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U.S. commander: Afghanistan situation serious
The commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan delivered a long-awaited strategic review on Monday, describing the 8-year-old war as in a serious state, but saying success could be achieved with a revised strategy. ... Full story
Bill would give president emergency control of Internet
Internet companies and civil liberties groups were alarmed this spring when a U.S. Senate bill proposed handing the White House the power to disconnect private-sector computers from the Internet ... Full story
Japan Democrats take power, tough challenges loom
Japan's next leader Yukio Hatoyama, fresh from a historic election win, faced the task on Monday of forming a government to tackle challenges such as reviving the economy and steering a new course with close ally Washington. ... Full story
Prisoners have a better diet than Health Service hospital patients, scientists warn
Patients in Health Service hospitals are far more likely to go hungry than criminals in jail, scientists warned yesterday. They say frail and elderly patients do not get the help they need with meals, and nobody checks whether they get enough to eat. ... Full story
Commercial Real Estate Lurks as Next Potential Mortgage Crisis
Federal Reserve and Treasury officials are scrambling to prevent the commercial-real-estate sector from delivering a roundhouse punch to the U.S. economy just as it struggles to get up off the mat. ... Full story
State contractors hire Madigan's law firm
Illinois House speaker: no laws broken, no conflict of interest. ... Full story
Tollway investigator quits: Smith's departure brings whole new set of questions
The sudden resignation of the Illinois tollway's internal watchdog is the latest item to be added to a lengthy agenda facing legislators at a hearing next month about controversies at the troubled agency. ... Full story
Illinois shoppers brace for higher taxes at grocery
New levies on carbonated drinks, some candy and alcohol will hit Tuesday ... Full story
Fox Valley Arts Hall of Fame accepting nominations for 2010 class
The Fox Valley Arts Hall of Fame is accepting nominations of outstanding artists for its 2010 class of inductees. Every two years, the hall recognizes artists associated with the Fox Valley by birth, education, residence or service -- living and deceased -- who have achieved international or national acclaim. Biographies of the 28 honored artists that have been inducted since the Hall was organized in March 2000 may be read on the Hall of Fame Web site at www.foxvalleyarts.org. The artists are from the literary arts, media, performing arts and visual arts. A fifth category is for an arts educator, director, curator or benefactor. ... Full story
Batavia projects $1 million budget shortfall
Falling sales tax and corporate income tax revenues are pinching the city's budget. City staff originally had budgeted for a 2.5 percent decrease in general sales tax revenues, but with the economic downtown, they are likely to see a 9 percent drop by the end of the 2009 fiscal year. ... Full story
Fox Valley area military personnel mark milestones
Members of the armed forces from the Fox Valley area have reached the following milestones in their military careers. ... Full story
McCain endorses Kirk in bid for Burris' senate seat
The man who ran against Barack Obama for president announced he is backing Illinois Congressman Mark Kirk for Obama's old Senate seat. ... Full story
U. of Ill. trustees who resigned now left hanging
When Gov. Pat Quinn called in early August asked University of Illinois trustees to step down so he could have a chance to remake the school's governing board in the wake of an admissions scandal, four of them reluctantly agreed. ... Full story
Batavia plans to start inspecting historically significant buildings
City staff next month plan to start inspecting historically significant properties in the downtown to make sure they are structurally sound. ... Full story
Mosquito pool in St. Charles tests postive for West Nile virus
The Kane County Health Department on Friday announced that a mosquito pool collected in St. Charles has tested positive for West Nile virus. There have been no reported human cases in Kane County or Illinois so far this year. Last year, Kane County saw three human cases. ... Full story
Batavia soldier given hero's welcome
After seeing rocks and sand since February, Marine Lance Cpl. Josh Slone was glad to have a change of scenery Friday afternoon. ... Full story
Baird & Warner charity run supports Ecker Center
The agents at Baird & Warner are known for their community outreach activities and are at it again with another charity, to benefit the Ecker Center for Mental Health in Elgin. ... Full story
Opponents fearful of new railroad moves
Opponents of increasing suburban rail traffic are concerned that Canadian National Railway Company may be opening the doors to more trains along the Elgin, Joliet and Eastern rail line than they initially promised. ... Full story
Bleck signs off as Tri-Com director
Walk in to Tri-Com offices just west of Peck Road and you'll see a display case representing the history of local emergency radio technology. ... Full story
On their soapboxes
The mayors of Batavia and Geneva raced in a rematch in a Cub Scouts Soap Box Invitational on Saturday. Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns returned to defend his 2008 title, but Schielke won the contest amid the cheers of dozens of Cub Scouts from the Three Fires Council-Fox Valley District. ... Full story
Jeanine Nicarico's killer, Brian Dugan, in letter to Tribune says, 'I don't deserve much'
Denied an opportunity to make a public statement when he pleaded guilty to the 1983 rape and murder of 10-year-old Jeanine Nicarico, Brian Dugan wrote the Chicago Tribune to say his comments are "important enough to break my silence over." ... Full story
U. of I. legal bills mount amid probes
The University of Illinois admissions scandal has cost the school about $440,000 in legal fees so far and has made it the target of a state inspector general's investigation, newly released documents show. ... Full story
Geneva schools losing state funding
Just weeks before the Geneva School District officials are expected to adopt the 2009-2010 school year budget, they received word that the state has reduced some of their funding and grants. ... Full story
Where’s West Nile? State sees zero cases of humans infected with virus so far this year
Where the heck have all the mosquitoes gone? Oh, they're out there. They just haven't wreaked the havoc of recent summers this year — at least, not yet. ... Full story
Governor hails Elgin getting greener
Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn joined other politicians and dignitaries Friday morning to help cut the ribbon for Winergy Drive Systems Corp. and Siemens Drive Technologies as it officially opened its second plant in Elgin. ... Full story
Group seeks to overturn CN railroad deal
A recent request by Canadian National Railway to federal officials has objectors to the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern railroad deal purchase crying foul. ... Full story
Lawmakers want say on tollway watchdog
In the wake of the tollway's top watchdog quitting amid questions about her performance and ties to the former chairman's wife, state lawmakers say future tollway inspectors should be required to undergo further scrutiny before getting the job. ... Full story
Quinn may have put higher paychecks back in play
A proposal that would have kept the lid on lawmakers' and other state officials' pay by wiping out this year's 2.7 percent cost-of-living increase was vetoed Friday by Gov. Pat Quinn. ... Full story
Despite budget woes, Kane health director asks for $150K doctor
During the past several weeks all Kane County department heads have had to present preliminary budgets for fiscal year 2010. In most cases, those budgets have reflected cuts in staff. ... Full story
Swine flu more prevalent, dangerous than thought
Kane County Health Department officials this week are warning residents to start paying attention to symptoms and taking precautions against swine flu. ... Full story
Sun-Times: Drop the charade: Pass a real election reform law
You want to understand how cynical Illinois politics can get? Look no further than Gov. Quinn's news conference on Thursday on the campaign finance reform bill. ... Full story
ECC lends city $2.3 million to redo Spartan Drive
Elgin OKs school liaison officer deal . ... Full story
Local unemployment rate down slightly
The unemployment rate in Carpentersville, Elgin and Kane County appears to have decreased slightly during the month of July. ... Full story
Race car stars make pit stop in Elgin
The Elgin National Road Race put the city on the competitive map during the early part of the 20th century. Thursday afternoon, workers at the Verizon Call Center on Big Timber Road got a top-shelf taste of today's take on automotive sports. ... Full story
Saturn closes East Dundee dealership
Village officials were notified of Saturn of Dundee's closure by phone at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, according to Public Works Director T.J. Moore. ... Full story
Sheriff says task force decision not political
Sheriff Pat Perez said some have asked if his decision to quit a county task force on video gambling was related to his ongoing budget dispute with Kane County Board Chairman Karen McConnaughay. ... Full story
Stock up now: Booze price boost coming
Some higher Illinois taxes might drive a few people to drink, but it will cost more to do so. And others might even take the route Carpentersville resident Tom Mikulay has. ... Full story
“A Taste on the Plaza” rescheduled for September
While the Downtown St. Charles Partnership’s “Taste of the Plaza” event was canceled Aug. 16 because of severe weather, the group decided to pick a new date for the event. ... Full story
Foster schedules tele-town hall session for Sept. 2
Next week, thousands of voters in Kane County and elsewhere in the 14th Congressional District will be invited to talk to their federal representative during a teleconference on health care reform. ... Full story
North Aurora baker hopes for sweet success on TLC show
Bob Brougham is no stranger to the sweet smell of success. His intricately designed cakes have won him a slew of first place and best in show finishes at the Sandwich Fair and he has received numerous awards since 1988. ... Full story
State tollway inspector general steps down
The Illinois tollway's inspector general resigned unexpectedly Thursday, officials confirmed. ... Full story
Community college enrollment climbs
The Waubonsee Community College campuses were a bit more crowded when students returned for classes this semester. According to Jeff Noblitt, director of marketing and community relations, enrollment numbers are up almost 15 percent from this time last year. ... Full story
Credit union shred event grows in popularity
There's nothing like having a hot dog while you watch things fed into a shredder. That's what upward of 100 people are likely to be doing Saturday at a Kane County Teachers Credit Union shred event from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Aurora office, 320 E. Indian Trail. ... Full story
Dueling clinics in Aurora
Anti-abortion women's center to open near Planned Parenthood ... Full story
Chicago Pizza Authority has 25 years under its belt
You can't be in business for a quarter of a century and be doing something wrong, says Curt Humble, who has worked for the Rosati family and its Chicago Pizza Authority for 15 years. ... Full story
The End of Camelot
Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA), one of the longest serving, most influential and controversial Senators of our time, died this week from a brain tumor, only weeks from the death of his sister, Eunice. The last of the legendary Kennedy brothers, and arguably the most impactful of them all, Kennedy lived a life of peaks and valleys, of disgrace and redemption, and, always, polarizing controversy. In memory of his life and legacies - both good and bad - we present a compendium of memorials from all sides of the political spectrum. ... Full story
'Cruel and neglectful' care of one million NHS patients exposed
One million NHS patients have been the victims of appalling care in hospitals across Britain, according to a major report released today. ... Full story
Democratic Health Care Bill Divulges IRS Tax Data
One of the problems with any proposed law that's over 1,000 pages long and constantly changing is that much deviltry can lie in the details. Take the Democrats' proposal to rewrite health care policy, better known as H.R. 3200 or by opponents as "Obamacare." ... Full story
Hundreds apply for U. of Ill. trustee spots
The job doesn’t pay a dime, but everyone from Orland Park's police chief to a federal judge in Chicago to a Cubs exec to the son of dairy magnate James Oberweis has applied to become a trustee of the University of Illinois. ... Full story
Quinn backs down: Governor won't fire U. of I. trustees who refused to resign
After threatening for weeks to fire two University of Illinois trustees who refused to resign, Gov. Pat Quinn reversed course Wednesday and said he would keep them on the troubled board. ... Full story
Source: Quinn to veto campaign finance bill today
Gov. Pat Quinn today will veto the high-profile campaign finance bill that he once hailed as landmark, choosing to side with critics who say it is riddled with loopholes, an administration source confirmed. ... Full story
Faculty leaders want top U. of I. officials out
University of Illinois faculty leaders this morning urged the replacement of the school's president and chancellor because of an admissions scandal that has rocked the state's top public institution. "An orderly transition to new leadership for both of these positions is in the best interests of this campus, and the university," according to a statement approved by the 15-member Senate Executive Committee. ... Full story
An amazing race, South Elgin-style
Instead of a race around the world to exotic locations full of difficult challenges, area residents are invited to race through the village's Randall Road corridor and participate in some local challenges. ... Full story
Campton Hills business group getting word out
new business association hopes to bring awareness to area residents about what the village offers. The Campton Hills Business Association hosted its first co-sponsored educational event this week — the first of hopefully many, association president Kurt Hagemann said. ... Full story
Some eye casino cash to fill Elgin's budget gap
As leaders decide what course of action to take next in response to a slowly recovering economy, questions arise as to what role one of the city's largest single tax generators will play. ... Full story
Students and teachers ready themselves to attend outdoor classes inside new trailers
With the first day of school Wednesday, parents, teachers and students busied themselves unpacking and getting to know the new classrooms at Davis Elementary School at a Tuesday afternoon open house. ... Full story
Continuing education; St. Charles resident recognized by teachers as a “Lifelong Learner”
For the past 17 years, St. Charles resident John McDowell has been a student at Elgin Community College ... Full story
2 to share asst. principal post at GMS
School officials Monday appointed two interim assistant principals to share the position at Geneva Middle School South. ... Full story
Hoover-Wood School in Batavia to reopen after mold cleanup
Hoover-Wood Elementary School will open as scheduled today after workers recently removed non-toxic mold from three areas in four classrooms. "This was a very isolated event," said Greg Romaneck, the district's associate superintendent of human resources. "It was benign in nature, and there was no air quality issue. It is a safe situation." ... Full story
Schmitz to run for re-election
State Rep. Tim Schmitz, R-Batavia, announced Tuesday he will run for re-election next year. “These past years have brought many challenges for us," Schmitz said. "As deputy Republican leader, I was honored to work with our caucus as we fought off a massive income tax increase and demanded ethics and spending reforms.” ... Full story
Ex-West Dundee police chief stayed involved
Dick Lovett retired from the West Dundee police department eight years ago, but the former police chief was never far away, always on hand to offer old colleagues advice and provide guidance to new officers. ... Full story
Busy year school year gets rolling in Dist. U-46
Nearly 40,000 Elgin Area School District U-46 students went back to the books Wednesday for what promises to be a busy year for the state's second largest school district. ... Full story
War of the raises begins in Kane County
Kane County State's Attorney John Barsanti fired the first salvo Wednesday in what might become a war of the raises when he stated his frustration over raises handed out in other departments while his employees get nothing. ... Full story
Harter Middle School welcomes first students
On Wednesday, Kaneland middle school students started the school year in a new $35 million building. Last week, students and parents were invited into Harter Middle School to pick up schedules, locate lockers and get acquainted with the layout. ... Full story
Vigil adds human touch to immigration issue
Imelda Garcia's voice trembled and tears formed in her eyes as she told the story. The Aurora resident and U.S. citizen described a family torn apart by immigrations laws. She lives here with daughters Yeimi and Natalie, while her husband is in Mexico with the couple's 2-year-old daughter. ... Full story
Aurora council OKs tow licenses, new fire chief
Tow truck companies will now need a license to take vehicles off private property. In an 11-1 vote, the City Council approved a new law Tuesday that requires towing companies to obtain a $125-a-year license from the city. The law also gives Aurora police the power to respond to complaints of predatory practices from towing companies. ... Full story
Aurora deficit outlook: Grim
Finance Director Brian Caputo gave his long-anticipated mid-year financial report to the City Council, and the picture he painted was bleak. Caputo has long predicted a $4 million budget shortfall by the end of 2009. Tuesday night, not only did he bump that estimate up to $5.6 million, but he said that if the city does not reduce spending in the 2010 budget, that year's shortfall could reach $19 million. ... Full story
Batavia looks at comp time benefit to fill budget hole
The Batavia City Council will vote on instituting a new compensatory time policy as part of an effort to cut budget expenditures. City employees would have the option of choosing compensatory time rather than overtime or double time with the approval of their department director. ... Full story
Elgin man enters race for Foster's seat
An Elgin man who spent the last 16 months helping to create jobs in Iraq has announced he will run for Congress. Mark Vargas, 28, is going to run in the Republican primary election in the 14th Congressional District, where the seat is now held by Democrat Bill Foster of Geneva. ... Full story
Ethan Hastert outlines health care position
Ethan Hastert, a Republican candidate for 14th District congressional seat, opposes much of the proposed health care legislation and specifically any sort of public option currently outlined, he said Wednesday. ... Full story
Kane to issue $40M in bonds for road projects
Members of the Kane County Board transportation and finance committees each approved a plan this week to issue $40 million in bonds to help fund transportation projects that otherwise might not be completed during the next few years. ... Full story
Kane video gaming decision due in 6 weeks
The fate of video gambling in Kane County could be settled in a matter of weeks as officials said Wednesday a final decision could be seen within the next six weeks. The Kane County Board's special task force held its first meeting in Geneva Wednesday. The committee was formed earlier this month to review the issue of video gambling in unincorporated parts of Kane County. ... Full story
Command Decision
On May 27, 1964, President Lyndon Johnson had telephone conversations about Vietnam with McGeorge Bundy, his national security adviser, and Sen. Richard Russell, chairman of the Armed Services Committee. First, to Bundy, he said: "It just worries the hell out of me. I don't see what we can ever hope to get out of there. ... I don't think that we can fight them 10,000 miles away from home and ever get anywhere. ... I don't think it's worth fighting for, and I don't think we can get out. It's just the biggest damn mess I ever saw. ... What the hell is Vietnam worth to me? ... What is it worth to this country?" ... Full story
Sound advice from mother of six profs
Searching for some back-to-school pearls of wisdom, I called Rena Sereno, a Batavia woman who knows a thing or two about getting children excited about learning. ... Full story
In major shift, Justice to probe CIA
In a major reversal from the Bush administration that was hailed by liberals and panned by Republicans, the Justice Department on Monday announced it would probe whether the CIA abused suspected terrorists. ... Full story
White House projects bigger deficits, bigger debt
The federal government faces exploding deficits and mounting debt over the next decade, White House officials predicted Tuesday in a fiscal assessment far bleaker than what the Obama administration had estimated just a few months ago. ... Full story
Elgin's Lords Park zoo: With a $4 million deficit in city budget, should it be saved?
Mayor Ed Schock says he has to set priorities. ... Full story
Alcohol tax to rise, but not as high as advertised
It was enough to frighten drinkers across Chicagoland: "Buy now and beat the liquor tax increase!!! Illinois just passed the largest alcohol tax increase in state history." ... Full story
Health care is hot topic for talks
Kirk's town hall is so packed that a 2nd session was added. ... Full story
University of Illinois clout scandal: 2 holdout trustees could get booted
Senate President John Cullerton threatens legislation. ... Full story
Geneva show is about 'the art of the car'
Oak Park resident Bill Palm sat behind his blue 1986 Porsche 911 Carrera along a side street in Geneva normally reserved for residents and patrons of the various small businesses. ... Full story
Emergency repairs set for 2 local Kane roadways
Motorists traveling portions of Dittman Road southwest of Elgin and Big Timber Road east of Hampshire soon will have a more pleasant drive. Members of the Kane County Board's transportation committee on Monday approved an emergency plan to repair Dittman Road from Burlington Road to Plato Road. ... Full story
Board of Review gets more time to do work
Not only is the Kane County Board of Review going to be larger this year, but it also will be permitted by law to meet more often than in years past. Last week, Supervisor of Assessments Mark Armstrong told members of the county's public services committee that Gov. Pat Quinn recently signed a law allowing boards of review in counties of fewer than 3 million residents to meet until March 15. ... Full story
Elgin council will eye parking limits for Eagle Heights
The city is considering odd-even parking restrictions for the Eagle Heights subdivision, albeit with further input from residents of that northwest-side subdivision. ... Full story
Hampshire wants public to ante up video poker views
The state capital spending bill passed this summer would partly pay for its $31 billion in construction projects by allowing taverns, truck stops and fraternal organizations to install video poker machines, which would be taxed by the state and local governmental bodies. ... Full story
Recession pains local hospitals
The fangs of the recession also have taken a bite out of local hospitals' budgets. Many people are feeling the squeeze when it comes to medical coverage. Insurance premiums and deductibles have skyrocketed over the past year, so even the insured are having a difficult time paying their medical bills. Or they're putting their medical needs on the back burner until more money flows into their checking accounts. ... Full story
Salvation Army to host community cookout
The Tri-city Salvation Army Joe K. Anderson Community Center, 1710 South 7th Ave., will host a free community cookout from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Sunday. ... Full story
State drops school grants
District 304's bottom line for the 2009-10 budget just got $187,000 leaner, as the State of Illinois reduced its funds and grants, officials said. Assistant Superintendent for Business Services Donna Oberg said reductions covered the gamut from special education to textbooks. ... Full story
North Aurora house fire leaves family homeless
Firefighters are still trying to determine the cause of a blaze Monday morning that left a two-story house uninhabitable. ... Full story
Ethan Hastert plans town-hall meeting on health care
A prominent Republican candidate for Congress in the 14th District will offer local residents a chance to talk to him about health care reform. On Wednesday, Ethan Hastert, son of former Speaker of the House J. Dennis Hastert, will preside over two town hall-style meetings. ... Full story
Snail mail slowdown
These days, Smith & Richardson Inc. in Geneva chooses to e-mail invoices to its customers to save postage and time. ... Full story
Tollway boss tried to help man connected to development get job
When Illinois tollway Chairman John Mitola was pushing a side development project in Wheeling, he went to the village's economic development director at the time, James Lang, for his support. And he got it. ... Full story
Kane budget fight: She said she said what?
The budget fight between Kane County Circuit Clerk Deborah Seyller and County Board Chairman Karen McConnaughay took an odd twist Monday. ... Full story
Stars will shine on Palms
Hollywood Palms, a cinema, bar and eatery, is set to bring its unique brand of movie-going experience to Naperville next month. And it's bringing some star power along with it. ... Full story
Kane studies hand on video gambling
Is video gambling in the cards for the Fox Valley? Last month, the state Legislature voted to allow video gambling in certain bars, social clubs and truck stops as part of a plan to cover a $31 billion capital improvement bill. Now counties and cities face a decision: go all in or to sit this hand out. ... Full story
ECC could see record enrollment
Freshmen packed Elgin Community College's front lawn Friday afternoon for student orientation, while music blasted and hot dogs were gobbled up. ... Full story
Rally highlights concerns about public health care option
Brandishing signs denouncing a plan for a public health care option and chanting, "Where's Bill?" a crowd of about 100 gathered Saturday in front of the Batavia office of U.S. Rep. Bill Foster, D-Batavia. ... Full story
Gordon Brown in new storm over freed Lockerbie bomber
Gordon Brown faced fresh questions tonight after it emerged that he discussed with Colonel Gaddafi detailed conditions for the Lockerbie bomber's return nearly six weeks ago, while senior Labour figures warned of an economic backlash from angry Americans "costing our country dear". ... Full story
Aurora, Geneva take on The Bean, Michigan Ave.
Two local parks are finalists in the Metropolitan Planning Council's "What Makes Your Place Great?" contest to name Chicagoland's best neighborhood public space. Phillips Park, on the East Side of Aurora and RiverPark in Geneva both were nominated as finalists. The public can vote online at www.placemakingchicago.com/places and following the directions to vote for a photo. ... Full story
Elburn Days offers variety of fun
The 80th Annual Elburn Days festival was packed with people and good times on Saturday, the second day of the Elburn Lions' three-day gala. Festival-goers poured in for children's activities, music, the craft fair, food and the truck and tractor pull. ... Full story
Suburban liquor stores warn of looming liquor tax increase
Patrick McDonnell plans to stock up on beer, rum and other beverages before hosting a bash at his home following an annual golf outing next month. Kristine Knutson holds wine events at her Libertyville shop, How Impressive. She also plans to buy extra cases by the end of the month. ... Full story
Cardboard boats race in Aurora for fun and funds
The Breaktanic wins in new event -- best sinking. ... Full story
Foster gets up-close image of health care
U.S. Rep. Bill Foster went into the trenches of the health care issue Saturday by accepting an invitation to tour the Fox Valley Dialysis Center. The Geneva Democrat said he was interested in knowing how the physician-owned facility operates and whether it had "squeezed out" inefficiencies or if he could offer suggestions to save money. He was interested in talking with patients of the facility, as well. ... Full story
Geneva School Board prepares for tough budget talk
Although the Geneva School board doesn't usually discuss the district's budget until its second meeting of the month, it definitely heard about it at the first meeting in August. ... Full story
More teens finding faith in churches again
It's 7 on a Wednesday night in Yorkville, and about 75 teens are gathered at New Life Church off Cannonball Trail. A teenage boy on stage reminds everyone to come next Wednesday for the discussion on piercing, smoking, drinking and tattoos. ... Full story
Gaddafi embraces Lockerbie bomber and thanks his 'courageous friend' Gordon Brown for releasing him
The international furore over the release of the Lockerbie bomber deepened today after he was seen embracing Libyan leader Colonel Gaddafi. In scenes that will provoke outrage among victims' families and the U.S. government, TV footage showed Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi meeting Gaddafi in Tripoli. ... Full story
Obama to raise 10-year deficit to $9 trillion
The Obama administration will raise its 10-year budget deficit projection to approximately $9 trillion from $7.108 trillion in a report next week, a senior administration official told Reuters on Friday. ... Full story
Illinois pollution enforcement hampered by politics
Toxic sludge oozed out of rusty barrels, soaked through cardboard boxes and spilled over frothy vats inside a west suburban warehouse raided by state inspectors in January 2008. ... Full story
2 U. of I. trustees still ignore Quinn's call for resignations
U. of I. holdouts could face ouster. ... Full story
Friends of Jason Gould Foundation hold party
From 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Sept. 12, the Friends of Jason Gould Foundation will hold “Jason’s Hogfan Party” at the St. Charles Moose on Route 38 one block west of Randall Road. ... Full story
Geneva downtown, Ride in Kane among RTA projects
The city's downtown area and the Association for Individual Development Ride in Kane phases three and four are among 19 planning and capital projects being considered by the Regional Transportation Authority. ... Full story
Union Electric relocates, positions for growth
Paul Hopkins has seen better days. As president of St. Charles Union Electric since 1984, Hopkins has seen much, much better days, in fact. ... Full story
District 303 aims to prevent suicides
School will begin Wednesday in District 303 like no other school year in its history. ... Full story
ECC plans to shutter Fountain Square campus
It's only a matter of time before the Elgin Community College closes its Fountain Square Campus in downtown Elgin. ... Full story
Poll: Americans losing confidence in Obama
A new poll says that Americans, concerned over the future of health care reform and anxious about the growing federal budget deficit, are losing faith in President Barack Obama. ... Full story
Hatcher may face challenge from Kendall Republican
A Republican leader in Kendall County informally announced his plans to challenge state Rep. Kay Hatcher in the 2010 election. Keith Wheeler, chairman of the Kendall County Republicans, expressed interest in the race at a Republican committee meeting earlier this week, which Hatcher attended. ... Full story
New traffic plan announced for Solheim Cup
Drivers can expect heavy traffic in and around Sugar Grove through Sunday. Illinois state troopers and the Kane County Sheriff’s Department are encouraging residents to plan ahead when traveling in the area and seek alternate routes, especially if they’re traveling along Granart Road. ... Full story
Edy's bringing free treats to Fox Valley
You and your neighbors may share sidewalks, backyards, and the occasional flour or sugar. But what about freezer space? Melanie Pilafas, of Aurora, may be leaning on the support of her neighbors' freezers soon. ... Full story
$1M in federal stimulus to improve Batavia street
Aldermen this week approved a Wilson Street sidewalk improvement project from Batavia Avenue to Water Street. Batavia received approximately $1 million in funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to resurface Wilson Street from Randall to Raddant roads. ... Full story
Nearly 14% of Illinois mortgages behind or in foreclosure
Nearly 14 percent of home mortgage loans in Illinois were in foreclosure or behind on payments at the end of the second quarter, up from 9 percent a year earlier, according to a report from the Mortgage Bankers Association. ... Full story
Lockerbie bomber release reopens wounds for Evanston man
For several weeks, Richard Mack of Evanston had been sending e-mails to Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill, begging him not to release Abdel Basset Mohamed al-Megrahi from prison. Mack insisted that the man convicted of killing his brother, William Edward Mack, and hundreds of other passengers on Pan Am Flight 103 in the 1988 terrorist bombing over Lockerbie deserved to serve his entire life sentence behind bars in Scotland. It was the only way to help bring justice to the victims and peace to their families. ... Full story
At Illinois State Fair, Gov. Pat Quinn and Comptroller Dan Hynes trade jabs
Early tensions reflect rough gubernatorial primary ahead. ... Full story
Public may decide video poker's fate in Campton Hills
Should the village ban video gambling? That is the question that Campton Hills officials would like to ask residents in one way or another. ... Full story
Paratransit program hits bump in the road
After starting up in 2008 and growing to cover most of eastern Kane County, the Ride in Kane paratransit program for disabled, aging and low-income people hit a bump last spring. Carpentersville and Hampshire became disenchanted with the cost and dropped out. But the impact of those changes has been very different. ... Full story
Foster's reps field health care concerns
A handful of local residents made their way Thursday to the Sycamore Center to ask a representative of U.S. Congressman Bill Foster about health care reform. ... Full story
Wal-Mart seeking to make St. Charles store supercenter, public hearing in September
City residents and officials will have the chance to sound off on Wal-Mart’s newest proposal to expand its St. Charles store. On Wed., Sept. 9, the St. Charles Plan Commission will hold a public hearing on the latest plan by the world’s largest retailer to convert its store near Charlestowne Mall into a supercenter. ... Full story
Change becomes theme of Republican rally
On their signature day at the Illinois State Fair, Republicans found themselves scrambling to name a new chairman while their race for governor took an early negative tilt. ... Full story
New COD budget calls for 6 percent hike in revenue
It's going to take $9 million more to run College of DuPage this year than it did the previous year. ... Full story
Naperville, Aurora get boost, too, from Solheim Cup
Sugar Grove won't be the only town benefiting from hosting the Solheim Cup. ... Full story
Medication collection set for Saturday
Aurora police and the Fox Fresh Medication Take Back Group are sponsoring a medication collection from 8 a.m. to noon during Saturday's Aurora Farmers Market at the Aurora Transportation Center, 233 N. Broadway. ... Full story
Aurora bat tests positive for rabies
Two more bats found in Kane County have tested positive for rabies. This brings the total to four that have tested positive this year, according to the Kane County Health Department. ... Full story
Authentic Mexican dishes boost Rito's menu
Rito Huizar is betting that if his authentic Mexican cuisine doesn't get you in the door, maybe the 27-ounce, $5 margaritas and sangrias will do the trick. ... Full story
Batavia moves to protect its history
In a unanimous vote, the Batavia City Council has adopted regulations to prevent the deterioration of historic buildings. ... Full story
School Board asking about budget
Members of the Batavia School Board agreed to put a proposed 2009-2010 budget on public display this week. But they emphasized that they won't approve a spending plan until they've seen a list of what must be cut to erase an anticipated $1.45 million deficit. ... Full story
US training commander 'frustrated' in Iraq
The deadly Baghdad bombings represent an obvious lapse in security, the U.S. commander in charge of training Iraqi security forces said Thursday, adding that he's frustrated with the pace of some of the training. ... Full story
26 Afghans die during elections
Taliban threats scared voters and dampened turnout in the militant south Thursday as Afghans voted for president for the second time ever. Insurgents killed 26 Afghans in scattered attacks, but officials said militants failed to disrupt the vote. ... Full story
Drop in world temperatures fuels global warming debate
Has Earth's fever broken? Official government measurements show that the world's temperature has cooled a bit since reaching its most recent peak in 1998. ... Full story
US state, local government jobs up despite recession
While businesses across the United States slash jobs, state and local governments have actually increased employment slightly since the economic recession began in December 2007, according to a report released on Thursday. ... Full story
Obama Ally: Dem Majority Is History If Health Reform Fails
A top Obama ally predicted Wednesday in an interview with ABC News that Democrats will lose their congressional majority in next year's midterm elections if they fail to put a health-care reform bill on President Obama's desk. ... Full story
U46 takes first step for drawing up new attendance borders
With several of its schools bursting at the seams, the School District U46 board this week approved guidelines for changing attendance boundaries for the 2010-11 school year. ... Full story
Gardeners weigh in at Dundee visitor's center's tomato contest
It's the weight that counted, not the circumference, in the 12th annual Old Dundee Farmers Market Largest Tomato Contest. This year, more than 20 contestants participated Saturday, and more than $1,000 in prizes was awarded to the top three finishers in the contest sponsored by the Dundee Township Visitor's Center. ... Full story
Motorists drink at their peril over holiday
The last days of summer will mark another busy time for area law enforcement as officers prepare to step up efforts to catch drunken drivers. Police departments in a number of communities have already announced plans to increase patrols over the Labor Day holiday weekend next month. ... Full story
Council approves police contract
The agreement between the city of St. Charles and St. Charles police officers is now official. City Council members unanimously voted in the contract after a 40-minute executive session Monday night. ... Full story
Going to Solheim? Want a sandwich?
As a caterer, Janet Lagerloef doesn't run a restaurant. But the owner of Sugar Grove-based The Catering Gourmets still wanted to make a way to sell her pulled pork sandwiches to those dropping into Sugar Grove for the Solheim Cup golf tournament. ... Full story
Local crops good, but slow development worries growers
The return of summer's heat has fueled hope among local farmers that the 2009 harvest will yield another bumper crop. ... Full story
Bean open to government-run insurance option
U.S. Rep. Melissa Bean told suburbanites Wednesday she isn't certain if she will vote for President Barack Obama's health care plan because "the devil is in the details." ... Full story
Tollway board member was seeking work on other tollways
An Illinois tollway board member had been pitching his company to do land consulting work on other tollway systems and for construction companies, which a top ethics group says is an apparent conflict of interest. ... Full story
Insult a Warren High official at a meeting? You might be sued
Warren Township High School's superintendent and board president say they might look into legal action against a man who they contend made unflattering comments about them at a public meeting. ... Full story
Gardening project teaches kids about food, fun, finances
An urban garden of green peppers, tomatoes, squash, radishes and cantaloupe is growing in one of the most unexpected places. Last week, about 40 students watered the new vegetable garden growing in freshly weeded plots on a vacant lot south of 1300 North Highland Avenue in Aurora. ... Full story
Oswego faces services cuts due to deficit
Village services will be cut. This was the message village staff stressed to Oswego trustees at Tuesday's Village Board meeting as they discussed a general fund deficit in the current budget. ... Full story
Police seek boosted powers to impound cars
Police are hoping that a new law giving them greater power to impound cars will help them stem a number of offenses. The proposal, which aldermen will consider next week, would allow police to seize vehicles after a number of offenses -- some smaller, like driving with tinted windows, and some larger, such as using the car in the commission of a felony. ... Full story
Moldy walls won't close Batavia school
Hoover-Wood Elementary School is on track to open Aug. 26 despite the discovery of mold in three classroom walls, School Superintendent Jack Barshinger said Wednesday. ... Full story
Citizen panel could guide Kane budget
Could a panel made up of residents be the key to solving Kane County's budget woes? That all depends on whom you ask. Kane County Board Chairman Karen McConnaughay proposed the idea just about two weeks ago, but has provided few details. McConnaughay said this week that she has asked all County Board members to submit names for consideration, but some board members said not only were they not asked to submit names, but that they did not know McConnaughay was even accepting nominations for the task force. ... Full story
Dillard’s ethics bill signed into law
Catch-all ethics legislation sponsored by state Sen. Kirk Dillard (R-Hinsdale) was recently signed into law. In a press release, Dillard said Senate Bill 54 (Public Act 96-0555) will make ethics investigations more public, while strengthening the power of the Illinois inspector general, expanding the role of the Executive Ethics Commission and toughening the state's revolving door policy. ... Full story
Distressed Kane fits 'recovery zone' tag
It's no secret that Kane County is in dire financial straits, but officials are hoping that seeking the authority to issue federal recovery bonds will help spur economic development. ... Full story
The kindest cut
Think of any clichéd phrase about a bad economy and it can probably be easily associated with the word "cuts." Job cuts. Budget cuts. Wage cuts. But haircuts? ... Full story
Two bills sponsored by Senger signed
In an effort to hold state government accountable, the Gov. Pat Quinn recently signed legislation co-sponsored by state Rep. Darlene Senger (R-Naperville) which creates a tracking system for how federal stimulus funds are spent. ... Full story
SugarToad in Naperville keeps it fresh
Fishermen in the Chesapeake Bay call the little blowfish that swims there a sugar toad — sweet as sugar and ugly as a toad, they say. The SugarToad is also the name of a restaurant in Naperville's swanky Hotel Arista, owned by executive chef Jimmy Sneed. The SugarToad is approaching its one-year anniversary in September. ... Full story
Survey: Optimism about global economy is growing
A new survey by Banc of America Securities-Merrill Lynch showed optimism among portfolio managers about the chances for global economic recovery rising to their highest level in nearly six years. ... Full story
Israel says UN covering up Iran's nuclear arms drive
Israel is accusing the UN nuclear weapons watchdog of holding back incriminating evidence of Iran's drive to obtain nuclear weapons, the Haaretz newspaper reported on Wednesday. ... Full story
Democratic investigators target health insurers
House Democrats are probing the nation’s largest insurance companies for lavish spending, demanding reams of compensation data and schedules of retreats and conferences. ... Full story
Parties deal blame as White House goes solo on health reform
President Barack Obama now realizes he probably will have to pass health reform with Democratic votes alone, White House officials say. The admission is a monumental shift in Washington’s top fight of the year, with the energy now shifting to differences among Democrats, rather than efforts to lure a critical mass of Republicans. ... Full story
Buffett Says Federal Debt Poses Risks to Economy
The U.S. must address the massive amounts of “monetary medicine” that have been pumped into the financial system and now pose threats to the world’s largest economy and its currency, billionaire Warren Buffett said. ... Full story
Metea Valley officially opens Thursday
Freshmen, sophomores will be first to settle into 462,000-square-foot, still-incomplete facility in east Aurora. ... Full story
Sugar Grove library is beautiful -- when it's open
Built $8 million spacious structure, but had to slash hours. ... Full story
Chris Kennedy opts against run for Senate, governor
Merchandise Mart mogul and political heir Chris Kennedy told supporters Tuesday he isn't running for the U.S. Senate seat now held by Roland Burris. ... Full story
Lincoln Highway memorabilia will dot the Tri-Cities
There will be plenty of public reminders in Geneva soon that this city once had America's first cross country highway running through it. Geneva will get both a gazebo and a mural commemorating its location along the Lincoln Highway, the first coast-to-coast highway, due to the city's association with the Illinois Lincoln Highway Coalition. ... Full story
South Elgin realigns funds for bike path
The village this week approved spending an additional $7,723 on the realigned bike path running behind the village annex building. The extra funds are needed due to some unexpected soil problems, as well as to add a bike-repair station on the trail, said Jim Reuter, parks and recreation director. ... Full story
West Dundee gives go-ahead for old gear sell-off
For the first time since it has been a municipal fire department, the West Dundee Fire Department has a surplus in equipment. ... Full story
St. Charles Burger King to relocate across Randall Road
After three decades along Route 38, one of the city’s original fast food chain restaurants has laid plans to set up shop across Randall Road. Tuesday, the St. Charles Plan Commission discussed plans for the construction of a new Burger King restaurant. ... Full story
Ceramics, chairs among items in Batavia Library's silent auction
If you’re willing to buy a ceramic collection that contains only six of the seven dwarfs, Batavia Library might have a deal for you. The ceramic collection is one of the items for sale during the library’s surplus property silent auction from 7 to 8 p.m. today at the Batavia Library, 10 S. Batavia Ave. ... Full story
Batavia youngster has his heart in music
From Bruce Springsteen to opera, 10-year-old Andy Marchiori sings it all. ... Full story
Clarke Mosquito to spray tonight in Geneva after West Nile virus found in mosquito samples
Clarke Mosquito will spray a citywide application of insecticide during the period from dusk to dawn tonight after mosquito samples taken with the city of Geneva have tested positive for West Nile virus. ... Full story
Will Gov. Quinn tackle meaningful campaign finance reform?
Gov. Pat Quinn signed another in a series of ethics laws Tuesday, but it still remains unclear what he will do about a cornerstone of his "year of reform," legislation for limits on campaign contributions. ... Full story
Sen. Terry Link to run for lieutenant governor
Longtime Democratic state Sen. Terry Link, of Waukegan, said he wants to be the state's next lieutenant governor. ... Full story
Algonquin man brought home soldiers in style
Jon Dreymann was the glue that held the Illinois Warriors' Watch riders together, his fellow riders said. ... Full story
Cops: Drive the main fairways to Solheim
Police are advising people who attend the Solheim Cup to stick with major roads and prepare for heavy traffic. "You're bringing close to 100,000 people in a week into an area that is not used to that," said Kane County Sheriff's Lt. Pat Gengler. ... Full story
East High students feed the hungry
They didn't care about how they looked on Tuesday, or the fact that the sun was shining outside as they wore with hair nets at East Aurora High School. In assembly lines, hundreds of student volunteers worked diligently as they put in hundreds of community service hours to help feed the hungry. ... Full story
One union left for STC wage freeze
It's four unions down and one to go in terms of St. Charles getting the wage freezes it needs to make budget. On Monday, the St. Charles City Council approved a new contract with the police officers union. Part of this new four-year contract froze wages for the first year. This means no cost-of-living increase for the 42 police officers' union members. This is part of a months-long effort by the city to shed millions from its budget. ... Full story
Oswego board debates fate of video gambling within village
The village is joining a growing number of local towns as it examines the benefits of video gambling in light of a new state bill that permits video poker. ... Full story
Students, police beg for alternative school funding from East district
Aurora police Lt. Keith Cross knows what it's like to be given a second chance, and on Monday he begged the East Aurora School Board not to take that opportunity away from others. ... Full story
Tow company license plan moves forward
If your business involves towing cars off of private property, you may soon need to get a license from the city of Aurora. The City Council Committee of the Whole discussed a plan to license tow truck companies and regulate their operations at its regular meeting Tuesday. ... Full story
Elburn wants out of video poker
Video poker and other gaming could soon be banned in Elburn, despite a state law that allows such devices in bars and restaurants. On Monday, the Elburn board asked the village attorney to draft an ordinance for the ban. ... Full story
Aurora park finalist in great places contest
Phillips Park has been named a finalist in the Metropolitan Planning Council's "What Makes Your Place Great? Contest" to name Chicagoland's best neighborhood public space. ... Full story
Smashing the atom smasher
A happy marriage has been broken up after a hot young thing caught one party's eye, leaving the other with 30 years of memories and a worthless old ring. ... Full story
Stimulus funds won't cure Kane's ills
Kane County stands to receive nearly $197,000 in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds by the end of November, although that may seem like just a drop in the bucket compared to the deficit the county is facing. ... Full story
Wanted: More seniors at Golden Diners
With the national economy still slumping, you'd think people would be lining up for any good deal they can find. But lately, The Salvation Army has been having difficulty getting seniors to take advantage of its Golden Diners program. That's why, on Monday night, they held a dinner party at the Geneva Senior Center in Wheeler Park to introduce people to the program, and hopefully increase donations. ... Full story
AARP loses members over health care stance
About 60,000 senior citizens have quit AARP since July 1 due to the group's support for a health care overhaul, a spokesman for the organization said Monday. ... Full story
Blue Dog: 'Excellent idea' to start over on health care reform
Acknowledging his amazement at the crowds gathered to debate health care at his town halls, Rep. Allen Boyd, D-Florida, faced three large gatherings on Monday with many questioners voicing skepticism about the proposals being debated in Washington. ... Full story
State freezes $2.35 million in grants for Stroger job-training program
Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity also demands county program return unpsent $1.8 million. ... Full story
Gov. Pat Quinn signs overhaul of state's open records law
Attorney general's office gains powers, but often-abused exemptions remain. ... Full story
Clout goes to college: U. of I faculty reacts to admissions scandal
Panel urging Gov. Quinn to consider their opinions of trustee decisions. ... Full story
McLean detour around bridge project starts Friday
A stretch of McLean Boulevard from Route 31 to Lancaster Circle will be closing Friday for about 18 months as part of the Stearns Road Bridge Corridor Project. ... Full story
Elgin School District U46 registration continues
The first day of classes for Elgin School District U46 is Wednesday, Aug. 26. If you aren't sure which school your child should attend, contact the district at 847-888-5000 or visit www.u-46.org. ... Full story
St. Charles police announce Labor Day weekend plans
St. Charles Police announced they will step up drunken driving enforcement for late nights during Labor Day weekend. ... Full story
Scarecrow Festival looks for creative minds for contest
With summer drawing to a close, fall’s Scarecrow Festival draws closer. The festival, which will take place Oct. 9 through Oct. 11, is looking for creative minds to start thinking about the Scarecrow Contest, which takes place each year in Lincoln Park. ... Full story
Residents get a chance to give input for RiverFest
Two public forms will be held this month for community input on next year’s RiverFest event. ... Full story
Rotary Foundation seeks applicants for cultural exchange program
The Rotary Foundation seeks applicants ages 25 to 40 for an international vocational and cultural exchange program in Brazil from May 3 to June 1, 2010. Application deadline is Sept. 7. ... Full story
Elburn pushes for ban on video gambling
The village has moved closer to becoming the first community in the region to ban video gambling. Monday, the Elburn Village Board authorized the village’s attorney to write an ordinance that would prohibit bars, restaurants and other liquor-licensed establishments from installing video gambling machines. ... Full story
