Does ‘Anchorman 2’ keep it classy? Plus: Woodstock man creates recording studio in his home
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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013 • NWHERALD.COM • 75 CENTS
Musick: Eagles’ always-on offense will be challenge for Bears CRYSTAL LAKE SOUTH BLEACHER DISPUTE
Next move uncertain
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Ex-special prosecutor stands trial Accused of contempt in investigation of Bianchi By CHELSEA McDOUGALL cmcdougall@shawmedia.com
Sarah Nader file photo – snader@shawmedia.com
The Crystal Lake South High School stadium bleachers are seen from a home on Amberwood Drive in Crystal Lake. A lawsuit over the bleachers began when three Crystal Lake residents living along Amberwood Drive complained the $1.18 million project failed to follow city zoning rules.
Judge rules that city ordinances apply to school districts By JEFF ENGELHARDT
do with this resolution is the question,” he said. The ruling gives the school district a number of options to pursue. The district could decide to go through the zoning process and obtain permits it would have needed for the bleacher expansion, challenge the ruling at the appellate court or attempt to move forward with the bleachers in place and bring future projects through the city process.
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jengelhardt@shawmedia.com CRYSTAL LAKE – The future of the expanded bleachers at Crystal Lake South High School remains unclear after a McHenry County judge ruled Wednesday that city zoning ordinances and processes apply to school districts. Judge Michael Chmiel distanced himself from the specific dispute pitting Crystal Lake residents and the city against Community High School Dis-
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trict 155 over a $1.18 million bleacher expansion completed over the summer. Chmiel said he found no previous cases showing school districts had to comply with or were free to ignore city zoning ordinances. He said in
his analysis of the law, city ordinances in zoning matters could and should apply to school districts. Justin Hanson, representing the city, said the next steps depend on the school district. “What the parties choose to
ROCKFORD – The defense attorney who represented McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi in two corruption trials traded roles Wednesday to become the prosecutor tasked with prosecuting the special prosecutor once appointed to prosecute the state’s attorney. Sound confusing? That’s because it is. “There’s never been a case like this,” said Terry Ekl, Bianchi’s defense attorneyturned prosecutor in criminal contempt proceedings against Thomas McQueen, the special prosecutor once appointed to investigate Bianchi. The bench trial before Winnebago County Judge Joseph McGraw began Wednesday. McGraw presided over two Bianchi trials. In one, the state’s attorney was accused of doing political work on county time. Another accused Bianchi of giving preferential treatment to politically connected defendants. Bianchi was acquitted in 2010 and again in 2011, both times before the defense called a single witness. In the case against McQueen, Ekl alleges that McQueen knowingly failed to turn over witness statements and information that could have been used in Bianchi’s defense. As part of a federal civil
See BLEACHERS, page A9
Lou Bianchi McHenry County State’s Attorney
Terry Ekl Former defense attorney for Bianchi; now prosecuting criminal case against Thomas McQueen
Thomas McQueen Special prosecutor accused of failing to turn over information during Bianchi’s trials
See PROSECUTOR, page A8
Budget deal, aimed at avoiding shutdowns, clears Congress Bill gets support from both parties; Obama set to sign By DAVID ESPO The Associated Press WASHINGTON – Congress sent President Barack Obama legislation Wednesday scaling back across-the-board cuts on programs ranging from the Pentagon to the national park system, adding a late dusting
of bipartisanship to a year more likely to be remembered for a partial government shutdown and near-perpetual gridlock. Obama’s signature was assured on the measure, which lawmakers in both parties and at opposite ends of the Capitol said they hoped would curb budget brinkmanship and prevent more shutdowns in the near future. “It’s a good first step away from the shortsighted, crisisdriven decision-making that has only served to act as a drag
LOCALLY SPEAKING
About the budget agreement The measure averts $63 billion in across-the-board spending cuts that were the result of an earlier inability of lawmakers and the White House to agree on a deficit reduction plan. That represents about one-third of the cuts originally ticketed for the 2014 and 2015 budget years. To offset the added spending, the legislation provides about $85 billion in savings from elsewhere in the budget. on our economy,” Obama said of the measure in a statement issued after the vote. And yet, he quickly added, “there is much more work to do to ensure our economy works for
every working American.” The legislation passed the Democratic-controlled Senate on a vote of 64-36, six days
See BUDGET, page A9
CRYSTAL LAKE
STUDENTS PRACTICE JOB INTERVIEWS The Cooperative Education Program in District 155 recently held an event that aimed to equip students with proper job interviewing skills. More than 60 students took part in job training Tuesday by sitting in on mock interviews with 28 business representatives from throughout McHenry County. For more, see page B1.
CL Central’s Maddy Lerum Sarah Nader – snader@shawmedia.com
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CRYSTAL LAKE: CL Central girls drop divisional road game versus Grayslake North, 45-36. Sports, C1
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Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., walks to the chamber Wednesday on Capitol Hill for the final votes on a bipartisan budget deal. AP photo