production.The government reported that factory output increased for a fifth straight month in June as manufacturers cranked out more aircraft, chemicals and furniture. For the April-June quarter, manufacturing output accelerated to the fastest pace in more than two years and economists are looking for further gains in the months ahead, reflecting strong demand for autos and increased spending by businesses on new equipment.A surprisingly resilient jobs report for June showed that factories added 16,000 positions, the most in four months, and the average work week for manufacturing employees remained at a post-recession high.The Institute for Supply Management reported that its closely watched manufacturing index expanded in June for a 13th straight month with broad-based growth across nearly all of the 18 sectors that the index covers.
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Fast food workers prepare to escalate wage demands
Fast food workers say they’re prepared to escalate their campaign for higher wages and union representation, starting with a national convention in Villa Park where more than 1,000 workers are expected to discuss the future of the effort that has spread to dozens of cities in less than two years.
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Affordable Care Act on path back to Supreme Court
The U.S. Supreme Court may not be done with the Affordable Care Act yet. With appellate courts reaching opposite conclusions on the same day about a crucial financing provision of the 2010 law, a third showdown before the justices is probable. “If there’s a split, the Supreme Court will definitely take it,” said Walter Dellinger, a former solicitor general during the administration of President Bill Clinton.
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Pope may visit u.S. In 2015 for families meeting
Pope Francis may undertake his first trip to the U.S. next year to attend the World Meeting of Families scheduled to take place in Philadelphia in September 2015.The pope has “expressed his willingness” to attend the meeting, Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi said speaking on the phone from Rome. “Nothing operational has begun relative to a plan or program for a visit.”
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Ex-Sen. Lieberman to teach at Yeshiva University
Former U.S. Sen. Joseph Lieberman has been appointed a professor at Yeshiva University for the coming school year.The private New York university named him the Joseph Lieberman Chair in Public Policy and Public Service. He’ll teach an undergraduate course and give three public lectures on topics ranging from Judaism and public service to the Middle East.
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Madoff five judge delays sentencing two months to Sept. 15
The sentencing of five former aides to Bernard Madoff was delayed until mid-September after a federal judge in New York said “voluminous” paperwork required a postponement of hearings originally scheduled for next week.
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Ruling on antibiotics in livestock reversed
A federal appeals court in New York has thrown out a decision ordering the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to hold public hearings on the widespread use of antibiotics in livestock.
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Fast-food scare adds foreign-owned suppliers to food woes
China is suffering through yet another food-safety scandal, and this time even the foreign- owned suppliers are under the microscope. For five days, restaurant patrons from Shanghai to Tokyo have been reeling from revelations that hamburgers, chicken nuggets and other products they bought from some of the world’s best-known food chains -- including Oak Brook-based McDonald’s Corp. and Yum! Brands Inc.’s KFC and Pizza Hut -- were made with spoiled meat.
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Chicken off McDonald’s HK menu after food scandal
McDonald’s restaurants in Hong Kong have taken chicken nuggets and chicken burgers off the menu after a mainland Chinese supplier was accused of selling expired meat. The Oak Brook-based fast food chain said late Thursday that it “suspended relevant food ingredients” at Hong Kong outlets in light of the scandal surrounding Shanghai Husi Food Co.
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Family feud sparks revolt at grocery store chain
It's been called a David vs. Goliath story, a "Tale of Two Arthurs" and even the "ultimate Greek tragedy," but the characters in this drama are not Biblical or literary figures. They're grocery store owners. workers' revolt at the Market Basket supermarket chain has led to empty store shelves, angry customers and support for a boycott from more than 100 state legislators and mayors. Industry analysts say worker revolts at non-union companies are rare, but what's happening at Market Basket is particularly unusual because the workers are not asking for higher pay or better benefits.
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AbbVie 2Q profit climbs 2.8 percent
AbbVie Inc. on Friday reported profit that increased by 2.8 percent in its second quarter, and topped analysts’ expectations. The North Chicago,-based company said earnings increased to $1.1 billion, or 68 cents per share, from $1.07 billion, or 66 cents per share, in the same quarter a year earlier.
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De Beers sees resurgent demand for diamonds in Modi’s India
De Beers expects new Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to champion the diamond industry and sees a return to growth for the world’s third-biggest market.“India is the good news versus last year,” Philippe Mellier, De Beers chief executive officer, said in an phone interview in London today. “It is clearly starting to grow again. The election of Mr. Modi is clearly changing the paradigm there. We all believe he is going to support the industry.”
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Travelers to pay for Ukraine detours as longer flights lift cost
The extra cost from rerouting hundreds of airliners around Ukrainian airspace, shut down following the downing of a Malaysian Air flight last week, is set to translate into higher ticket prices for passengers. “If you lengthen routes, you use more fuel so it is more costly,” Air France-KLM Group Chief Executive Officer Alexandre de Juniac said in Paris today. “At the end of the day, we will have to increase slightly the price of the ticket on those routes. I think that is perfectly fair.”
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Hospitality expo expands to Southwest suburbs
Hundreds of people attended the first Chicago Southwest Hospitality Expo Thursday at the Tinley Park Convention Center. The Daily Herald Business Ledger hosted the expo in an effort to highlight the hospitality industry and inform guests about what the area has to offer. The event, with 60 exhibitors and more than 600 registered attendees, joins two other successful hospitality expos that the Business Ledger holds in the fall.
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Caesars wins Illinois officials’ support for refinancing deal
Caesars Entertainment Corp. won approval for a $1.75 billion refinancing from Illinois casino regulators over the objections of some bondholders.Representatives of some debtholders told the Illinois Gaming Board today that Las Vegas-based Caesars was putting the finances of its largest unit, Caesars Entertainment Operating Co., in jeopardy by shifting casino assets to other subsidiaries and stripping away a guarantee of their debt.
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U.S. new-home sales plummet in June
Sales of new U.S. homes plunged in June, a sign that real estate continues to be a weak spot in the economy.New home sales fell 8.1 percent last month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 406,000, the Commerce Department said Thursday. The report also revised down the May sales rate to 442,000 from 504,000.
Life & Entertainment
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You don't have to go to San Diego for the fun of Comic Con
Fans of superheroes, horror flicks, time-traveling doctors and Jedi Knights will once again converge in California this weekend as the annual Comic Con International returns to the San Diego Convention Center, but you don't have to hop on a plane to join in the fun.
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Garth Brooks fans snap up tickets to 10 Rosemont shows
One tour-launching Garth Brooks Allstate Arena show turned into four Friday. Then five. And then there were 10 — which the country singer was selling out quickly.
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‘Fluffy Movie’ funny, but more like a TV special
The rotund Gabriel Iglesias, who calls himself “Fluffy” because it sounds better than “Fatty,” specializes in gentle observational comedy, enlivened by his flair for accents and sound effects. "The Fluffy Movie" walks a careful line between hilarious and heartwarming, and manages to be both. Still, it's not much of a movie.
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Rock-hard 'Hercules' a likeable take on demigod's tale
Say this for Brett Ratner's production of “Hercules:” This movie has a sense of proportion. Running just over 90 minutes, the movie is often clunky, but at least it's fast and unpretentious. And its likable star, Dwayne Johnson, manages to murder legions without ever seeming sadistic.
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Harmon: ‘Community’ online won’t be too different
Just because “Community” is going online to Yahoo doesn’t mean it’s in for a lot of changes. In fact, creator Dan Harmon says he has “no big, highfalutin plans” for its Web version. At a Comic-Con panel Thursday, Harmon revealed he doesn’t want season six to feel radically different, especially to its loyal fans.
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MTV’s ‘Teen Wolf’ cast delights fans at Comic-Con
Fans squealed and screamed, and some shed tears at Thursday’s Comic-Con panel for MTV’s hit series “Teen Wolf.” Before cast members like Tyler Posey, Dylan O’Brien, Tyler Hoechlin and Holland Roden took questions from fans, executive producer Jeff Davis announced the show had been picked up for a 20-episode, fifth season.
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Theater events: Jedlicka brings 'Big Fish' to the stage
Jedlicka Performing Arts Center presents the first local production of Andrew Lippa's "Big Fish"; American Blues Theater remounts its hit musical, "Hank Williams: Lost Highway"; and celebrated chef Rich Bayless returns to Lookingglass Theatre in the dining and theatrical venture "Rick Bayless in Cascabel: Dinner-Daring-Desire" this week in Chicago-area theater.
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Fox, Arnett share ‘TMNT’ love with Comic-Con crowd
For the human stars of “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” it’s all about Michelangelo. When asked by a fan during a Comic-Con panel which member of the sewer-dwelling, pizza-loving superhero team was their favorite, Megan Fox and Will Arnett both picked the nunchaku-wielding member of the Ninja Turtles.
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An A-to-Z guide to enjoying the rest of summer
If back-to-school sales and talk of fall have you thinking that summer is slipping away, don't despair. We still have a few weeks left to take in outdoor concerts, al fresco dining and blockbuster movies at the multiplex. So here's a quick A-to-Z primer on enjoying the last weeks of summer in the suburbs.
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Mount Prospect native tackles challenges of Beckett in 'Half-Light'
If you haven't seen Kathrynne Wolf on stage, you may have heard her anyway — in commercials, pinball games, video games and public service announcements. And her vocal experiences come in handy with her latest show, especially as she takes on one character who is just a head in an urn. The Mount Prospect native plays three different characters in “Hellish Half-Light: Shorter Plays of Samuel Beckett” being staged by Mary-Arrchie Theatre. “It's a challenge in a good way,” Wolf said.
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Small is sometimes better in the vegetable world
There’s no arguing that tiny vegetables are more fun and convenient to eat. Of course, tiny vegetables’ main draw is their perceived gustatory superiority. And it’s true: Many vegetables are most delicate, tender and tasty at this stage.
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Actor crosses color barrier in off-Broadway ‘Fantasticks’
Not long ago, Kevin R. Free went to an audition for a part in the longest-running musical in history. Yet, all the other actors vying for the same part were at least 10 years older and he was the only African-American. “I just felt like, ‘Why am I here?'" But Free pulled himself together enough to do a monologue and sing a song, It worked: He got both the job and a chance to make history. Free has taken over the role of Bellomy in “The Fantasticks,” the first time a black man has played the role in the New York show’s more than 20,000 performances over 54 years.
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O'Hare's Pub serves up Irish fare, friendly service
When Peggy O'Hare Vance and her husband, Bill Vance, traveled to Ireland, they were amazed at the friendliness of everyone they met. Now they're bringing that strong sense of hospitality to Bartlett with O'Hare's Pub, which opened in November in the space formerly occupied by Sheep & Fiddle.
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Fashionable accessories the next frontier for outdoor living spaces
Outdoor living spaces are nothing new. But the idea of families or a solitary figure kicking back on a tufted sofa in the great outdoors, propped up against implausibly weatherproof bouclé throw pillows in the glow of a lamp with a fabric shade — that’s fairly new.
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Group tours: How to pick the right one for you
Group tours sound easy: Choose a destination and the tour company plans your trip, delivering you to hotels, restaurants and attractions. You don’t have to Google or organize a thing. But how do you find the right tour to begin with, one that fits your age, activity levels and preferences for lodging, dining and sightseeing? And what’s the difference between the $2,000 tour and the $8,000 tour to the same place, the same week?
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Tartare: Still rare, but not uncommon
Tartare, once a mark of sophistication at the “continental” restaurants of old, fell out of favor after the mad cow and E. coli scares of the 1990s. Now that the best restaurants are more cognizant of the conditions in which their animals are raised, diners who were once wary of eating raw meat might be more willing to let their guard down.
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Dutch oven key to artisanal quality bread at home
Homemade bread really is the difference between a good sandwich and a great one. But we tend to be intimidated by from-scratch bread baking. Elizabeth Karmel certainly felt that way after recently enjoying an artisanal loaf. She wanted to recreate it at home and then stumbled onto a recipe by Leslie Mackie, chef-owner of Macrina Bakery and Cafe in Seattle. It involves baking the loaf in a cast-iron double Dutch oven (the sort in which the lid is an overturned skillet).
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Dutch Oven Multigrain Bread
Artisanal quality bread is possible at home with a double Dutch oven.
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These bars may grab your attention
We’re all going to get older, and when we do, having grab bars in our homes surely will come in handy. They might even be helpful now if you have guests who have physical challenges. They are fairly inexpensive to add, and could even be a selling point if you decide to sell your home in the future.
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New roomies should sign a contract before moving in together
Whether buying a home with someone else or simply renting an apartment, it’s important to establish basic rules to help avoid a nasty court battle later.
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The buy-down is a creative way to reach a home sale
If I pay money to your lender to lower your mortgage rate — permanently — will you make me a better offer on my house?
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Inspection gives added protection to owners with builders’ warranty
Q. I’m buying a new home and was planning to hire a home inspector before closing escrow. Two of my friends in a similar community advised me to save my money because the builder provides a new home warranty.
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Neighborhood spotlight shines on Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, a Deer Park neighborhood built in late 1980s and early ’90s by Landmark Homes, features 52 luxury homes with 2,400 to 3,100 square feet and three-car garages.
Discuss
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Editorial: Aggregation working, even as towns return to ComEd
A Daily Herald editorial says that towns says that electrical aggregation is proving its values, even as some towns return to ComEd for their energy suuplies.
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Illinois schools don’t have to be mired in the middle
Guest columnists James Nowlan and Thomas Johnson: The Illinois economy has been struggling. In January 2014 the state’s unemployment rate was 8.7 percent, second highest in the nation. From our employment peak in November 2000, Illinois lost 656,000 jobs and has regained only 257,000. What can be done about our parlous situation?
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Spots for disabled on church lawn
A Wheaton letter to the editor: I was surprised to read the article stating that a woman was unable to find a spot in the 500 block of North Main Street where she and her disabled parents could watch the Glen Ellyn 4th of July parade.
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Senate is missing the important issues
A Hoffman Estates letter to the editor: The political maneuvering in Washington, D.C., is disheartening. Instead of dealing with the major issues affecting our country the Senate introduced a bill to override the Supreme Court ruling on Hobby Lobby’s religious freedom.
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Congress has a short time to do nothing
An Arlington Heights letter to the editor: All the letters I read from writers to Fence Post from those who are constantly berating President Obama should be interested in this tidbit. For the rest of the year (five months) the U.S. House of Representatives has all of 26 days on its calendar. Does anyone really think anything will get accomplished?
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Choose more credible columnist than Brazile
An Arlington Heights letter to the editor: Columnist Donna Brazile had a column in the Daily Herald on July 7 which, judging by the title, was the Herald’s intent to give readers an unbiased information piece about the need for long-term refunding of the Highway Trust Fund. However, true to form, Ms. Brazile took the opportunity to blame the delay in funding on some members of Congress (without stating which party she had in mind) because “some road-rage members of Congress want to make repealing Obamacare, or adding pet projects like permanent tax breaks for the rich, as a condition for funding.”
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Only one goal for ‘progressive’ Dems
A Batavia letter to the editor: Democratic Illinois Governor Quinn and the other progressives, who no longer want to be referred to as liberals, are avoiding many important issues that the citizens of Illinois expected them to cast a vote.
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Obama didn’t invent $4-per-gallon gas
A Wheaton letter to the editor: The author of the July 18 letter, “Time to stop Bush blame game,” would like to blame President Obama for prices at the gas pump. He says, “When Bush left office, gas was $1.88 a gallon. Now gas is $3.75.”
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