Musick: It won’t be easy to fix injury-riddled Bears
AY, OCTOBER 22, 2013
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The only daily newspaper published in McHenry Co.
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Tim Haak enjoying team’s run as he prepares to retire
McHenry County home prices up 7.1 percent in September
Pension reform casts large shadow All signs point to a lackluster veto session for Illinois’ hot-button topics By KEVIN P. CRAVER kcraver@shawmedia.com For the umpteenth time, the General Assembly returns to session with the state’s worstin-the-nation unfunded pension liability looming large.
The only change that has come from previous sessions has been the growth of the liability, mostly through inaction of state lawmakers. The unfunded liability of the five state-run pension systems stands at $100 billion or more
than double that, depending on how one crunches the numbers. Lawmakers have reconvened for the fall veto session, which totals six days – Tuesday through Thursday and Nov. 5 to 7.
Health care site troubles continue
Will pension reform come this session? Not likely, for several reasons. Bills that take effect immediately need three-fifths supermajorities to pass in veto session: 11 more votes in the
House and six more in the Senate. And with an election year looming, most lawmakers will be reticent to weigh in on hot-button topics that will alienate large swaths of voters.
Voice your opinion What do you think Illinois legislators will resolve during the veto session? Vote online at NWHerald.com.
See VETO SESSION, page A4
PUBLIC OPTIONS FOR GETTING AROUND TOWN
President Obama: There’s ‘no excuses’ The ASSOCIATED PRESS WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama on Monday offered “no excuses” – and little explanation – for the computer bugs still frustrating Americans who are trying to enroll online for insurance plans at the center of his health care law. But software developers tasked with building the site said they saw signs a year ago that the debut could fail. One source of the troubles appears to be the testing procedures President employed before the rollout Barack three weeks Obama ago. Several developers of the HealthCare. gov website told The Associated Press they were worried for months about the system’s readiness and whether the software meant to link key computer systems was being properly put through its paces. In addition, congressional investigators raised concerns recently that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services had taken on the job of testing the computer systems for the new markets during the final weeks before the sign-ups opened Oct. 1. That job is often handled by specialized software companies. Obama, who emphasized the website’s simplicity in the week’s leading up to the insurance sign-ups, acknowledged there could now be “no sugarcoating” the problems
Lathan Goumas – lgoumas@shawmedia.com
Kathleen Kamp steps off a bus as she arrives Monday at the McHenry Township Senior Center in Johnsburg. The 65-year-old said she uses the bus several times a week because she can no longer drive because of her medication.
Senior
rides Transportation options for elderly ‘getting better’ By JOSEPH BUSTOS jbustos@shawmedia.com
As people age into their golden years, they have a desire to remain independent and live at home. If driving is no longer an option, many rely on public options or volunteer services. One such program is the diala-ride Senior Express in McHenry Township, which operates in McHenry, Johnsburg, Ringwood and Wonder Lake. “It keeps seniors in their home and out of institutions and gives them the quality of life they deserve,” McHenry Township Supervisor Donna Schaefer said. The program provides seniors and people who are disabled anywhere with door-to-door service within the service area. In MCRide, people 60 and older and people with disabilities are eligible for trips in the service area. They are able to reserve a ride at
Services to call • Senior Care Volunteer Network – 815-455-3120 • McHenry Township Senior Express – 815-385-5605 • MCRide – 800-451-4599 • Algonquin Township Senior Transportation – 847-639-2700, ext. 6 least an hour before pickup time. Service goes to McHenry, Woodstock and Crystal Lake, to the Fox Lake Metra station and along Route 120 between Woodstock and McHenry, Route 14 between Woodstock and Crystal Lake, and Route 31 between Crystal Lake and McHenry. Schaefer said MCRide helped improve senior transportation in the area. “It’s getting a little better,”
Schaefer said. “There are still barriers, but the MCRide program made it much better.” The MCRide program is paid for with money from Pace, Crystal Lake, McHenry, Woodstock, Dorr Township, Greenwood Township, a McHenry County Senior Services grant and two federal grants. Fares are based on a person’s trip length. With MCRide, trips cannot be booked after 7 p.m., Pace spokesman Patrick Wilmot said. “We haven’t yet seen a level of demand that would require that,” Wilmot said. “If we reach a point where there is demand to extend those hours, we can always do that if need arises.” For Pace, 6 percent of its riders in the region are seniors, Wilmot said.
See RIDES, page A4
See TROUBLES, page A4
LOCALLY SPEAKING Crystal Lake South’s Nick Gil (top)
Shaw Media file photo
McHENRY
WOODSTOCK
CITY COUNCIL DENIES TITLEMAX MOVE
BREAST CANCER 5K COLLECTS $175,000
In a 4-3 decision, the McHenry City Council said no to TitleMax moving into a vacant West Elm Street property. The lot at 4405 W. Elm St. is located in a zoning district that does not allow financial institutions, so TitleMax – which provides small, short-term loans using vehicle titles as collateral – needed a variance to move in. For more, see page B1.
The last person to cross the finish line during Sunday’s Care 4 Breast Cancer 5K was an elderly female cancer survivor, but she wasn’t running alone. Celebrating alongside her for the final leg of the race were her family and others. The race collected nearly $175,000 for the Family Health Partnership Clinic’s Breast Cancer Fund. For more, see page B1.
CRYSTAL LAKE: CL South wrestler Nick Gil commits to Naval Academy Prep School. Sports, C1
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