Top Stories

Local officials critical of birth control compromise

CRYSTAL LAKE – President Barack Obama abandoned his stand that religious organizations must pay for birth control for workers, offering a compromise that one local Catholic leader said seemed more like a gimmick.

Local

Marengo police, fire: New dispatch arrangements working fine

MARENGO – Nine months into two new emergency dispatch contracts, police and fire officials in Marengo report that the arrangements are working out well. “We are very happy,” s ... Read More »

Agreement being drafted to unite gov'ts seeking cheap electricity

WOODSTOCK – The McHenry County Board will vote this month on an intergovernmental agreement to unite 13 local governments seeking to get lower electric rates for constituents. ... Read More »

State

Ill. offices closed for Lincoln's Birthday

CHICAGO (AP) – Illinois government offices will be closed Monday in observance of President Abraham Lincoln's birthday. Lincoln was born on Feb. 12, 1809. Government offices i ... Read More »

Chicago-St Louis high-speed rail plans speeding up

SPRINGFIELD (AP) – Federal transportation regulators are moving faster than expected on choosing the best route for a section of the Chicago-St. Louis high-speed rail line run ... Read More »

Nation

First lady fixes on must-dos prior to election run

LONGWOOD, Fla. (AP) — Gearing up for a tough political season ahead, Michelle Obama said Saturday she's trying to get as much done as possible before the general election camp ... Read More »

Obama signs Giffords' final bill into law

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama signed into law Friday a final bill authored by former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who was wounded in an Arizona shooting rampage a year ago. ... Read More »

Commentary

Our view: Mortgage pact will help

McHenry County residents who suffered the worst from the housing crisis of the past few years should take advantage of a settlement announced this week between the attorney ge ... Read More »

Our View: Slowing the rising cost 
of college

Annual tuition hikes at public universities threaten to make a college degree increasingly unaffordable at a time when possessing that degree is increasingly important. Withou ... Read More »

Reader Poll

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