dailyheraldchicago--2020-12-31--Bartlett police seek help in search for missing teen

Bartlett police are looking for 16-year-old Timo Kapadoukakis , who was last seen early Thursday at his residence in the @ @ @ @ @ in the village .
He is described as 6 feet tall and 165 pounds , @ @ @ @ @ eyes .
Timo was last seen wearing a black jacket , black shoes and possibly @ @ @ @ @ with information about his whereabouts is asked to call 911 or the Bartlett Police Department @ @ @ @ @ .

Bartlett teen safe after earlier being reported missing
Bartlett police report a 16-year-old boy who had been reported missing has been located.
The boy "returned home safely," Bartlett police said on Twitter at about 1 p.m. Friday, adding, "Thank you for everyone's concern and assistance in attempting to locate him."
The boy had last been seen early Thursday at his residence on Fremont Street in the village.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-12-31--Man charged with attempted murder in Carpentersville

A 39-year-old Huntley man has been charged with attempted murder , accused of stabbing a man Monday in Carpentersville .
@ @ @ @ @ murder , armed violence , home invasion , aggravated battery and violation of an order @ @ @ @ @ alleged to have stabbed a 37-year-old man around 4:30 p.m. Monday at a home on @ @ @ @ @ Court in Carpentersville .
The incident is related to a domestic dispute , according to @ @ @ @ @ attorney 's office .
County land records indicate Doss co-owns a home on Merrywell .
@ @ @ @ @ Doss is going through a divorce .
He has not been brought to bond court @ @

Man charged with attempted murder in Carpentersville
A 39-year-old Huntley man has been charged with attempted murder, accused of stabbing a man Monday in Carpentersville.
Charges were filed Wednesday against Joshua Doss.
Doss is charged with attempted murder, armed violence, home invasion, aggravated battery and violation of an order of protection.
Doss is alleged to have stabbed a 37-year-old man around 4:30 p.m. Monday at a home on the 3100 block of Merrywell Court in Carpentersville. The incident is related to a domestic dispute, according to the Kane County state's attorney's office.
County land records indicate Doss co-owns a home on Merrywell. Kane County court records indicate Doss is going through a divorce.
He has not been brought to bond court yet.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-12-31--Is a slate a political party? The answer could decide fate for 2 Mount Prospect candidates

When Mount Prospect voters approved nonpartisan elections for village trustee and mayor in a binding 2010 referendum , did that mean candidates could not run as a slate ?
That is at the heart of a challenge filed this week that aims to kick two village board candidates off the ballot for the April 6 municipal election .
Former Mount Prospect Trustee Steven Polit and resident Tom Manion filed the challenge to trustee hopefuls Terri Gens and Peggy Pissarreck , who plan to run as a slate for two of the three village board seats up for election in April @ @ @ @ @ @ @ requires nonpartisan candidates for board seats .
And , they argue , running as a slate is no different from running under the banner of political party .
`` To me , you can look all through history , '' Manion said .
`` A slate is a party .
It 's that simple . ''
Pissarreck disputed that , saying she and Gens are not a party , just two individuals with similar values .
`` I did a lot of homework before I decided to run , '' she said '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was legal , '' Gens added .
On Feb. 2 , 2010 , Mount Prospect voters approved by binding referendum a format that calls for a nonpartisan , no primary election system for mayor and trustees .
In the lead-up to that referendum , then-Village Manager Michael Janonis received a memo from Village Attorney Everette M. Hill , Jr. that reads , `` The elections will be nonpartisan , each person would run as an individual . ''
Polit said the objection to Gens and Pissarreck is not about the candidates , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wanted individual , nonpartisan candidates running at large to run the village , '' Polit said .
The objection also claims that by filing their petitions together , Gens and Pissarreck violated the signature requirement that each individual file separate nominating petitions to get on the ballot .
Incumbent Trustee Eleni Hatzis also is facing a challenge to her nominating petitions .
The village clerk 's office said the challenge was filed by Steven Pissarreck .
Hatzis said she has not received notification of the objection , but she is confident her nomination @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the three available seats on the village board who is n't currently facing a challenge is Agostino `` Augie '' Filippone .

Is a slate a political party? The answer could decide fate for 2 Mount Prospect candidates
When Mount Prospect voters approved nonpartisan elections for village trustee and mayor in a binding 2010 referendum, did that mean candidates could not run as a slate?
That is at the heart of a challenge filed this week that aims to kick two village board candidates off the ballot for the April 6 municipal election.
Former Mount Prospect Trustee Steven Polit and resident Tom Manion filed the challenge to trustee hopefuls Terri Gens and Peggy Pissarreck, who plan to run as a slate for two of the three village board seats up for election in April.
Their objection contends that village ordinance requires nonpartisan candidates for board seats. And, they argue, running as a slate is no different from running under the banner of political party.
"To me, you can look all through history," Manion said. "A slate is a party. It's that simple."
Pissarreck disputed that, saying she and Gens are not a party, just two individuals with similar values.
"I did a lot of homework before I decided to run," she said
"We researched our process, and it was legal," Gens added.
On Feb. 2, 2010, Mount Prospect voters approved by binding referendum a format that calls for a nonpartisan, no primary election system for mayor and trustees.
In the lead-up to that referendum, then-Village Manager Michael Janonis received a memo from Village Attorney Everette M. Hill, Jr. that reads, "The elections will be nonpartisan, each person would run as an individual."
Polit said the objection to Gens and Pissarreck is not about the candidates, but the process.
"Clearly the people wanted individual, nonpartisan candidates running at large to run the village," Polit said.
The objection also claims that by filing their petitions together, Gens and Pissarreck violated the signature requirement that each individual file separate nominating petitions to get on the ballot.
Incumbent Trustee Eleni Hatzis also is facing a challenge to her nominating petitions.
The village clerk's office said the challenge was filed by Steven Pissarreck.
Hatzis said she has not received notification of the objection, but she is confident her nomination is legitimate.
The only candidate for the three available seats on the village board who isn't currently facing a challenge is Agostino "Augie" Filippone.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-12-31--Itasca historic preservation leader, Hanover Park battalion chief dies

Tom Hatzold of Itasca loved preserving buildings of the past .
The architect was an original member of the village 's Historic Preservation Commission from the 1980s to today .
He and his wife received awards for preservation work done on 145-year-old houses they owned .
As an architect he worked on historic preservation projects elsewhere , including the restoration of the oldest building in Skokie ( a log cabin built in the 1840s ) and the Peotone Windmill .
But he was also devoted to ensuring modern-day structures were built well .
He worked as a building commissioner , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's plan commission , and in his last job , served as a battalion chief in charge of the inspectional services division of the Hanover Park Fire Department .
Hatzold died Sunday at his home , according to an obituary published this week .
Hanover Park Fire Chief Craig Haigh wrote in a Facebook post that Hatzold , 68 , was due to retire Monday .
`` Chief Hatzold was a valued member of my command staff and was astute at finding solutions to challenging issues .
He will be remembered for his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ willingness to help our residents and businesses be successful in their building projects , as well as his commitment to public safety .
Chief Hatzold recognized that the entire focus of the Inspectional Services Division is about protecting the public and he conducted his work with this singular focus , '' Haigh wrote .
Hatzold grew up for the most part in Elk Grove Village and obtained an architecture degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago .
He joined the Itasca Historic Preservation Commission when it was formed in 1986 and spent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Hatzold is survived by his wife , Deborah , four children , seven grandchildren and a brother .
Memorial gifts may be sent to The Salvation Army Metropolitan Division of Emergency Disaster Services , in care of Maj. Dalburg , 1000 Pratt Blvd.
, Elk Grove Village , IL 60007 .

Itasca historic preservation leader, Hanover Park battalion chief dies
Tom Hatzold of Itasca loved preserving buildings of the past.
The architect was an original member of the village's Historic Preservation Commission from the 1980s to today. He and his wife received awards for preservation work done on 145-year-old houses they owned. As an architect he worked on historic preservation projects elsewhere, including the restoration of the oldest building in Skokie (a log cabin built in the 1840s) and the Peotone Windmill.
But he was also devoted to ensuring modern-day structures were built well. He worked as a building commissioner, served as a member of the village's plan commission, and in his last job, served as a battalion chief in charge of the inspectional services division of the Hanover Park Fire Department.
Hatzold died Sunday at his home, according to an obituary published this week.
Hanover Park Fire Chief Craig Haigh wrote in a Facebook post that Hatzold, 68, was due to retire Monday.
"Chief Hatzold was a valued member of my command staff and was astute at finding solutions to challenging issues. He will be remembered for his deep and lasting work ethic, his willingness to help our residents and businesses be successful in their building projects, as well as his commitment to public safety. Chief Hatzold recognized that the entire focus of the Inspectional Services Division is about protecting the public and he conducted his work with this singular focus," Haigh wrote.
Hatzold grew up for the most part in Elk Grove Village and obtained an architecture degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
He joined the Itasca Historic Preservation Commission when it was formed in 1986 and spent the last 15 years as its chairman.
Hatzold is survived by his wife, Deborah, four children, seven grandchildren and a brother.
Memorial gifts may be sent to The Salvation Army Metropolitan Division of Emergency Disaster Services, in care of Maj. Dalburg, 1000 Pratt Blvd., Elk Grove Village, IL 60007.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-12-31--Brady resigns seat after 27 years in state legislature

BLOOMINGTON , Ill. -- Republican state Sen. Bill Brady , who stepped down as Republican leader in the Senate as efforts were made to oust him from the post , on Thursday announced his retirement from the General Assembly .
The Bloomington resident served in the state legislature for 27 years , first in the House from 1993 to 2001 before moving to the Senate .
He became minority leader in the Senate in August 2017 .
Brady , 59 , did not give a reason for his resignation .
The Senate leadership position went to Sen. Dan McConchie of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elected leader , I said I would not pursue any other elective office during my leadership of the caucus .
While my decision not to seek re-election as Senate Republican leader may close this chapter , it by no means is the final word on my desire to serve our state and tackle those challenges . ''
Brady said he was proud of the work he has done in his career in the Illinois House and Senate , and proud of his time leading the Senate Republican Caucus over the past three and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much it can be proud of , and I am proud to have made a contribution to this state , and especially the citizens of Central Illinois , during my time in office , '' he wrote .
Brady sought but failed to secure the GOP nomination for governor in 2006 and in 2014 .
In 2010 , he was the Republican candidate for governor after winning a seven-way primary .
Brady was defeated in the general election by Democratic Gov .
Pat Quinn , who was elevated to the post after Rod @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
McLean County Republican Party Chair Connie Beard said while she did n't know for certain Brady would resign , she is not surprised by the news .
Beard says the next step is for the five county chairmen in the district to find someone to fill the rest of Brady 's term .
`` The committee is looking in January to as soon as possible get together and work through the procedure , '' she said .
`` I 'm sure that we will find a qualified individual to fill this seat @ @

Brady resigns seat after 27 years in state legislature
State Sen. Bill Brady, a Bloomington Republican, has resigned. He was his party's candidate for governor in 2010. Associated Press/2016
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. -- Republican state Sen. Bill Brady, who stepped down as Republican leader in the Senate as efforts were made to oust him from the post, on Thursday announced his retirement from the General Assembly.
The Bloomington resident served in the state legislature for 27 years, first in the House from 1993 to 2001 before moving to the Senate. He became minority leader in the Senate in August 2017.
Brady, 59, did not give a reason for his resignation. The Senate leadership position went to Sen. Dan McConchie of Hawthorn Woods.
"When I was elected leader, I said I would not pursue any other elective office during my leadership of the caucus. While my decision not to seek re-election as Senate Republican leader may close this chapter, it by no means is the final word on my desire to serve our state and tackle those challenges."
Brady said he was proud of the work he has done in his career in the Illinois House and Senate, and proud of his time leading the Senate Republican Caucus over the past three and a half years.
"Illinois has much it can be proud of, and I am proud to have made a contribution to this state, and especially the citizens of Central Illinois, during my time in office," he wrote.
Brady sought but failed to secure the GOP nomination for governor in 2006 and in 2014. In 2010, he was the Republican candidate for governor after winning a seven-way primary. Brady was defeated in the general election by Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn, who was elevated to the post after Rod Blagojevich's impeachment and removal from office.
McLean County Republican Party Chair Connie Beard said while she didn't know for certain Brady would resign, she is not surprised by the news.
Beard says the next step is for the five county chairmen in the district to find someone to fill the rest of Brady's term.
"The committee is looking in January to as soon as possible get together and work through the procedure," she said. "I'm sure that we will find a qualified individual to fill this seat."


dailyheraldchicago--2020-12-30--Our most-read stories in 2020

Our most-read stories in 2020

With working from home , learning from home and pretty much doing everything at home in 2020 , it 's hard to remember what happened yesterday , let alone a month ago .
That 's where this roundup of our most-read stories on dailyherald.com comes in .
Here 's a month-by-month look at the suburban stories that got our collective attention in 2020 .
You 'll notice a stark shift in focus around , say , March .
And while what we know about the coronavirus has changed immensely since then , it 's worthwhile to look back at how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Elgin man built himself an intricate abode in the woods .
Now he 's being evicted from it .
A homeless man who painstakingly built a dwelling in the woods in Elgin early had an unwelcome surprise -- he was trespassing on Fox River Water Reclamation District land and needed to move by the weekend .
Doug Henke said he believed he was on city property when he chose the spot , determined to leave `` Tent City , '' Elgin 's outdoor homeless encampment , to find peace and quiet on his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 3 .
Henke died this spring of heart disease .
He would have turned 58 on June 12 , the day after his body was found by police officers during a welfare check at his dwelling in the woods .
He was given a final , heartfelt send-off Aug. 21 in a service with military honors at Bluff City Cemetery , followed by a private scattering of his ashes at his campsite in Elgin .
'He is ours ' : Hundreds show up to pay respects to 'unclaimed veteran ' in Elgin When @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was an `` unclaimed veteran '' whose relatives could n't be found or contacted to take care of his burial .
On Jan. 29 he was unclaimed no more when hundreds of people from Elgin and beyond attended his visitation and service at an Elgin funeral home .
Read our coverage from Jan. 27 and Jan. 29 .
A server at the IHOP in St. Charles got quite the surprise when actor and New Kids on the Block performer Donnie Wahlberg rang in the new year by leaving a $ 2,020 tip @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Singer '' judge Jenny McCarthy , posted a picture of their $ 78 lunch bill Wednesday on Twitter with $ 2,020 written on the tip line .
Read the story from Jan. 1 .
Nearly $ 3.2 million spent on marijuana on first day of recreational sales Illegally parked cars and traffic were the biggest issues police departments reported as more than 77,000 people spent nearly $ 3.2 million on newly legal cannabis products on Jan. 1 , packing dispensaries in Mundelein , North Aurora , Addison and 31 other sites across the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2 .
Boxed groceries await customer pickup at the `` Peapod Pickup '' location in Schaumburg Friday .
Boxed groceries await customer pickup at the `` Peapod Pickup '' location in Schaumburg Friday .
Peapod service to end in Illinois ; Lake Zurich , Palatine facilities to close Just weeks before the pandemic forced many shoppers online , the grocery delivery service Peapod announced it was leaving the Midwest , closing facilities in Lake Zurich , Palatine , Chicago , Milwaukee and Indianapolis , and laying off workers .
Parent company Ahold Delhaize @ @ @ @ @ @ @ company to focus on its East Coast operations .
Read our story from Feb. 11 .
Costco plan would force out Ogden 6 theater in Naperville When news came in early February that Costco planned to buy the Ogden Mall shopping center to build a 159,000-square-foot store , it was the beginning of the end for the beloved Ogden 6 movie theater .
Naperville residents were excited about the prospect of a second Costco , but sad to see the Classic Cinemas theater go .
Just a few days later , two employees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ movie house , which had been a Naperville mainstay since the mid-1970s .
The petition gathered more than 21,000 signatures .
Then in March the pandemic shut down movie theaters until June .
And with their lease expiring July 31 , Ogden 6 management decided to just stay closed .
`` It was n't the way we wanted to go out , '' said owner Chris Johnson .
`` After 23 years , you 'd like to have a better closure . ''
But do n't roll the credits just yet .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 6 bought the Goodrich Kendall 11 theater in Oswego with plans to revive it as Classic Cinemas Kendall 11 .
Des Plaines Kmart , the last in Illinois , will close at end of April In early February , Des Plaines got news that the city 's Kmart -- the last one in Illinois -- would be closing .
Des Plaines records show the Kmart opened in 1975 .
While blue-light specials on discounted items accompanied by the `` Attention , Kmart shoppers ! ''
announcement was a draw until fading in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moment came when it was used as a wedding venue .
Kathy Gilbert and Gus Ladas , who met while working at the Kmart at Oakton and Lee streets , were married by a judge in the store on May 7 , 1999 .
There were about 130 guests along with Kmart employees and assorted onlookers around them .
Read the Feb. 7 story .
All state casinos ordered to close for two weeks starting Monday On Friday , March 13 , the state announced that all of the state 's 10 casinos @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a two-week period under order by the Illinois Gaming Board .
This announcement -- made back in the day when we thought two weeks was all it would take to contain COVID-19 -- really got our attention .
Read our story .
9 reasons doctors say you should stay calm as coronavirus spreads On March 10 , just as Americans were starting to ask ourselves if we should be staying home and disinfecting our groceries , we talked to suburban infectious disease experts to get some straight talk -- and some reassurances @ @ @ @ @ @ @ words proved overly optimistic .
The dramatic rise in cases we hoped was not inevitable did come .
But this story gives us a clear picture of what we were thinking in the very first days of the pandemic .
On this West Chicago street , neighbors come out every day to exercise together , and apart Coming together and staying apart might seem to be at odds , but that 's exactly what a West Chicago neighborhood was trying to do every day at 2 p.m. in the early days of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fitness classes , birthday parades and drive-by baby showers captured our imaginations and helped us all to think of new ways to connect with our loved ones .
Read our story from March 26 .
COVID-19 cases top 100 in Illinois ; it 's now in 15 counties Remember when we thought 100 cases was a lot ?
Maybe if more people had heeded the warnings in this story from March 16 and stayed home on St. Patrick 's Day ...
Prosecutors : Arlington Heights intruders hoped to find $ 200,000 cash Two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home in April looking for $ 200,000 .
Two armed men broke into an Arlington Heights home in April looking for $ 200,000 .
Our most-read articles for April all involved the evolving story of a home invasion in Arlington Heights that left one would-be robber dead and another charged with murder .
The incident started just before 2 p.m. Saturday , April 4 , when police responded to a 911 call from the home on the 2400 block of North Evergreen Avenue .
Prosecutors say Bradley J. Finnan , 39 , of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 58 , of Buffalo Grove pushed their way into the home Saturday and threatened the family living there at gunpoint , in what police are calling a robbery attempt .
After his capture Sunday , Finnan told investigators Brodacz claimed to have seen $ 200,000 cash in boxes in the home 20 years ago and believed it was still there , according to Cook County prosecutors .
The family did not know either man , police said .
Arlington Heights police later released a 66-second doorbell video of the harrowing early moments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would-be robber dead and another charged with murder .
By early April , educators across the suburbs were coming to the realization that members of the Class of 2020 may have attended their last days of in-person school without knowing it back in March .
Vernon Hills High School Principal Jon Guillaume captured the sadness felt by students , parents and educators alike in a moving video tribute to his seniors .
Guillaume filmed himself writing the name of each senior student on a wall .
Once the names were all up , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over the wall before posing where the `` I '' in `` seniors '' would be .
The rest of the video features pictures and video clips of seniors .
Read our story from April 6 and watch the video .
After closing in 2019 , the owner of West Chicago 's Cascade Drive-In saw potential to bring the theater back amid the increased interest in outdoor movie viewing brought on by the pandemic .
In May , owner Jeff Kohlberg said he was talking about the possibility with the new owners of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reviving a drive-in movie theater is n't as simple as flipping on the projector .
Read our continuing coverage . '
I am not going to be anybody 's boogeyman ' : DuPage sheriff says county is ready to reopen DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick joined a chorus of suburban law enforcement officials in mid-May who said they would n't enforce Gov .
J.B. Pritzker 's stay-at-home order as a criminal offense .
Mendrick said he believes DuPage is ready to reopen responsibly and he wo n't `` victimize '' lawful residents `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's table . ''
`` We are dealing with a serious rise in crime , new challenges in our correctional facility and a massive upsurge in our courthouse when everything opens back up , '' Mendrick wrote on social media .
`` We will rise to the challenge .
This is not the time to introduce fear into our society by threatening class A misdemeanors . ''
Read our May 18 story .
When Illinois moved to Phase 3 at the end of May , suburban retailers were ready with COVID-19 safety protocols @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distancing and reduced capacity limits .
`` From a practical standpoint , we 're excited the mall is going to reopen under safety protocols , '' said Matt Frank , Schaumburg 's economic development director .
`` We 're optimistic that our shoppers will come back . ''
Read our story from May 29 .
Businesses across the suburbs , including at least four shopping malls , closed abruptly May 31 amid threats of looting and vandalism after protests erupted across the country in response to the May 25 death of George Floyd @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fears came to fruition later Sunday night in Aurora , and Metra suspended all service for the safety of the public and employees .
Ready the May 31 story .
A protest in Naperville that started peacefully took an ugly turn late June 1 as authorities said a different group of protesters arrived and began breaking windows and looting downtown businesses .
The vandalism and looting began around 9:35 p.m. -- despite a 9 p.m. curfew -- when one protester set off a firework that caused an explosion .
Vandals then broke windows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including Barnes & Noble , Talbots , Sullivan 's Steakhouse , Walgreens , Smoothie King , Bangkok Village , Pandora , Starbucks and the Gap .
Looters also entered some businesses , police said , and tried unsuccessfully to break into the Apple store .
Hours earlier , the protest started with a march through downtown by hundreds of protesters upset about the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis .
Protesters chanted phrases like , `` I ca n't breathe . ''
Read the June 1 story .
Watch : Elgin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the protest audience loves it Two very different stories about Elgin police in the wake of the # BlackLivesMatter protests got our attention in early June .
On June 4 , an Elgin police officer announced his immediate retirement after being asked about statements he made on Twitter , including laughing about a protester who reportedly lost an eye after he was struck by a police tear gas canister in Indiana .
Detective Brian Lawrence , 52 , a 25-year veteran of the department , retired June 3 , the day the Daily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comment about his Twitter posts .
Then on June 6 , Elgin police officer Hector Gutierrez joined protesters in a dance-off , which was caught on videos shared on social media .
The videos show Gutierrez and Cmdr .
Eric Echevarria in a circle with demonstrators watching a young man dance .
The dancer walks up to the officers and mimics marking a line in front of them with his foot as if to dare them to cross it .
Gutierrez turns to Echevarria and hands him his equipment vest and holster , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cheers .
He holds up a finger and says , `` One city , '' then walks to the center of the circle and starts dancing .
Watch the video here .
The story of high school sports has been an ongoing saga in 2020 , with Illinois High School Association Executive Director Craig Anderson at its center .
In midsummer , news that the IHSA was prepared to delay the start of the 2020-21 high school sports season , possibly until January , was a blow to athletes , coaches and parents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ While statues , memorials and other symbols of the Confederacy were being taken down across the country this summer , director Brian Grams said there are no plans for the Volo Auto Museum to stop displaying its General Lee , the last surviving 1969 Dodge Charger from the first season of the `` Dukes of Hazzard '' television show .
The iconic orange automobile is a symbol of television history , according to Grams .
To others , though , the Confederate battle flag painted atop the vehicle is a painful symbol of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the car is part of history , and people love it , '' Grams said .
`` We 've got people of all races and nationalities that remember the TV show and are n't offended by it whatsoever .
It 's a piece of history and it 's in a museum . ''
Read the July 2 story .
Palatine-Schaumburg High School District 211 board members voted 5-2 July 16 to fire tenured Palatine High School social studies teacher Jeanne Hedgepeth , who had been investigated for a controversial Facebook post just after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Black Lives Matter protests .
In early June District 211 officials started investigating the since-deleted Facebook post about the protests that followed the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis .
The investigation began after screenshots of what purported to be the teacher 's remarks were shared on social media .
`` The statements in the post do not reflect the values or principles of District 211 , '' the district said in a statement at the time , without further describing the post .
`` We are truly sorry for any harm or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' A week later , the teacher said she would retire .
Another week later , she rescinded her retirement request before the board could vote on it .
Read the July 16 story .
'The long-term solution is not Arlington Park ' : CEO says land could be sold In August , Churchill Downs Inc. CEO Bill Carstanjen said Arlington Park could be sold and the land developed for something other than horse racing .
A week after live racing returned without spectators to Arlington International Racecourse , the CEO of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ darker shadow over the already precarious future of the storied Arlington Heights oval .
`` The long-term solution is not Arlington Park .
That land will have a higher and better purpose for something else at some point , '' Churchill Downs Inc. CEO Bill Carstanjen said during a quarterly earnings call with investors .
For Barry Rozner , the news was hardly a surprise .
But it was no less devastating .
Read his column from July 31 .
Antioch teen charged with murder in overnight shooting during Kenosha protests Kyle Riitenhouse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ charged Aug. 26 in the shooting deaths of two people during a night of protests in Kenosha stemming from the police shooting of a Black man .
Rittenhouse was taken into custody after a cellphone video showed a young white man opening fire in the middle of the street with a military-style rifle .
After the shooting , the man is allowed to walk away by police .
Rittenhouse 's case was taken on by lawyers who have handled numerous high-profile , controversial and political clients .
They unsuccessfully fought Rittenhouse 's extradition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ selling `` Free Kyle '' merchandise to support his defense fund .
'Oh , no , it could n't be ' : Long Grove 's covered bridge damaged a day after reopening Less than 24 hours after its grand reopening , the Long Grove covered bridge was damaged again .
A rented school bus traveling west to east across the bridge on Robert Parker Coffin Road left the bridge damaged at both ends .
It happened about 12:20 p.m. on a Saturday .
The bridge , constructed in 1906 , reopened with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ months of rebuilding .
June Neumann , who owns Viking Treasures near the bridge , ran outside her store when she heard the crash .
`` This afternoon I was at the shop and heard a noise I had n't heard for 26 months , '' she said , `` and said , 'Oh , no , it could n't be . '
And I ran outside my door .
Grabbed my phone and ran outside my door , and there was a yellow bus coming through the bridge . ''
Read the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was fined $ 2,000 and had its business license suspended for at least 14 days after three male workers were found using its basement as their living and sleeping quarters .
The Dream Place , a Chinese eatery at 1280 E. Dundee Road , had risked having its license revoked for the violation of village code .
The living arrangements were discovered after the fire department responded to a call about 1:45 a.m. Sept. 6 , entered the restaurant and found smoke and a 10-gallon pot of food on a burner .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when firefighters came in , but the basement did not have smoke or carbon monoxide alarms , firefighter Brian Stennett said .
`` Had there been an actual fire , they would n't have been alerted to the fire until they were in greater danger , '' Stennett said .
The restaurant was allowed to reopen after paying its fine and addressing all outstanding code violations .
Read the Sept. 15 story .
As the clock ticks closer to 4 p.m. , Aamir Bandukda knows it 's time to shut down for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's trying to get home early .
He 's just hoping to avoid the growing crowds near his unit at the St. Charles Commons office complex , also home to Zen Leaf marijuana dispensary , when it begins its daily window for recreational sales .
`` The amount of foot traffic that 's coming in , it 's not suitable for an industrial warehouse office building , '' said Bandukda , whose entrance shares a walkway with Zen Leaf .
`` It 's creating nightmares . ''
Read the story .
A Chicago-based @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up 15 French bulldogs it saved from an O'Hare International Airport warehouse where they had been housed in crowded crates for four days without food and water .
After arriving in Chicago on Aug. 28 en route to Jordan , the puppies had been sitting in their own urine and feces in a corner of the warehouse until they were discovered by a truck driver , according to Chicago French bulldog Rescue , which was called in Aug. 31 .
The group refused to give up the puppies , and later reached an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the United States .
Read the Sept. 25 story .
Indoor dining ban starts in DuPage , Kane , and so does defiance .
How about enforcement ?
On Oct. 23 , Ki 's Steak and Seafood in Glendale Heights , Ray 's Family Restaurant in Elgin , Italian Pizza Kitchen in Roselle and Brauer House in Lombard all indicated on Facebook that they would stay open for dine-in business in defiance of Gov .
JB Pritzker 's order ending indoor table service .
But DuPage County State 's Attorney Bob Berlin said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the matter , leaving the matter of enforcement in question .
Read the Oct. 23 story .
Gene & Georgetti announced in October it was shutting down its Rosemont location at 9421 W. Higgins Road after being notified it had to vacate the building because of $ 120,000 in unpaid property taxes .
The Rosemont location had struggled amid the pandemic , though its event space had taken the biggest hit .
The 5,000-square-foot grand ballroom has remained vacant since the state began regulating gatherings , according to one of the restaurant 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` We have a large event facility that accounts for about 50 percent of our revenue on a normal basis , '' Durpetti said .
`` With the state mandates in place .
... we have not been able to have any business in the space . ''
Read the Oct. 21 story .
Waukegan police say shooting that killed Black teen was in self-defense ; protesters question it Watch Waukegan police video : Only moments before , after Black couple were shot are captured The fatal police shooting of Marcellis Stinnette , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ questions , outrage and protests .
Authorities said the officer who fired feared for his life , but family members called for answers .
The situation unfolded shortly before midnight Oct. 20 when a Waukegan officer fired into a vehicle after the driver started reversing as the officer walked toward it .
Stinnette was a passenger in the car driven by his girlfriend , 20-year-old Tafara Williams , who was hospitalized after the crash .
Williams later described the events , and Waukegan police released dashcam and bodycam videos showing the moments before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was fired .
DuPage , Kane and Will counties moving to Tier 2 restrictions DuPage , Kane , Kankakee and Will were the first suburban counties to go back under heightened restrictions in November as the region saw a surge in COVID-19 cases , hospitalizations and deaths .
Cook County followed with a 30-day stay-at-home advisory as new COVID-19 cases spiked to a record and the region fell below desired levels for available hospital beds .
Many suburban school districts paused in-person and hybrid instruction models .
Bartlett High School teacher fired after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tenured Bartlett High School teacher Gary Lorber was fired after accusations of inappropriate relationships with three students who graduated during the 2000s , according to documents released by the school district .
The reasons for Lorber 's dismissal were not publicly disclosed at the time of the Elgin Area School District U-46 board of education 's unanimous termination vote .
But a Freedom of Information request filed by the Daily Herald led to the release Friday of a Notice of Charges and Bill of Particulars which detailed 20 professional charges against Lorber relating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The document details a gradual progression from notes and attention , to gifts , and eventually in two cases paid trips to New York .
Lorber , 51 , of Wheaton has not been charged with any crime .
Read the Nov. 21 story .
The race for the U.S. House of Representatives in the 14th Congressional District between Democratic incumbent Lauren Underwood and Republican challenger Jim Oberweis took a trajectory similar to that of the presidential race .
On election night , the race was close with Oberweis appearing to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when he led by 895 votes , Oberweis , a state senator from Sugar Grove , declared victory in a video .
But in the days that followed as more mail-in and provisional ballots were counted , Underwood closed the gap and eventually took the lead for good .
On Nov. 12 , The Associated Press called the race for Underwood .
The official vote counts had Underwood winning by 5,374 votes .
Oberweis ' campaign has filed for a discovery recount in DuPage County .
With so many of our traditional holiday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ looking for things they can do to celebrate the season outside or in cars .
That means holiday light shows -- and stories about them -- have been more popular than ever .
Here 's our list .
The DuPage High School District 88 community was stunned and saddened when Superintendent Scott Helton died Dec. 10 .
Helton had a stroke in late October , two weeks after contracting COVID-19 .
A father to three sons , Helton spent much of his education career in the district , first as a principal for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the superintendent for the past eight .
`` He was willing to do whatever was necessary to help students to be engaged in learning and help them to become the best people they could be , '' said school board President Donna Craft Cain .
Read our Dec. 11 tribute .
Which suburban hospitals are getting COVID-19 vaccines first News of COVID-19 vaccines dominated the headlines as 2020 came to a close .
On Dec. 4 , we learned who would get the first doses in Illinois -- health care workers and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dec. 17 , initial batches of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine began arriving with police escorts to hospitals across the suburbs .
Within hours , health care workers who have cared for COVID-19 patients daily since March lined up for the shots .
`` I 'm still going to take all the precautions , but it 's a peace of mind to have the vaccine now , '' said Aminderjit Dhanoa , a respiratory therapist who received the first vaccine at Edward Hospital in Naperville .

Our most-read stories in 2020
With working from home, learning from home and pretty much doing everything at home in 2020, it's hard to remember what happened yesterday, let alone a month ago. That's where this roundup of our most-read stories on dailyherald.com comes in. Here's a month-by-month look at the suburban stories that got our collective attention in 2020. You'll notice a stark shift in focus around, say, March. And while what we know about the coronavirus has changed immensely since then, it's worthwhile to look back at how this pandemic has unfolded.
January
A homeless Elgin man built himself an intricate abode in the woods. Now he's being evicted from it.
- John Starks | Staff Photographer Doug Henke collected branches from the floor of the woods along the Fox River north of Elgin, to build his new home. He moved his camp out of Tent City in Elgin, a recognized area that is home to many homeless people, to a more quiet location to the north, on the Fox River. He spent most of the summer weeks collecting donated and found items to build his camp and calls it his favorite location in Elgin. Now he is being force to move his home again.
BY ELENA FERRARIN
A homeless man who painstakingly built a dwelling in the woods in Elgin early had an unwelcome surprise -- he was trespassing on Fox River Water Reclamation District land and needed to move by the weekend. Doug Henke said he believed he was on city property when he chose the spot, determined to leave "Tent City," Elgin's outdoor homeless encampment, to find peace and quiet on his own. Read the story from Jan. 3. Henke died this spring of heart disease. He would have turned 58 on June 12, the day after his body was found by police officers during a welfare check at his dwelling in the woods. He was given a final, heartfelt send-off Aug. 21 in a service with military honors at Bluff City Cemetery, followed by a private scattering of his ashes at his campsite in Elgin.
'He is ours': Hundreds show up to pay respects to 'unclaimed veteran' in Elgin
- Rick West | Staff Photographer An active duty military member salutes at the funeral for Vietnam veteran John James Murphy, who died last month after living since 2017 at River View Rehab Center in Elgin. Hundreds of people attended his service after no one was able to find any family members to claim him.
BY ELENA FERRARIN
When John James Murphy died in Elgin, he was an "unclaimed veteran" whose relatives couldn't be found or contacted to take care of his burial. On Jan. 29 he was unclaimed no more when hundreds of people from Elgin and beyond attended his visitation and service at an Elgin funeral home. Read our coverage from Jan. 27 and Jan. 29.
Donnie Wahlberg leaves $2,020 tip at St. Charles IHOP
A server at the IHOP in St. Charles got quite the surprise when actor and New Kids on the Block performer Donnie Wahlberg rang in the new year by leaving a $2,020 tip. Wahlberg's wife, "Masked Singer" judge Jenny McCarthy, posted a picture of their $78 lunch bill Wednesday on Twitter with $2,020 written on the tip line. Read the story from Jan. 1.
Nearly $3.2 million spent on marijuana on first day of recreational sales
- Brian Hill | Staff Photographer Jessica Valdespino Patient Care Representitive hands out tickets that will allow a client to enter the building and help complete their order. On New Years day Valdespino estimated that they saw approximately 1100 clients. A long line wraps throughout the parking lot Thursday at Verilife Illinois Marijuana Dispensarie in North Aurora.
BY MARIE WILSON AND JAKE GRIFFIN
Illegally parked cars and traffic were the biggest issues police departments reported as more than 77,000 people spent nearly $3.2 million on newly legal cannabis products on Jan. 1, packing dispensaries in Mundelein, North Aurora, Addison and 31 other sites across the state. Read our coverage from Jan. 2.
February
- JOE LEWNARD | Staff Photographer Boxed groceries await customer pickup at the "Peapod Pickup" location in Schaumburg Friday.
Just weeks before the pandemic forced many shoppers online, the grocery delivery service Peapod announced it was leaving the Midwest, closing facilities in Lake Zurich, Palatine, Chicago, Milwaukee and Indianapolis, and laying off workers. Parent company Ahold Delhaize USA said the move would allow the company to focus on its East Coast operations. Read our story from Feb. 11.
Costco plan would force out Ogden 6 theater in Naperville
BY MARIE WILSON
When news came in early February that Costco planned to buy the Ogden Mall shopping center to build a 159,000-square-foot store, it was the beginning of the end for the beloved Ogden 6 movie theater. Naperville residents were excited about the prospect of a second Costco, but sad to see the Classic Cinemas theater go. Just a few days later, two employees started an online petition to save the movie house, which had been a Naperville mainstay since the mid-1970s. The petition gathered more than 21,000 signatures. Then in March the pandemic shut down movie theaters until June. And with their lease expiring July 31, Ogden 6 management decided to just stay closed. "It wasn't the way we wanted to go out," said owner Chris Johnson. "After 23 years, you'd like to have a better closure."
But don't roll the credits just yet. In July, the company behind the Ogden 6 bought the Goodrich Kendall 11 theater in Oswego with plans to revive it as Classic Cinemas Kendall 11.
Des Plaines Kmart, the last in Illinois, will close at end of April
BY BOB SUSNJARA
In early February, Des Plaines got news that the city's Kmart -- the last one in Illinois -- would be closing. Des Plaines records show the Kmart opened in 1975. While blue-light specials on discounted items accompanied by the "Attention, Kmart shoppers!" announcement was a draw until fading in the 1990s, perhaps the store's biggest moment came when it was used as a wedding venue. Kathy Gilbert and Gus Ladas, who met while working at the Kmart at Oakton and Lee streets, were married by a judge in the store on May 7, 1999. There were about 130 guests along with Kmart employees and assorted onlookers around them. Read the Feb. 7 story.
March
All state casinos ordered to close for two weeks starting Monday
The state ordered all casinos closed at the start of the pandemic. - rivers casino
BY CHRISTOPHER PLACEK
On Friday, March 13, the state announced that all of the state's 10 casinos would be forced to close their doors for a two-week period under order by the Illinois Gaming Board. This announcement -- made back in the day when we thought two weeks was all it would take to contain COVID-19 -- really got our attention. Read our story.
9 reasons doctors say you should stay calm as coronavirus spreads
BY MARIE WILSON
On March 10, just as Americans were starting to ask ourselves if we should be staying home and disinfecting our groceries, we talked to suburban infectious disease experts to get some straight talk -- and some reassurances. Looking back, some of these words proved overly optimistic. The dramatic rise in cases we hoped was not inevitable did come. But this story gives us a clear picture of what we were thinking in the very first days of the pandemic.
On this West Chicago street, neighbors come out every day to exercise together, and apart
- Rick West | Staff Photographer Bailey Zydek, front left, leads her West Chicago neighborhood in daily workouts on their street while being careful to maintain a safe social distance.
BY RICK WEST
Coming together and staying apart might seem to be at odds, but that's exactly what a West Chicago neighborhood was trying to do every day at 2 p.m. in the early days of the shutdown. Stories and photos of social-distanced fitness classes, birthday parades and drive-by baby showers captured our imaginations and helped us all to think of new ways to connect with our loved ones. Read our story from March 26.
COVID-19 cases top 100 in Illinois; it's now in 15 counties
BY MARNI PYKE
Remember when we thought 100 cases was a lot? Maybe if more people had heeded the warnings in this story from March 16 and stayed home on St. Patrick's Day ...
April
Prosecutors: Arlington Heights intruders hoped to find $200,000 cash - Joe Lewnard | Staff Photographer Two armed men broke into an Arlington Heights home in April looking for $200,000.
BY CHRISTOPHER PLACEK, BARBARA VITELLO AND KEVIN SCHMIT
Our most-read articles for April all involved the evolving story of a home invasion in Arlington Heights that left one would-be robber dead and another charged with murder. The incident started just before 2 p.m. Saturday, April 4, when police responded to a 911 call from the home on the 2400 block of North Evergreen Avenue. Prosecutors say Bradley J. Finnan, 39, of Chattanooga and the deceased Larry D. Brodacz, 58, of Buffalo Grove pushed their way into the home Saturday and threatened the family living there at gunpoint, in what police are calling a robbery attempt. After his capture Sunday, Finnan told investigators Brodacz claimed to have seen $200,000 cash in boxes in the home 20 years ago and believed it was still there, according to Cook County prosecutors. The family did not know either man, police said. Arlington Heights police later released a 66-second doorbell video of the harrowing early moments of the home invasion that left one would-be robber dead and another charged with murder.
Watch the tribute video Vernon Hills High School principal made to seniors
Vernon Hills High School principal Jon Guillaume made a video tribute to the senior class. - YouTube
BY DOUG T. GRAHAM
By early April, educators across the suburbs were coming to the realization that members of the Class of 2020 may have attended their last days of in-person school without knowing it back in March. Vernon Hills High School Principal Jon Guillaume captured the sadness felt by students, parents and educators alike in a moving video tribute to his seniors. Guillaume filmed himself writing the name of each senior student on a wall. Once the names were all up, Guillaume painted the word "seniors" over the wall before posing where the "I" in "seniors" would be. The rest of the video features pictures and video clips of seniors. Read our story from April 6 and watch the video.
May
Cascade Drive-In theater trying to make a comeback
The Cascade Drive-In closed in 2019, but the owner started talking about reopening in May. - Daily Herald file photo
BY SUSAN SARKAUSKAS AND KATLYN SMITH
After closing in 2019, the owner of West Chicago's Cascade Drive-In saw potential to bring the theater back amid the increased interest in outdoor movie viewing brought on by the pandemic. In May, owner Jeff Kohlberg said he was talking about the possibility with the new owners of the property along North Avenue. But reviving a drive-in movie theater isn't as simple as flipping on the projector. Read our continuing coverage.
'I am not going to be anybody's boogeyman': DuPage sheriff says county is ready to reopen
BY ROBERT SANCHEZ
DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick joined a chorus of suburban law enforcement officials in mid-May who said they wouldn't enforce Gov. J.B. Pritzker's stay-at-home order as a criminal offense. Mendrick said he believes DuPage is ready to reopen responsibly and he won't "victimize" lawful residents "trying to put food on their children's table." "We are dealing with a serious rise in crime, new challenges in our correctional facility and a massive upsurge in our courthouse when everything opens back up," Mendrick wrote on social media. "We will rise to the challenge. This is not the time to introduce fear into our society by threatening class A misdemeanors." Read our May 18 story.
Woodfield Mall to reopen Friday with limited hours, capacity
BY ERIC PETERSON AND CHRISTOPHER PLACEK
When Illinois moved to Phase 3 at the end of May, suburban retailers were ready with COVID-19 safety protocols, including required facial coverings, social distancing and reduced capacity limits. "From a practical standpoint, we're excited the mall is going to reopen under safety protocols," said Matt Frank, Schaumburg's economic development director. "We're optimistic that our shoppers will come back." Read our story from May 29.
Suburban malls, stores shut down amid widespread fears of looting
BY CHARLES KEESHAN AND DAVE OBERHELMAN
Businesses across the suburbs, including at least four shopping malls, closed abruptly May 31 amid threats of looting and vandalism after protests erupted across the country in response to the May 25 death of George Floyd by Minneapolis Police. Some of those fears came to fruition later Sunday night in Aurora, and Metra suspended all service for the safety of the public and employees. Ready the May 31 story.
June
Vandals, looters damage downtown Naperville businesses
- Joe Lewnard | Staff Photographer Devaughan Welch of Bolingbrook holds a sign as people put up "peaceful paper hearts" at businesses in downtown Naperville two days after roughly 30 storefronts were damaged when a protest turned destructive.
BY ROBERT SANCHEZ AND MARIE WILSON
A protest in Naperville that started peacefully took an ugly turn late June 1 as authorities said a different group of protesters arrived and began breaking windows and looting downtown businesses. The vandalism and looting began around 9:35 p.m. -- despite a 9 p.m. curfew -- when one protester set off a firework that caused an explosion. Vandals then broke windows at more than a dozen downtown establishments, including Barnes & Noble, Talbots, Sullivan's Steakhouse, Walgreens, Smoothie King, Bangkok Village, Pandora, Starbucks and the Gap. Looters also entered some businesses, police said, and tried unsuccessfully to break into the Apple store. Hours earlier, the protest started with a march through downtown by hundreds of protesters upset about the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Protesters chanted phrases like, "I can't breathe." Read the June 1 story.
Elgin cop retires after questions about Twitter posts
Watch: Elgin police officer busts a move, and the protest audience loves it
Elgin Police Officer Hector Gutierrez break dances at the Elgin In Solidarity With Black Lives Matter rally Friday night in front of Elgin City Hall. - Photo courtesy of Picasso Cerrado
BY ELENA FERRARIN AND ORRIN SCHWARZ
Two very different stories about Elgin police in the wake of the #BlackLivesMatter protests got our attention in early June. On June 4, an Elgin police officer announced his immediate retirement after being asked about statements he made on Twitter, including laughing about a protester who reportedly lost an eye after he was struck by a police tear gas canister in Indiana. Detective Brian Lawrence, 52, a 25-year veteran of the department, retired June 3, the day the Daily Herald contacted him and police administration for comment about his Twitter posts.
Then on June 6, Elgin police officer Hector Gutierrez joined protesters in a dance-off, which was caught on videos shared on social media. The videos show Gutierrez and Cmdr. Eric Echevarria in a circle with demonstrators watching a young man dance. The dancer walks up to the officers and mimics marking a line in front of them with his foot as if to dare them to cross it. Gutierrez turns to Echevarria and hands him his equipment vest and holster, keeping his mask on as the crowd cheers. He holds up a finger and says, "One city," then walks to the center of the circle and starts dancing. Watch the video here.
July
IHSA prepared to delay 2020-21 high school sports season
BY JOHN RADTKE
The story of high school sports has been an ongoing saga in 2020, with Illinois High School Association Executive Director Craig Anderson at its center. In midsummer, news that the IHSA was prepared to delay the start of the 2020-21 high school sports season, possibly until January, was a blow to athletes, coaches and parents. Read the July 22 story.
'It's a piece of history': Volo museum won't remove General Lee display
- Paul Valade | Staff Photographer Volo Auto Museum owner and director Brian Grams says they will continue to display a General Lee made for "The Dukes of Hazzard" television show despite growing criticism of the Confederate battle flag.
BY KEVIN SCHMIT
While statues, memorials and other symbols of the Confederacy were being taken down across the country this summer, director Brian Grams said there are no plans for the Volo Auto Museum to stop displaying its General Lee, the last surviving 1969 Dodge Charger from the first season of the "Dukes of Hazzard" television show. The iconic orange automobile is a symbol of television history, according to Grams. To others, though, the Confederate battle flag painted atop the vehicle is a painful symbol of a racist ideology. "We feel the car is part of history, and people love it," Grams said. "We've got people of all races and nationalities that remember the TV show and aren't offended by it whatsoever. It's a piece of history and it's in a museum." Read the July 2 story.
District 211 fires Palatine High School teacher over controversial Facebook post
BY ERIC PETERSON
Palatine-Schaumburg High School District 211 board members voted 5-2 July 16 to fire tenured Palatine High School social studies teacher Jeanne Hedgepeth, who had been investigated for a controversial Facebook post just after the end of the school year about Black Lives Matter protests. In early June District 211 officials started investigating the since-deleted Facebook post about the protests that followed the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. The investigation began after screenshots of what purported to be the teacher's remarks were shared on social media. "The statements in the post do not reflect the values or principles of District 211," the district said in a statement at the time, without further describing the post. "We are truly sorry for any harm or disrespect that this may have caused." A week later, the teacher said she would retire. Another week later, she rescinded her retirement request before the board could vote on it. Read the July 16 story.
August
What a sad ending for Arlington Park
'The long-term solution is not Arlington Park': CEO says land could be sold In August, Churchill Downs Inc. CEO Bill Carstanjen said Arlington Park could be sold and the land developed for something other than horse racing. - Daily Herald file photo
BY BARRY ROZNER and CHRISTOPHER PLACEK
A week after live racing returned without spectators to Arlington International Racecourse, the CEO of the track's parent company cast an even darker shadow over the already precarious future of the storied Arlington Heights oval. "The long-term solution is not Arlington Park. That land will have a higher and better purpose for something else at some point," Churchill Downs Inc. CEO Bill Carstanjen said during a quarterly earnings call with investors. For Barry Rozner, the news was hardly a surprise. But it was no less devastating. Read his column from July 31.
Antioch teen charged with murder in overnight shooting during Kenosha protests
Kyle Rittenhouse carries a weapon as he walks along Sheridan Road in Kenosha during a night of unrest following the weekend police shooting of Jacob Blake. - Associated Press file photo
BY MICK ZAWISLAK AND RUSSELL LISSAU
Kyle Riitenhouse, a 17-year-old from Antioch, was charged Aug. 26 in the shooting deaths of two people during a night of protests in Kenosha stemming from the police shooting of a Black man. Rittenhouse was taken into custody after a cellphone video showed a young white man opening fire in the middle of the street with a military-style rifle. After the shooting, the man is allowed to walk away by police. Rittenhouse's case was taken on by lawyers who have handled numerous high-profile, controversial and political clients. They unsuccessfully fought Rittenhouse's extradition to Wisconsin. His family is now selling "Free Kyle" merchandise to support his defense fund.
'Oh, no, it couldn't be': Long Grove's covered bridge damaged a day after reopening
By Orrin Schwarz
Less than 24 hours after its grand reopening, the Long Grove covered bridge was damaged again. A rented school bus traveling west to east across the bridge on Robert Parker Coffin Road left the bridge damaged at both ends. It happened about 12:20 p.m. on a Saturday. The bridge, constructed in 1906, reopened with a ceremony at 1:30 p.m. Friday after 26 months of rebuilding. June Neumann, who owns Viking Treasures near the bridge, ran outside her store when she heard the crash. "This afternoon I was at the shop and heard a noise I hadn't heard for 26 months," she said, "and said, 'Oh, no, it couldn't be.' And I ran outside my door. Grabbed my phone and ran outside my door, and there was a yellow bus coming through the bridge." Read the Aug. 15 story.
September
Palatine restaurant's license suspended after workers found living in basement
ELENA FERRARIN
A Palatine restaurant was fined $2,000 and had its business license suspended for at least 14 days after three male workers were found using its basement as their living and sleeping quarters. The Dream Place, a Chinese eatery at 1280 E. Dundee Road, had risked having its license revoked for the violation of village code. The living arrangements were discovered after the fire department responded to a call about 1:45 a.m. Sept. 6, entered the restaurant and found smoke and a 10-gallon pot of food on a burner. A worker was awakened by the burglar alarm when firefighters came in, but the basement did not have smoke or carbon monoxide alarms, firefighter Brian Stennett said. "Had there been an actual fire, they wouldn't have been alerted to the fire until they were in greater danger," Stennett said. The restaurant was allowed to reopen after paying its fine and addressing all outstanding code violations. Read the Sept. 15 story.
Crowds at St. Charles marijuana dispensary 'creating nightmares' for neighbor
BY KEVIN SCHMIT
As the clock ticks closer to 4 p.m., Aamir Bandukda knows it's time to shut down for the day. It's not that he's trying to get home early. He's just hoping to avoid the growing crowds near his unit at the St. Charles Commons office complex, also home to Zen Leaf marijuana dispensary, when it begins its daily window for recreational sales. "The amount of foot traffic that's coming in, it's not suitable for an industrial warehouse office building," said Bandukda, whose entrance shares a walkway with Zen Leaf. "It's creating nightmares." Read the story.
Group asked to return 15 French bulldogs rescued from O'Hare warehouse
BY MADHU KRISHNAMURTHY
A Chicago-based animal rescue group was told to give up 15 French bulldogs it saved from an O'Hare International Airport warehouse where they had been housed in crowded crates for four days without food and water. After arriving in Chicago on Aug. 28 en route to Jordan, the puppies had been sitting in their own urine and feces in a corner of the warehouse until they were discovered by a truck driver, according to Chicago French bulldog Rescue, which was called in Aug. 31. The group refused to give up the puppies, and later reached an agreement allowing the puppies to stay in the United States. Read the Sept. 25 story.
October
Indoor dining ban starts in DuPage, Kane, and so does defiance. How about enforcement?
BY SUSAN SARKAUSKAS AND JAKE GRIFFIN
- Paul Valade | Staff Photographer Ki's Steak & Seafood Restaurant owner Spiro Roumpas is keeping the indoor dining areas open at his Glendale Heights restaurant despite the governor's order to close indoor dining starting Friday in DuPage County.
On Oct. 23, Ki's Steak and Seafood in Glendale Heights, Ray's Family Restaurant in Elgin, Italian Pizza Kitchen in Roselle and Brauer House in Lombard all indicated on Facebook that they would stay open for dine-in business in defiance of Gov. JB Pritzker's order ending indoor table service. But DuPage County State's Attorney Bob Berlin said there is no criminal statute that covers the matter, leaving the matter of enforcement in question. Read the Oct. 23 story.
Gene & Georgetti closing Rosemont restaurant
BY ZACH MILLER
Gene & Georgetti announced in October it was shutting down its Rosemont location at 9421 W. Higgins Road after being notified it had to vacate the building because of $120,000 in unpaid property taxes. The Rosemont location had struggled amid the pandemic, though its event space had taken the biggest hit. The 5,000-square-foot grand ballroom has remained vacant since the state began regulating gatherings, according to one of the restaurant's third-generation family owners, Michelle Durpetti. "We have a large event facility that accounts for about 50 percent of our revenue on a normal basis," Durpetti said. "With the state mandates in place. ... we have not been able to have any business in the space." Read the Oct. 21 story.
Waukegan police say shooting that killed Black teen was in self-defense; protesters question it
Watch Waukegan police video: Only moments before, after Black couple were shot are captured
BY MARNI PYKE AND DOUG T. GRAHAM
The fatal police shooting of Marcellis Stinnette, a 19-year-old Black Waukegan resident, provoked questions, outrage and protests. Authorities said the officer who fired feared for his life, but family members called for answers. The situation unfolded shortly before midnight Oct. 20 when a Waukegan officer fired into a vehicle after the driver started reversing as the officer walked toward it. Stinnette was a passenger in the car driven by his girlfriend, 20-year-old Tafara Williams, who was hospitalized after the crash. Williams later described the events, and Waukegan police released dashcam and bodycam videos showing the moments before and after the shooting. The officer was fired.
November
DuPage, Kane and Will counties moving to Tier 2 restrictions
BY MARNI PYKE
DuPage, Kane, Kankakee and Will were the first suburban counties to go back under heightened restrictions in November as the region saw a surge in COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths. Cook County followed with a 30-day stay-at-home advisory as new COVID-19 cases spiked to a record and the region fell below desired levels for available hospital beds. Many suburban school districts paused in-person and hybrid instruction models.
Bartlett High School teacher fired after accusations of inappropriate relationships with 3 students
BY ERIC PETERSON
Tenured Bartlett High School teacher Gary Lorber was fired after accusations of inappropriate relationships with three students who graduated during the 2000s, according to documents released by the school district. The reasons for Lorber's dismissal were not publicly disclosed at the time of the Elgin Area School District U-46 board of education's unanimous termination vote. But a Freedom of Information request filed by the Daily Herald led to the release Friday of a Notice of Charges and Bill of Particulars which detailed 20 professional charges against Lorber relating to his conduct with the three students. The document details a gradual progression from notes and attention, to gifts, and eventually in two cases paid trips to New York. Lorber, 51, of Wheaton has not been charged with any crime. Read the Nov. 21 story.
Underwood moves ahead of Oberweis as Lake County updates results
BY RUSSELL LISSAU AND CHARLES KEESHAN
The race for the U.S. House of Representatives in the 14th Congressional District between Democratic incumbent Lauren Underwood and Republican challenger Jim Oberweis took a trajectory similar to that of the presidential race. On election night, the race was close with Oberweis appearing to be in the lead. The next day when he led by 895 votes, Oberweis, a state senator from Sugar Grove, declared victory in a video. But in the days that followed as more mail-in and provisional ballots were counted, Underwood closed the gap and eventually took the lead for good. On Nov. 12, The Associated Press called the race for Underwood. The official vote counts had Underwood winning by 5,374 votes. Oberweis' campaign has filed for a discovery recount in DuPage County.
December
10 outdoor and drive-through holiday light shows in suburbs, Chicago
BY LUKE ZURAWSKI
With so many of our traditional holiday activities off-limits this year, everyone is looking for things they can do to celebrate the season outside or in cars. That means holiday light shows -- and stories about them -- have been more popular than ever. Here's our list.
'A visionary': DuPage District 88 mourning beloved Superintendent Scott Helton
BY KATLYN SMITH
The DuPage High School District 88 community was stunned and saddened when Superintendent Scott Helton died Dec. 10. Helton had a stroke in late October, two weeks after contracting COVID-19. A father to three sons, Helton spent much of his education career in the district, first as a principal for 11 years at Addison Trail and then as the superintendent for the past eight. "He was willing to do whatever was necessary to help students to be engaged in learning and help them to become the best people they could be," said school board President Donna Craft Cain. Read our Dec. 11 tribute.
Which suburban hospitals are getting COVID-19 vaccines first
BY MARNI PYKE AND KATLYN SMITH
News of COVID-19 vaccines dominated the headlines as 2020 came to a close. On Dec. 4, we learned who would get the first doses in Illinois -- health care workers and residents of long-term care facilities. On Dec. 17, initial batches of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine began arriving with police escorts to hospitals across the suburbs. Within hours, health care workers who have cared for COVID-19 patients daily since March lined up for the shots. "I'm still going to take all the precautions, but it's a peace of mind to have the vaccine now," said Aminderjit Dhanoa, a respiratory therapist who received the first vaccine at Edward Hospital in Naperville.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-12-31--Hedge fund Alden offers to buy Tribune, valuing it at $521 million

Hedge fund Alden , Tribune 's largest shareholder , has offered to buy the rest of the newspaper publisher at a price that values it at $ 520.6 million .
Alden sent a letter to Tribune on Dec. 14 , according to a regulatory filing posted Thursday , offering $ 14.25 per share for the stock of Tribune it does n't already own .
Alden owns 31.6 % of Tribune shares .
The hedge fund said it had not received `` any feedback '' to its letter , which it described as a `` preliminary inquiry . ''
Tribune did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comment Thursday .
Alden bought its stake in Tribune in November 2019 and has three seats on its seven-member board .
Tribune publishes nine major daily papers , including the New York Daily News , Chicago Tribune and Baltimore Sun .
Alden controls a major U.S. publisher whose papers include The Denver Post , Orange County Register and Boston Herald .
It has a reputation for layoffs and intense cost-cutting even beyond the newspaper industry 's overall turn in that direction .
The unions at Tribune papers have pushed for alternative buyers for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ industry has been consolidating as it struggles with a digital transition and shrinking revenues .
Newsroom jobs dropped nearly in half from 2004 to 2018 , according to Pew Research .
The pandemic has exacerbated those stresses .
Tribune 's CFO said in November that the company has been `` aggressively '' cutting costs during the pandemic , including furloughs , pay cuts and closing its newsrooms .
Tribune on Thursday cut its guidance for the current quarter and said that it expects revenue to drop about 24 % this year and roughly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ July Alden extended an agreement with Tribune not to increase its stake above one-third until June 2021 in exchange for one more board seat on Tribune 's board .
That prevented Alden from making a hostile bid .
In the filing Thursday , Alden said a deal for all of Tribune would be conditioned upon approval by a special committee of independent directors and approval from owners of two-thirds of Tribune shares not affiliated with Alden .
Tribune shares rose $ 1.18 , or 9.2 % , to $ 13.97 in late morning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nearly unchanged for the year .

Hedge fund Alden offers to buy Tribune, valuing it at $521 million
Hedge fund Alden, Tribune's largest shareholder, has offered to buy the rest of the newspaper publisher at a price that values it at $520.6 million. Associated Press/April 25, 2016
Hedge fund Alden, Tribune's largest shareholder, has offered to buy the rest of the newspaper publisher at a price that values it at $520.6 million.
Alden sent a letter to Tribune on Dec. 14, according to a regulatory filing posted Thursday, offering $14.25 per share for the stock of Tribune it doesn't already own. Alden owns 31.6% of Tribune shares. The hedge fund said it had not received "any feedback" to its letter, which it described as a "preliminary inquiry."
Tribune did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday.
Alden bought its stake in Tribune in November 2019 and has three seats on its seven-member board. Tribune publishes nine major daily papers, including the New York Daily News, Chicago Tribune and Baltimore Sun. Alden controls a major U.S. publisher whose papers include The Denver Post, Orange County Register and Boston Herald. It has a reputation for layoffs and intense cost-cutting even beyond the newspaper industry's overall turn in that direction. The unions at Tribune papers have pushed for alternative buyers for the company's papers.
The newspaper industry has been consolidating as it struggles with a digital transition and shrinking revenues. Newsroom jobs dropped nearly in half from 2004 to 2018, according to Pew Research. The pandemic has exacerbated those stresses. Tribune's CFO said in November that the company has been "aggressively" cutting costs during the pandemic, including furloughs, pay cuts and closing its newsrooms. Tribune on Thursday cut its guidance for the current quarter and said that it expects revenue to drop about 24% this year and roughly another 10% in 2021.
In July Alden extended an agreement with Tribune not to increase its stake above one-third until June 2021 in exchange for one more board seat on Tribune's board. That prevented Alden from making a hostile bid. In the filing Thursday, Alden said a deal for all of Tribune would be conditioned upon approval by a special committee of independent directors and approval from owners of two-thirds of Tribune shares not affiliated with Alden.
Tribune shares rose $1.18, or 9.2%, to $13.97 in late morning trading. The stock had closed Wednesday nearly unchanged for the year.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-12-31--New year, new restaurants: 10 eateries opening in the suburbs in 2021

Restaurants weathered tough times in 2020 , and ordering from old favorites became a way of supporting neighborhood eateries during the pandemic .
Still , we all crave something new .
And a number of suburban restaurants plan to open their doors in 2021 to offer just that .
Here 's a look at 10 new restaurants opening in the new year : Cuisine : Expect contemporary Mexican with a twist .
Taco choices , for example , include duck confit , wild mushroom , Korean beef with kimchi and a Mediterranean version with shawarma meat .
Other info : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Levy are opening this new restaurant with the help of chef Dudley Nieto , who has had a hand in Adobo Grill and other respected spots .
The restaurant will focus on takeout to start , with seating available when COVID-19 conditions improve .
Cuisine : The new eatery will offer a modern take on Mexican street food , including tacos , tortas , salads and margaritas .
Other info : The spot is the latest from Sam Vlahos and the team behind Fuller House in Hinsdale and Pierce Tavern in Downers Grove @ @ @ @ @ @ @ takeout window so people can order and pick up food without coming into the restaurant .
Cuisine : Yes , you 'll find roast beef and burgers at this fast-casual spot .
But , ironically , Beefaroo is known for its cheese fries and salads .
If you like the special seasoned salt they use , you can take that home , too .
Other info : The West Dundee location will be the first in the Chicago area for this Rockford-area group .
It 's run by siblings , whose parents started @ @ @ @ @ @ @ owned by an investment group looking to expand .
Cuisine : Puerto Rican cuisine features lots of garlic , herbs and spices , but owner Maria Skokan says her dishes are not spicy .
Among the offerings will be roasted pork , stewed chicken , red rice and a tamale made with bananas and root vegetables .
Other info : The restaurant will be the first brick-and-mortar location for Peter and Maria Skokan , who started out by catering and serving meals from their Aurora-based food truck .
Online ordering , curbside pickup @ @ @ @ @ @ @ available .
Cuisine : Owner Savio Lobo describes the aim of the menu as `` progressive . ''
Old favorites such as burgers will come with a twist , and there will be vegan options as well .
Other info : The restaurant/bar plans to feature live music in the storefront formerly occupied by Mac 's on Slade , with additional space previously used as an office and storage .
Cuisine : Two wood-burning brick ovens from Naples will fire up Neapolitan-style pizzas with a wide range of cheeses and toppings .
Favorites @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Bufalina and the Marinara .
The menu also includes pasta and a few entrees , including chicken piccata and veal Marsala .
Other info : This will be the 11th restaurant from the group that owns Casa Bonita in Libertyville and Pescadero in Wilmette .
Indoor seating will eventually accommodate about 110 diners , with a large outdoor patio offering space for up to 150 .
Cuisine : Owner Kris Schoenberger , the proprietor of BBQ 'd Productions in Third Lake and Lake Zurich , describes his plan for Station 51 as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Diners will select dishes from six different virtual food trucks and then items will be cooked to order .
Other info : The restaurant will have a firehouse theme and gets its name in part from the stations depicted in the TV shows `` Emergency '' and `` Chicago Fire . ''
Cuisine : Island Fin offers customizable , build-your-own poke bowls created with a choice of eight proteins , more than 25 toppings , housemade sauces and specialty mix-ins .
Other info : The first location of the Hawaiian-style poke @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now 10 in five states .
The Downers Grove site will be Island Fin 's first foray into the Midwest .
Cuisine : The name reflects the restaurant 's mix of Japanese cuisine and American comfort food , with a menu that emphasizes burgers , sushi and mac ' n ' cheese .
Other info : This will be the second B.A.S.H .
location .
The first is in Ottawa .
A large patio that opens to the inside will allow for open-air dining .
Carryout also will be available .
Anticipated opening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brook location planned for 2022 and a possible third site later in Rosemont Cuisine : The emphasis is on drinks and tapas , but Blue Martini also will serve fish , chicken and salads .
Other info : The Schaumburg bar will be the first Midwestern franchise for a chain with locations in Florida , Las Vegas and other places .
Live music will be a focus , making it a good spot for after-dinner drinks and entertainment .

New year, new restaurants: 10 eateries opening in the suburbs in 2021
Blue Martini will serve seared tuna, plus chicken, salads, drinks and tapas when it opens later this year in Schaumburg. Courtesy of Blue Martini
The emphasis is on drinks and tapas, such as baked Brie, but Blue Martini also will serve fish, chicken and salads when it opens later this year in Schaumburg. Courtesy of Blue Martini
Island Fin Poke is looking to open a Downers Grove location in the spring. The restaurant serves customizable, build-your-own poke bowls. Courtesy of Island Fin Poke
Napolita Pizzeria & Wine Bar will serve up a variety of pizzas when a Northbrook location opens in the spring. Courtesy of Napolita Pizzeria & Wine Bar
Owners of Wilmette's Napolita Pizzeria & Wine Bar will open a new location in Northbrook this spring. Courtesy of Napolita Pizzeria & Wine Bar
B.A.S.H. stands for Burger and Sushi House, and you'll find both on the menu when the restaurant opens in Geneva. Courtesy of B.A.S.H.
B.A.S.H. stands for Burger and Sushi House, so expect both when the Asian fusion spot opens this year in Geneva. Owners have a location in Ottawa. Courtesy of B.A.S.H.
Restaurants weathered tough times in 2020, and ordering from old favorites became a way of supporting neighborhood eateries during the pandemic.
Still, we all crave something new. And a number of suburban restaurants plan to open their doors in 2021 to offer just that.
Here's a look at 10 new restaurants opening in the new year:
La Mula Mexican Grill
927 S. Rand Road, Lake Zurich
Anticipated opening: January
Cuisine: Expect contemporary Mexican with a twist. Taco choices, for example, include duck confit, wild mushroom, Korean beef with kimchi and a Mediterranean version with shawarma meat.
Other info: Hungry Mule owners George Diskos and Jonathan Levy are opening this new restaurant with the help of chef Dudley Nieto, who has had a hand in Adobo Grill and other respected spots. The restaurant will focus on takeout to start, with seating available when COVID-19 conditions improve.
Website: lamulamexicangrill.com
Bar Chido
1012 Curtiss St., Downers Grove
Anticipated opening: Mid-January
Cuisine: The new eatery will offer a modern take on Mexican street food, including tacos, tortas, salads and margaritas.
Other info: The spot is the latest from Sam Vlahos and the team behind Fuller House in Hinsdale and Pierce Tavern in Downers Grove. Bar Chido will have a taco takeout window so people can order and pick up food without coming into the restaurant.
Website: facebook.com/BarChidoDG
Beefaroo
820 W. Main St., West Dundee
Anticipated opening: End of January
Cuisine: Yes, you'll find roast beef and burgers at this fast-casual spot. But, ironically, Beefaroo is known for its cheese fries and salads. If you like the special seasoned salt they use, you can take that home, too.
Other info: The West Dundee location will be the first in the Chicago area for this Rockford-area group. It's run by siblings, whose parents started the first Beefaroo in 1967, and owned by an investment group looking to expand.
Website: beefaroo.com
Chupacabra Puerto Rican Kitchen
31 N. Broadway, Aurora
Anticipated opening: February or March
Cuisine: Puerto Rican cuisine features lots of garlic, herbs and spices, but owner Maria Skokan says her dishes are not spicy. Among the offerings will be roasted pork, stewed chicken, red rice and a tamale made with bananas and root vegetables.
Other info: The restaurant will be the first brick-and-mortar location for Peter and Maria Skokan, who started out by catering and serving meals from their Aurora-based food truck. Online ordering, curbside pickup, delivery and outdoor seating will be available.
Website: chupacabraprkitchen.com
Madcats
117 W. Slade St., Palatine
Anticipated opening: March
Cuisine: Owner Savio Lobo describes the aim of the menu as "progressive." Old favorites such as burgers will come with a twist, and there will be vegan options as well.
Other info: The restaurant/bar plans to feature live music in the storefront formerly occupied by Mac's on Slade, with additional space previously used as an office and storage.
Website: madcatslive.com
Napolita Pizzeria & Wine Bar
1349 Shermer, Northbrook
Anticipated opening: Spring
Cuisine: Two wood-burning brick ovens from Naples will fire up Neapolitan-style pizzas with a wide range of cheeses and toppings. Favorites among customers at the Wilmette location include the Bufalina and the Marinara. The menu also includes pasta and a few entrees, including chicken piccata and veal Marsala.
Other info: This will be the 11th restaurant from the group that owns Casa Bonita in Libertyville and Pescadero in Wilmette. Indoor seating will eventually accommodate about 110 diners, with a large outdoor patio offering space for up to 150.
Website: napolitapizza.com
Station 51
883 Main St., Antioch
Anticipated opening: April
Cuisine: Owner Kris Schoenberger, the proprietor of BBQ'd Productions in Third Lake and Lake Zurich, describes his plan for Station 51 as a "new brand, new concept." Diners will select dishes from six different virtual food trucks and then items will be cooked to order.
Other info: The restaurant will have a firehouse theme and gets its name in part from the stations depicted in the TV shows "Emergency" and "Chicago Fire."
Island Fin Poke
Downers Grove; exact location not yet determined
Anticipated opening: April or May
Cuisine: Island Fin offers customizable, build-your-own poke bowls created with a choice of eight proteins, more than 25 toppings, housemade sauces and specialty mix-ins.
Other info: The first location of the Hawaiian-style poke restaurant opened in Florida and there are now 10 in five states. The Downers Grove site will be Island Fin's first foray into the Midwest.
Website: islandfinpoke.com
B.A.S.H. (Burger and Sushi House)
124 W. State St., Geneva
Anticipated opening: Late spring or early summer
Cuisine: The name reflects the restaurant's mix of Japanese cuisine and American comfort food, with a menu that emphasizes burgers, sushi and mac 'n' cheese.
Other info: This will be the second B.A.S.H. location. The first is in Ottawa. A large patio that opens to the inside will allow for open-air dining. Carryout also will be available.
Website: burgerandsushihouse.com
Blue Martini
1901 McConnor Parkway, Schaumburg
Anticipated opening: Early summer, with an Oak Brook location planned for 2022 and a possible third site later in Rosemont
Cuisine: The emphasis is on drinks and tapas, but Blue Martini also will serve fish, chicken and salads.
Other info: The Schaumburg bar will be the first Midwestern franchise for a chain with locations in Florida, Las Vegas and other places. Live music will be a focus, making it a good spot for after-dinner drinks and entertainment.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-12-31--Iconic gas station closes in Arlington Heights

6 p.m. Thursday marked the end of an era in Arlington Heights , as Grandt 's Shell service station closed its doors .
Longtime customers , family , friends and Grandt 's four daughters bid a fond farewell with a car parade Thursday at the station , 406 E. Northwest Hwy .
`` It 's just time to go , '' owner Craig Grandt said .
`` We still have a lot of clients .
I did n't want to go out struggling ; we can go out high . ''
The Arlington Heights Park District in August struck a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a property it has sought for decades as part of a vision to expand Recreation Park .
`` It 's our trademark , '' said Grandt , whose father , Roger , built it out of two 30-gallon oil drums in the 1960s as a tribute to the U.S.-Soviet space race and Shell 's premium gasoline , which was nicknamed `` rocket fuel . ''
Founded by Virgil Horath , the station dates back to 1928 .
Roger Grandt , who worked as a mechanic for Horath , bought the station in 1960 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and his father died in 2011 at age 85 .
• Daily Herald staff writers Christopher Placek and Burt Constable contributed to this report .

Iconic gas station closes in Arlington Heights
6 p.m. Thursday marked the end of an era in Arlington Heights, as Grandt's Shell service station closed its doors.
Longtime customers, family, friends and Grandt's four daughters bid a fond farewell with a car parade Thursday at the station, 406 E. Northwest Hwy.
"It's just time to go," owner Craig Grandt said. "We still have a lot of clients. I didn't want to go out struggling; we can go out high."
The Arlington Heights Park District in August struck a deal to purchase the service station -- a property it has sought for decades as part of a vision to expand Recreation Park.
The deal includes the service station's iconic rooftop rocket.
"It's our trademark," said Grandt, whose father, Roger, built it out of two 30-gallon oil drums in the 1960s as a tribute to the U.S.-Soviet space race and Shell's premium gasoline, which was nicknamed "rocket fuel."
Founded by Virgil Horath, the station dates back to 1928. Roger Grandt, who worked as a mechanic for Horath, bought the station in 1960. Craig Grandt took over around 2001, and his father died in 2011 at age 85.
• Daily Herald staff writers Christopher Placek and Burt Constable contributed to this report.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-12-31--One person killed, one wounded in Aurora shooting

One person was killed and another wounded in a shooting Thursday night in Aurora , police said .
Authorities responded @ @ @ @ @ Avenue and Farnsworth Avenue , police said in a series of tweets just before 10 @ @ @ @ @ dead at an area hospital , according to Aurora police spokesman Paris Lewbel .
Detectives @ @ @ @ @ the scene , and the Farnsworth Avenue bridge is shut down between Dearborn Avenue and @ @ @ @ @ .

One person killed, one wounded in Aurora shooting
One person was killed and another wounded in a shooting Thursday night in Aurora, police said.
Authorities responded to the shooting at Dearborn Avenue and Farnsworth Avenue, police said in a series of tweets just before 10 p.m. One person was pronounced dead at an area hospital, according to Aurora police spokesman Paris Lewbel.
Detectives and evidence technicians are on the scene, and the Farnsworth Avenue bridge is shut down between Dearborn Avenue and Mountain Avenue, police said.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-12-30--Daily Herald adds Parade to Sunday print lineup

The Daily Herald is adding the iconic Parade magazine to its Sunday print publication beginning Jan. 3 .
Parade 's history goes back to 1941 when it was founded by Marshall Field III as an addition to the old Chicago Sun .
Since then , it has evolved into the most recognized newspaper supplement in the country , carried in 700 newspapers with an overall circulation of 32 million .
It is published by the Athlon Media Group weekly on Sundays , except for most holidays .
This year , Parade does not plan publications for April 4 , May @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Sept. 5 and Dec. 26 .
Daily Herald Editor John Lampinen said the paper has been trying to add the supplement to the Sunday print Daily Herald for some time , but until now , it had not been available because of syndication restrictions .
The publication is built around celebrity news and lifestyle and entertainment advice .
This week 's issues celebrates the 50th anniversary of the PBS Masterpiece theater programming , as well as a look at the history of the Dynasty TV series and a dining suggestion for heart-healthy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offer Parade to our Sunday print readers , '' Lampinen said .
`` We hope they enjoy the addition . ''

Daily Herald adds Parade to Sunday print lineup
The cover of the Jan. 3, 2021 issue of Parade magazine.
The Daily Herald is adding the iconic Parade magazine to its Sunday print publication beginning Jan. 3.
Parade's history goes back to 1941 when it was founded by Marshall Field III as an addition to the old Chicago Sun.
Since then, it has evolved into the most recognized newspaper supplement in the country, carried in 700 newspapers with an overall circulation of 32 million.
It is published by the Athlon Media Group weekly on Sundays, except for most holidays. This year, Parade does not plan publications for April 4, May 30, July 4, Aug. 1, Sept. 5 and Dec. 26.
Daily Herald Editor John Lampinen said the paper has been trying to add the supplement to the Sunday print Daily Herald for some time, but until now, it had not been available because of syndication restrictions.
The publication is built around celebrity news and lifestyle and entertainment advice.
This week's issues celebrates the 50th anniversary of the PBS Masterpiece theater programming, as well as a look at the history of the Dynasty TV series and a dining suggestion for heart-healthy cod.
"We're pleased to offer Parade to our Sunday print readers," Lampinen said. "We hope they enjoy the addition."