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Defense disputes accuracy of DNA tests in armed robbery case By ANDREA AZZO aazzo@shawmedia.com
Eric Bernard 31, of Chicago, is accused of stealing more than $6,000 from Associated Bank at gunpoint. He could face between six and 30 years in prison if convicted.
DeKALB – Jasmen Cunningham said Wednesday that Eric Bernard was in her Northern Illinois University dorm room putting on makeup the night before Associated Bank in DeKalb was robbed. Cunningham testified that Bernard spent the night in her room, and the next day, Nov. 11, 2009, she drove Bernard and Michael King, both of Chicago, to the bank and surrounding area “to look for an escape route.” “I followed [Bernard’s] directions on the back and side streets of that area,” Cunningham said. Cunningham’s testimony was the highlight of the prosecution’s case Wednesday in the armed robbery trial for Bernard, 31, of Chicago, who is accused of stealing more than $6,000 from Associated Bank at gunpoint. He could face between six and 30 years in prison if convicted. On cross-examination, Bernard’s defense lawyer, Dan Transier, raised the point that Cunningham has recanted her testimony before. In April 2010, she provided two written affidavits in which she recanted everything she told police about her involvement in the robbery.
Monica Maschak – mmaschak@shawmedia.com
Jim Sexton, of DeKalb, signs his electronic signature for his tax returns being prepared by manager Dale Fluegel on Tuesday at Liberty Tax Service in DeKalb.
INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE ACCEPTING TAX RETURNS FOR 2013 Voice your opinion
By DEBBIE BEHRENDS
Tax assistance
dbehrends@shawmedia.com The busy season for tax preparers has arrived. W-2s and 1099s have been sent out, the IRS is accepting returns and Americans are preparing to file their tax returns for 2013. The IRS expects to receive 6.1 million individual 2013 tax returns from Illinois. Local preparers said there aren’t any big changes this year, but advise taxpayers to be prepared for additional questions about health insurance when filing next season. “Nothing really jumps out at me as being very different
In addition to tax preparation firms and CPAs, taxpayers have options for free assistance in DeKalb County. • Goodwill Free Tax Help is offered, staring Feb. 19, at Founders Memorial Library on the Northern Illinois University campus. To schedule an appointment, call 815-987-6200. this year,” said Pat Anderson, a Genoa certified public accountant. She said the software doesn’t
Do you usually get an income tax refund? Vote online at Daily-Chronicle.com.
• AARP Tax-Aide and DeKalb County Free Tax Preparation is available at locations in DeKalb, Sycamore, Kirkland and Genoa. For more information, Dave Leifheit at 815-895-2430 or 815757-1800, or Mark Anderson at 815-765-5157. • Do it yourself online at IRS. gov/freefile. ask anything about health care this year, and no penalties are assessed for those not covered by health insurance.
Dale Fluegel of Liberty Tax Service in DeKalb said for those who had a bad year medically, the deduction for medical expenses has increased from 7.5 percent to 10 percent. As for big changes, Fluegel said next year will be a different story because of the Affordable Care Act.
See TAXES, page A3
See TRIAL, page A3
Guns, medical marijuana collide in Illinois rules By CARLA K. JOHNSON
More online
The Associated Press CHICAGO – Guns and marijuana don’t mix, according to federal authorities, even if the gun is a legally held firearm and the drug is recommended by a doctor. That interpretation of federal law is turning up in Illinois’ draft medical marijuana regulations to the frustration of patients and caregivers. As the state launches its first medical marijuana program, firearms ownership is overshadowing other issues such as the $150 proposed annual fee for patients and how new medical conditions would be added to an approved-for-use list.
mcpp.illinois.gov
“People aren’t yelling at me about the $150. They’re yelling at me about this issue,” said Chris Lindsey, legislative analyst for the Marijuana Policy Project, a national group that supports legally regulated marijuana. Lindsey said he believes it’s the first time a state agency anywhere in the country “has pointed to a state law and decided that patients may not be able to possess a firearm.” And Karmen Hanson, medical marijuana policy expert for the National Conference of State Legislatures,
said she’s not aware of any state laws that address firearms ownership among medical marijuana patients or their caregivers. Some Illinois patients will continue to use marijuana illegally rather than give up their guns, said Julie Falco of Chicago, who speaks openly about how she has used cannabis to control her pain from multiple sclerosis. Brian Hilton of Arlington Heights is one of them. He’s a gun owner who wants to use marijuana legally to control pain from a spinal cord injury, but he’s AP file photo reconsidering applying for a medical Jim Champion of Somonauk, an Army veteran who has suffered from multiple scleromarijuana card.
sis for 25 years, speaks about the importance of the medical marijuana bill, with his wife, Sandy, before Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn signs the bill Aug. 1 in Chicago.
See RULES, page A4
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