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O c to ber 12, 2015 • $1 .0 0
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State’s Attorney race heating up At least 3 in running for GOP nomination in DeKalb County contest the Republican nomination in the March primary. The winner of that contest would face DeKALB – At least three the Democratic nominee in the local attorneys are seeking November general election. the Republican nomination to The presumptive Demrun for the office of the DeKalb ocratic nominee – DeKalb County State’s Attorney. County State’s Attorney RichHinckley attorney Charles ard Schmack – hasn’t said if he Rea, Sycamore attorney Rick will run for another term. Amato and former DeKalb A three-way contest for the County State’s Attorney Clay Republican nomination could Campbell will campaign for mean extra work for the candi-
By KATIE SMITH
ksmith@shawmedia.com
dates, said Steve Kuhn, chairman of the DeKalb County Republican Central Committee. “They are going to have to work to get their names out there,” he said. Amato announced Friday that he would seek the nomination. If elected, he said he plans to focus on moving cases through the criminal justice system with fewer delays and improving communication be-
tween the State’s Attorney’s Office and local law enforcement officials. “I worry about how things are going to be 10 and 15 years from now,” Amato said. “I think about how law enforcement and the criminal justice system gets viewed.” Amato served as an assistant state’s attorney in DeKalb County for one year in 2003, before leaving to begin his own
practice in Sycamore, according to a news release. “I think now is the right time for me personally as well as the community. I think the community’s always wanting new people to be able to enter the position and serve and give back,” Amato said. “While I have not [held public office] I have been part of the community.” Campbell, who was voted
out of office in 2012, said he’s concerned with the community safety. Campbell first announced he planned to seek his party’s nomination in May. “I think that there’s a lot that’s going on that’s not being confronted. Particularly, we have a lot of concerns in the city of DeKalb in regard to public safety,” Campbell said.
See ELECTION, page 14
’16 Social Security payments to stay flat
1940s revisited
Lower gas prices mean no COLA By STEPHEN OHLEMACHER The Associated Press
Katie Smith – ksmith@shawmedia.com
Larry Thomas spins his wife, Audrey Thomas, on Saturday during the 1940s Hangar Swing Dance USO Fundraiser at DeKalb Taylor Municipal Airport. The Thomases, originally from Slinger, Wisconsin, have never been to a DeKalb hangar swing dance, although the couple has participated in similar dances in other counties, Audrey Thomas said. The Lakes Area Swing Band played ’40s tunes throughout the evening, which began with a free swing dance lesson donated by Carl and Karrie. All proceeds from the $12 admission fee were donated to the United Service Organization, which provides entertainment, shipping, family and transition services to the United States’ military personnel. As the evening wound down, Saturday’s swing dance included a costume contest and dance competition, after couples had practiced their moves all night.
FOIA issue – emails on private devices – back in court By JOHN O’CONNOR The Associated Press SPRINGFIELD – Illinois law says government officials’ emails about taxpayer business are public records for all to see. But what if they’re sent from private accounts or personal cellphones? Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel argues those are not for public consumption. The Chicago Tribune claims they are, and took the matter to court last month. Gov. Bruce Rauner had his own dust-up this summer over an aide’s private emails, and the practice cost a University of Illinois chancellor her job in August. The issue, once limited to scattered consternations over politicians playing fast and loose with new technology, is pervasive this year,
beginning with revelations about Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server to conduct business while she was U.S. secretary of state – a case that spurred a lawsuit by The Associated Press. Public-access advocates insist Illinois law is clear, and the state’s attorney general and appellate court weighed in just two years ago, declaring that public business is public record – no matter how it’s conducted. The Illinois Freedom of Information Act requires disclosure of public records “regardless of physical form or characteristics.” The appellate court decreed in a case involving the Champaign City Council that making an exception for communication on private devices would allow of-
ficials to “subvert” FOIA by avoiding all official channels. That very concern is back in court as government officials parse the 2013 ruling’s language. “There is an express presumption of openness in the statute ...” said Matthew Topic, a lawyer and FOIA expert in Chicago. “Unfortunately, this line of thinking has become all too common: Even when the language of the statute is clear, public bodies won’t comply until a court tells them that they must.” In the case of Emanuel, the Tribune sought emails related to Chicago’s scandal-tainted system of red-light tickets enforced through cameras. But the Democrat’s administration argued messages sent from private devices are not in a public body’s possession.
AP file photo
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel speaks July 1 at a news conference in Chicago. Illinois law states government officials’ emails about taxpayer business are public records for all to see. But what if they’re sent from private accounts or personal cellphones? Emanuel argues those are not.
LOCAL NEWS
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WHERE IT’S AT
Fall fest
No grant funds
Bears rally
Cortland celebrates 150th anniversary and autumn / A3
County was shut out for state grants to combat sexual assault / A3
Jay Cutler engineers late drive to earn win at Kansas City / B1
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WASHINGTON – For just the third time in 40 years, millions of Social Security recipients, disabled veterans and federal retirees can expect no increase in benefits next year, unwelcome news for more than one-fifth of the nation’s population. They can blame low gas prices. By law, the annual cost-ofliving adjustment, or COLA, is based on a government measure of inflation, which is being dragged down by lower prices at the pump. The government is scheduled to announce the COLA – or lack of one – on Thursday, when it releases the Consumer Price Index for September. Inflation has been so low this year that economists say there is little chance the September numbers will produce a benefit increase for next year. Prices actually have dropped from a year ago, according to the inflation measure used for the COLA. “It’s a very high probability that it will be zero,” said economist Polina Vlasenko, a research fellow at the American Institute for Economic Research. “Other prices – other than energy – would have to jump. It would have to be a very sizable increase that would be visible, and I don’t think that’s happened.” Congress enacted automatic increases for Social Security beneficiaries in 1975, when inflation was high and there was a lot of pressure to regularly raise benefits. Since then, increases have averaged 4 percent a year. Only twice before, in 2010 and 2011, have there been no increases. In all, the COLA affects payments to more than 70 million Americans. Almost 60 million retirees, disabled workers, spouses and children get Social Security benefits. The average monthly payment is $1,224. The COLA also affects benefits for about 4 million disabled veterans, 2.5 million federal
See BENEFITS, page A6
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