THURSDAY
June 11, 2015 • $1.0 0
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Union members protest gov’s plan Group gathers in Woodstock for rally By KATIE DAHLSTROM kdahlstrom@shawmedia.com WOODSTOCK – With a daughter in college and a wife recovering from medical issues, Carlos Acosta planned to support his family with his job as child protection investigator for the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. But Acosta, the steward for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 2833, fears he might not be able to do that because of a proposal from Gov. Bruce Rauner that could affect his pay and benefits. Acosta led a group of more than 75 union members and supporters Wednesday during a rally in the Woodstock Square. He, along with
Protesters (from left) Kathie Gold, Janet Lennemann and Mary Richardson take to Woodstock Square on Wednesday to address union issues.
a handful of other speakers, stood in the 90-degree heat with signs, repeating calls for a fair contract to replace the one that expires June 30. “The governor, basically, as I see it, has been asking AFSCME to voluntarily commit organizational suicide with the implicit threat that if we don’t he’s going to kill us by locking us out of our workplace,” Acosta said. AFSCME represents about 38,000 workers across the state of Illinois, with less than 100 of those union members hailing from McHenry County, Acosta said. The state’s contract with the union is caught up in the budget impasse between Rauner and state legislators.
Matthew Apgar – mapgar@ shawmedia.com
Online To view video from the protest in Woodstock, visit NWHerald.com.
See PROTEST, page A4
STANLEY CUP FINAL, GAME 4: BLACKHAWKS 2, LIGHTNING 1
2nd area judge is planning to leave By CHELSEA McDOUGALL cmcdougall@shawmedia.com
The Blackhawks’ Jonathan Toews (top right) celebrates with teammates Wednesday after the Hawks’ 2-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final at the United Center. AP photo
HAWKS BACK ON TRACK n
Morrissey: For Blackhawks, must-win games are for somebody else
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Palace Grill near United Center important part of Hawks experience
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Next: Blackhawks at Lightning, 7 p.m. Saturday, NBC, AM-720 STANLEY CUP COVERAGE IN SPORTS
SPORTS
LOCAL NEWS
STATE
WHERE IT’S AT
Many roles
Local wage levels
Fiscal warning
State-bound Jacobs’ Ryan George a crafty success on mound / C1
MCC trustee urges board to support effort to repeal ‘prevailing wage’ law / A3
Ill. comptroller: Without budget, most payments from state would stop / B3
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WOODSTOCK – It appears there could be two openings on the bench after a second McHenry County judge announced his retirement this week. Judge Robert Beaderstadt will retire on June 30. He made the announcement to court officials on Monday. “My experience on the bench has been rewarding, inspirational and fulfilling. It was never my intent to have this judgeship be my career’s final resting place,” Beaderstadt said in a letter to courthouse staff. Beaderstadt, an associate judge, has been on the bench for eight years and presides primarily over criminal cases. He previously spent several years as a top prosecutor with the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office. Judge Gordon Graham previously announced that he will retire in September. Graham is an elected circuit judge with nearly 20 years on bench. He presides over one of the 22nd Judicial Circuit’s two criminal felony courtrooms. There are many moving parts in deciding how to fill these vacancies. The Illinois Supreme Court likely will appoint someone to fill the remainder of Graham’s term; however, Court Administrator Dan Wallis said the high court could decide to leave the position open. The local circuit has 19 judges including Chief Judge Michael Sullivan – eight are elected circuit judges and 11 are associate judges. A likely scenario is that a circuit judge will take over Graham’s courtroom, and one of the current associate judges will be promoted to a full circuit judge. Combined with Beaderstadt’s departure, this leaves two open associate judgeships, assuming the state Supreme Court grants the 22nd Circuit permission to fill the openings. Circuit judges are elected to sixyear terms. Whoever is appointed to fill Graham’s vacancy must seek election in November 2016 to keep the position. Once seated, circuit judges are reelected through unopposed retention races that ask voters whether the judge should remain on the bench. One of the duties of circuit judges is to appoint associate judges to the bench.
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