“Horse kicks No Kings protester after he tries to block LAPD with his body—now some are calling for a lawsuit, saying LAPD shouldn’t be training horses to kick protesters
A protester steps directly in front of officers on horseback, attempting to stop them with his body.
Moments later, the horse kicks out, sending him to the ground.”
Find Facebook post here.
Posted in Clown Car, Education, Entertainment, Politics | 1 Comment »
By Rick Pearson | Chicago Tribune
Property taxes imposed by government bodies within Cook County’s borders have grown at twice the rate of inflation over the past three decades, outpacing wage growth and driving an affordability crisis, a study by Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas’ office has found.
Pappas’ report, released Monday morning, condemns political leaders — many of them Democrats like herself — for exploiting loopholes in a state law designed to limit real estate tax increases. It calls on Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker and the Democratic-led General Assembly to enact significant reforms and find ways for local taxing agencies to cut spending.
“Illinois in 2025 had the dubious distinction of having the highest residential property tax rate in the nation. Chicago has the highest commercial rate in the U.S.,” Pappas said in a statement accompanying the study. “It’s time for the governor, state lawmakers and local government leaders to come up with a reform plan that works for taxpayers.”
Pappas’ report, titled “How State Laws Failed to Stop Decades of Skyrocketing Property Taxes: A Case for Reform,” arrives as the Illinois Department of Revenue is completing its own study of the state’s property tax system, due at the end of July. But Pappas said in her report that it was time for politicians to act “rather than produce another report that gets put on a shelf to gather cobwebs.”
Her study also comes in an election year when high property taxes are sure to be a major campaign issue in Pritzker’s race for a third term versus Republican Darren Bailey, as well as other statewide and scores of state legislative races. But large-scale remedies, such as finding alternative sources of revenue like a general tax increase to offset property tax cuts, are less likely when lawmakers and Pritzker are seeking reelection — though political pressures are lessened after the November general election in a lame-duck session.
Pappas’ study found that taxing bodies within Cook County levied $19.2 billion in property taxes in 2024, up nearly 182% from the $6.8 billion in real estate taxes imposed in 1995. During that time, inflation rose by 91% and average wages increased by 161%, the report said.
“The annual increases in taxes are relentless, taking more and more money out of people’s pockets,” said Pappas, who has been treasurer since 1998 and who is seeking reelection in November while declaring her interest in a Chicago mayoral bid in 2027. “I see it every day in my office, with people wondering how they are going to pay their tax bills or even whether they can stay in their homes.”
Article continues here.
Posted in 220, 300, BOHICA, Chicago Tribune, Cook, Cost of Living, County, Look For The Union Label, Overhead, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Property Taxes, Real Estate, School Districts, Taxes, Unions | Leave a Comment »
The Village Board of Trustees will be conducting their regular monthly meeting this evening beginning at 6:30 PM. Topics on their agenda include:
A copy of their agenda, including info on listening to the meeting, can be viewed and downloaded here.
Posted in Aunt Blabby, Board of Health, Building Department, Clown Car, Conflict of interest, Deception, Dumb and Dumber, ePacket Agendas, Ethics, Financial Reports, Heritage and Environs Committee, Insurance Committee, Intergovernmental agreements (IGA), Legal Expenses, Lennie, Minutes, One Barrington Hills, Overhead, Plan Commission, Police Pension Board, Politics, Property Taxes, Riding Club Commission, Roads & Bridges Committee, Save 5 Acres, Simple Minds, VBHPD, Village Attorney, Village Board, Village Clerk, Village Code, Village Director of Administration, Village Engineer, Village President, Village Treasurer, Zoning Board | Leave a Comment »
By John Kass | johnkassnews.com
The worst sound in the world comes from the throat of a father or mother of a child killed by an illegal protected by powerful politicians as the news media begins to edge away from them, ignoring their child and their pain.
It is the sound of anguish. You can hear it in Chicago.
I’ve been hearing it far too much lately, that desperate sound in the throat of a grieving parent. Their sorrow overwhelms them. The fact that their sorrow is ignored by journalism as journalism serves political lords overwhelms them. Their throats begin to clench and what remains is a climbing ladder of anguish and a high-pitch screeching for desperate breath.
You may think of the many angel moms and dads out in America mourning those kids, from Kate Steinle, shot in the back in 2015 while holding her father’s hand as they walked on a pier in San Francisco. “Dad, help me,” she said as she collapsed, “Help me.”
Laken Riley was a Georgia nursing student who also was senselessly killed in February 2024. And Katie Abraham from Illinois, slaughtered and forgotten as she sat quietly in a car waiting at a red light in Urbana with friends, as a car driven by a drunken illegal hurtled down upon them at 75 miles per hour. And so many, many others killed by migrants here illegally in the United States, all of the illegal migrants ushered into the United States by Democrats and former President Joseph Biden.
Billons of dollars were spent on the illegal migrants by American taxpayers whose children were killed by those tax subsidized illegals, some by gunfire, some by a crushing blow with a rock, some by the impact of a vehicle driven by the illegal while drunk. In each case there was silence from Democrats, and silence from the news media lest mention of the dead anger the partisan leftist subscribers.
In the midst of that crushing silence, anguished parents want their murdered children to have mattered, but the media and leftist political indifference angers them and their throats begin to close up as they raise their voices. Their screeching digs deeply into anyone who hears them and are possessed of human souls.
And now Sheridan Gorman, the 18-year-old freshman at Loyola University who was recently out with friends at the lake shore hoping to catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights when illegal Jose Medina-Medina—who had already been arrested for another crime–fired shots at them with a gun.
Gorman was hit in the back as she tried to run away. She died. Chicago Police detectives used facial recognition technology to track her killer down.
(Posted on X)
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker (D) placed the blame for the murder of Sheridan Gorman not on the Biden Democrats protecting illegal migrants–or lavishing billions upon them as they wreak havoc in the cities–but on President Trump.
The governor said part of the blame for the murder belongs to the Trump administration because they have not stuck to their “edict” of targeting the “worst of the worst” when it comes to illegal migrants.
“This has been a terrible tragedy, and I know that the Gorman family has suffered mightily,” he said. “I agree, there have been real failures. Those failures, of course, extend beyond the borders of Illinois. It’s their national failures, a failure to have comprehensive immigration reform, a failure of the president to follow his own edict to go after the worst of the worst.”
That’s about the most disgraceful thing I’ve heard come out of J.B.’s mouth.
A terrible tragedy like JB Pritzker playing Illinois for fools and getting elected? I kept waiting for editorials condemning Pritzker, but I didn’t see them. That tells you what you need to know about Chicago media. It’s dead. A feast for crows.
Kass’ commentary continues here.
Posted in Crime, John Kass, OP/Ed, Pritzker’s Rules of Order | 1 Comment »
Friday, South Barrington Village President Paula McCombie shared this in one of her weekly updates to residents:
“As I have reported in previous emails, the upcoming Barrington Road Widening Project will soon get underway. The first step is tree removal, which will begin along Barrington Road between Algonquin Road (IL 62) and Central Road within the next couple of weeks.”
Since we were unfamiliar with the project, we’ve learned this:
“Improvements to Barrington Road relieve congestion and reduce the risk of crashes.
Updates to Barrington Road provide two additional lanes of traffic in each direction separated by a median between Mundhank Road and Algonquin Road. Ardmore Roderick, selected as the prime consultant, leads Phase II engineering services for this transformative project, ensuring that the design and execution of improvements advance the infrastructure and serve the community’s needs.
As the lead firm, Ardmore Roderick is responsible for preparing plans, specifications, and estimates for the road between Illinois Route 62 and Central Road. A new shared-use path fills a gap in Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning’s regional trail system.
Additional improvements modernize and replace traffic signals throughout the corridor and replace the box culvert structure carrying Barrington Road over Poplar Creek. During the Phase II design process, Ardmore Roderick collaborated with the design team to incorporate a pile-supported embankment that strengthens soil stability, realigned the roadway to improve safety, and incorporated walls at strategic locations.”
A brief project description can also be found here.
Buckle up.
Posted in Aunt Blabby, Cook, County, IDOT, Illinois Tollway, Property Taxes, Road construction, South Barrington, Taxes, Traffic | Leave a Comment »
Downtown Streetscape Enhancements Begin Next Week
Exciting improvements are coming to downtown Barrington! Beginning Tuesday, March 31, Phase 1 of the streetscape enhancement project will kick off along Cook Street, Station Street and the northwest segment of Park Avenue.
The first few days of work will include preparation work, coordination with businesses, marking out project scope, sign removal, and staging. Demolition work is expected to begin on or around April 2, starting on the east side of South Cook Street.
Attachment is a revised phasing plan, which differs slightly from the one presented at the neighborhood meeting. The location of Phase 1 work is shown in orange.
This phase includes the removal of pavers, installation of new sidewalks and clay brick accents, relocation of the trash enclosure on Station Street, and enhanced landscaping throughout, enhancing the look and feel of our downtown.
Construction will continue over the next few months, and the project is anticipated to be complete by the end of June (weather permitting).
All impacted businesses and restaurants remain open! Your continued support during construction makes a big difference to our community.
To stay informed and receive project updates, please visit the construction updates page on the Village’s website or watch for email notifications.
Posted in Entertainment, Road construction, Taxes, Traffic | 1 Comment »
Photo by Piero CRUCIATTI / AFP via Getty Images
By Alexis Lapp | Daily Caller
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) barred transgender athletes from competing in women’s events Thursday and mandated genetic testing to ensure the safety and fairness of women’s categories.
The committee will screen for the SRY gene to determine eligibility in the female category, according to an IOC press release. Athletes who test positive for the gene will still be allowed to compete in the male category. The screening is a one time test.
IOC President Kristy Coventry issued a statement in the press release.
“As a former athlete, I passionately believe in the rights of all Olympians to take part in fair competition,” she said. “The policy that we have announced is based on science and has been led by medical experts. At the Olympic Games, even the smallest margins can be the difference between victory and defeat. So, it is absolutely clear that it would not be fair for biological males to compete in the female category. In addition, in some sports it would simply not be safe.”
“Every athlete must be treated with dignity and respect, and athletes will need to be screened only once in their lifetime,” she said. “There must be clear education around the process and counseling available, alongside expert medical advice.”
The Independent Council On Women’s Sports (ICONS) has advocated to ban biological men from women’s sports.
ICONS and Reduxx broke the story on the 2024 Paris Olympic boxing scandal, revealing that two biological males competed in the women’s category, OutKick reported.
Penn University’s transgender swimmer Lia Thomas prepares to swim the 500 yard freestyle race. (Photo by JOSEPH PREZIOSO/AFP via Getty Images)
Article continues here.
Posted in Daily Caller, Deception, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Girlie man, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order | Leave a Comment »
Rep. Kelly Cassidy and Jose Medina (Facebook, Dept. of Homeland Security)
By Tim Hecke | CWB Chicago
A bill that would bar Illinois law enforcement agencies from using facial recognition databases to help identify crime suspects is scheduled for a second day of legislative hearings, days after the technology helped Chicago police identify the man accused of murdering a Loyola University freshman in the bill’s sponsor’s own district.
House Bill 5521 is sponsored by Rep. Kelly Cassidy, who represents the 14th District, which includes Rogers Park. Cassidy introduced the measure last Wednesday, hours before 18-year-old Sheridan Gorman was shot and killed at the Loyola Beach pier. Chicago police have since charged Jose Gregoria Medina Medina, a 25-year-old Venezuelan citizen, with Gorman’s murder.
An arrest report obtained by CWB Chicago describes how detectives worked to identify Medina as the shooter. Among the investigative steps, an officer wrote that video images of the gunman were sent to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which “returned matching candidate Jose Gregoria Medina Medina.”
If passed, HB5521 would prohibit Illinois law enforcement agencies from obtaining, retaining, possessing, accessing, requesting, using, or entering into agreements with third parties, state or local government agencies, or federal agencies to use certain biometric identification systems, including facial recognition.
It also bars the Secretary of State from providing facial recognition search services except when issuing a mobile driver’s license or identification card. That facial recognition database is the most commonly used within CPD.
On Sunday, CWB Chicago published a report detailing dozens of violent crimes — including murders, robberies, and sex offenses — that Chicago Police Department detectives have solved with the assistance of facial recognition. The technology has proven particularly useful in cases involving the CTA, where offenders are often anonymous, crimes can be random, and the transit system’s high-definition cameras provide broad coverage.
Article continues here.
Related: “Facial recognition helps cops solve some of Chicago’s most heinous crimes. This state legislator wants to shut it down,” “Hundreds of police departments use camera company (seen below) accused of breaking state law”
Automated license plate readers such as this one are installed throughout Barrington Hills.
Posted in Crime, CWB Chicago, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Dumb Bunny, Politics, Springfield, Who Cuts Your Hair?, WTF | Leave a Comment »
When the weather conditions permitted, construction activity continued through the winter months. Between January and March, crews completed the following work:
Preparation for permanent sheeting installations
Permanent sheeting installation is required along the Route 14 corridor to support excavation and construction of the lowered roadway. Following excavation work, concrete formwork will cover the sheets, completing the final retaining wall structure. The contractor has completed pavement removal and surface preparation, positioning the start of this permanent sheet work this spring.
Ongoing construction of the storm sewer pump station
Following substantial completion of the pump pit structure last year, work on the pump station has continued through the winter. Activities included installing stairs and handrails, placing drains, removing concrete formwork and backfilling, applying waterproofing, retaining wall work, installing electrical conduit, and structure preparation and construction of masonry walls. For more information on the pump station, please refer to the December 2025 update.
Water Main and Storm Sewer Installation
Elevation changes associated with the lowering of Route 14 necessitate the rerouting of some existing Village utilities and installation of new facilities. Earlier this year, crews completed storm sewer and water main relocation work on Route 14 near Drury Lane. They also began installing additional storm sewer infrastructure to drain the future underpass, which will connect to the pump station structure.
Route 14 Culvert Construction
As part of the project, Flint Creek will be relocated to maintain gravity flow. Currently crossing under Route 14 just west of the railroad tracks, the creek will be shifted farther west toward Route 59, where it will flow beneath Route 14 through a new storm sewer culvert. Construction of this culvert is underway, with excavation work completed and forming and rebar placement work underway. The culvert’s bottom slab will be formed and poured first, followed by the walls and top of the structure. After completion of this work, a similar structure will be constructed to carry the creek under Route 59.
Continued relocating utilities
Utility relocation work has continued throughout the winter and will progress alongside upcoming construction activities.
Weather and material availability permitting, the contractor plans to begin sheeting and excavation work necessary to begin construction of the railroad bridge this month. As this work progresses, the contractor will refine plans for the remainder of this year.
To stay informed and receive project updates, please visit the dedicated project website us14underpass.com or watch for email notifications.
Posted in Aunt Blabby, IDOT, Privacy, Public Safety, Road construction, Taxes, Traffic, U.S. Route 14 Underpass, Unions | Leave a Comment »
A three-vehicle crash resulted in two cars colliding head-on and a dump truck rolling over onto its side, spilling gravel and causing an over four-hour-long road closure, at Route 62 and Old Sutton Road in Barrington Hills Thursday morning. | Photo: Nick Rusin
By Sam Borcia | Lake & McHenry County Scanner
Four people were transported to the hospital after police say a dump truck caused a crash and rolled over, spilling gravel, while sending two cars colliding head-on into each other in Barrington Hills Thursday morning.
The Barrington Hills Police Department and Barrington Countryside Fire Protection District responded around 11:03 a.m. Thursday to the intersection of Route 62 and Old Sutton Road in Barrington Hills for a multiple-vehicle crash with injuries.
Barrington Hills Police Department Public Information Officer William Walsh said officers arrived and found a 2000 Peterbilt semi-dump truck, a 2010 Ford work truck and a 2011 Honda Pilot involved.
A three-vehicle crash resulted in two cars colliding head-on and a dump truck rolling over onto its side, spilling gravel and causing an over four-hour-long road closure, at Route 62 and Old Sutton Road in Barrington Hills Thursday morning. | Photo: Nick Rusin
The dump truck was rolled over onto its side and had spilled its load of gravel.
Walsh said a preliminary investigation shows the Peterbilt was traveling northbound on Old Sutton Road.
Traffic for northbound and southbound Old Sutton Road has stop signs, while traveling eastbound and westbound on Route 62, also known as Algonquin Road, does not have a traffic control device.
A three-vehicle crash resulted in two cars colliding head-on and a dump truck rolling over onto its side, spilling gravel and causing an over four-hour-long road closure, at Route 62 and Old Sutton Road in Barrington Hills Thursday morning. | Photo: Nick Rusin
Article continues here.
Posted in Lake & McHenry County Scanner | Leave a Comment »
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