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District 220 board members violated campaign policies, investigation finds

July 28, 2026 by Barrington Hills Observer

Leah Collister-Lazzari

By Steve Zalusky | Daily Herald

Two Barrington Area Unit School District 220 board members violated board policies by posting images of students, district property and the district’s chess piece logo on campaign social media sites, an outside investigator determined.

Board members Leah Collister-Lazzari and Barry Altshuler have since deactivated those campaign Facebook pages.

Barry Altshuler

The same investigation cleared board President Sandra Ficke-Bradford of alleged wrongdoing for a photo of her in front of Barrington High School that appeared in a 2025 Daily Herald article.

The school board on Thursday accepted the results of the investigation, which was conducted by the law firm of Robbins Schwartz. None of Collister-Lazzari, Altshuler or Ficke-Bradford addressed the report during the meeting.

Collister-Lazzari and Ficke-Bradford later declined to comment on the findings.

“I admit that I’m not a perfect person,” Altshuler said after the meeting. “I’m just not sure it had to go the way it went.”

The investigation was sparked by a complaint made anonymously under the school district’s Uniform Grievance Procedure.

The investigation report said Collister-Lazzari stated that in 2023 she followed what was district protocol at the time in using the school district’s logo in campaign materials.

Report continues here.

Related: “Proposed Policy Change Would Strip Anonymous Formal Grievances in Barrington District 220,” “Reminder: CUSD 220 Board of Education meeting tonight,” “CUSD 220 Board delivers second (slappier) slap on the wrist to member Erin Chan Ding,” “CUSD 220 Board of Education public comments we applaud,” “Special District 220 Board of Education meeting Monday,” “Over $100,000 in Special Interest Funding gifted to 220 Board member’s campaign in failed bid for State Rep job,” “New Evidence of Chan Ding’s Policy Violations and Conflicts of Interest,” “The D220 Board of Ed gets another ‘F’ in accountability & transparency,” “The Real Issue in Barrington 220 Isn’t Parking or Levies — It’s Leadership Culture,” “BOARD OF ED VOTES, MEMBER CHAN DING MADE FLAGRANT POLICY VIOLATIONS – Part 2,” “BOARD OF ED VOTES, MEMBER CHAN DING MADE FLAGRANT POLICY VIOLATIONS,” “District 220’s Lack of Transparency (Updated),” “District 220’s Lack of Transparency” and “Change.org Petition: ‘For the Resignation of Erin Chan Ding ~ D220 Resources are Not for Political Campaigns’”

Posted in 220, Barrington Education Association, Board of Education, Daily Herald, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Elections, Illinois Federation of Teachers, Politics, Property Taxes, School Districts, Unions, What the Ficke (Bradford)? | 1 Comment »

Illinois sales taxes near top in U.S.

July 29, 2026 by Barrington Hills Observer

Chicago will have one of the highest big-city rates in the country when the transit tax inches up Aug. 1.

By Adam Gorcyca | Illinois Policy Institute

Illinois’ high sales taxes are about to get higher in the Chicago area.

Across Illinois, the combined state and average local sales tax is 8.98%, according to the Tax Foundation. That’s eighth-highest in the U.S. and highest in the Midwest.

The state did end its 1% grocery tax Jan. 1, though more than half the local governments in Illinois have one.

For over a decade Illinois has been one of the nation’s least competitive states in terms of sales tax. The last time Illinois placed outside the top 10 highest sales tax rates was 2013.

Of the states bordering Illinois, Missouri has the highest combined average rate, but it’s still over a half a percentage point lower than Illinois’.

Wisconsin in particular stands out in comparison with Illinois, with a combined average rate of 5.72%, and Kentucky is not far behind, at 6%.

Article continues here.

Posted in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Illinois Policy Institute, Immigration, Look For The Union Label, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Property Taxes, Springfield, Taxes, The Chicago Way, Unions | Leave a Comment »

Village Board of Trustees meet tonight

July 27, 2026 by Barrington Hills Observer

The Village Board of Trustees will be conducting their regular monthly meeting this evening beginning at 6:30 PM. Topics on their agenda include:

  • [Vote] Accept the Annual Financial Report for Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2025 – Eccezion
  • [Vote] Resolution Approving the 2026 Stormwater Management Program Plan (SMPP) and Authorizing its use for the Collection of Data Necessary to Prepare the Village’s Annual Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System(MS4) Report Resolution 26 –
  • Land We Love Run America250 5K/10K or 2-Mile Walk Summary

A copy of their agenda, including info on listening to the meeting, can be viewed and downloaded here.

Posted in Aunt Blabby, BACOG, Big Red, Board of Health, Building Department, Clown Car, Conflict of interest, Deception, Dumb and Dumber, ePacket agendas, Equestrian Commission, Ethics, Finance Committee, Folds of Honor, Insurance Committee, Intergovernmental agreements (IGA), Lennie, OMA, One Barrington Hills, Pension Funding, Plan Commission, Plum Farm development, Police Pension Board, Politics, Property Taxes, Public Safety, Real Estate, Riding Club Commission, Road construction, Roads & Bridges Committee, Topics Of Interest, Transparency, Unions, VBHPD, Village Attorney, Village Board, Village Clerk, Village Code, Village Director of Administration, Village Engineer, Village Government, Village President, Village Treasurer, Yabba Dabba Doo, Zoning Board | Leave a Comment »

Teen dies after being ejected in rollover crash that left SUV’s engine detached from vehicle in Barrington Hills

July 26, 2026 by Barrington Hills Observer

Police investigate a rollover crash that resulted in severe damage and an occupant being ejected and killed at Brinker Road and Hills and Dales Road in Barrington Hills Saturday morning. | Photo: Nick Rusin

By Sam Borcia | Lake & McHenry County Scanner

A teenager died after being ejected in a crash that left an SUV rolled over, resulting in its engine becoming detached from the vehicle, and two others hospitalized in Barrington Hills Saturday morning.

The Barrington Hills Police Department and Barrington Countryside Fire Protection District responded around 2:23 a.m. Saturday to the area of Brinker Road and Hills and Dales Road in Barrington Hills for a vehicle crash with injuries.

Police investigate a rollover crash that resulted in severe damage and an occupant being ejected and killed at Brinker Road and Hills and Dales Road in Barrington Hills Saturday morning. | Photo: Nick Rusin

Officers arrived and found a male victim ejected from the vehicle, according to Barrington Hills Police Department Public Information Officer William Walsh.

Emergency crews began lifesaving measures but the victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police investigate a rollover crash that resulted in severe damage and an occupant being ejected and killed at Brinker Road and Hills and Dales Road in Barrington Hills Saturday morning. | Photo: Nick Rusin

A preliminary investigation showed the Mercedes SUV was traveling northbound on Brinker Road, Walsh said.

The Mercedes left the roadway for unknown reasons and struck several trees.

Report continues here.

Posted in Accidents, BCFPD, Lake & McHenry County Scanner, Police Reports, VBHPD | Leave a Comment »

IL can’t give cheaper college tuition to illegal immigrants, judge rules

July 26, 2026 by Barrington Hills Observer

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, flanked by Illinois Senate President Don Harmon, left, and House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, right | Office of the Governor

By Jonathan Bilyk | Legal Newsline

EAST ST. LOUIS — Illinois can’t give illegal immigrants special in-state discounts on college tuition or special grants to attend the state’s public colleges and universities, a federal judge has ruled.

On July 24, U.S. District Judge David W. Dugan ruled Illinois Democratic lawmakers and Gov. JB Pritzker violated federal law and the U.S. Constitution by enacting laws specifically designed to allow illegal immigrants to attend Illinois public colleges and universities at the same tuition rate normally reserved for U.S. citizens and legal non-citizens who live in Illinois.

In the ruling, Dugan said the Illinois laws, known as the RISE Act and the Illinois DREAM Act, illegally give illegal immigrants state educational benefits that are not also extended to U.S. citizens who live outside Illinois.

“Put simply, U.S. citizens or nationals must be treated no worse than illegal aliens,” Dugan wrote in the ruling.

Following the decision, Steven D. Weinhoeft, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, praised Dugan’s ruling.

“Illinois sought to incentivize illegal immigration on the taxpayer’s dime by treating illegal aliens better than U.S. citizens living in other states, in clear violation of federal law,” said Weinhoeft. “This ruling enforces the statute Congress wrote and stops the State from putting illegal aliens ahead of American citizens.”

The decision marks a big win for Trump administration in their legal campaign to strike down so-called “sanctuary” or “welcoming” laws and policies in Illinois and other states.

Article continues here.

Posted in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Education, Immigration, Legal Newsline, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Springfield, Taxes, Unions | 2 Comments »

Hough Street (Route 59) Lane Reductions Begin Tomorrow

July 26, 2026 by Barrington Hills Observer

“Beginning Monday, July 27, Hough Street (Route 59) will be reduced to one lane in each direction south of Northwest Highway as work begins on the next phase of the Route 14 underpass project. This stage includes construction of the culvert that will carry the relocated Flint Creek.

Traffic changes include:

  • The northbound left turn lane from Hough Street onto Route 14 will be temporarily shortened due to adjacent construction. Consider alternative routes to proceed westbound on Route 14 to avoid traffic delays.
  • Lions Drive at Hough Street will be temporarily closed. Barrington Park District visitors can still access Lions Drive from Route 14.

This is the first stage of Hough Street construction, and the temporary traffic pattern is expected to remain in place for at least one month. During this time, the contractor will also evaluate opportunities to complete additional work as part of this stage, which could increase the duration of these lane reductions.

A traffic map is attached and shown below. Drivers, please plan for delays and use caution when traveling through the area.

Stay updated on the Route 14 underpass project by visiting the dedicated project website at us14underpass.com and subscribing to receive email alerts.”

Posted in Aunt Blabby, Community Alerts, Real Estate, Traffic, U.S. Route 14 Underpass | Leave a Comment »

1 killed, 2 others hospitalized after pre-dawn crash in Barrington Hills

July 25, 2026 by Barrington Hills Observer

By Marni Pyke |Daily Herald

Police said speed appeared to be a “contributing factor” in an early morning crash that killed a 17-year-old and injured two other people Saturday in Barrington Hills.

Police responded around 2:20 a.m. and found a teenage male had been ejected from a vehicle near Brinker and Hills and Dales roads.

Officers “began lifesaving measures however the victim was pronounced deceased,” authorities said.

The Cook County medical examiner’s office identified the 17-year-old as Colin M. Newman of Barrington.

Two other occupants of the vehicle were taken to area hospitals. Additional details are being withheld until family members have been notified, police said.

Report continues here.

Posted in Accidents, BCFPD, Daily Herald, VBHPD | Leave a Comment »

Deadly crash on Brinker Road overnight

July 25, 2026 by Barrington Hills Observer

Posted in Accidents, BCFPD, Traffic, VBHPD | Leave a Comment »

Sales tax hike to hit Cook, collar counties on Aug. 1

July 25, 2026 by Barrington Hills Observer

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square

Consumers in six Illinois counties will be soon be paying higher sales taxes.

Transit funding legislation signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker last December provided for the 0.25% increase to take effect on Aug. 1 in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry and Will counties.

The tax hike is projected to generate $478 million a year as part of the $1.5 billion in annual transit funding provided in Senate Bill 2111.

State Rep. Steven Reick, R-Woodstock, said suburban taxpayers are bailing out the Chicago Transit Authority.

“We’re giving them a lifeline of money that we’re not getting anything in return for,” Reick said.

The Center Square asked Reick if higher taxes might drive people out of the area.

“Here in McHenry County, we’re obviously on the border with Wisconsin. I think people are going to make economic choices to drive up to Walworth, in my case, to buy gas and things like that,” Reick said.

SB 2111 also gave the Illinois Tollway Board the power to raise tolls.

Before the bill passed, state Rep. Dan Ugaste, R-Geneva, said he appreciated the desire for a state-of-the-art mass transit system.

“I don’t know how, though, we justify spending more money than we need after $2 billion of tax increases in the last few years,” Ugaste said.

Report continues here.

Posted in BOHICA, Commodius Maximus, Cost of Living, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Fat Bastard, Immigration, Look For The Union Label, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Taxes, The Center Square, Unions | Leave a Comment »

Forest Preserves of Cook County July 2026 Newsletter

July 25, 2026 by Barrington Hills Observer

The wandering glider (Pantala flavescens) is the most widespread dragonfly in the world, found on every continent except Antarctica. Its long-distance flights can span thousands of miles across oceans and continents. | Wandering Glider, Photo by: Carolyn M.

In this Issue:

  • Forest Preserves Seeks Best Nature Images as Photo Contest Begins July 31
  • A Getaway That’s Not Far Away: Northwest Cook County
  • Floating Wetland Pilot Launches at Schiller Pond
  • Try This! Go Mothing to Celebrate National Moth Week; Red, White & Bloom: A Star-Spangled Scavenger Hunt; 2027 Indoor Event Permits Available Beginning August 17; Experience Chicago’s Living Habitat with Openlands; Learn About the Forest Preserve Foundation
  • Upcoming Events & Programs
  • Volunteer Opportunities: Together for Trees

Find the July FPDCC newsletter here.

Posted in Crabtree Nature Center, FPDCC, Horizon Farm | Leave a Comment »

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