FRIDAY
July 4, 2014 • $1.00
CL SOUTH GRAD SETTLES IN Two years after leaving Bowling Green, Fahn Cooper ready for fresh start playing football at Ole Miss / C1 NWHerald.com
THE ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER PUBLISHED IN McHENRY COUNTY
HIGH
LOW
75 55 Complete forecast on page A8
Facebook.com/NWHerald
@NWHerald
Push ongoing to honor Marine Supporters say World War II veteran was denied medal because of his Sioux heritage By KEVIN P. CRAVER kcraver@shawmedia.com Marine Loren Duke Abdalla lives every day with the injuries he suffered during two campaigns he fought in the Pacific
Theater of World War II. For the past decade, family, friends and complete strangers have fought a campaign on the 89-year-old veteran’s behalf – to get him the Medal of Honor they allege was denied him because of
his Sioux heritage. The South Dakota native and longtime Fox Lake resident – “Duke” to his friends – fought with the 1st Marine Division at the battles of Peleliu and Okinawa, and it’s his actions on the lat-
ter that supporters say are long overdue for recognition, given increased interest in correcting cases in which racism may have played a role. “Everybody who hears his story of what he did on May 5,
1945, has gone wild,” said eldest grandson Doug Nykolaycuyk, who speaks for his grandfather. Corporal Abdalla was ordered to take his 12-member squad and
See MEDAL, page A4
Loren Duke Abdalla WWII veteran
Court sides with state employees on benefits
FIREWORKS IN CARY KICK OFF FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATIONS
Health insurance coverage protected by the constitution By CARLA K. JOHNSON The Associated Press
Photos by Kyle Grillot – kgrillot@shawmedia.com
Spectators watch fireworks Thursday during the Cary Park District’s Summer Celebration in Cary.
PATRIOTIC PYROTECHNICS
A
pyrotechnic spectacle decorated the night sky over Cary on Thursday night as others will in these coming summer nights in celebration of the anniversary of our independence.
The Fourth of July is when we celebrate Congress adopting the Declaration of Independence from England – our nation’s 238th birthday. “And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and
our sacred Honor,” the Founding Fathers wrote. We still celebrate that pledge in Philadelphia, in Crystal Lake, Woodstock, McHenry, Huntley, Lake in the Hills, Algonquin, Harvard, Richmond, Johnsburg, Cary, Fox River Grove, Hebron and across this entire land with proud tradition.
Fireworks explode Thursday over Lions Park during the Cary Park District Summer Celebration in Cary.
Voice your opinion Are you attending a fireworks display tonight? Vote online at NWHerald.com.
More inside For a full schedule of events for the Fourth of July weekend, see page A6.
CHICAGO – The Illinois Supreme Court on Thursday sided with retired state employees who argue that health insurance coverage is a constitutionally protected retirement benefit, a ruling that could portend trouble for landmark legislation aimed at fixing the worst funded state pension system in the nation. The court’s 6-1 ruling reverses “If the Court’s a lower court dedecision is cision that effectively allowed the predictive, state government to require retirees the challenge to pay for a portion of reforming of their own health our pension care. The justices sent the case back systems will to the lower court, where retirees can remain.” proceed with their John challenge. The ruling reCullerton buffed the idea Illinois Senate that a state budpresident following get crisis could the ruling warrant changing retiree health benefits. It was quickly parsed for the signals it sends on an even bigger case: a constitutional challenge to the state’s sweeping pension overhaul aimed at fixing a nearly $100 billion unfunded pension liability. Unions and retirees are suing over the broader overhaul plan that also reduces some benefits to retirees. Illinois Senate President John Cullerton, who had proposed an alternative pension overhaul plan that would have given employees more choice in their retirement benefits, said the ruling Thursday makes it “very clear” the state constitution protects employees’ “promised benefits.”
See HEALTH CARE, page A4
STATE NEWS
BUSINESS
WHERE IT’S AT
Target’s gun-related request
Advice ..................................C5 Business ........................... E1-2 Buzz...................................... C8 Classified........................E3-10 Comics .................................C7 Community ......................... B1 Local News......................A3-6 Lottery..................................A2 Movies................................. C6 Nation&World.................B3-5 Obituaries ...........................A6 Opinions ............................. A7 Puzzles ..............................E2,5 Sports...............................C1-4 State .................................... B2 Weather ...............................A8
Retailer requests that customers keep their concealed weapons out of store / E1 LOCAL NEWS
Finding peace in streets
Family puts on patriotic display Father and son work together, set up wooden American flag in time for the Fourth of July / A3
815.923.2107 5 7 • www.fgmlaw.com
adno=0288644
A Chicago nonprofit is holding yoga sessions on the streets of Englewood in an attempt to curb street violence / B2
Wishing every American a safe and happy Independence Day, as we celebrate our freedom!