Things To Do This Weekend

Patch has rounded up a few events that are taking place around Lemont this weekend.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -  There are plenty of ways to keep up on Lemont news:

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Editor's Corner

How To Post Your Garage and Yard Sales on Patch

Whether you're jettisoning junk or in search of treasure, Lemont Patch is the place to go.

It's May, which means most of us have made a dent in our spring cleaning -- which also means garage and yard sale season is in full swing. Here at Lemont Patch we pride ourselves on local, useful information. That includes who has books for a bargain, a dresser in their driveway or some clothes laid out on the lawn. Posting information about Lemont garage sales is easy ... and even better yet, it's free. You must be registered on Patch and logged in to enter an event, so do that first at lemont.patch.com/login. (If you're signing up for a new account, remember that our Terms of Use do not allow aliases.) Then click on our "Events" tab on the top of the page and on "Put it on the calendar" near the top right corner. Or just go to lemont.…

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Political Rewind: Three State Races Key for Republicans

It's always good to be caught up on state politics. Here's an easy guide to what happened this week.

Editor's Note: This article was created by aggregating news articles from Illinois Statehouse News that were written by various Illinois Statehouse News reporters. March primaries: Crystal ball for GOP or test of IL candidates To hear Adam Andrzejewski tell it, the Republican primary this spring is not a contest between candidates, but a contest for the heart of the Illinois Republican Party.  Andrzejewski ran for, and lost, the GOP nomination for governor in 2010. However, since then, he has become the face, and in some cases the checkbook, of Illinois' new conservative wing.   "The true split in the Illinois Republican Party is the establishment, business as usual Republicans versus real Republican reformers," Andrzejewski said.   …

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Political Rewind: State's Promise to Pay Not a Guarantee

It's always good to be caught up on state politics. Here's an easy guide to what happened this week.

Editor's Note: This article was created by aggregating news articles from Illinois Statehouse News that were written by various Illinois Statehouse News reporters. Cost of tax breaks up as support wanes A tax break package meant to boost a business community hit by the Great Recession could cost the state $848 million in just three years. The only funding source specifically outlined to date for the package is a change to the Illinois tax code that would bring in $571 million next year and $354 million in 2013 before running dry.  At the same time, the provisions would cost more and more. By 2014, the state would face $848 million in lost tax revenue, a number that would only grow.  But that’s assuming no significant jobs are added or …

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Political Rewind: Tax Deal Aims at Preventing Companies From Leaving the State

It's always good to be caught up on state politics. Here's an easy guide to what happened this week.

Editor's Note: This article was created by aggregating news articles from Illinois Statehouse News that were written by various Illinois Statehouse News reporters. Saving jobs focus of brewing Illinois tax deal Illinois lawmakers have the weekend to review the framework of a tax incentive package that tries to balance help for a handful of big companies in the state with broad relief for small and family businesses. Gov. Pat Quinn and the four legislative leaders Friday agreed on a deal, which lawmakers say they hope will keep the CME Group and Sears from leaving the state.  Details of the tax incentive package were first reported by Rich Miller on his nonpartisan political blog Capitol Fax, and include a proposal to "decouple Illinois" …

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Vote Now: Pick Patch's Athlete of the Week

Vote for your favorite prep sports athlete in the southwest suburbs or write in an athlete you think deserves recognition.

Be heard by picking our Patch Athlete of the Week of the southwest for the week ending Oct. 30. Vote for one of the following (or write in your own candidate in the comments): Bolingbrook High School: Aaron Bailey, junior, quarterback. Bailey's second-straight nomination comes on the heels of his team's 33-14 win over Neuqua Valley in the first round of the playoffs. Bailey scored four touchdowns and rushed for 300 yards on 16 carries (18.75 average). Downers Grove South: A.J. Simoncelli, senior, quarterback. Simoncelli recorded what could be his best performance ever in a 37-24 playoff-opening victory against Naperville North. Simoncelli completed 17-of-23 passes for 230 yards and two touchdowns. He threw zero interceptions and completed …

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Political Rewind: No More Pension Checks for Blagojevich

It's always good to be caught up on state politics. Here's an easy guide to what happened this week.

Editor's Note: This article was created by aggregating news articles from Illinois Statehouse News that were written by various Illinois Statehouse News reporters. Not a good week to be an Illinois governor This week didn’t hold a lot of good news for Illinois governors, past and present.  The legislature bucked Gov. Pat Quinn on several hot-button issues and moved to prevent former Gov.Rod Blagojevich from receiving his state retirement checks during its first week of a two-week fall veto session. Illinois Supreme Court: State money cannot be special The Illinois Supreme Court may have opened the door for Gov. Pat Quinn and state lawmakers to grab hundreds of millions of dollars for the next state budget. In a 6-to-1 decision Thursday, …

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Political Rewind: Half of Illinois High Schoolers Not Reading at Grade Level

It's always good to be caught up on state politics. Here's an easy guide to what happened this week.

Editor's Note: This article was created by aggregating news articles from Illinois Statehouse News that were written by various Illinois Statehouse News reporters. Half of Illinois high schoolers not reading at grade level Half of Illinois' high school students cannot read or solve math problems at grade level, but state school leaders are not blaming the students or teachers. They are blaming the federal program No Child Left Behind, or NCLB. Illinois State Superintendent Chris Koch and State Board of Education Chairman Gery Chico on Thursday unveiled the dismal results from last spring's standardized tests.  Under NCLB guidelines, 85 percent of students must be proficient in reading and math by 2011. The bar is raised to 100 percent by …

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Ken

6:50 am on Thursday, November 3, 2011

Interesting study. Education majors scored higher on the LSAT than Pre-Law and Criminal Justice majors. Majors designed to prepare students for the test.   more ›

Blagojevich Jury Forewoman Sheds Light on Decision-Making Process

Connie Wilson, who led the jury that found Rod Blagojevich guilty of 17 counts of federal corruption, said the jury relied heavily on timelines and photo boards and re-listened to every second of FBI tape before coming to a decision.

Connie Wilson recalls Rod Blagojevich playing on her love for music while she sat on the jury that ultimately found the former governor guilty of 17 of 20 federal corruption charges in June. Wilson said the former Illinois governor did the same for the librarian on the jury. And the Red Sox fan. And so on. Blagojevich, in an attempt to gain sympathy from jurors, was trying to connect to them on a personal level. It may have been the biggest reason that 11 out of 12 jurors were women—it was believed that they would have been more compassionate towards a father and family man, Wilson said. Those details and more were shared with a group of area residents Monday as Wilson discussed her experiences while on the Blagojevich retrial jury at the …

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