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McHenry County Blog

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About

Cal Skinner

This is a journal of news and opinion designed to bring to light matters of public interest and to encourage public participation in the governmental process. Emphasis will be on McHenry County, but Illinois state news will be covered. Articles and photos are copyrighted and may not be reproduced without explicit written permission.

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About Cal Skinner

About Cal Skinner
Email Cal Skinner

Recent Posts

  • Indictment Charges Kickbacks to Aurora School Board President October 29, 2026
  • Eight Miles High Same Sex Groping October 29, 2026
  • Six McHenry County Acres Purchased by American Indian Center October 29, 2026
  • Chris Lauzen Makes Last Pitch for Kane County Treasurer Re-Election October 29, 2026
  • Kane County Democrats Go All In Attacking Trump October 29, 2026
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Indictment Charges Kickbacks to Aurora School Board President

Cal SkinnerOctober 29, 2026October 29, 2026

From the U.S. Attorney: Federal Indictment Charges Former President of Suburban Chicago School District Board of Education With Engaging in $1.3 Million Honest Services Fraud Scheme The former President of the East Aurora, Ill. School District 131 Board of Education directed $1.3 […]

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Eight Miles High Same Sex Groping

Cal SkinnerOctober 29, 2026October 29, 2026

From the U.S. Attorney: MAN CONVICTED OF SEXUALLY ABUSING FELLOW PASSENGER ABOARD INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT TO CHICAGO CHICAGO — A man was found guilty in federal court today of sexually abusing a fellow passenger aboard an international flight to Chicago. JOSIP PASIC, 85, […]

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Six McHenry County Acres Purchased by American Indian Center

Cal SkinnerOctober 29, 2026October 29, 2026

From Open Lands: American Indian Center acquires McHenry County property to reconnect Chicago’s Native community with the land  CHICAGO, IL –The American Indian Center of Chicago (AIC) has acquired 6 acres in McHenry County, creating a dedicated place where Chicago’s Native community […]

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Chris Lauzen Makes Last Pitch for Kane County Treasurer Re-Election

Cal SkinnerOctober 29, 2026October 29, 2026

From the campaign of Kane county Treasurer Chris Lauzen: Your tax dollars are on Tuesday’s ballot As this election approaches, I want to take a moment to thank you. Some of you have been with me since 1992, when I first ran […]

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Kane County Democrats Go All In Attacking Trump

Cal SkinnerOctober 29, 2026October 28, 2026

From the Kane Coiunty Democratic Party: I listened to the paragraphs before and after. It is clear to me that Trump was sayinig ti could happen to either city.

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Mexican Arrested by Harvard Police on Child Porn Gets Three Years for Illegal Entry to U.S.

Cal SkinnerOctober 28, 2026October 28, 2026

From the U.S. Attorney: ILLEGAL ALIEN SENTENCED TO THREE YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON FOR ILLEGALLY RE-ENTERING UNITED STATES AFTER MULTIPLE DEPORTATIONS An illegal alien who was previously convicted of sexually assaulting a minor and attempting to possess child pornography has been sentenced […]

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Illinois Democrats Signing Letter of Support for Ilhan Omar, Only One from McHenry County Did Not

Cal SkinnerOctober 28, 2026October 28, 2026

Foiund by AI The Illinois Democratic representatives who signed the Jayapal-led letter of support for Representative Ilhan Omar are: The two Democratic Party lawmakers did not sign the letter are:

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Democratic Party County Board Member John Collins Bulks Up His Campaign Account

Cal SkinnerOctober 28, 2026October 28, 2026

From a Friend of McHenry County Blog comes this information about this fundraising, which is parallel to what ambitioius Members of Congress do: John Collins Uses PAC to Promote Democrats Democratic McHenry County Board member John Collins is not up for election […]

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Illinois’ Braidwood, Byron, Clinton, Dresden, LaSalle, and Quad Cities Nuclear & Other Plants Will Benefit from $5 Billion Federal Infusion

Cal SkinnerOctober 28, 2026October 28, 2026

From Congressman Darin LaHood: LaHood Joins U.S. Secretary of Energy Wright and EDF Director Beard to Announce $5 Billion Investment in Nuclear Fleets and Lower Costs for Families LaHood Joins U.S. Secretary of Energy Wright and EDF Director Beard to Announce $5 […]

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After Endorsing Pritzker, Former GOP House Minority Leader Reactivates His PAC

Cal SkinnerOctober 28, 2026October 28, 2026

From a Friend of McHenry County Blog: Jim Durkin Reactivates PAC, Takes Thousands of Dollars from Insurance and Energy Companies A political action committee called “Citizens for Durkin” chaired by former Illinois House Minority Leader Jim Durkin quietly reactivated in August of […]

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GOP U.S. Senate Candidate Don Tracy Reminds Voters of Opponent F#&K Trump Ad

Cal SkinnerOctober 28, 2026October 29, 2026

The Republican candidate doesn’t have enough money to put this ad on TV, so unless you see it on social media, below is the place to find it: This is the message that led to Julila Stratton’s Drmocratic Party nomination for U.S. […]

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Randi Freese Staff Keeps Another Creep Off the Streets

Cal SkinnerOctober 28, 2026October 28, 2026

From the State’s Attorney: CRYSTAL LAKE MAN ACCUSED OF REPEATED SEXUAL ABUSE OF MINOR ORDERED DETAINED PENDING TRIAL McHenry County State’s Attorney Randi L. Freese announces that Andrew Franklin, 43, of Crystal Lake, Illinois, had been ordered detained pending trial after being […]

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County Budget Shows No Deficit

Cal SkinnerOctober 28, 2026October 28, 2026

From McHenry County: County submits balanced FY2027 budget for review WOODSTOCK, Ill. – The McHenry County Board has submitted a balanced 2027 budget for public review. The $297.06 million budget and the $70.49 million tax levy were put on 30-day review at […]

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Cary School Board Resignation Offers Replacement Opportunity for Citizens

Cal SkinnerOctober 28, 2026October 28, 2026

Cary Grade School Board member Stacey Saulte has left office. The remaining Board members will select her replacement. Below is information from We the People, McHenry County on how to apply: COMMUNITY ALERT DISTRICT 26 SCHOOL BOARD VACANCY The Cary Community Consolidated […]

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Right Turns Only at Miller and Randall Road Intersection Begins Friday

Cal SkinnerOctober 28, 2026October 28, 2026

From the McHenry County Department of Transportation: Miller Road at Randall Road to Reopen with Right-In/Right-Out restrictions on Friday, October 30th WOODSTOCK, IL – The McHenry County Division of Transportation (MCDOT) expects to reopen the intersection of Miller Road and Randall Road […]

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Woodstock Council Candidates

Cal SkinnerOctober 27, 2026October 27, 2026

Below are the hopefuls: The only one I recogonize is Lou Ness, who served one term on the County Board and ran unsuccessfully as a write-in for council two years ago.

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Despite Having Voted for HealthBridge, Which Will Probably Raise Taxes, Incumbents Running for Re-Election in Crystal Lake Unopposed

Cal SkinnerOctober 27, 2026October 27, 2026

The poliltical arena in Crystal Lake remains undisturbed. Mybe “inert” describes the siutation better. Unopposed for re-election are Rumors have it that pponents to the HealthBridge purchase are going to put a referendum on the ballot on the subject, but, since Crystal […]

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Super PAC Goes After Melissa Bean

Cal SkinnerOctober 27, 2026October 27, 2026

Lincoln Legacy PAC has put this ad up: Bean is running against Jennifer Davis of Huntley.

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The Definitive Study of the Depth of Crystal Lake, the Lake

Cal SkinnerOctober 26, 2026October 27, 2026

In 2006, the year in which McHenry County Blog was begun, I noticed boats out on Crystal Lake doing something I had never seeen before. I took some photos, discovered the people in the boats worked for the Illinois Geological Survey and […]

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UPDATE: Route 14 Closed after Nightime Crash FROM SHERIFF

Cal SkinnerOctober 26, 2026October 26, 2026

From the Sheriff: Harvard Man Injured in Two-Vehicle Crash An 18-year-old Harvard man sustained life-threatening injuries following a two-vehicle crash on Saturday, October 24, 2026. At approximately 10:51 p.m., the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office and Harvard Fire Protection District responded to a […]

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Democrats’ Issues in McHenry County Board Races: Trump & Abortion

Cal SkinnerOctober 26, 2026October 26, 2026

Two years ago Crystal Laker John Collins successfully challenge Republican John Reinert. Part of the reason he won centered on mailings with positives for Collins and negatives for Reinert. Reinert did not reply in kind. The other side featured one issue: Trump. […]

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Suggestions for Siting Data Centers

Cal SkinnerOctober 26, 2026October 25, 2026

From Unleasch Prosperity Hotline #1627: A Bipartisan Plan to Build Data Centers Working with former Obama economic advisor Robert Wolf, UP co-founder Steve Moore has developed a five-point plan to build the data centers America needs that is pro-local control, pro-worker, and […]

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Catholic Charities: Follow the Money

Cal SkinnerOctober 26, 2026October 26, 2026

From Jeanne Ives’ Breakthrough Ideas: nfovaticana article, From Dick Durbin to Michael Sacks: Cupich will recognize an abortion-funding donor at a gala for future priests: Cardinal Blase Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago, will participate on October 29 in a gala at which the […]

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State Subsidy Supposed to Bring 3,750 Jobs to Joliet Area

Cal SkinnerOctober 26, 2026October 26, 2026

From The Center Square: 3,750 new manufacturing jobs backed by tax credits announced for Hyundai (The Center Square) – Over recent months, Illinois has announced investments in manufacturing and other industries across the state and the creation of new jobs. Those new […]

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Joe Tirio Argues in Favor of Local Zoning Referendum

Cal SkinnerOctober 25, 2026October 25, 2026

From McHenry County Clerk Joe Tirio: Think Beyond the Election: The Vote That May Affect Us for Generations I sit with Chairman Buehler at every McHenry County Board meeting. It is a great privilege to serve as your County Clerk. However, over […]

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The Fight to Replace State Senator Don DeWitte

Cal SkinnerOctober 25, 2026October 25, 2026

Research by a Friend of McHenry County Blog from the Illinois Sunshine Project: First a look at the financial resources of Democrat Michele Clark: That’s what the Democratic Party candidate has in financial resouces. Below is what the Republican, Danielle Penman, has:

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Comments of a Man Disciplined by the Crystal Lake Library for Pointing Out Disadvantages of Moving the Library to HealthBridge

Cal SkinnerOctober 25, 2026October 25, 2026

Comments made by Tom Miller, not as a part-time Library employee, but as a citizen: Good evening everyone. I’m Bob Miller I’m a 34-year public advocate and citizen of Crystal Lake. “My comments are my own opinions and they do not represent […]

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The Nationalization of Local Politics

Cal SkinnerOctober 25, 2026October 25, 2026

Almost every week 10th Congressional District Republican State Central Committeeman Keith Brin writes a thoughtful piece. This week it is about the Democrats’ obsession with Trump. From the Illinois 10th Round-Up: If Donald Trump Disappeared Tomorrow, What Would Democrats Have Left? WRITTEN […]

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Cost of Raising a Child in Illinois Average

Cal SkinnerOctober 25, 2026October 24, 2026

From Lending Tree comes the information below as displayed by Visual Capitalist: At $245,000, Illnois is less than the national average of $303,418.

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State Senator Craig Wilcox in Electoral Fight of His Life

Cal SkinnerOctober 24, 2026October 24, 2026

A friend of the Blog analyzes the race for the 32nd state Senate district where incumbent Craig Wilcox (R) is facing challenger Karen Battaglia (D): Wilcox vs Battaglia could be a close election Background info Karen Battaglia is leaning into the fact that […]

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Recent Comments

  • Six Democrats Endorsed for McHenry Counrty Board by Personal PAC - McHenry County Blog on Pro-Abortion PAC Gives Kelli Wegener $6,000
  • Despite Having Voted for HealthBridge, Which Will Probably Raise Taxes, Incumbents Running for Re-Election in Crystal Lake Unopposed - McHenry County Blog on Does Anyone But Me Consider It Strange That the Crystal Lake City Council Is Voting on a Tax Increase to Buy HealthBridge While People Can Still File Petitions to Run Against Them?
  • Super PAC Goes After Melissa Bean - McHenry County Blog on Melissa Bean, Beaten for Congress by Joe Walsh, Incorrectly Says She Lost Because of Her Support for Obamacare
  • Democrats’ Issues in McHenry County Board Races: Trump & Abortion - McHenry County Blog on Republican County Board Candidate Dan Hickey Puts Hand over Heart During Pledge of Allegiance, Democratic Opponent Gloria Van Hof Does Not
  • Does Anyone But Me Consider It Strange That the Crystal Lake City Council Is Voting on a Tax Increase to Buy HealthBridge While People Can Still File Petitions to Run Against Them? - McHenry County Blog on What the Public Can See About Crystal Lake’s Purchase of HealthBridge on Tuesday Night
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