dailyheraldchicago--2020-02-04--High demand for legal pot creating parking woes near dispensaries

If you plan to buy marijuana or other cannabis products at the Rise dispensary in Mundelein , be warned : Police are n't putting up with parking scofflaws .
Located in an industrial area at 1325 Armour Blvd.
, Rise is Lake County 's only pot store .
And its 37-space parking lot has n't been big enough to meet customer demand since the purchase and possession of cannabis for recreational purposes became legal in Illinois on Jan. 1 .
In the subsequent month , patrons who could n't find proper parking spots left their cars on grass , next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Police Chief Eric Guenther said .
Delivery drivers , employees and customers of other businesses in the area had trouble getting to and from their destinations because of the cars .
`` The lines were up and down the street , '' said Annie Patrick , chief financial officer at Components For Industry , 1351 Armour Blvd .
`` People were parking in front of and blocking our ( loading ) dock . ''
Similar parking issues arose at the dispensaries in North Aurora and Addison that now serve recreational users .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , police set up temporary no-parking signs and are ticketing violators , averaging about nine a day in January .
Some cars have been towed .
`` We had to do something , '' Guenther said .
`` It was a public safety situation . ''
Rise struck a deal with the village to temporarily allow parking in a nearby vacant lot , beginning late last week .
The lot 's creation has alleviated -- but not eliminated -- the parking problem there , officials said Monday .
Company representatives said they want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are working closely with local officials and doing everything possible to educate customers about where they can legally park , '' said Linda Marsicano , a spokeswoman for Green Thumb Industries , Rise 's parent company .
Rise opened as a medical marijuana dispensary called the Clinic Mundelein in 2015 .
The name changed just days before sales to recreational users began .
Rise had an estimated 2,000 customers Jan. 1 -- far more than police or area business owners expected .
No-parking signs started going up on sawhorses near Rise the next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tickets in the area in January , Guenther said .
`` The parking has been a nightmare there , '' he said .
Parking was n't a problem when the dispensary served only customers seeking medical marijuana , Guenther said .
Now that any adult can buy pot , traffic has increased `` exponentially , '' he said .
Rise 's geographical location may contribute to the problem .
Pot possession remains illegal in Wisconsin , and Rise is the first dispensary many residents of that state come across if driving to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Police estimated between 10 % and 15 % of the cars parking near Rise last month had Wisconsin plates .
Guenther insists the tickets -- typically carrying $ 25 fines -- are n't simply a cash grab by police .
Some two dozen businesses around Rise have complained about illegally parked cars , he said .
`` I have to have a response , '' he said .
Parking is in short supply at North Aurora 's Verilife dispensary , too .
The shop operates in an office building at 161 S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Affairs clinic and other businesses .
The closest large public lot is about a quarter-mile away .
`` Several cars have been towed since the dispensary opened due to vehicles being parked on private property , '' North Aurora Police Chief David Fisher said .
The police station is across the street from the dispensary , and Verilife customers often park there if they ca n't find space at the store .
`` About an hour and a half before they open , my lot gets packed , '' he said .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parking if we are holding a training class or some other function that is being held there . ''
Like Rise , Addison 's EarthMed dispensary , 852 S. Westgate St. , is in an industrial area .
Parking at EarthMed was `` hectic '' for the first few days after the law changed , Deputy Police Chief Brian Goss said , but it 's tapered down over time .
Police have written 170 parking tickets in the area around the shop since Jan. 1 , he said .
`` That is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were related to EarthMed , '' Goss said .
`` We have no way of knowing that . ''
Still , officers monitor the area and ticket vehicles appropriately , Goss said .
Up in Mundelein , the new , temporary parking lot across the street from Rise seems to be easing the problem .
The village board approved the lot 's creation in mid-January , at Rise 's request .
The roughly 2.5-acre site is owned by Frank Dziadus , president of the nearby Midwest Masonry business .
The lot had been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's topped with gravel .
The curb was cut to allow auto access .
The space has room for up to 100 cars .
It will be paved when the weather is warm enough for that work .
As for the traffic in and out of the area , Guenther expects the customer count at Rise will lessen once more suburban dispensaries open in the months to come .
But until then , people will keep driving to Mundelein -- and police will remain on the lookout for illegally parked cars .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ six months of this before we see a reprieve , '' Guenther said .
`` They really stepped up , '' she said .

High demand for legal pot creating parking woes near dispensaries
If you plan to buy marijuana or other cannabis products at the Rise dispensary in Mundelein, be warned: Police aren't putting up with parking scofflaws.
Located in an industrial area at 1325 Armour Blvd., Rise is Lake County's only pot store. And its 37-space parking lot hasn't been big enough to meet customer demand since the purchase and possession of cannabis for recreational purposes became legal in Illinois on Jan. 1.
In the subsequent month, patrons who couldn't find proper parking spots left their cars on grass, next to fire hydrants and on private property, Police Chief Eric Guenther said. Delivery drivers, employees and customers of other businesses in the area had trouble getting to and from their destinations because of the cars.
"The lines were up and down the street," said Annie Patrick, chief financial officer at Components For Industry, 1351 Armour Blvd. "People were parking in front of and blocking our (loading) dock."
Similar parking issues arose at the dispensaries in North Aurora and Addison that now serve recreational users.
To deal with the issue in Mundelein, police set up temporary no-parking signs and are ticketing violators, averaging about nine a day in January. Some cars have been towed.
"We had to do something," Guenther said. "It was a public safety situation."
Rise struck a deal with the village to temporarily allow parking in a nearby vacant lot, beginning late last week. The lot's creation has alleviated -- but not eliminated -- the parking problem there, officials said Monday.
Company representatives said they want to be considerate neighbors.
"We are working closely with local officials and doing everything possible to educate customers about where they can legally park," said Linda Marsicano, a spokeswoman for Green Thumb Industries, Rise's parent company.
High demand
Rise opened as a medical marijuana dispensary called the Clinic Mundelein in 2015. The name changed just days before sales to recreational users began.
Rise had an estimated 2,000 customers Jan. 1 -- far more than police or area business owners expected. No-parking signs started going up on sawhorses near Rise the next day.
Police wrote about 270 parking tickets in the area in January, Guenther said.
"The parking has been a nightmare there," he said.
Parking wasn't a problem when the dispensary served only customers seeking medical marijuana, Guenther said. Now that any adult can buy pot, traffic has increased "exponentially," he said.
Rise's geographical location may contribute to the problem.
Pot possession remains illegal in Wisconsin, and Rise is the first dispensary many residents of that state come across if driving to the Chicago area to buy the drug legally.
Police estimated between 10% and 15% of the cars parking near Rise last month had Wisconsin plates.
Guenther insists the tickets -- typically carrying $25 fines -- aren't simply a cash grab by police. Some two dozen businesses around Rise have complained about illegally parked cars, he said.
"I have to have a response," he said.
Not just Mundelein
Parking is in short supply at North Aurora's Verilife dispensary, too.
The shop operates in an office building at 161 S. Lincolnway that also houses a U.S. Veterans Affairs clinic and other businesses. The closest large public lot is about a quarter-mile away.
"Several cars have been towed since the dispensary opened due to vehicles being parked on private property," North Aurora Police Chief David Fisher said.
The police station is across the street from the dispensary, and Verilife customers often park there if they can't find space at the store.
"About an hour and a half before they open, my lot gets packed," he said. "But I have to sometimes limit the parking if we are holding a training class or some other function that is being held there."
Like Rise, Addison's EarthMed dispensary, 852 S. Westgate St., is in an industrial area. Parking at EarthMed was "hectic" for the first few days after the law changed, Deputy Police Chief Brian Goss said, but it's tapered down over time.
Police have written 170 parking tickets in the area around the shop since Jan. 1, he said.
"That is not to say that all the parking tickets were related to EarthMed," Goss said. "We have no way of knowing that."
Still, officers monitor the area and ticket vehicles appropriately, Goss said.
New lot is helping
Up in Mundelein, the new, temporary parking lot across the street from Rise seems to be easing the problem.
The village board approved the lot's creation in mid-January, at Rise's request. The roughly 2.5-acre site is owned by Frank Dziadus, president of the nearby Midwest Masonry business.
The lot had been grassy open space, but now it's topped with gravel. The curb was cut to allow auto access.
The space has room for up to 100 cars. It will be paved when the weather is warm enough for that work.
As for the traffic in and out of the area, Guenther expects the customer count at Rise will lessen once more suburban dispensaries open in the months to come. But until then, people will keep driving to Mundelein -- and police will remain on the lookout for illegally parked cars.
"We've got a good five to six months of this before we see a reprieve," Guenther said.
Components For Industry's Patrick appreciates the department's efforts.
"They really stepped up," she said.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-02-03--Lawsuit alleges abuse by former District 220 teacher

A former special education student in Barrington Area Unit School District 220 is suing the district seeking $ 25 million in damages over allegations a teacher sexually abused him on more than 30 occasions in the early 2000s .
The suit , filed Monday in Cook County court , alleges the abuse took place from 2002 to 2004 , when the student was 12 to 14 years old .
The teacher accused no longer is employed by the school district and did not face criminal charges in connection with the accusations .
District 220 Superintendent Brian Harris said the district @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and he could not comment .
According to a statement from the former student 's attorney , the abuse included showing the student pornography , genital touching and intercourse .
Every instance of abuse took place at a District 220 school , the suit alleges .
At least one other school employee was aware of the abuse , the lawsuit alleges .
The student 's parents complained to school officials that the student 's behavior had changed , and he was afraid to go to school , attorneys said .
They attributed his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their son be moved to a different classroom .
However , no action was taken by the school district , the suit alleges .
The student 's attorney , Blake Horowitz , said it is not unusual for accusations to surface long after abuse occurred .
`` It frequently takes time for the person to come to a place where they can deal with situations like these , '' he said .
`` It was important for my client that this be heard . ''

A former special education student in Barrington Area Unit School District 220 is suing the district seeking $25 million in damages over allegations a teacher sexually abused him on more than 30 occasions in the early 2000s.
The suit, filed Monday in Cook County court, alleges the abuse took place from 2002 to 2004, when the student was 12 to 14 years old.
The teacher accused no longer is employed by the school district and did not face criminal charges in connection with the accusations.
District 220 Superintendent Brian Harris said the district has not been served with the lawsuit and he could not comment.
According to a statement from the former student's attorney, the abuse included showing the student pornography, genital touching and intercourse. Every instance of abuse took place at a District 220 school, the suit alleges.
At least one other school employee was aware of the abuse, the lawsuit alleges.
The student's parents complained to school officials that the student's behavior had changed, and he was afraid to go to school, attorneys said.
They attributed his behavior to the teacher and asked that their son be moved to a different classroom. However, no action was taken by the school district, the suit alleges.
The student's attorney, Blake Horwitz, said it is not unusual for accusations to surface long after abuse occurred.
"It frequently takes time for the person to come to a place where they can deal with situations like these," he said. "It was important for my client that this be heard."


dailyheraldchicago--2020-02-04--Democratic Iowa caucus results to come sometime Tuesday

DES MOINES , Iowa -- The Iowa Democratic Party said Monday night results from the state 's first-in-the-nation caucus were delayed due to `` quality checks '' and new reporting rules , an embarrassing complication that added a new layer of doubt to an already uncertain presidential primary season .
Results were to come sometime today .
The party said the problem was not a result of a `` hack or an intrusion . ''
The statement came as Iowa voters packed caucus sites across the state with at least four leading candidates battling to win the opening contest of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the opportunity to take on President Donald Trump this fall .
Democrats hoped that Iowa 's caucuses would provide some clarity for what has been a muddled nomination fight for much of the last year .
But apparent technology issues delayed the results as the state party suggested turnout was on track to match 2016 numbers .
Party officials held a call with campaigns as concerns were growing .
`` The integrity of the results is paramount , '' party spokesperson Mandy McClure said .
`` We have experienced a delay in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fact that the IDP is reporting out three data sets for the first time . ''
Des Moines County Democratic Chair Tom Courtney blamed technology issues in his county , relaying precinct reports that the app created for caucus organizers to report results was `` a mess . ''
As a result , Courtney said precinct leaders were phoning in results to the state party headquarters , which was too busy to answer their calls in some cases .
`` We found inconsistencies in the reporting of three sets of results , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` In addition to the tech systems being used to tabulate results , we are also using photos of results and a paper trail to validate that all results match and ensure that we have confidence and accuracy in the numbers we report . ''
Linn County Auditor Joel Miller , who ran a precinct in the Cedar Rapids suburbs , said some app users probably did not get instructions on how to log into the system .
`` If people did n't know where to look for the PIN numbers or the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down , '' said Miller , who said that he had no problem using the system to report his precinct 's figures .
Meanwhile , Iowa voters were balancing a strong preference for fundamental change with an overwhelming desire to defeat Trump as they sorted through nearly a dozen candidates in a contest that offered the opening test of who and what the party stands for in the turbulent age of Trump .
It 's just the first in a primary season that will span all 50 states and several U.S. territories , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ convention in mid-July .
For Democrats , the moment was thick with promise for a party that has seized major gains in states since Trump won the White House in 2016 .
But instead of clear optimism , a cloud of uncertainty and intraparty resentment hung over Monday 's election as the prospect of an unclear result raised fears of a long and divisive primary fight in the months ahead .
Before the reporting issues surfaced , candidates fought to rally their supporters .
`` I 'm the one who can pull our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Warren told supporters on a telephone call before voting began , suggesting her rivals could not .
They said they were the ones to bring unity .
One unsurprising development : Trump won the Republican caucus , a largely symbolic victory given that he faced no significant opposition .
Pre-caucus polls suggested that Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders might have a narrow lead , but any of the top four candidates -- Sanders , former Vice President Joe Biden , Warren and former South Bend , Indiana , Mayor Pete Buttigieg -- could score @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quirky caucus system as organizers prepared for record turnout .
Sen. Amy Klobuchar , who represents neighboring Minnesota , was also claiming momentum , while outsider candidates including entrepreneur Andrew Yang , billionaire activist Tom Steyer and Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard could be factors .
About one quarter of all voters reported that they were caucusing for the first time , according to AP VoteCast , a survey of voters who said they planned to take part in Monday 's Democratic caucuses .
The first-timers were slightly more likely to support Sanders , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ candidates .
At the same time , VoteCast found that roughly two-thirds of caucusgoers said supporting a candidate who would fundamentally change how the system in Washington works was important to their vote .
That compared to about a third of caucusgoers who said it was more important to support a candidate who would restore the political system to how it was before Trump 's election in 2016 .
Not surprisingly , nearly every Iowa Democrat said the ability to beat Trump was an important quality for a presidential nominee .
VoteCast found @ @ @ @ @ @ @ important quality for a nominee .
In Iowa , some 200,000 voters were expected .
Three senators in the field left Iowa late Sunday to return to the U.S. Capitol for Trump 's impeachment trial but did what they could to keep their campaigns going from Washington .
While Warren held her telephone town hall , Klobuchar 's husband and daughter appeared at a canvass launch in Des Moines .
In suburban Des Moines , Buttigieg delivered about 100 volunteers a last shot of encouragement before they stepped out into the chill to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monday .
`` We are exactly where we need to be to astonish the political world , '' he said , igniting cheers for the 38-year-old former midsize-city mayor , who was an asterisk a year ago and is now among the top candidates .
Meanwhile , Biden and his wife , Jill , delivered pizza Monday to a few dozen volunteers working the phones at his south Des Moines field office .
`` I feel good , '' he said as he walked in , sporting his signature aviator sunglasses .
Iowa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ delegates needed to win the nomination but plays an outsize role in culling primary fields .
A poor showing in Iowa could cause a front-runner 's fundraising to slow and support in later states to dwindle , while a strong result can give a candidate much needed momentum .
The past several Democrats who won the Iowa caucuses went on to clinch the party 's nomination .
The 2020 fight has played out over myriad distractions , particularly congressional Democrats ' push to impeach Trump , which has often overshadowed the primary .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democratic Party reported three sets of results at the end of the state 's first-in-the-nation caucuses : a tally of caucus-goers ' initial candidate preference ; vote totals from the `` final alignment '' after supporters of lower-ranking candidates were able to make a second choice , and the total number of State Delegate Equivalents each candidate receives .
There is no guarantee that all three will show the same winner .
The Associated Press will declare a winner based on the number of state delegates each candidate wins , which has been @ @ @ @

Democratic Iowa caucus results to come sometime Tuesday
People cheer on Jan. 26 at a rally for one of the Democratic presidential candidates. Associated Press
DES MOINES, Iowa -- The Iowa Democratic Party said Monday night results from the state's first-in-the-nation caucus were delayed due to "quality checks" and new reporting rules, an embarrassing complication that added a new layer of doubt to an already uncertain presidential primary season. Results were to come sometime today.
The party said the problem was not a result of a "hack or an intrusion."
The statement came as Iowa voters packed caucus sites across the state with at least four leading candidates battling to win the opening contest of the 2020 campaign, and ultimately, the opportunity to take on President Donald Trump this fall.
Democrats hoped that Iowa's caucuses would provide some clarity for what has been a muddled nomination fight for much of the last year. But apparent technology issues delayed the results as the state party suggested turnout was on track to match 2016 numbers.
Party officials held a call with campaigns as concerns were growing.
"The integrity of the results is paramount," party spokesperson Mandy McClure said. "We have experienced a delay in the results due to quality checks and the fact that the IDP is reporting out three data sets for the first time."
Des Moines County Democratic Chair Tom Courtney blamed technology issues in his county, relaying precinct reports that the app created for caucus organizers to report results was "a mess." As a result, Courtney said precinct leaders were phoning in results to the state party headquarters, which was too busy to answer their calls in some cases.
"We found inconsistencies in the reporting of three sets of results," McClure said in a statement later. "In addition to the tech systems being used to tabulate results, we are also using photos of results and a paper trail to validate that all results match and ensure that we have confidence and accuracy in the numbers we report."
Linn County Auditor Joel Miller, who ran a precinct in the Cedar Rapids suburbs, said some app users probably did not get instructions on how to log into the system.
"If people didn't know where to look for the PIN numbers or the precinct numbers, that could slow them down," said Miller, who said that he had no problem using the system to report his precinct's figures.
Meanwhile, Iowa voters were balancing a strong preference for fundamental change with an overwhelming desire to defeat Trump as they sorted through nearly a dozen candidates in a contest that offered the opening test of who and what the party stands for in the turbulent age of Trump. It's just the first in a primary season that will span all 50 states and several U.S. territories, ending only at the party's national convention in mid-July.
For Democrats, the moment was thick with promise for a party that has seized major gains in states since Trump won the White House in 2016. But instead of clear optimism, a cloud of uncertainty and intraparty resentment hung over Monday's election as the prospect of an unclear result raised fears of a long and divisive primary fight in the months ahead.
Before the reporting issues surfaced, candidates fought to rally their supporters.
"I'm the one who can pull our party together," Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren told supporters on a telephone call before voting began, suggesting her rivals could not. They said they were the ones to bring unity.
One unsurprising development: Trump won the Republican caucus, a largely symbolic victory given that he faced no significant opposition.
Pre-caucus polls suggested that Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders might have a narrow lead, but any of the top four candidates -- Sanders, former Vice President Joe Biden, Warren and former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg -- could score a victory in Iowa's unpredictable and quirky caucus system as organizers prepared for record turnout. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, who represents neighboring Minnesota, was also claiming momentum, while outsider candidates including entrepreneur Andrew Yang, billionaire activist Tom Steyer and Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard could be factors.
New voters played a significant role in shaping Iowa's election.
About one quarter of all voters reported that they were caucusing for the first time, according to AP VoteCast, a survey of voters who said they planned to take part in Monday's Democratic caucuses. The first-timers were slightly more likely to support Sanders, Warren or Buttigieg, compared with other candidates.
At the same time, VoteCast found that roughly two-thirds of caucusgoers said supporting a candidate who would fundamentally change how the system in Washington works was important to their vote. That compared to about a third of caucusgoers who said it was more important to support a candidate who would restore the political system to how it was before Trump's election in 2016.
Not surprisingly, nearly every Iowa Democrat said the ability to beat Trump was an important quality for a presidential nominee. VoteCast found that measure outranked others as the most important quality for a nominee.
In Iowa, some 200,000 voters were expected.
Three senators in the field left Iowa late Sunday to return to the U.S. Capitol for Trump's impeachment trial but did what they could to keep their campaigns going from Washington. While Warren held her telephone town hall, Klobuchar's husband and daughter appeared at a canvass launch in Des Moines.
In suburban Des Moines, Buttigieg delivered about 100 volunteers a last shot of encouragement before they stepped out into the chill to knock on doors for him around midday Monday.
"We are exactly where we need to be to astonish the political world," he said, igniting cheers for the 38-year-old former midsize-city mayor, who was an asterisk a year ago and is now among the top candidates.
Meanwhile, Biden and his wife, Jill, delivered pizza Monday to a few dozen volunteers working the phones at his south Des Moines field office.
"I feel good," he said as he walked in, sporting his signature aviator sunglasses.
Iowa offers just a tiny percentage of the delegates needed to win the nomination but plays an outsize role in culling primary fields. A poor showing in Iowa could cause a front-runner's fundraising to slow and support in later states to dwindle, while a strong result can give a candidate much needed momentum.
The past several Democrats who won the Iowa caucuses went on to clinch the party's nomination.
The 2020 fight has played out over myriad distractions, particularly congressional Democrats' push to impeach Trump, which has often overshadowed the primary.
For the first time, the Iowa Democratic Party reported three sets of results at the end of the state's first-in-the-nation caucuses: a tally of caucus-goers' initial candidate preference; vote totals from the "final alignment" after supporters of lower-ranking candidates were able to make a second choice, and the total number of State Delegate Equivalents each candidate receives.
There is no guarantee that all three will show the same winner.
The Associated Press will declare a winner based on the number of state delegates each candidate wins, which has been the traditional standard.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-02-04--Feder: Bill Leff and Wendy Snyder launch podcast for Cumulus

Bill Leff and Wendy Snyder , who were forced out as midday co-hosts at Nexstar Media Group news/talk WGN 720-AM @ @ @ @ @ a podcast for Cumulus Media Chicago , Robert Feder writes .
There are no broadcast @ @ @ @ @ and Wendy Show '' at this time , but it 's a foot in the @ @ @ @ @ WLS 890-AM , the Cumulus news/talk station .
On Monday Leff could n't resist taking @ @ @ @ @ its recently added Sunday morning showcase for Frank Sinatra tunes .
`` Wendy and I @ @ @ @ @ new episodes coming several times a week , '' Leff said .
`` Our listeners @ @ @ @ @ It 's going to be crazy fun .
Then , on the weekends , we @ @ @ @ @ But not Frank Sinatra .
Frank JUNIOR .
Maybe some Nancy too .
That 's @ @ @ @ @ .
Sinatra .
All day Sunday . ''
Get the full report , and more @ @ @ @ @ robertfeder.com .

Feder: Bill Leff and Wendy Snyder launch podcast for Cumulus
Bill Leff and Wendy Snyder, who were forced out as midday co-hosts at Nexstar Media Group news/talk WGN 720-AM in November, just launched a podcast for Cumulus Media Chicago, Robert Feder writes.
There are no broadcast plans for "The Bill and Wendy Show" at this time, but it's a foot in the door for the duo at WLS 890-AM, the Cumulus news/talk station.
On Monday Leff couldn't resist taking a shot at WGN for its recently added Sunday morning showcase for Frank Sinatra tunes.
"Wendy and I will do a podcast with new episodes coming several times a week," Leff said. "Our listeners talked us into it. It's going to be crazy fun. Then, on the weekends, we'll play Sinatra music. But not Frank Sinatra. Frank JUNIOR. Maybe some Nancy too. That's still up in the air. Sinatra. All day Sunday."
Get the full report, and more Chicago media news, at robertfeder.com.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-02-03--Trump likely to tout economy in State of the Union

Trump likely to tout economy in State of the Union -- watch it live at 8 p.m.

WASHINGTON -- A portrait of a robust U.S. economy is sure to take center stage tonight when President Donald Trump gives his third State of the Union address .
It is an economy that has proved solid and durable yet has n't fulfilled many of Trump 's promises .
Nine months before the election , the economy keeps growing steadily if only modestly .
Unemployment is at a half-century low .
And consumers , the lifeblood of the U.S. economy , continue to spend .
Average pay is rising faster than when Trump took office three years ago , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lower-wage workers .
Some research has found that this trend , which began in 2015 before Trump 's election , partly reflects higher state minimum wages .
Economists warn , though , that the U.S. expansion , now in its record-long 11th year , faces an array of threats .
Most immediately , China 's viral outbreak has paralyzed business with the world 's second-largest economy .
Starbucks and Apple have closed stores in China , airlines have canceled flights and companies like General Motors have halted production there .
All of that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ growth in the first quarter , Goldman Sachs economists forecast , though they expect the slowdown to be offset by a rebound in the second quarter .
Boeing 's decision to halt production of its 737 MAX should also weaken growth in the first six months of the year , economists say .
America 's manufacturing sector is struggling , a reflection of Trump 's trade conflicts .
High corporate debt levels have sparked concerns .
Some analysts also worry that the Federal Reserve 's ultralow interest rates have helped feed risky bubbles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leading Democratic presidential candidates , especially Sens .
Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren , have built their campaigns to unseat Trump around the message that the economy remains rife with inequality , with many workers struggling to afford college , housing or health care .
Trump is unlikely to let any such doubts temper his standard message that under his stewardship , the economy is thriving , unemployment is falling , the stock market is roaring and that the best days are still ahead .
`` I 'm proud to declare that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an economic boom the likes of which the world has never seen before , '' Trump said last month in Davos , Switzerland .
`` America is thriving , America is flourishing , and yes , America is winning again like never before . ''
Yet what Trump calls an unprecedented boom is , by many measures , not all that different from the solid economy he inherited from President Barack Obama .
Economic growth was 2.3 % in 2019 , matching the average pace since the Great Recession ended a decade ago @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eight-year presidency .
During the 2016 campaign , Trump boasted that his tax cut plan would boost annual growth to 4 % a year -- a brisk pace not seen since the late 1990s .
Instead , Trump , along with Obama , is one of two presidents since World War II not to have presided over a year of at least 3 % growth .
And few economists think the economy will hit that target this year .
Most analysts do think Trump 's tax plan helped accelerate growth , just not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Trump tax cuts were a sugar high that juiced the economy temporarily , '' said Ryan Sweet , an economist at Moody 's Analytics .
It put more money in Americans ' pockets , boosting consumer spending .
The economy grew 2.9 % in 2018 , a healthy pace though the same as in 2015 , the year before Trump 's election .
The administration had vowed , though , that the tax cuts would do more than just encourage Americans to shop more .
The president 's top economists had said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in machinery , computers and plants and office towers .
All the new equipment would make workers more efficient , the argument went , thereby boosting productivity -- the amount of output for each hour worked .
Greater productivity is one of the two main drivers of growth ; the other is an increase in the number of U.S. workers .
Both have slowed in the past decade .
Most economists partly blame Trump 's trade wars , particularly with China .
The trade conflicts have left American companies much less certain about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and invest .
Business investment shrank in the final three quarters of last year .
Nor have Trump 's business tax cuts and deregulation made the economy more dynamic .
The growth of new companies has remained anemic since the 2008 downturn .
Larger businesses continue to dominate many industries , from technology to retail to finance .
All this is occurring despite significant stimulus .
Trump has assailed Fed Chairman Jerome Powell for not cutting rates more , though the Fed 's benchmark rate is now in a range of just 1.5 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ low level historically and one that is considered stimulative .
And increased federal spending has also helped support the economy .
The Congressional Budget Office last week projected that the government 's deficit will top $ 1 trillion annually for the next decade .
`` The accelerator is on the floor , but the vehicle is moving surprisingly slowly , '' Larry Summers , Treasury Secretary under President Bill Clinton and a top economic adviser to Obama , said in early January .
Trump has also recently highlighted what he calls a `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ solid wage gains for lower-paid workers and healthy hiring in construction and manufacturing .
But manufacturing jobs barely grew last year as factories hunkered down in the midst of the trade wars .
And since Trump 's inauguration , manufacturing jobs have grown more slowly than employment overall has .
Ernie Goss , an economics professor at Creighton University in Nebraska , said the Midwest 's job growth has amounted to only about three-quarters of the national pace since Trump took office .
Farmers have also suffered from the trade war , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have clobbered exports of soybeans and other commodities .
That , in turn , has hurt manufacturers of farm equipment , including Deere and Caterpillar .
`` Everyone says the economy is going great guns , but that is everything except agriculture and manufacturing , '' Goss said .
What 's more , most campaign battleground states in the Midwest , such as Michigan , Pennsylvania , Ohio and Wisconsin , have lost factory jobs in the past year .
Most manufacturing job growth under Trump 's presidency has occurred in Southern and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ senior economist at the liberal Center for Economic and Policy Research .
With fewer union members in those states , those factory jobs generally pay less .
In fact , manufacturing jobs , once a bulwark of the postwar middle class , now pay less on average than private-sector jobs overall , Baker said .
Still , despite modest growth , the record economic expansion has endured under Trump .
There is also evidence that its durability has , in recent years , finally started to benefit a broader swath of Americans .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and found jobs , defying most economists ' predictions .
The proportion of Americans in their prime working years -- ages 25 through 54 -- who are employed is now higher than before the Great Recession .
And last year , wages rose nearly 5 % for the poorest one-fourth of Americans , far more than for the richest fourth , whose pay rose just 3 % , according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta .
Still , richer Americans hold a far greater portion of the nation 's wealth , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % of the value of all stocks .
The moderate pace of growth has meant that so far , the economy is n't showing evident signs of excess akin to the housing bubble that led to the 2008 financial meltdown .
`` This expansion has been slow and steady , but it could run for a few more years , '' Sweet said .
`` There 's no reason that it needs to die .
Sometimes slow and steady does win the race . ''

Watch the State of the Union live
President Donald Trump is delivering his State of the Union address on the eve of his likely impeachment acquittal and in the aftermath of the chaotic first votes of the race to replace him.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-02-04--US women beat Costa Rica 6-0, win Olympic qualifying group

HOUSTON -- Christen Press and Samantha Mewis each scored a pair of goals and the United States beat Costa Rica 6-0 on Monday night to finish atop its group in the CONCACAF Women 's Olympic Qualifying tournament .
The World Cup-winning U.S. team extended its unbeaten streak to 26 games .
The Americans wrapped up the group stage with three shutouts and 18 goals .
Both teams had already earned a spot in the semifinals of the tournament later this week in Carson , California .
Eight teams are playing in the tournament , which will determine the region 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ summer .
The semifinal matchups will be determined on Tuesday when Canada plays Mexico on Tuesday in Edinburg , Texas .
The winner of that match will avoid the top-ranked Americans .
Press extended her scoring streak to four straight games with a goal in the fourth minute .
Lindsey Horan , who had a hat trick in the U.S. team 's 8-0 victory over Panama on Friday , scored some six minutes later .
Press , who plays for Utah of the National Women 's Soccer League , added her second goal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on a free kick by Press in the 63rd minute and Jessica McDonald added a goal in the 77th before Mewis ' second goal , which appeared to just barely hit the line after deflecting down off the crossbar .
The crowd at Houston 's BBVA Compass Stadium was announced at 7,082 .
Already eliminated , Haiti beat Panama 6-0 in the other group game earlier in the day .
Costa Rica rested top players Shirley Cruz and Raquel Rodriguez in anticipation of the semifinals on Friday .
The U.S. has qualified for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ introduced in 1996 , and has won the gold medal four times .
The team has five consecutive titles in the qualifying tournament .
Six teams have already made the field for Tokyo : Japan , Brazil , Great Britain , the Netherlands , Sweden and New Zealand .

US women beat Costa Rica 6-0, win Olympic qualifying group
Costa Rica midfielder Gloriana Villalobos (9) goes over the back of United States midfielder Samantha Mewis (3) during the first half of a CONCACAF women's Olympic qualifying soccer match Monday, Feb. 3, 2020, in Houston. Associated Press
Costa Rica defender Maria Coto (3) defends as United States forward Christen Press (20) moves the ball during the first half of a CONCACAF women's Olympic qualifying soccer match Monday, Feb. 3, 2020, in Houston. Associated Press
United States forward Christen Press, middle, is surrounded by teammates as they celebrate Press' goal during the first half of a CONCACAF women's Olympic qualifying soccer match against Costa Rica Monday, Feb. 3, 2020, in Houston. Associated Press
Costa Rica defender Fabiola Sanchez (5) kicks the ball into United States forward Jessica McDonald (14) during the first half of a CONCACAF women's Olympic qualifying soccer match Monday, Feb. 3, 2020, in Houston. Associated Press
United States midfielder Julie Ertz (8) and Costa Rica midfielder Raquel Chacon (20) collide as they go for a header while Costa Rica forward Maria Salas (17), midfielder Lindsey Horan (9) and midfielder Katherine Alvarado (16) look on during the first half of a CONCACAF women's Olympic qualifying soccer match Monday, Feb. 3, 2020, in Houston. Associated Press
HOUSTON -- Christen Press and Samantha Mewis each scored a pair of goals and the United States beat Costa Rica 6-0 on Monday night to finish atop its group in the CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying tournament.
The World Cup-winning U.S. team extended its unbeaten streak to 26 games. The Americans wrapped up the group stage with three shutouts and 18 goals.
Both teams had already earned a spot in the semifinals of the tournament later this week in Carson, California. Eight teams are playing in the tournament, which will determine the region's two berths to the Tokyo Olympics this summer.
The semifinal matchups will be determined on Tuesday when Canada plays Mexico on Tuesday in Edinburg, Texas. The winner of that match will avoid the top-ranked Americans.
Press extended her scoring streak to four straight games with a goal in the fourth minute. Lindsey Horan, who had a hat trick in the U.S. team's 8-0 victory over Panama on Friday, scored some six minutes later.
Press, who plays for Utah of the National Women's Soccer League, added her second goal in the 36th minute.
Mewis scored on a free kick by Press in the 63rd minute and Jessica McDonald added a goal in the 77th before Mewis' second goal, which appeared to just barely hit the line after deflecting down off the crossbar.
The crowd at Houston's BBVA Compass Stadium was announced at 7,082. Already eliminated, Haiti beat Panama 6-0 in the other group game earlier in the day.
Costa Rica rested top players Shirley Cruz and Raquel Rodriguez in anticipation of the semifinals on Friday.
The U.S. has qualified for every Olympics since women's soccer was introduced in 1996, and has won the gold medal four times. The team has five consecutive titles in the qualifying tournament.
Six teams have already made the field for Tokyo: Japan, Brazil, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Sweden and New Zealand.
___
More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/Soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports


dailyheraldchicago--2020-02-04--From megachurch to microchurch: Former Harvest pastor launches new venture

The fired founding pastor of the suburban megachurch Harvest Bible Chapel is starting a different way of preaching , via an effort he calls the Home Church Network .
The plan was one of several things he announced via the James MacDonald Ministries website and the ministry 's social media .
MacDonald was fired from Harvest a year ago amid allegations of financial malfeasance and a combative management style .
MacDonald posted a `` welcome '' video on the website .
`` It has been a long year .
A difficult year .
A refining year , '' he says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not disillusioned with traditional local church , but large churches present complicating logistics and often negatively affect Christian relationships , '' MacDonald wrote .
`` For that reason , we feel led by the Lord to offer an alternative for those who need it -- something different and refreshing that we are calling the Home Church Network -- with all the impact of a large church but none of the drama . ''
People will have to apply and be approved to host church in their homes , and attend a two-day training @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are four test groups that will undergo training in February .
`` After 30 years of trying to give a small group experience in a large church , we hope to cultivate the quality of large ministry with the genuine intimacy and relationships of 'small church , ' '' MacDonald wrote .
He speaks of posting old and new blogs , sermons and other materials on the site .
And he will lead a teaching trip to Israel in November , he said .
The website already has videos of sermons MacDonald gave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resume speaking engagements this year .
The website does not include a description of MacDonald 's business model , though there is a `` Give '' button .
However , when you click it , you 're told the website is not accepting online donations yet .
The site does not indicate whether James MacDonald Ministries is a registered charity , as many religious organizations are .
An IRS spokesman said the agency can not confirm or deny if an entity has applied for charity status until the IRS makes a decision on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ five of the Bible-study books MacDonald wrote .
MacDonald also announced on his website plans to post `` documented refutation '' of any future Harvest Bible Chapel statements about him .
And he said accusations of financial impropriety he faces are `` simply false . ''
`` There was no 'secret ' account , no lack of accountability , no coercion of co-leaders , '' MacDonald wrote .
MacDonald had been relatively quiet , save for an occasional social media post , since his firing in February 2019 , which came after WLS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ congregant and confidante of MacDonald , started complaining about him on air and in extensive essay in the Daily Herald in January 2019 .
MacDonald was fired Feb. 5 , and Harvest officials made the decision public Feb. 12 -- the same day Muller aired a damning taped conversation of MacDonald on his radio show .
In mid-December 2019 , MacDonald broke his silence with an 18-count lawsuit alleging defamation , privacy infringement ( related to that leaked audio recording ) and reckless oversight .
Muller and station owners Cumulus Media are named @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has not been allowed to see any of Harvest 's documentation regarding items the church says were bought with church money for personal use .
And he wrote that the arbitration process he and Harvest are engaged in over financial matters `` could have been concluded already . ''
MacDonald requested arbitration in May 2019 , after a deal for a separation agreement fell apart because Harvest 's mortgage lender refused to release any of the church 's assets , including cash , physical and intellectual property .
MacDonald did not respond to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Harvest Bible Chapel could not be reached for comment Tuesday .
Its website says that arbitration started in December .
The church released a legal and forensic review in November that asserted the church suffered a `` massive corporate governance failure '' and that MacDonald `` seems to have acted in his own personal interests -- reaping significant personal financial benefit , avoiding accountability to any governing board , and with heavy-fisted exclusionary leadership . ''
The report covered church finances from January 2016 to February 2019 .

From megachurch to microchurch: Former Harvest pastor launches new venture
Pastor James and Kathy MacDonald speak at Harvest Bible Chapel 25th anniversary celebration at Boomers Stadium in Schaumburg in 2013. The church fired MacDonald in 2019. He has announced new plans, for a network of home churches, via his James MacDonald Ministries website. Daily Herald file photo/2013
The fired founding pastor of the suburban megachurch Harvest Bible Chapel is starting a different way of preaching, via an effort he calls the Home Church Network.
The plan was one of several things he announced via the James MacDonald Ministries website and the ministry's social media. MacDonald was fired from Harvest a year ago amid allegations of financial malfeasance and a combative management style.
MacDonald posted a "welcome" video on the website. "It has been a long year. A difficult year. A refining year," he says in the video.
"I am not disillusioned with traditional local church, but large churches present complicating logistics and often negatively affect Christian relationships," MacDonald wrote. "For that reason, we feel led by the Lord to offer an alternative for those who need it -- something different and refreshing that we are calling the Home Church Network -- with all the impact of a large church but none of the drama."
People will have to apply and be approved to host church in their homes, and attend a two-day training event this spring.
It says there are four test groups that will undergo training in February.
"After 30 years of trying to give a small group experience in a large church, we hope to cultivate the quality of large ministry with the genuine intimacy and relationships of 'small church,'" MacDonald wrote.
He speaks of posting old and new blogs, sermons and other materials on the site. And he will lead a teaching trip to Israel in November, he said.
The website already has videos of sermons MacDonald gave at Harvest. MacDonald also plans to resume speaking engagements this year.
The website does not include a description of MacDonald's business model, though there is a "Give" button. However, when you click it, you're told the website is not accepting online donations yet.
The site does not indicate whether James MacDonald Ministries is a registered charity, as many religious organizations are. An IRS spokesman said the agency cannot confirm or deny if an entity has applied for charity status until the IRS makes a decision on an application.
It is also selling five of the Bible-study books MacDonald wrote.
Fighting back
MacDonald also announced on his website plans to post "documented refutation" of any future Harvest Bible Chapel statements about him.
And he said accusations of financial impropriety he faces are "simply false."
"There was no 'secret' account, no lack of accountability, no coercion of co-leaders," MacDonald wrote.
MacDonald had been relatively quiet, save for an occasional social media post, since his firing in February 2019, which came after WLS radio personality Mancow Muller, a onetime congregant and confidante of MacDonald, started complaining about him on air and in extensive essay in the Daily Herald in January 2019.
MacDonald was fired Feb. 5, and Harvest officials made the decision public Feb. 12 -- the same day Muller aired a damning taped conversation of MacDonald on his radio show.
In mid-December 2019, MacDonald broke his silence with an 18-count lawsuit alleging defamation, privacy infringement (related to that leaked audio recording) and reckless oversight. Muller and station owners Cumulus Media are named in the suit.
MacDonald said he has not been allowed to see any of Harvest's documentation regarding items the church says were bought with church money for personal use.
And he wrote that the arbitration process he and Harvest are engaged in over financial matters "could have been concluded already."
MacDonald requested arbitration in May 2019, after a deal for a separation agreement fell apart because Harvest's mortgage lender refused to release any of the church's assets, including cash, physical and intellectual property.
MacDonald did not respond to a request for comment.
The spokesman for Harvest Bible Chapel could not be reached for comment Tuesday. Its website says that arbitration started in December. The church released a legal and forensic review in November that asserted the church suffered a "massive corporate governance failure" and that MacDonald "seems to have acted in his own personal interests -- reaping significant personal financial benefit, avoiding accountability to any governing board, and with heavy-fisted exclusionary leadership." The report covered church finances from January 2016 to February 2019.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-02-04--Iowa releases 62% of caucus results, with Sanders, Buttigieg in lead

DES MOINES , Iowa -- Clouded by doubts on a chaotic day-after , the Iowa Democratic Party began releasing partial results of the state 's first-in-the-nation presidential caucus on Tuesday .
The data , made public for the first time nearly 24 hours after voting concluded , reflected the results of 62 % of precincts in the state .
While campaigns were eager to spin the results to their advantage , there was little immediate indication that the incomplete results eased the confusion and concern that loomed over the opening contest of the Democrats 2020 presidential primary season .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be released .
During a private conference call with campaigns earlier in the day , state party chairman Troy Price declined to answer pointed questions about the specific timeline -- even whether it would be a matter of days or weeks .
`` We have been working data and night to make sure these results are accurate , '' Price said at a subsequent news conference .
The leading candidates pressed on in next-up New Hampshire , which votes in just seven days , as billionaire Democrat Michael Bloomberg sensed opportunity , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign and expand his sprawling staff focused on a series of delegate-rich states voting next month .
The party 's caucus crisis was an embarrassing twist after months of promoting the contest as a chance for Democrats to find some clarity in a jumbled field with no clear front-runner .
Instead , after a buildup that featured seven rounds of debates , nearly $ 1 billion spent nationwide and a year of political jockeying , caucus day ended with no winner , no official results and many fresh questions about whether Iowa can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Iowa marked the first contest in a primary season that will span all 50 states and several U.S. territories , ending at the party 's national convention in mid-July .
Campaigning in New Hampshire on Tuesday , Sen. Elizabeth Warren said she was `` feeling good '' about her performance in Iowa but questioned the state party 's plans to release partial results .
`` I just do n't understand what that means , at least half of the data .
I think they ought to get it together and release all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders ' campaign told supporters that its internal monitoring showed him in the lead with nearly half the vote in .
Sanders himself said late Monday , `` Today marks the beginning of the end for Donald Trump . ''
Pete Buttigieg , the former mayor of South Bend , Indiana , essentially declared an Iowa victory .
`` So we do n't know all the results , but we know by the time it 's all said and done , Iowa , you have shocked the nation , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ By all indications , we are going on to New Hampshire victorious . ''
Former Vice President Joe Biden said he was `` feeling good '' and predicted the results would be close .
The party told campaigns Tuesday that the problem was a result of a `` coding issue in the reporting system '' that it said had since been fixed .
It said it had verified the accuracy of the collected data and said the problem was not a result of `` a hack or an intrusion . ''
A Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plan to release partial results before checking them against paper records , saying in the conference call that the plan did n't address `` growing reports '' about problems on caucus night , such as precinct captains unable to get through on the phone to report results .
`` The stories and the problems are just multiplying so presumably you 're going to have some way of addressing that and explaining to us as you release these partial results why you 're comfortable , '' Biden campaign attorney Dana Remus said .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other people feel comfortable about it now and we 're just not there right now . ''
Sanders adviser Jeff Weaver thanked party officials , and encouraged other campaigns not to undermine the party .
`` Folks who are just trying to delay the return of this because of their relative positioning in the results last night , I think that 's a bit disingenuous , '' Weaver said .
For the first time , the Iowa Democratic Party reported three sets of results : a tally of caucusgoers ' initial candidate preference @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alignment '' after supporters of lower-ranking candidates were able to make a second choice , and the total number of State Delegate Equivalents each candidate received .
The Associated Press will declare a winner based on the number of state delegates each candidate wins , which has been the traditional standard .
Early polling had suggested Sanders entered the night with a narrow lead , but any of the top four candidates -- Sanders , Biden , Warren and Buttigieg -- was positioned to score a victory .
Sen. Amy Klobuchar , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the running , while outsider candidates including entrepreneur Andrew Yang , billionaire activist Tom Steyer and Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard lagged behind .
Sensing opportunity amid the chaos , Bloomberg 's campaign announced plans to double its national television advertising spending -- which has already exceeded $ 100 million -- as it expands its paid staff to more than 2,000 people .
Bloomberg is looking to next month , having decided to bypass Iowa 's contest and the three other states voting this month in favor of the delegate-rich states in March .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ this primary , the field is as unsettled as ever , '' Bloomberg spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said .
`` No one has made the sale or even come close to it .
Meanwhile , Mike is taking the fight to Trump every day , doubling down on the national campaign strategy we 've been running from the beginning . ''
Beyond 2020 , the debacle invited fresh criticism about Iowa caucuses , a complicated set of political meetings staged in a state that is whiter and older than the Democratic Party .
Many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was a quaint political tradition whose time had passed .
The party has tried to accommodate critics before , this year by promising to report three different data points about voters ' preferences , presumably improving transparency .
But the new system created new headaches .
`` I think Iowa is a dumpster fire , '' said Dick Harpootlian , a South Carolina State senator and longtime Biden supporter , who served as an Iowa precinct captain for Biden on Monday .

Iowa releases 71% of caucus results, with Buttigieg and Sanders in lead
David Keck of Dubuque, Iowa, speaks Monday to a precinct group during the Republican caucus at the Peosta Community Centre in Peosta, Iowa. Associated Press
Precinct captain Carl Voss of Des Moines displays the Iowa Democratic Party caucus reporting app on his phone outside of the Iowa Democratic Party headquarters in Des Moines, Iowa, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2020.
DES MOINES, Iowa -- Clouded by doubts on a chaotic day-after, the Iowa Democratic Party began releasing partial results of the state's first-in-the-nation presidential caucus on Tuesday.
According to the early results, which Iowa Democratic Party Chairman Troy Price said represented 62% of precincts, Buttigieg was leading with 26.9% of the state's delegates, followed by Sanders with 25.1%. Late Tuesday night, party officials said totals from 71% of precincts were in, but the delegate shares were virtually unchanged.
While campaigns were eager to spin the results to their advantage, there was little immediate indication that the incomplete results eased the confusion and concern that loomed over the opening contest of the Democrats 2020 presidential primary season.
It was unclear when Iowa's full results would be released.
During a private conference call with campaigns earlier in the day, state party chairman Troy Price declined to answer pointed questions about the specific timeline -- even whether it would be a matter of days or weeks.
"We have been working data and night to make sure these results are accurate," Price said at a subsequent news conference.
The leading candidates pressed on in next-up New Hampshire, which votes in just seven days, as billionaire Democrat Michael Bloomberg sensed opportunity, vowing to double his already massive advertising campaign and expand his sprawling staff focused on a series of delegate-rich states voting next month.
The party's caucus crisis was an embarrassing twist after months of promoting the contest as a chance for Democrats to find some clarity in a jumbled field with no clear front-runner. Instead, after a buildup that featured seven rounds of debates, nearly $1 billion spent nationwide and a year of political jockeying, caucus day ended with no winner, no official results and many fresh questions about whether Iowa can retain its coveted "first" status.
Iowa marked the first contest in a primary season that will span all 50 states and several U.S. territories, ending at the party's national convention in mid-July.
Campaigning in New Hampshire on Tuesday, Sen. Elizabeth Warren said she was "feeling good" about her performance in Iowa but questioned the state party's plans to release partial results.
"I just don't understand what that means, at least half of the data. I think they ought to get it together and release all the data," she said.
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders' campaign told supporters that its internal monitoring showed him in the lead with nearly half the vote in. Sanders himself said late Monday, "Today marks the beginning of the end for Donald Trump."
Pete Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, essentially declared an Iowa victory.
"So we don't know all the results, but we know by the time it's all said and done, Iowa, you have shocked the nation," he said before leaving Iowa. "By all indications, we are going on to New Hampshire victorious."
Former Vice President Joe Biden said he was "feeling good" and predicted the results would be close.
The party told campaigns Tuesday that the problem was a result of a "coding issue in the reporting system" that it said had since been fixed. It said it had verified the accuracy of the collected data and said the problem was not a result of "a hack or an intrusion."
A Biden campaign representative objected to the party's plan to release partial results before checking them against paper records, saying in the conference call that the plan didn't address "growing reports" about problems on caucus night, such as precinct captains unable to get through on the phone to report results.
"The stories and the problems are just multiplying so presumably you're going to have some way of addressing that and explaining to us as you release these partial results why you're comfortable," Biden campaign attorney Dana Remus said. "You need to have enough transparency that other people feel comfortable about it now and we're just not there right now."
Sanders adviser Jeff Weaver thanked party officials, and encouraged other campaigns not to undermine the party.
"Folks who are just trying to delay the return of this because of their relative positioning in the results last night, I think that's a bit disingenuous," Weaver said.
For the first time, the Iowa Democratic Party reported three sets of results: a tally of caucusgoers' initial candidate preference; vote totals from the "final alignment" after supporters of lower-ranking candidates were able to make a second choice, and the total number of State Delegate Equivalents each candidate received.
The Associated Press will declare a winner based on the number of state delegates each candidate wins, which has been the traditional standard.
Early polling had suggested Sanders entered the night with a narrow lead, but any of the top four candidates -- Sanders, Biden, Warren and Buttigieg -- was positioned to score a victory. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, who represents neighboring Minnesota, was also in the running, while outsider candidates including entrepreneur Andrew Yang, billionaire activist Tom Steyer and Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard lagged behind.
Sensing opportunity amid the chaos, Bloomberg's campaign announced plans to double its national television advertising spending -- which has already exceeded $100 million -- as it expands its paid staff to more than 2,000 people.
Bloomberg is looking to next month, having decided to bypass Iowa's contest and the three other states voting this month in favor of the delegate-rich states in March.
"After more than a year of this primary, the field is as unsettled as ever," Bloomberg spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said. "No one has made the sale or even come close to it. Meanwhile, Mike is taking the fight to Trump every day, doubling down on the national campaign strategy we've been running from the beginning."
Beyond 2020, the debacle invited fresh criticism about Iowa caucuses, a complicated set of political meetings staged in a state that is whiter and older than the Democratic Party. Many used the moment to question whether it was a quaint political tradition whose time had passed.
The party has tried to accommodate critics before, this year by promising to report three different data points about voters' preferences, presumably improving transparency. But the new system created new headaches.
"I think Iowa is a dumpster fire," said Dick Harpootlian, a South Carolina State senator and longtime Biden supporter, who served as an Iowa precinct captain for Biden on Monday.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-02-04--Buffalo Grove won't ask Illinois Supreme Court to overturn controversial firefighter pension ruling

Buffalo Grove will not ask the Illinois Supreme Court to overturn a landmark lower court ruling that grants full pension benefits to the widow of Kevin Hauber , a village firefighter who died in 2018 after a four-year battle with colon cancer .
Village Manager Dave Bragg announced the decision in a written statement Tuesday , stating that while the village continues to disagree with the decision , it will no longer challenge it in court .
`` The village maintains this decision sets a dangerous precedent for all property taxpayers ; not only for those who live in Buffalo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Illinois , '' Bragg wrote .
`` The implications for other cases to occur where legal standards are not met and causation is not proven could prove financially devastating to an already stressed pension system in the state of Illinois . ''
The decision to end the litigation comes a little more than two weeks after a state appellate court upheld a Lake County judge 's decision awarding a full pension -- about $ 101,549 a year -- to Kimberly Hauber .
Kevin Hauber , 51 , died in January 2018 , after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Grove Fire Department .
The village 's fire pension board later determined that his cancer was caused by his work as a firefighter , making his survivors eligible for full line-of-duty benefits .
The village disputed the finding , arguing that Hauber 's family instead should receive 75 % of his pension , about $ 76,161 a year .
The difference , according to the village , will amount to about $ 1.7 million .
A Lake County judge sided with the pension board last year , and on Jan. 17 the Second @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ruling .
In its 29-page decision , the appeals court notes that Hauber responded to 127 fire calls in his career , which amounts to `` circumstantial evidence of exposure to noxious and carcinogenic substances . ''
Thomas Duda , the attorney for the Hauber family , speculated that the village decided to cut its losses rather than continuing with a costly legal fight against long odds .
Unlike the appellate court , the Supreme Court could simply decline to hear the village 's case , he noted .
`` This case , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any of the typical grounds that the court would consider for such a petition , '' Duda said .
`` It does n't break new ground . ''
Duda said Hauber 's family -- including Kimberly and four daughters -- was hurt that the village offered `` token condolences '' while trying to lower their pension payments .
`` They feel very betrayed , '' he said .
`` Her husband served for over 20 years and he saved people 's lives and risked his own .
They ( were ) very distraught @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to fight them tooth and nail . ''

Buffalo Grove won't ask Illinois Supreme Court to overturn controversial firefighter pension ruling
Buffalo Grove will not ask the Illinois Supreme Court to overturn a landmark lower court ruling that grants full pension benefits to the widow of Kevin Hauber, a village firefighter who died in 2018 after a four-year battle with colon cancer.
Village Manager Dave Bragg announced the decision in a written statement Tuesday, stating that while the village continues to disagree with the decision, it will no longer challenge it in court.
"The village maintains this decision sets a dangerous precedent for all property taxpayers; not only for those who live in Buffalo Grove, but for all taxpayers in Illinois," Bragg wrote. "The implications for other cases to occur where legal standards are not met and causation is not proven could prove financially devastating to an already stressed pension system in the state of Illinois."
The decision to end the litigation comes a little more than two weeks after a state appellate court upheld a Lake County judge's decision awarding a full pension -- about $101,549 a year -- to Kimberly Hauber.
Kevin Hauber, 51, died in January 2018, after a nearly 24-year career with the Buffalo Grove Fire Department. The village's fire pension board later determined that his cancer was caused by his work as a firefighter, making his survivors eligible for full line-of-duty benefits.
The village disputed the finding, arguing that Hauber's family instead should receive 75% of his pension, about $76,161 a year. The difference, according to the village, will amount to about $1.7 million.
A Lake County judge sided with the pension board last year, and on Jan. 17 the Second District Appellate Court of Illinois upheld the ruling. In its 29-page decision, the appeals court notes that Hauber responded to 127 fire calls in his career, which amounts to "circumstantial evidence of exposure to noxious and carcinogenic substances."
Thomas Duda, the attorney for the Hauber family, speculated that the village decided to cut its losses rather than continuing with a costly legal fight against long odds. Unlike the appellate court, the Supreme Court could simply decline to hear the village's case, he noted.
"This case, in my opinion, doesn't fit any of the typical grounds that the court would consider for such a petition," Duda said. "It doesn't break new ground."
Duda said Hauber's family -- including Kimberly and four daughters -- was hurt that the village offered "token condolences" while trying to lower their pension payments.
"They feel very betrayed," he said. "Her husband served for over 20 years and he saved people's lives and risked his own. They (were) very distraught that the village (was) trying to fight them tooth and nail."


dailyheraldchicago--2020-02-04--Former Round Lake Beach police officer alleges sexual harassment

A former Round Lake Beach police officer is suing the village and department alleging a `` persistent pattern of sexual harassment '' by a commanding officer and claiming she was fired in an attempt to conceal it .
In the federal lawsuit filed Jan. 31 , former officer Paige Bure alleges she was fired May 13 , 2019 -- the last day of her 18-month probationary period -- despite being told by the department 's chief four days earlier that she had performed `` exceptionally well '' and would be retained .
Bure alleges she experienced `` unwelcome or unwanted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the department that created a hostile work environment .
Round Lake Beach Village Administrator Dave Kilbane said Tuesday neither the village nor any of its officials have been served with the lawsuit .
Village policy is not to comment on pending litigation , he added .
The suit alleges the conduct against Bure was witnessed by former and current employees and was widely known by department leadership .
Her firing was an attempt to cover up the actions , according to the suit .
The suit states Bure worked as a police officer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Illinois and being hired in Round Lake Beach in November 2017 .
She was placed on probation per policy for new officers .
In May 2018 , police Cmdr .
Paul Grace was assigned as her supervisor , the suit states .
Beginning that December , Bure `` by and through the conduct of Grace '' began to experience `` numerous acts of sexual harassment , '' the suit alleges .
According to the suit , Bure experienced several `` unwelcome and inappropriate actions '' involving Grace , including touching during a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comments ; asking if she wanted to be his `` side piece '' ; asking her on a date on her birthday ; staring and leering in the direction of her breasts and genital area ; and talking with her about his sex life .
The suit also alleges Grace and an unnamed male command staff member required Bure to remove her uniform in the female locker room while they watched .
The suit states Bure did n't complain directly to the chief or other superiors because she feared retribution and retaliation .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a police officer , lost wages and benefits , back pay , unspecified damages for past and future emotional distress , unspecified punitive damages and attorney fees .

Former Round Lake Beach police officer alleges sexual harassment
The Round Lake Beach village hall and police station. The village and department are being sued by a former police officer who alleges sexual harassment. Daily Herald File Photo, 2016
A former Round Lake Beach police officer is suing the village and department alleging a "persistent pattern of sexual harassment" by a commanding officer and claiming she was fired in an attempt to conceal it.
In the federal lawsuit filed Jan. 31, former officer Paige Bure alleges she was fired May 13, 2019 -- the last day of her 18-month probationary period -- despite being told by the department's chief four days earlier that she had performed "exceptionally well" and would be retained.
Bure alleges she experienced "unwelcome or unwanted sexual advances" during her tenure with the department that created a hostile work environment.
Round Lake Beach Village Administrator Dave Kilbane said Tuesday neither the village nor any of its officials have been served with the lawsuit. Village policy is not to comment on pending litigation, he added.
The suit alleges the conduct against Bure was witnessed by former and current employees and was widely known by department leadership. Her firing was an attempt to cover up the actions, according to the suit.
The suit states Bure worked as a police officer in Florida for 10 years before relocating to Illinois and being hired in Round Lake Beach in November 2017. She was placed on probation per policy for new officers.
In May 2018, police Cmdr. Paul Grace was assigned as her supervisor, the suit states. Beginning that December, Bure "by and through the conduct of Grace" began to experience "numerous acts of sexual harassment," the suit alleges.
According to the suit, Bure experienced several "unwelcome and inappropriate actions" involving Grace, including touching during a work outing; flirting and making suggestive comments; asking if she wanted to be his "side piece"; asking her on a date on her birthday; staring and leering in the direction of her breasts and genital area; and talking with her about his sex life.
The suit also alleges Grace and an unnamed male command staff member required Bure to remove her uniform in the female locker room while they watched.
The suit states Bure didn't complain directly to the chief or other superiors because she feared retribution and retaliation.
Bure is seeking to be reinstated as a police officer, lost wages and benefits, back pay, unspecified damages for past and future emotional distress, unspecified punitive damages and attorney fees.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-02-04--Petraeus to headline Judson World Leaders Forum in October

Former CIA Director David Petraeus will headline Judson University 's ninth World Leaders Forum on Oct. 20 in Schaumburg .
A retired four-star general , Petraeus is the first military veteran to take the stage previously graced by heads of state and career politicians .
`` General Petraeus is the most respected and influential military leader in the post-9/11 world , '' Judson University President Gene Crume said .
`` He represented American values on the world 's stage for many years .
As conflicts grow around the world , General Petraeus will offer our community a measured , experienced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 2018 World Leaders Forum , which featured former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich and former Vermont Gov .
Howard Dean , the emphasis of this year 's event is bipartisan leadership .
`` There is so much polarization right now .
We want the World Leaders Forum to continue to be in a position of looking at ideas from different perspectives instead of just hearing the noise from all the pundits , '' Crume said .
Petraeus served 37 years in the U.S. military , including as commander of U.S. forces @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appointed by former President Barack Obama as director of the Central Intelligence Agency in 2011 .
He relinquished that role amid a scandalous extramarital affair and pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of mishandling classified material he passed onto his mistress .
Petraeus now serves as chairman of the investment firm KKR Global Institute and is a board member of the Institute for the Study of War , the Atlantic Council and more than a dozen veterans service organizations .
Petraeus could speak about escalating tensions between the U.S. and Iran , uncertainty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and the Trump Administration 's foreign policies -- issues he has been outspoken about in recent national news .
Crume said the timing of Petraeus ' forum appearance ahead of the November presidential elections is opportune `` to provide some insight on the challenges and opportunities that the president would face during the next four years . ''
`` General Petraeus certainly is very knowledgeable about sociopolitical affairs , '' Crume said .
`` He has maintained a strong bipartisan position .
He would bring a thoughtful , fair perspective of what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Judson alumnus Mark Vargas will moderate the Q & A session with Petraeus at 7 p.m. at the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center , 1551 N. Thoreau Drive .
A VIP reception with Petraeus is set for 5 p.m. Tickets to both events are available starting today .
For details , visit WorldLeadersForum.info .
Previous World Leaders Forum speakers include former President George W. Bush , former Soviet Union President Mikhail Gorbachev , former United Kingdom Prime Minister Tony Blair , and most recently former U.S .
Ambassador Caroline Kennedy last fall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Judson Leadership Scholars program and innovative entrepreneurial activities .

Petraeus to headline Judson World Leaders Forum in October
Former CIA Director and retired Gen. David Petraeus will headline Judson University's World Leaders Forum on Oct. 20 in Schaumburg. Associated Press, 2018
Former CIA Director David Petraeus will headline Judson University's ninth World Leaders Forum on Oct. 20 in Schaumburg.
A retired four-star general, Petraeus is the first military veteran to take the stage previously graced by heads of state and career politicians.
"General Petraeus is the most respected and influential military leader in the post-9/11 world," Judson University President Gene Crume said. "He represented American values on the world's stage for many years. As conflicts grow around the world, General Petraeus will offer our community a measured, experienced perspective on global issues."
Like the 2018 World Leaders Forum, which featured former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich and former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, the emphasis of this year's event is bipartisan leadership.
"There is so much polarization right now. We want the World Leaders Forum to continue to be in a position of looking at ideas from different perspectives instead of just hearing the noise from all the pundits," Crume said.
Petraeus served 37 years in the U.S. military, including as commander of U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, before being appointed by former President Barack Obama as director of the Central Intelligence Agency in 2011. He relinquished that role amid a scandalous extramarital affair and pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of mishandling classified material he passed onto his mistress.
Petraeus now serves as chairman of the investment firm KKR Global Institute and is a board member of the Institute for the Study of War, the Atlantic Council and more than a dozen veterans service organizations.
Petraeus could speak about escalating tensions between the U.S. and Iran, uncertainty over North Korea's nuclear weapons program, and the Trump Administration's foreign policies -- issues he has been outspoken about in recent national news.
Crume said the timing of Petraeus' forum appearance ahead of the November presidential elections is opportune "to provide some insight on the challenges and opportunities that the president would face during the next four years."
"General Petraeus certainly is very knowledgeable about sociopolitical affairs," Crume said. "He has maintained a strong bipartisan position. He would bring a thoughtful, fair perspective of what either presidential (nominee) would bring."
Judson alumnus Mark Vargas will moderate the Q&A session with Petraeus at 7 p.m. at the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center, 1551 N. Thoreau Drive. A VIP reception with Petraeus is set for 5 p.m.
Tickets to both events are available starting today. For details, visit WorldLeadersForum.info.
Previous World Leaders Forum speakers include former President George W. Bush, former Soviet Union President Mikhail Gorbachev, former United Kingdom Prime Minister Tony Blair, and most recently former U.S. Ambassador Caroline Kennedy last fall.
A portion of event proceeds funds the Judson Leadership Scholars program and innovative entrepreneurial activities.


dailyheraldchicago--2020-02-04--Watch the State of the Union address live at 8 p.m.

WASHINGTON ( AP ) -- Stepping to the dais in extraordinary times , President Donald Trump tonight will deliver his State of the Union address on the eve of his likely impeachment acquittal and in the aftermath of the chaotic first votes of the race to replace him .
The first president to run for reelection after being impeached , Trump aimed to use his nationally-televised speech to lay out his record as the rationale for a second term amid suspense about whether he would address the charges against him .
He will speak from the well of the House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Capitol from where the Senate one day later is expected to acquit him largely along party lines .
`` This is a president with an enormous sense of drama and a background in television who understands that the setting gives him an opportunity , '' said presidential historian Michael Beschloss .
`` This is an opportunity to set the course for reelection . ''
White House aides have promised an optimistic speech that will look past the impeachment trial that has consumed Washington in favor of a recitation of accomplishments and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his script and may not be able to resist using the moment to claim exoneration and settle scores .
Even for a Trump-era news cycle that seems permanently set to hyper-speed , the breakneck pace of events dominating the first week of February offered a singular backdrop for the president 's address .
Yet Trump told TV anchors at a midday meal that his address would be `` extraordinarily low key . ''
Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts , who has presided in the Senate over only the third impeachment trial in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on hand Tuesday night -- this time in his more customary seat in the audience .
Trump will stand before the very lawmakers who have voted to remove him from office -- and those who are expected to acquit him when the Senate trial comes to a close .
And perched over his shoulder , visible in nearly every camera shot , will be House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , a frequent thorn in Trump 's side who authorized the impeachment proceedings that charged the president with abusing the power of his office to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Trump will also stare out at some of the Democrats who have been vying to take his job , although it was unclear if he would weigh in on the confusion in Iowa , where the results of Monday 's leadoff caucuses were delayed .
In advance of his address , Trump tweeted that the caucus chaos showed Democrats were incompetent and should not be trusted to run the government .
Trump spent the hours before his speech tucked away at the White House , hosting network anchors for lunch while working @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He entered the moment on a roll , with his impeachment acquittal imminent , his job approval numbers ticking upward and Wall Street looking strong .
Aides played down the possibility that he would use the address to seek vengeance over impeachment .
`` I think that this has gone on for too long and I think that , if you look at the ratings , the American people are frankly bored of it , '' White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham told Fox News early Tuesday .
`` They want to hear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country and what he is planning to do for this country , so it will be very forward-facing . ''
In the closest historical comparison , Bill Clinton did not mention his recent impeachment when he delivered his State of the Union in 1999 .
In his address a year ago , Trump did remain on message , making no mention of how Pelosi had originally disinvited him from delivering the speech during the longest government shutdown in the nation 's history .
Trump aimed to spend much of the speech highlighting the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including low unemployment , stressing how it has helped blue-collar workers and the middle class .
He also planned to stress the new trade agreements he has negotiated , including his phase-one deal with China and the United States-Mexico-Canada agreement he signed last month .
While the White House said the president would have a message of unity , he also planned to spend time on issues that have created great division and resonated with his political base .
He will attack the Democrats ' health care proposals for being too intrusive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immigration -- trumpeting the miles of border wall that have been constructed .
He will also dedicate a section to `` American values , '' discussing efforts to protect `` religious liberties '' and limit access to abortion as he continues to court the evangelical and conservative Christian voters who form a crucial part of his base .
As usual , the presidential guests will reflect issues that Trump wants to highlight .
The invited guests include military families , immigration officials and the former sheriff from Venezuela who fled to the United @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of counter-programming , focusing on health care -- the issue key to their takeover of the House last year .
Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer were set to host guests impacted by the medical system .
Michigan Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer was delivering the party 's official response .
She previewed her address Tuesday by saying she would focus less on what Trump says and more on actions taken by Democrats , both in Democratic-led states and in Congress , particularly on infrastructure , health care and jobs .
`` I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ action and Republican inaction , '' Whitmer said .
`` This is really about ensuring that the American people understand what Democrats stand for because I believe that American people deserve better .
They deserve action . ''
AP writers Darlene Superville in Washington and David Eggert in Lansing , Michigan , contributed to this report .


dailyheraldchicago--2020-02-04--Dist. 204 students observe 'chaos' of Iowa caucuses

Parents toting babies while playing politics , kids making bribes with cookies and college students using `` class '' as an excuse : All in a day at the Iowa caucuses .
A group of nearly 50 students from Indian Prairie Unit District 204 came home Tuesday with these observations and others from a day spent in the Hawkeye state as Democratic presidential campaigns made their final pitches to Iowa voters , and the 2020 caucuses came and went .
The quirks and potential pitfalls of the Democratic caucus system have been on full display from afar , through news @ @ @ @ @ @ @ delays in reporting results .
But students from Metea , Neuqua and Waubonsie Valley high schools got to see what one described as the `` chaos '' of the caucuses in person Monday .
At Iowa City West High School , students watched as organizers gave speeches and voters separated themselves into groups based on which candidate they backed .
Tommy Treacy , a senior at Waubonsie , said he was intrigued by the passion of caucusgoers who felt strongly enough about their favored candidates to come out for a two-hour-long session , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` It was great to see that they were being politically engaged , '' Treacy said .
Once candidate support was totaled , those who fell below 15 % were deemed `` not viable . ''
Students said presidential hopefuls Joe Biden , Bernie Sanders and Andrew Yang originally fell into this group .
After the viability count , students said , caucusgoers supporting a nonviable candidate were able to join a different candidate 's side .
And that 's when Ashi Gottumukkula , a senior at Metea , said she noticed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Gottumukkula said , she could see elementary-aged kids offering treats to voters to persuade them to join the camps of different candidates .
`` It reminded me of a high school campaign election where people just hand out food to try to get people to come to their side , '' she said .
Did it work ?
It was hard to tell , Gottumukkula said .
`` I could understand how the results could be delayed just with the amount of chaos the caucus actually is , '' she said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ are the reasons educators including Chris Wolak took students to see the Democratic and Republican caucuses .
This is the second caucus trip District 204 students have made after an initial visit to Iowa in 2016 .
`` It 's a wonderful observational setting of seeing something that -- even four years ago , heck , as a longtime government teacher -- I had never seen anything like it , '' Wolak said .
`` The commitment of people who come to caucus , the horse-trading of if a candidate is going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more observational and exciting this time around with several candidates in the mix . ''
While Democrats worked into groups based on candidate viability , Republicans cast secret ballots in the same manner as voters do during elections in Illinois .
Before students observed the caucuses , they heard a speech and got selfie opportunities with candidate Andrew Yang and volunteered with one of six Democratic campaigns .
Gottumukkula said many wanted to help Yang after hearing his ideas directly .
`` It was really interesting to see how seeing someone and talking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people to get out there and vote , '' she said .
Gottumukkula and Treacy will be eligible to vote in the March 17 primary , and both say they 're undecided on the presidential race .
Gottumukkula volunteered Monday afternoon with candidate Pete Buttigieg 's campaign , which she said involved trying to talk with University of Iowa students to encourage them to come out to caucus .
Many students , she said , responded that they could n't caucus because they had class .
With caucuses starting at 7 p.m. and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seemed like an excuse .
Treacy said he helped canvass door-to-door in Iowa City for candidate Elizabeth Warren .
He found most people were not home or not answering during the afternoon .
Students paid $ 60 each to go on the overnight trip , with roughly $ 4,000 in donations from the Mikva Challenge Grant Foundation , Indian Prairie Educational Foundation and Naperville League of Women Voters covering most of the cost .

Dist. 204 students observe 'chaos' of Iowa caucuses
Nearly 50 high school students from Indian Prairie Unit District 204 observed the Democratic and Republican caucus process Monday in Iowa City, Iowa to see how the unusual political system works. Courtesy of Chris Wolak
Some students from Indian Prairie Unit District 204 who attended a caucus Monday night in Iowa City, Iowa, canvassed for Democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren before the caucus began. Courtesy of Chris Wolak
Student journalists Noelle Smagala and Leland Pan from the Metea Stampede at Metea Valley High School in Aurora interview Katie Porter, a Democratic U.S. Congress member from California who was serving as a caucus captain for presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren on Monday in Iowa City, Iowa. Courtesy of Chris Wolak
A group of teens from Indian Prairie Unit District 204 heard a personal speech from Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang, seen here surrounded by students, on Monday before observing a caucus in Iowa City, Iowa. Courtesy of Chris Wolak
Parents toting babies while playing politics, kids making bribes with cookies and college students using "class" as an excuse: All in a day at the Iowa caucuses.
A group of nearly 50 students from Indian Prairie Unit District 204 came home Tuesday with these observations and others from a day spent in the Hawkeye state as Democratic presidential campaigns made their final pitches to Iowa voters, and the 2020 caucuses came and went.
The quirks and potential pitfalls of the Democratic caucus system have been on full display from afar, through news stories about a software glitch and lengthy delays in reporting results. But students from Metea, Neuqua and Waubonsie Valley high schools got to see what one described as the "chaos" of the caucuses in person Monday.
At Iowa City West High School, students watched as organizers gave speeches and voters separated themselves into groups based on which candidate they backed.
Tommy Treacy, a senior at Waubonsie, said he was intrigued by the passion of caucusgoers who felt strongly enough about their favored candidates to come out for a two-hour-long session, even with babies or toddlers in tow.
"It was great to see that they were being politically engaged," Treacy said.
Once candidate support was totaled, those who fell below 15% were deemed "not viable." Students said presidential hopefuls Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders and Andrew Yang originally fell into this group. After the viability count, students said, caucusgoers supporting a nonviable candidate were able to join a different candidate's side.
And that's when Ashi Gottumukkula, a senior at Metea, said she noticed the cookies. From an observation balcony, Gottumukkula said, she could see elementary-aged kids offering treats to voters to persuade them to join the camps of different candidates.
"It reminded me of a high school campaign election where people just hand out food to try to get people to come to their side," she said.
Did it work? It was hard to tell, Gottumukkula said.
"I could understand how the results could be delayed just with the amount of chaos the caucus actually is," she said.
These observations, even if inconclusive, are the reasons educators including Chris Wolak took students to see the Democratic and Republican caucuses. This is the second caucus trip District 204 students have made after an initial visit to Iowa in 2016.
"It's a wonderful observational setting of seeing something that -- even four years ago, heck, as a longtime government teacher -- I had never seen anything like it," Wolak said. "The commitment of people who come to caucus, the horse-trading of if a candidate is going to be viable, will be maybe even more observational and exciting this time around with several candidates in the mix."
While Democrats worked into groups based on candidate viability, Republicans cast secret ballots in the same manner as voters do during elections in Illinois.
Before students observed the caucuses, they heard a speech and got selfie opportunities with candidate Andrew Yang and volunteered with one of six Democratic campaigns. Gottumukkula said many wanted to help Yang after hearing his ideas directly.
"It was really interesting to see how seeing someone and talking to them in person can really influence people to get out there and vote," she said.
Gottumukkula and Treacy will be eligible to vote in the March 17 primary, and both say they're undecided on the presidential race.
Gottumukkula volunteered Monday afternoon with candidate Pete Buttigieg's campaign, which she said involved trying to talk with University of Iowa students to encourage them to come out to caucus. Many students, she said, responded that they couldn't caucus because they had class. With caucuses starting at 7 p.m. and evening classes uncommon, she said that seemed like an excuse.
Treacy said he helped canvass door-to-door in Iowa City for candidate Elizabeth Warren. He found most people were not home or not answering during the afternoon.
Students paid $60 each to go on the overnight trip, with roughly $4,000 in donations from the Mikva Challenge Grant Foundation, Indian Prairie Educational Foundation and Naperville League of Women Voters covering most of the cost.