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SUNDAY, AUGUST 25, 2013
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GOVERNOR’S RACE • LOCAL, B1
MAKING ‘THE LAST RIDER’
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2 GOP candidates visit Nunda Township
Businesses brace for health changes Insurance reform’s full effect unknown; some owners worried about rising costs By JEFF ENGELHARDT jengelhardt@shawmedia.com
and JONATHAN BILYK jbilyk@shawmedia.com CRYSTAL LAKE – In coming years, the business of providing health insurance as a workplace benefit could drastically change as provisions
of the federal Affordable Care Act take effect. Gary Reece does not know what changes due to the federal health care reform law will look like – other than they might not be as affordable as the name suggests. Reece – president of his own small business, Heart-
Read more Health care changes bring challenges for public sector. PAGE A9
land Cabinet Supply, and the Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce – said insurance
rates increased nearly 35 percent this year in both places after he expected about a 20 percent bump. Whether that is a sign of times to come – as of 2014, the ACA requires every individual to have health insurance – remains to be seen, Reece said.
“Most people are up to their eyeballs just trying to manage this,” Reece said about keeping up with changing information about the act. “When the goal posts keep getting moved, it makes it really hard to plan.”
See BUSINESSES, page A9
EYE ON THE
AFFORDABLE CARE ACT This is the second in an occasional series from the Northwest Herald that will examine the multiple changes to health care in America in 2014 due to the federal Affordable Care Act.
Lt. gov. hopefuls get fresh attention Office now paired on ballot with gov. By SARA BURNETT The Associated Press CHICAGO – The job of lieutenant governor – often ridiculed as a do-nothing office that at least one person quit out of boredom – is about to take on a whole new significance. For the first time, candidates for governor – who until now have run separately from candidates for lieutenant governor – must select running mates and be on a ticket with them. Several campaigns say they’ll announce their 2014 picks on or around Sept. 3, the date when candidates may begin circulating petitions to get on the March primary ballot. Others plan to wait until later in the fall. Just as in a presidential election, the choice will have the potential to help or hurt a campaign, so candidates say they’re considering their options carefully. They also say running as a ticket will help them better define their priorities for voters and cover more ground as election season gets underway. “Two voices are stronger than one,” said state Sen. Bill Brady of Bloomington, one of four Republicans seeking the GOP nomination. Candidates and their parties also hope the new process will help avert a disaster like 2010, when it was revealed
Lathan Goumas – lgoumas@shawmedia.com
Club volleyball is filled with weeks of practices and weekends of game after game at crowded convention centers filled with courts, like this one at the Asics Junior National Volleyball Tournament at Navy Pier, on June 16. Crystal Lake’s Sky High Volleyball and Marengo’s Club Fusion had several teams compete in the event.
BUILDING VOLLEYBALL
ATHLETES
In McHenry County, volleyball reigns as the region’s most successful athletic endeavor. While the deep pool of talent makes the area’s high school programs among Illinois’ best each year, it’s at the club level where championships are moved to a national stage. At Sky High Volleyball in Crystal Lake and at Club Fusion in Marengo, teams filled with
hundreds of local girls are routinely counted among the nation’s elite programs. It’s not an inexpensive venture – both for the programs themselves and for the families of the girls who make up the rosters. But for the two programs, competing to be the best – not only in the nation but here in McHenry County – makes for an interesting existence. For more, see SPORTS
CLUB LIFE
ABOUT THIS SERIES: Northwest Herald sports reporters Jeff Arnold and Maureen Lynch take an in-depth look at McHenry County’s two nationally ranked club volleyball programs over the next three days. Sunday: Establishing The Culture Monday: Building The Dynasty Tuesday: Paying The Price
ON THE NET: Visit NWHerald. com for a related photo gallery and video.
See LIEUTENANT, page A9
LOCALLY SPEAKING
HUNTLEY
HOMES GOING UP FAST IN VILLAGE
Air Conditioning not working?
New home construction in Huntley has surpassed the village’s estimates by the midpoint of the year. The village had issued about 100 building permits through the summer for residential construction, which represents more than $535,700 in revenue. Officials expected to receive only $450,000 from building permits for the entire year. For more, see page B1.
Don Lansu for Shaw Media
HIGH
LOW
84 64 Complete forecast on A12
MARENGO: After last season’s struggles, Indians more interested in looking to opportunities ahead. Sports, C5 Vol. 28, Issue 237
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