MONDAY
October 26, 2015 • $1.00
FILLING IN
NORTHWEST
Prairie Ridge’s backup fullback Ebirim had strong performance Friday in win over Crete-Monee / B1
HERALD
NWHerald.com
THE ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER PUBLISHED IN McHENRY COUNTY
HIGH
LOW
61 45 Complete forecast on page A8
Facebook.com/NWHerald
@NWHerald
MCC to put projects on hold Admin preparing for possibility of no state funding By ALLISON GOODRICH agoodrich@shawmedia.com CRYSTAL LAKE – After months without a budget out of Springfield, the McHenry County College administration will be taking certain measures to try to minimize the effects of potentially not receiving funds the state owes. President Vicky Smith said at the most recent regular Board of Trustees meeting the administration has been closely monitoring the status of the budget impasse. “We kept Vicky Smith hoping they would get it, but about a month ago, we thought, ‘Gee, we don’t know if they’re going to get this, so we really need to start planning for the possibility that we’re not going to get a state budget,’ ” Smith said. “So we started our discussions and looked at a variety of things that we could do.” Across all funds, the college budgeted to receive about $4.57 million from the state this year. “We came to the conclusion that, probably at this point, we are going to suggest the college put on pause – not eliminate; not cut – expenditures in various areas of the institution,” she said. “So if we do get a state budget, then we could unpause.” After looking at different options, Smith said the college would be “pausing” capital expenditures such as instructional equipment that has not yet been purchased, a cost savings of roughly $450,000. Deferred maintenance projects that have not started to go through the bidding process would be halted until state funding becomes clearer, too. That was estimated for a
Sarah Nader – snader@shawmedia.com
Elizabeth Skalecki, a 23-year-old who lives with her mother, works on a project Oct. 19 at her Woodstock home. Skalecki can’t afford to live on her own because of student loan and other debts. She has a part-time job at Classic Cinemas theater in Woodstock and is looking for other opportunities.
Millennials struggling to leave the nest
Experts: Reasons include college debt, inexperience, high expectations By HANNAH PROKOP hprokop@shawmedia.com WOODSTOCK – At age 23, Elizabeth Skalecki is living with her mother in Woodstock. She completed a few semesters at McHenry County College, and Columbia College in Chicago studying illustration, but said she could not afford to complete her degree. Now with school debt and working part time at Classic Cinemas in Woodstock, Skalecki isn’t sure when she’ll be able to live independently of her family. “I can’t afford my own place,” Skalecki said. “With what I make now, I barely cover my bills that I’ve
‘‘
The analysis showed millennials, defined as 18- to 34-year-olds, grew by nearly 3 million since 2007, but the number heading their own households has not increased. These numbers exclude people in that age range who are full-time college students. The percent of people in that age range living independently deElizabeth Skalecki, 23-year-old creased, from 69 percent in 2010 to who lives with her mother 67 percent in the first four months of 2015, according to the analysis. been getting every month.” Jon Broadbooks, director of comAccording to a recent Pew Re- munications with the Illinois Assosearch Center analysis of U.S. Cen- ciation of Realtors, said it does not sus Bureau data, Skalecki isn’t the specifically track the number of only millennial who is not living millennials in Illinois or McHenry apart from her family. County who live independently of
“I can’t afford my own place. With what I make now, I barely cover my bills that I’ve been getting every month.”
their families. Kay Wirth, RE/MAX real estate agent in Crystal Lake, said she has worked with millennial clients many times as part of her 31 years in the county. “I think that more aren’t living independently,” Wirth said, although she doesn’t believe this is negatively affecting the housing market in the county. “Kind of the elephant in the room is the … college debt, where they just aren’t able to get ahead,” Wirth said. She said inexperience and high expectations also are factors she has seen contribute to millennials not
See MILLENNIALS, page A6
On the Web: When did you move out of your parents’ house? Vote online at NWHerald.com.
See MCC, page A6
States surrounding Illinois ready for more lottery business By SOPHIA TAREEN The Associated Press CHICAGO – Even buying lottery tickets in Illinois is losing its charm. With Illinois delaying payouts of more than $600 because of its budget mess, neighboring states are salivating at the chance to boost their own lottery sales. Businesses near borders, particularly in Indiana, Kentucky and Iowa, say they’ve already noticed a difference. The Lottery problems stemming from Illinois’ budget impasse have led to a lawsuit and come amid questions about Illinois revenues and a shake-up in lottery management. Here are some things to know: AP photo
Vera Washington of Chicago (left) buys lotto tickets Friday from manager Nora Niaves Leaving Illinois Many gas stations, smoke shops at the K&D Marathon station in Hammond, Ind.
and convenience stores in states bordering Illinois say they first noticed an increase in August, when the state said payouts over $25,000 would have to wait because there wasn’t authority to cut checks that big. Now, those businesses are reporting a bigger flurry since Oct. 14 when the Illinois Lottery announced it had lowered that threshold to payouts over $600. Idalia Vasquez, who manages a GoLo gas station in Hammond, Indiana, said irked Illinois residents have been streaming in to buy lottery tickets. She estimates ticket sales are up as much as 80 percent since Illinois’ second delay announcement. “We have long lines, but they’re patient with it because Illinois is not paying,” Vasquez said of the store roughly 20 miles from Chicago.
LOCAL NEWS
SPORTS
STATE
WHERE IT’S AT
Giving back
Bulls to begin
Budget talk
Cameroon native plans to start NGO to help poor in Africa / A3
Hoiberg unsure how much to use Rose, who’s still day-to-day, in opener / B1
Rauner, Ill. lawmakers agree to discuss state funds Nov. 18 / A2
Advice ................................ C6 Classified........................C1-5 Comics ...............................C8 Local News.................A2-3, 6 Lottery................................ A2 Nation&World...........A2, 4-5 Obituaries .........................A6
“They’re all coming here and saying, ‘I’m from Illinois, how do you play it here?’ ” The Hoosier Lottery even issued a statement welcoming Illinoisans.
Revenue
Lotteries in Missouri, Indiana, Iowa and Kentucky say sales have increased since Illinois first set a cap on prize payouts. But they all caution that other factors might be in play. In Kentucky’s McCracken County, along Illinois’ southern border, there was a 13 percent jump in scratch-offs from July 1 through Oct. 9, compared to a 9 percent jump statewide. One retailer with higher sales is Paducah’s Kentucky Tobacco Outlet, where most of the customers already
See LOTTERY, page A6
Opinion...............................A7 Puzzles ............................C6-7 Sports..............................B1-6 State ...............................A2, 4 TV listings ......................... C7 Weather .............................A8