Feeds:
Posts
Comments

East Dundee Public Hearing Re: Data Center Zoning Code Reclassification Tonight.

November 5, 2026 by Barrington Hills Observer

The Village of East Dundee Planning, Zoning and Historical Commission meets this evening at 6:30 PM at 115 E. 3rd Street, 2nd floor. The topic is:

Public Hearing: A proposed text amendment to Chapter 157 of the Village of East Dundee Zoning Ordinance in Section 157.065(A)(1)(h)(1) to reclassify data centers in the M-1 and M2 Manufacturing Districts from a (P) permitted by-right land use to a (S) permitted by special use permit land use in those areas of the Village north of IL Rt 72 and west of Commonwealth Drive, and in those areas of the Village south of IL Rt 72 and west of Commonwealth Edison transmission right-of-way.

A copy of the agenda can be viewed and downloaded here.

Posted in Data Center, Intergovernmental agreements (IGA), Land Use, Public Hearing | Leave a Comment »

On 1st day since winning 3rd term as governor, Pritzker releases 200-point national agenda

November 4, 2026 by Barrington Hills Observer

By Ben Szalinski | Capitol News Illinois

Article Summary

  • JB Pritzker released a 200-point policy plan on Wednesday he wants the new Democrat-controlled Congress to take up.
  • The plan is aimed at reversing many Trump administration policies that Pritzker believes harms Illinois.
  • The plan’s introduction comes as many political observers speculate Pritzker is considering running for president. He declined to offer any timeline for making a decision.

Full report here.

Posted in Capitol News Illinois, Democratic Socialists of America, Fat Bastard, Politics, Springfield, Taxes | 1 Comment »

Lake County voters reject 1% sales tax to help fund schools

November 4, 2026 by Barrington Hills Observer

57% of voters against and 43% in favor. 92,177 votes were cast in favor of the tax and 121,259 opposed it with 100% of the vote counted.

Posted in 220, Barrington Education Association, Cuba Township, Elections, Lake, Politics, Property Taxes, School Districts, Taxes, What the Ficke (Bradford)? | Leave a Comment »

Bought and paid for. Not sour grapes but reality.

November 4, 2026 by Barrington Hills Observer

 

IL State Senate District 26 Results

IL State House District 52 Results

Related: “Wealth and Party Machine Are Buying the Northwest Suburbs Votes”

Posted in Barrington Education Association, Clown Car, Cost of Living, Deception, Democratic Socialists of America, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Dumb and Dumber, Economy, Education, Elections, ETSB, Fat Bastard, Fools and their money, Girlie man, Illinois Federation of Teachers, Illinois State Board of Elections, League of Women Voters, Lipstick On A Pig, Look For The Union Label, OP/Ed, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Property Rights, Property Taxes, Real Estate, Resident Spotlights, School Districts, Springfield, Taxes, The Chicago Way, Unions, What the Ficke (Bradford)? | 2 Comments »

Syed vs. Hills suburban state legislative race is one of the most expensive ever

November 3, 2026 by Barrington Hills Observer

Republican Senator Darby Hills and Democrat Rep. Nabeela | Photos by Jerry Nowicki

Democrat Nabeela Syed is outraising Republican Darby Hills two to one in an Illinois Senate race that’s already fetched $6.5 million in contributions.

By Brett Chase | Chicago Sun*Times

Republicans are not expected to make a dent in Democrats’ supermajority in the Illinois General Assembly, but a multi-million-dollar suburban legislative race has turned into a fiery, closely watched contest in the lead-up to Election Day Tuesday.

In that race, state Rep. Nabeela Syed, a Democrat from Inverness, is challenging incumbent Republican Darby Hills of Barrington Hills for the Illinois Senate 26th District seat.

The $6.5 million raised makes it one of the most expensive contests in the history of the General Assembly, said Alisa Kaplan, executive director of Reform for Illinois.

Syed received at least $4.7 million in contributions, much of it from her party, while Hills has raised $1.8 million, said Kaplan, whose organization runs the Illinois Sunshine Database.

“The Democratic leadership wants to flip this seat, and it shows,” Kaplan said.

Syed raised more than $3 million from the Democratic Party of Illinois and the Illinois Senate Democratic Fund, which is controlled by Illinois Senate President Don Harmon. She’s also raised substantial amounts of money from unions.

Darby’s last big contribution from her party was in August when the Illinois Senate Republican Campaign gave her $300,000.

Report continues here.

Related: “A sound reason for Barrington Hills residents to vote for McLaughlin and Hills,” “Another sound reason for residents to vote for Hills and McLaughlin,” “Wealth and Party Machine Are Buying the Northwest Suburbs Votes,” “Editorial: Darby Hills for Illinois 26th Senate District” and “Who really funds Nabeela Syed?”

Posted in Chicago Sun*Times, Deception, Democratic Socialists of America, Elections, Ethics, Fat Bastard, Fat Man Walking, Look For The Union Label, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Unions | Leave a Comment »

Polls are now open

November 3, 2026 by Barrington Hills Observer

It’s Election Day, 2026. We’re asking everyone to vote for the following with good reasons:

Our reasons to vote for Darby and Marty include:

Information on where you are registered to vote today can be found here.

PLEASE VOTE!

Posted in Chicago Tribune, Commodius Maximus, Daily Herald, Data Center, Democratic Socialists of America, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Economy, Education, Elections, Ethics, Illinois State Board of Elections, Immigration, Look For The Union Label, OP/Ed, Outmigration, Pension Funding, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Property Rights, Property Taxes, Public Safety, Road construction, School Districts, Springfield, Taxes, Transparency, Unions | Leave a Comment »

Your Vote Matters

November 2, 2026 by Barrington Hills Observer

By Jeanne Ives | Breakthrough Ideas

Tomorrow’s election will determine the direction of the country, state, and local governments for the next 2-4 years, and possibly longer. People should carefully consider who they choose to represent them in every office from forest preserve to the U.S. Senate. Voters should carefully consider candidates’ qualifications for the positions they seek, their past records if previously elected, and what they say they are going to do once in office. These officeholders will be making consequential decisions on you, your family, and your livelihood.

For too long, we have had Democrat control of the statehouse and statewide offices, and that has led to one of the slowest-growing and highest-taxed states in the nation. We’ve also become one of the most morally depraved states, celebrating abortion, allowing our kids to be indoctrinated in DEI nonsense, and diminishing parental rights in numerous ways. These policies and our trajectory as the dysfunctional neighbors on the block can be reversed if we get the right leadership.

While every race is important, a few races are real indicators of whether Illinois voters have really drunk the DSA Kool-Aid and whether enough commonsense voters still exist or are paying attention.

Darby Hills v. Nabeela Syed for State Senate District 26

Darby Hills is the incumbent, and she has real-world experience that makes her a valuable legislator. Her opponent went from college at UC Berkeley to running for state rep. She has no experience to speak of professionally or personally, such as owning a home and having a family. The district has some of the wealthiest areas of the state and also areas that are more modest. This suburban area has tended to be fiscally conservative and has some of the highest property taxes in the state. Who shows up to vote is very important. Listen to this interview with Darby Hills and share it with others ahead of the election tomorrow.

Watch Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcTcm6U7NLA

Marty McLaughlin is running to retain his seat in the Illinois House.

He is one-half of the Darby Hills Senate district with the same situation. Are there enough voters aware of the issues and the qualifications to vote Marty back into office? Because choosing his unimpressive, pro-abort, resume-less Democrat opponent makes no sense at all. We need people with a deep understanding of local government, taxes, pensions, and more. Marty has that. He’s been a two-term mayor, manages pensions professionally, and understands business better than almost anyone else in the state house.

What will voters do? If Marty loses, Illinois loses, and it’s a bad indicator of worse things to come for taxpayers in this state.

Article continues here.

Related: “A sound reason for Barrington Hills residents to vote for McLaughlin and Hills,” “Another sound reason for residents to vote for Hills and McLaughlin,” “Wealth and Party Machine Are Buying the Northwest Suburbs Votes,” “Editorial: Martin McLaughlin for Illinois 52nd House District,” “Editorial: Darby Hills for Illinois 26th Senate District” and “Who really funds Nabeela Syed?”

Posted in Breakthrough Ideas, Deception, Democratic Socialists of America, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Economy, Education, Elections, Ethics, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Property Taxes, School Districts, Springfield, Taxes | Leave a Comment »

Last day for early voting – Avoid the lines Tuesday

November 2, 2026 by Barrington Hills Observer

Early voting ends today for the November 3, 2026 General Election. Again, polling locations by county are:

For general voting information, visit the Cook, Kane, Lake or McHenry County Clerk’s website(s).

Related: “A sound reason for Barrington Hills residents to vote for McLaughlin and Hills,” “Another sound reason for residents to vote for Hills and McLaughlin,” “Wealth and Party Machine Are Buying the Northwest Suburbs Votes,” “Editorial: Martin McLaughlin for Illinois 52nd House District,” “Editorial: Darby Hills for Illinois 26th Senate District” and “Who really funds Nabeela Syed?”

Posted in BACOG, Breakthrough Ideas, Chicago Reader, Cook, County, Daily Herald, Economy, Elections, Kane, Lake, McHenry, Politics, Property Taxes, School Districts, Springfield, Taxes, Topics Of Interest | Leave a Comment »

Another sound reason for residents to vote for Hills and McLaughlin

November 1, 2026 by Barrington Hills Observer

State Rep. Martin “Marty” McLaughlin and State Sen. Darby Hills are endorsed by the Chicago Tribune and a very large number of elected officials in their respective Districts.

According to their candidate campaign websites, State Senator Darby Hills and Representative Martin McLaughlin have the endorsements of the Mayors or Village Presidents in their Districts of:

Barrington Hills, Barrington, South Barrington, Lake Barrington, Port Barrington, Algonquin, Lake in the Hills, Libertyville, Island Lake, Volo and Wauconda.

Additionally, Hills is endorsed by the mayors of Long Grove and Tower Lakes. McLaughlin has the vote of the mayors of North Barrington, Cary and Hoffman Estates as well as former elected officials.

Contrast this with the campaign websites of Nabeela Syed and Maria Peterson, who boast the endorsements of the Mayors or Village Presidents of: Zero, Zip, Zilch and Nada!

What does this tell you? This explains exactly why Pritzker, PACs, Unions and Democrats have bankrolled their campaigns with millions of dollars in efforts to avert your attention.

Vote wisely. Vote for Marty McLaughlin and Darby Hills!

Related: “A sound reason for Barrington Hills residents to vote for McLaughlin and Hills,” “Who really funds Nabeela Syed?”

Editorial note: The minute a list is posted, a sin of omission is likely committed. Please notify us if additions are needed.

Posted in Barrington Education Association, Chicago Tribune, Cost of Living, Data Center, Deception, Democratic Socialists of America, Elections, Ethics, Fat Bastard, Fools and their money, Illinois Federation of Teachers, Look For The Union Label, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Property Taxes, School Districts, Springfield, Taxes, Unions | Leave a Comment »

Who really funds Nabeela Syed?

October 31, 2026 by Barrington Hills Observer

This week’s Reveille: The race between Nabeela Syed and Darby Hills for Illinois Senate District 26. Jeanne breaks down nearly $1.7 million in reported contributions from unions and Democratic leaders to Syed, and Syed’s campaign promises vs. her legislative voting record in the IL State House.

By Jeanne Ives | Breakthrough Ideas

“Nabeela Syed was only 23 when she was elected as a state rep. She went from college at the University of California, Berkeley, to running for office with a short stint as a digital strategist for an activist NGO.

She’s been celebrated by the press mostly for her identity. The Indian Express in 2022 said her victory was noteworthy in part because she is young, a first-generation Asian American, and a hijab-wearing Muslim woman.

Syed is a political climber, though. After 4 years in the House, she’s now running for State Senate. She says property taxes are too high, that she’ll fight for small business, and supports efforts to eliminate wasteful spending.

Her votes, though, show the opposite is true. There’s been no property tax relief, and she’s voted for millions in tax increases and the highest budgets in state history. She’s just another progressive Democrat bought and paid for by the unions and the Democrat Party in Illinois.

Over just the last 10 days, Senate Democrats have pushed over $1 million into Syed’s campaign.

Pritzker gave her another $10,000 and a teachers union PAC $40,000. Last quarter, her campaign took in nearly $1.7 million in donations from unions and Democrat leaders. They want this seat.

Also backing Syed is the National Korean American Service and Education Consortium. Their goal is building Asian American and immigrant power. And they want to fight for the civil, immigrant, and human rights for low-income, undocumented, queer, young people, seniors, and women.

Well, where does that leave the average Jane and Joe in Palatine and Barrington, Illinois? If you really want to know who your state rep or senator will represent when elected to office, just find out who’s funding their campaign.

Fortunately, the Chicago Tribune had the common sense to endorse Darby Hills for Senate District 26. She’ll represent Americans and taxpayers.

I’m Jeanne Ives.”
breakthrough-ideas.com

The Facebook reel of this post can be found here. Please share it!

Related: “Editorial: Darby Hills for Illinois 26th Senate District,” “A sound reason for Barrington Hills residents to vote for McLaughlin and Hills”

Posted in BACOG, Breakthrough Ideas, Cost of Living, Democratic Socialists of America, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Elections, Ethics, Fools and their money, Guest Essay, Immigration, Look For The Union Label, OP/Ed, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Property Taxes, Springfield, Taxes, Transparency | 1 Comment »

Older Posts »