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Trial to reveal new evidence in case
Ex-Algonquin man facing first-degree murder charges after parents’ 2006 homicides By CHELSEA McDOUGALL cmcdougall@shawmedia.com WOODSTOCK – Prosecutors charged a former Algonquin man in a 2006 double murder, and a trial this week will shed light on the new evidence that led to charges in the long-unresolved investigation. Michael W. Romano, 56, was indicted on four counts of first-degree murder last year stemming from an investiga-
tion into the deaths of his parents, Nick Sr., 71, and Gloria Romano, 65. He denies the charges. The trial will be the first time details are revealed on what led authorities Michael W. to bring charges Romano against Michael Romano eight years after the homicides.
Nick Sr. and Gloria Romano were found dead in their Cary-area home Nov. 19, 2006. Each had gunshot wounds to the back of the head. There were no signs of forced entry at the couple’s home, and neither victim showed signs of defensive wounds or other injuries, the then-coroner said at the time. Michael Romano emerged as a suspect when, according to Northwest Herald reports
from the time, he told police he found his parents dead at 3 a.m. at their Lake Killarney home. He said he was there because they weren’t answering their phones. As the 2006 investigation progressed, Michael Romano stopped cooperating with detectives and would speak with them only through an attorney, the Northwest Herald reported. He was not charged until
January 2014, when authorities picked him up in Las Vegas, where he was working as a cab driver. In an interview in 2007, Michael Romano said he quit talking with police because he didn’t like the way they handled his questioning immediately after his parents’ deaths. He was interrogated for 15 hours, he said. Meanwhile, Michael’s brother, Nicholas Romano,
offered a $100,000 reward for information about his parents’ killer and expressed frustration with his brother. Nicholas Romano questioned why Michael was at the home so late. “I will not give up searching for answers,” Nicholas Romano said in 2007. “Somebody’s got to know something. We all want answers.” Authorities and attorneys
See ROMANO, page A6
Schools look to eliminate mandates
McHENRY COUNTY CATHOLICS READY FOR PAPAL VISIT TO U.S.
Ill. districts team up with Rauner By SARA BURNETT The Associated Press
H. Rick Bamman – hbamman@shawmedia.com
The Breuss family (from left) – Jenna, Kathy and Jerry – walks through St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in Crystal Lake after saying prayers for Pope Francis. The family is traveling to Washington for the pope’s visit to the U.S.
Catholics travel to see Pope Francis ‘Holy father’ to arrive Tuesday in Washington, D.C., for first U.S. trip By KATIE DAHLSTROM kdahlstrom@shawmedia.com
On the Web To see video from the Breuss family’s visit to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in Crystal Lake, visit NWHerald. com.
CRYSTAL LAKE – Kathy Breuss felt the time her family left for Washington, D.C., was providential. As of 3 p.m. Friday, she and her family had packed portable radios, cards and – most importantly – their rosaries in their car outside their Crystal Lake home. Catholics regard the time as the hour of mercy, a trait also encouraged by the man behind the Breuss family’s sojourn. Like thousands of Catholics, the Breuss family traveled to Washington for Pope Francis’ first U.S. visit. They’ll be among several people from McHenry County venturing to the East Coast to hear his holiness speak about families. “As a family, we want to go and share our love for our holy
‘‘
As a family, we want to go and share our love for our holy father and know there are families all over the United States praying for him.” Kathy Breuss, Crystal Lake
resident who is traveling with her family to Washington, D.C., for Pope Francis’ visit to the U.S.
father and know there are families all over the United States praying for him,” Kathy said. “He’s asking all of us to pray for him, so we want to go there to welcome him.” Francis will arrive Tuesday in Washington, where he will be greeted by President Barack Obama.
On Wednesday, the 78-yearold Argentina native will have a meeting with Obama, followed by a full day of activities. On Thursday, Pope Francis will address a joint session of Congress. Kathy Breuss, along with her husband, Jerry, and their 9-year-old daughter, Jenna, will be on the west lawn of the U.S. Capitol for a live simulcast. They won tickets to attend the simulcast through U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren, R-Park Ridge. The tickets were an added bonus to a trip the family already considered blessed to be on. As a lifelong Catholic, Jerry lined up the trip in May as soon as he learned of the papal visit. “There are only so many graces you get,” Jerry said. “Just the idea to be there and be able to see him. And also just to be with all the people.” To prepare, the family has been praying the National
Prayer for the Papal Visit and lighting candles at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in Crystal Lake. “Him coming here, one of my prayers is that light passes on to all of us. I see a vision of all these lights all over the United States,” Kathy said. Jenna’s classmates at St. Thomas the Apostle School also have helped her prepare for the road trip by signing a card meant for Pope Francis. With his face and signs celebrating his arrival plastered on the side of their car, Jenna said she already is considering how remarkable the trip could be. “Someday, he could be a saint,” Jenna said. “And then I could go up and say, ‘I visited this saint when he was alive.’ ” On Friday, Pope Francis will travel to New York for a visit to the United Nations, a service at
See POPE, page A6
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CHICAGO – Illinois school districts have a new ally in Gov. Bruce Rauner as they try to eliminate state mandates they said drive up costs and sometimes force them to lay off reading instructors to hire physical education teachers. The Republican is pushing relief from so-called unfunded mandates – lawmaker directives that often cost districts money – as part of a larger proposal to freeze property taxes, curb the influence of public-worker unions and overhaul the state’s school funding formula. In a letter Thursday to legislators, Rauner said mandate relief could save districts statewide more than $200 million annually, helping to offset the loss of funding from a property tax freeze and bringing the kind of “structural reform” he said Illinois needs. But getting rid of the mandates has been a politically difficult task, and the effort isn’t likely to be any easier with the General Assembly deeply divided over the state budget and Rauner’s legislative agenda. “It’s like nailing Jell-O to the wall,” said state Sen. Andy Manar, a Democrat who tried to negotiate mandate relief last year.
See MANDATES, page A6
AP file photo
Illinois Sen. Andy Manar, D-Bunker Hill, speaks during a Feb. 3 news conference on school funding legislation at the state Capitol in Springfield.
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