Prairie Ridge quarterback Brett Covalt cleared to play
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2013
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Beaten-up Bears look to upset Packers Sports, B1
Theater Undreground co-founder talks improv
Owner says expansion out of view
CONTINUING EDUCATION
Academic malaise
Fits into changing character of neighborhood, he claims By EMILY K. COLEMAN ecoleman@shawmedia.com
Sarah Nader – snader@shawmedia.com
Maria Camacho (from left) of Woodstock, Saeeda Ahmad of Lake in the Hills get help from their teacher, Kathy Young of Cary, during their adult education basic reading class Thursday at McHenry County College.
American adults lagging behind international peers, study finds By STEPHEN Di BENEDETTO sdibenedetto@shawmedia.com Libraries, education programs and book clubs available throughout McHenry County can often serve as bastions of learning for adults
interested in continuing their efforts beyond the confines of a classroom. And they might want to start using those services more frequently based on the results of an international survey that compared Ameri-
can adults’ know-how to their international peers. Researchers from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development found that American adults
“Our students have to be more competitive with the rest of the world than they would have to have been 20, 30 or even 40 years ago.” Tom Pierce Executive director of the Adult Education Department at McHenry County College
McHENRY – With three very involved kids, Jamie and Jeff Grubich were finding their home just wasn’t big enough. But the proposed expansion of their 3214 Golfview Terrace home into the neighboring lot drew some concerns from historic preservationists who worried that it may disrupt the integrity of the Country Club subdivision. The project – which includes the demolition of the home at 3208 Golfview Terrace and the expansion of the Grubich home onto that lot – will come before the Teardown Committee at its meeting Thursday. The committee will review the project to see if it conforms with the requirements for teardown sites as dictated by ordinance and the city’s design guidelines and if it fits into the existing neighborhood in terms of architectural style and other characteristics. Its five members also will vote on three variance requests, some of which center on the differences between normal residential requirements and the stricter ones required under the residential teardown ordinance. It was the size of the expansion that raised alarm bells
Nancy Fike Teardown Committee member
If you go The McHenry Teardown Committee meeting starts at 7 p.m. Thursday in the first floor conference room at the McHenry Municipal Center, 333 S. Green St.
See ACADEMICS, page A6 See EXPANSION, page A6
Americans see potential for winners, losers under ‘Obamacare’ WASHINGTON – Now is when Americans start figuring out that President Barack Obama’s health care law goes beyond political talk, and really does affect them and people they know. With a cranky federal website complicating access to new coverage and some consumers being notified their existing plans are going away, the potential for winners and losers is creating anxiety
and confusion. A poll just out from the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation documents shifts in the country in the month since insurance signups began. Fifty-five percent now say they have enough information to understand the law’s impact on their family, up 8 percentage points in just one month. Part of the reason is that advertising about how to get coverage is beginning to register. “The law is getting more and
LOOKING FORWARD
more real for people,” said Drew Altman, the foundation’s president. “A lot of this will turn on whether there’s a perception that there have been more winners than losers. ... It’s not whether an expert thinks something is a better insurance policy, it’s whether people perceive it that way.” A look at three groups impacted by the law’s rollout:
LOSING CURRENT PLAN The Obama administration insists nobody will lose coverage
as a result of cancellation notices going out to millions of people. At least 3.5 million Americans have been issued cancellations, but the exact number is unclear. Associated Press checks find that data is unavailable in half the states. Mainly they are people who buy directly from an insurer, instead of having workplace coverage. Officials say these consumers aren’t getting “canceled” but “transitioned” or “migrated” to better plans because their current coverage doesn’t meet minimum
FRIDAY
‘THE NERD’ ON STAGE AT OPERA HOUSE TownSquare Players will present “The Nerd” at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Nov. 15 to 16, 22 to 23 and at 3 p.m. Nov. 17 and 24 at the Woodstock Opera House, 121 Van Buren St., Woodstock. Tickets are $23 for adults; $20 for students and seniors. For information, visit www.woodstockoperahouse.com or call 815-338-5300.
Chris Hemsworth
Anthony Hopkins Walt Disney Studios/Marvel
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FRIDAY: ‘Thor: The Dark World,’ starring Chris Hemsworth, opens in theaters. The week’s happenings in news, sports and more. Page A2
Where to find it Advice Classified Comics
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standards. They won’t have to go uninsured, and some could save a lot if they qualify for the law’s tax credits. There’s a chance the number of people getting unwanted terminations may grow. In 2015, the law’s requirement that larger companies provide health insurance will take effect. It’s expected that a small share of firms will drop coverage, deciding that it’s cheaper to pay fines imposed under the law.
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Opinion Puzzles Sports
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A newly released poll indicates older Americans nix Social Security changes. PAGE A6
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Vol. 28, Issue 308 Local&Region Lottery Obituaries
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