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ROUTE 2 REUNION AT MLK TOURNAMENT BOYS HOOPS, B1
Lawsuit filed by former NIU police chief alive DEKALB, A3
dailyGAZETTE Monday, January 19, 2015
SERVING ROCK FALLS, STERLING AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1854
ILLINOIS BUSINESS | NEWS ANALYSIS
STERLING | DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING REMEMBERED
Leaders concede bump in taxes
Overflowing with joy
Peers understand economic plight Rauner inherited BY DAVID MERCER The Associated Press
CHAMPAIGN – With one of their own in the governor’s mansion, Illinois business leaders have a long wish list for wealthy venture capitalist Bruce Rauner. It includes cuts to high workers’ compensation costs, fewer regulations and a focused effort to improve worker training. But many also are prepared to make a surprising concession: The $2 billion budget deficit the Inside Republican has President inherited will require more Obama than just spend- to pitch ing cuts. It’ll like- increase of ly require more taxes on revenue, possibly wealthiest Americans at from taxes. “I’m not in favor State of Union of a tax increase, address, A5 but there’s going to have to be some way to generate funds,” said Dennis Larson, executive vice president of the Central Illinois Builders, a trade group. A spokesman for a key state union declined to comment on the No. 1 business wish, changes in workers’ compensation. He said the American Federation of State, County Municipal Employees always tries to get along with governors, even when they disagree, but warned the state can’t keep cutting spending without seriously hurting core services. “Those [state employee] ranks have been slashed by more than 30 percent over the last decade,” AFSCME spokesman Anders Lindall said.
Photos by Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com
Travis Lane sings praise Sunday night at the First Church of the Nazarene in Sterling. Lane was one of several musicians who lent their talents to the remembrance of the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King.
Life, work of civil rights leader celebrated BY JERMAINE PIGEE jpigee@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5525 @JPigee84
STERLING – Martin Luther King said he had a dream that one day, little black boys and girls would be holding hands with little white boys and girls. He would have been proud Sunday. On the eve of Martin Luther King Day, more than 200 people, black and white, came together to celebrate the life of the civil rights leader. “You don’t have to look very far in any direction to see interracial families and a community of beautiful faces sitting together,” said Irene Lewis-Wimbley, director of compassionate ministry at First Church of the Nazarene. “It makes my heart overflow with joy.” Sunday marked the fifth year the community has come together to celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King at a church. The event, sponsored by the YWCA of the Sauk Valley, featured a community service fair and several musical performances. JOY CONTINUED ON A2
Irene Lewis-Wimbley gives an award to Joseph Lewis Hartz Sunday evening recognizing his community works. Hartz was one of four award recipients at a celebration of a Dr. Martin Luther King at the First Church of the Nazarene in Sterling.
TAXES CONTINUED ON A5
SLEDDERS GET UP AND DOWN AT POLO GOLF COURSE
Photos by Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com
LEFT: Matt Mekeel sends his 5-year-old daughter, Reese, down the hill on her sled Saturday at Edgewood Golf Club in Polo. ABOVE: Rylie Woodin, 8, spins around backward as she slips down the slope. With the mercury reaching 40 degrees, many families took advantage of the free event hosted by the golf course.
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TODAY’S EDITION: 20 PAGES 2 SECTIONS VOL. 161 ISSUE 28
INDEX
ABBY ................... A7 COMICS ............... A8 CROSSWORD....B10
LIFESTYLE ........... A7 LOTTERY ............. A2 NATION/WORLD A10
OBITUARIES ........ A4 OPINION .............. A6 POLICE ................ A2
Today’s weather High 37. Low 25. More on A3.
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