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McHenry County Blog

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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

  • $35,000+ Fine for Property Owner Storing Boats, Cars, Parts, Machinery, Building Materials, etc. February 24, 2026
  • Tourism Abortion in Illinois February 24, 2026
  • Kane County Citizens Against Waste Compare 33rd District GOP Senate Candidates February 24, 2026
  • $150,000 Commissioners Promoting Minority/Woman Business Failing February 24, 2026
  • State Government Goes Woke February 24, 2026
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$35,000+ Fine for Property Owner Storing Boats, Cars, Parts, Machinery, Building Materials, etc.

Cal SkinnerFebruary 24, 2026February 24, 2026

From McHenry County: McHenry County Prevails in UDO Violation Lawsuit Against Non-Compliant Property Owner WOODSTOCK, Ill. – A McHenry County property owner must pay more than $35,000 in fines after a court found him in repeated violation of the Unified Development Ordinance […]

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Tourism Abortion in Illinois

Cal SkinnerFebruary 24, 2026February 24, 2026

From the Rockford Register Star: High demand fuels partnership to support abortion access in Illinois Surrounded by states with abortion restrictions, Illinois has become a destination for patients from across the country since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in […]

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Kane County Citizens Against Waste Compare 33rd District GOP Senate Candidates

Cal SkinnerFebruary 24, 2026February 24, 2026

We haven’t looked at the Republican race for State Senate to replace Don DeWitte. Here is some information from the Kane County Citizens Against Waste:

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$150,000 Commissioners Promoting Minority/Woman Business Failing

Cal SkinnerFebruary 24, 2026February 23, 2026

From The Center Square (and below, how it was a one-woman operation): Illinois diversity leaders dodge questions as they slip farther from goals (The Center Square) — Illinois’ highly paid diversity commissioners dodged in-person questions from The Center Square last week about […]

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State Government Goes Woke

Cal SkinnerFebruary 24, 2026February 24, 2026

An employee in the division I used to manage sent this email: It’s from “She/her” Shane (Burke) Hurd.

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Constituent Input Leads to Darby Hills’ Legislation

Cal SkinnerFebruary 24, 2026February 23, 2026

From State Senator Darby Hills: You asked. We acted. I’ve heard from parents across our district who are worried about the rise in nitrous oxide misuse and the impact it’s having on young people. As a mom and as your State Senator, […]

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Moody’s Again Gives McHenry County High Bond Rating for 17th Straight Year

Cal SkinnerFebruary 24, 2026February 23, 2026

From McHenry County: Moody’s Re-Affirms McHenry County’s Top Aaa BondRating WOODSTOCK, Ill. – McHenry County has once again been assigned the top Aaa bond rating by Moody’s Investors Service. Moody’s first awarded McHenry County its top Aaa bond rating in 2010, and […]

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DeWitte Expounds on Pritzker’s Budget

Cal SkinnerFebruary 24, 2026February 23, 2026

From State Senator Don DeWitte: Governor J.B. Pritzker’s budget address last week drew sharp criticism because it was short on substance and heavy on finger-pointing. Under the Governor’s proposal, government spending would exceed $56 billion, a new record-high for Illinois, and includes […]

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Man Found on the Side of Rt. 176 iin Prairie Grove Identified

Cal SkinnerFebruary 23, 2026February 23, 2026

From the Coroner: McHenry County Coroner, Dr. Michael Rein, announced that his office was contacted on February 21, 2026, by McHenry County Sheriff’s Office around 8:00 am to investigate the death of Jon Surch, age 57 of Crystal Lake. The decedent was […]

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Man Found in Wonder Lake Identified

Cal SkinnerFebruary 23, 2026February 23, 2026

From the Coroner: McHenry County Coroner, Dr. Michael Rein, announced that his office was contacted on February 21, 2026, by McHenry County Sheriff’s Office around 5 PM to investigate the death of Michael Giba, age 50, of Wonder Lake. The decedent was […]

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More Teen Drivers Found with Pot Not in an Approved Container

Cal SkinnerFebruary 23, 2026February 23, 2026

From the Crystal Lake Police:

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New Pharmaceutical Production Announces for North Chicago

Cal SkinnerFebruary 23, 2026February 23, 2026

From the Pritzker Administration: Governor Pritzker Announces Major AbbVie Manufacturing Expansion Company’s investment will create 300 new jobs in Chicagoland region  NORTH CHICAGO – Governor JB Pritzker, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), and the Illinois Economic Development Corporation (Illinois […]

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Ness Relates Supreme Court Decision to Illinois Constituents

Cal SkinnerFebruary 23, 2026February 23, 2026

From State Rep. Sue Ness: Ness Responds to Supreme Court Decision Halting Trump Tariff Plans CARPENTERSVILLE, Ill. – State Rep. Suzanne Ness, D-Carpentersville, released the following statement in response to Friday morning’s U.S. Supreme Court decision to strike down significant portions of President […]

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Senate Democratic Party Newsletter Says Budget Will Have Bi-Partisan Conservations

Cal SkinnerFebruary 23, 2026February 23, 2026

From the Senate Democrats comes this lead article: Senate Democrats begin FY 27 budget process SPRINGFIELD – Members of the Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus heard the governor’s state budget proposal Wednesday and will now begin bipartisan, bicameral conversations to bring forth a balanced […]

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Sosnowski introduces Bill to Base Assessed Valuation on Original Purchase Price

Cal SkinnerFebruary 23, 2026February 23, 2026

From State Rep. Joe Sosnowski: Sosnowski files new Property Tax Relief legislation  SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Addressing the #1 affordability issue facing Illinois homeowners, new legislation has been filed by State Representative Joe Sosnowski (R-Rockford) to stop large property tax increases.  His proposal is […]

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9th District Democrat Mike Simmons Goes After Laura Fine

Cal SkinnerFebruary 23, 2026February 23, 2026

From Democratic Party 9th congressional district hopeful Mike Simmons:

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In 9th District Leading Candidate Daniel Biss Attacked by Super PAC Supporting Laura Fine

Cal SkinnerFebruary 23, 2026February 23, 2026

“Elect Chicago Women,” a popup PAC, reported aligned with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, is running an attack ad against Daniel Biss.. It can be seen on X. The link is below: .https://x.com/FrankCalabrese/status/2025263943187341445

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Stratton Hit with Negative TV Ad by Raja

Cal SkinnerFebruary 23, 2026February 23, 2026

Keeping up with television ads in the U.S. Senate race, here’s the latest–an attack from Raja Krishnamoorthi on JB Pritizker’s favorite Juliana Stratton:

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Bill Foster Invites McHenry County College Board Chair Suzanne Hoban to State of the Union Speech

Cal SkinnerFebruary 23, 2026February 23, 2026

But, it isn’t because of her chairwomanship of the junior college. Politico Illinois reports “Congressman Bill Foster (IL-11) has invited Suzanne Hoban, founder and executive director of the Family Health Partnership Clinic in McHenry County.” Meanwell Algonquin Township’s Member of Congress Jan Schakowsky plans to […]

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Pritzker Has Fun with Trump over U.S. Supreme Court Tariff Decision

Cal SkinnerFebruary 23, 2026February 23, 2026

Governor JB Pritzker didn’t put it in a press release. Just posted this invoice on X: Cute.

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DeVore v. Mendrick

Cal SkinnerFebruary 23, 2026February 23, 2026

In the Republican gubernatorial race, 2022 GOP Attorney General candidate Tom DeVore is supporting Darren Bailey. A story has been floating around about supposed misconduct that was picked up by the Daily Herald on February 18th. Recently, this internet exchange between DeVore […]

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LITH School Problems

Cal SkinnerFebruary 23, 2026February 23, 2026

From the Lake in the Hills Police:

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Juliana Stratton’s F-Bomb-Laden TV Commercial Not Mentioned in USA Today’s Article on Coarse Political Language

Cal SkinnerFebruary 23, 2026February 23, 2026

USA Today has a very, very long article on bad words in its Sunday edition. Although it would have been a prime example, Juliana Stratton’s television ad did not make the story.

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Fox River Grove Cuts Permit Fee for Basic Improvements to Zero

Cal SkinnerFebruary 23, 2026February 20, 2026

Fox River Grove News Update Home improvements in Fox River Grove are about to be more affordable. The Village Board approved an ordinance this week that eliminates all permit fees for “basic” building projects—defined as those requiring two or fewer inspections. Effective […]

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Questionnaires from Two GOP U.S. Senate Candidates: R. Cary Capparelli and Don Tracy

Cal SkinnerFebruary 22, 2026February 21, 2026

Republished with permission of the candidates: R. Cary Capparelli Why are you qualified to serve in the U.S. Senate? As an international business person for over thirty years and a university professor of geography, I have a unique understanding of foreign policy. […]

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Lack of Turn Signal Leads to Pot Citations

Cal SkinnerFebruary 22, 2026February 20, 2026

From the Cary Police:

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Feds to Penalize Illinois for Bad Management

Cal SkinnerFebruary 22, 2026February 18, 2026

From Illinois Policy: Illinois must cut its error rate nearly in half to avoid penalties Illinois’ high error rate administering food stamp benefits could cost the state over $700 million, according to a new report from the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget. Reforms […]

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Illinois Municipal League Attacks Pritzker’s Push to Put Housing Under State Control

Cal SkinnerFebruary 22, 2026February 21, 2026

From The Center Square: Municipal League: Housing reform could strip authority from local communities By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square (The Center Square) – The Illinois Municipal League says a new proposal for housing reform could allow the state to take zoning […]

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Where Company Headquarters Are Moving From and To

Cal SkinnerFebruary 22, 2026February 19, 2026

From Unleash Prosperity Hotline #1454: Blue States: Stop Us Before We Tax Again The chart below shows that an ever-shrinking number of companies want to stay put and fight the ever-rising tax burdens in blue states. What is depressing about this story […]

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What Would Be Your Share of the New York City Government, If You Lived There?

Cal SkinnerFebruary 22, 2026February 18, 2026

The proposed budget for New York City is $127 billion. The city has a population of 8.48 million.  Do the math and that’s $15,000 per capita. $15,000 for every man, woman, and child in New York city.  $45,000 for a family of […]

Posts pagination

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Recent Comments

  • Juliana Stratton’s F-Bomb-Laden TV Commercial Not Mentioned in USA Today’s Article on Coarse Political Language - McHenry County Blog on Stratton Gets Widespread Publicity with F-ck Trump Ad, See It Here
  • Counter Point on Minnesota ICE Shootings - McHenry County Blog on A Conservative Reflects on the ICE Shootings
  • 9th District GOP Candidate Gets Hawaiian Record Wiped Clean - McHenry County Blog on Tribune Endorses John Elleson for GOP 9th District Congressional Race
  • Appellate Court Orders Teodora Brawn Back on the Ballot in 11th District GOP Race for Congress - McHenry County Blog on 11th District GOP Primary Candidate’s Removal from the Ballot Upheld by Judge
  • Spelling Bee Sponsors Sought - McHenry County Blog on Local Spelling Bee Champs
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