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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
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Recent Posts

  • McHenry County State’s Attorney Keeps Still Another Man from Getting SAFE-T Act Get Out of Jail Free Card December 22, 2025
  • A New Revenue Idea for Balancing Chicago’s Budget December 22, 2025
  • Feds Take On Another Chicago Street Gang December 22, 2025
  • U.S. Senate Hopeful Don Tracy Appears Before McHenry County GOP Central Executive Committee December 22, 2025
  • Alcohol Was Not Enough December 22, 2025
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Russ Stewart Nails Trump’s Strategy

Cal SkinnerSeptember 24, 2025September 24, 2025

From political columnist Russ Stewart: “For them [Trump haters] Trump’s FAILURE is an absolute metaphysical necessity. “He cannot succeed, never, at anything, so they watch news that says exactly that. “Trump has been a fairly successful president, employing an Eat-My-Dust strategy wherein […]

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UPDATE: Another Main Closed Road in Crystal Lake WITH POLICE PRESS RELEASE

Cal SkinnerSeptember 24, 2025September 24, 2025

From the Crystal Lake Police: Crystal Lake Police Conduct Crash Investigation Crystal Lake, IL – On Wednesday, September 24, 2025, at approximately 7:24 AM, Crystal Lake Police and Fire/Rescue responded to Route 176 and Haligus Road for the report of a two […]

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County Sued for Prisoner Bus Crash in Which Vehicle Ran Red Light and Hit It

Cal SkinnerSeptember 24, 2025September 23, 2025

On September 4th, a McHenry County Sheriff’s bus was traveling westbound on Route 120 at the intersection of Hainesville Road in Grayslake, A motorist, Carol Gitzke, suddenly and without warning, made an improper left turn within the intersection and failed to yield […]

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High Security at Crystal Lake Park Board Meeting

Cal SkinnerSeptember 24, 2025September 23, 2025

I haven’t seen anything like this since the McHenry County Board felt threatened enough to require passing through a metal detector to attend a County Board meeting. Outside the Main Beach House was this warning sign: To enter the meeting room, one […]

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No Further Effort to Gerrymander Illinois Because Democratic Party Members of Congress Fear Competition

Cal SkinnerSeptember 24, 2025September 23, 2025

From Illinois Policy: Illinois Democrats rejected a mid-cycle redistricting plan cooked up by U.S. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries to maximize Democratic partisan advantage in the state’s congressional district map. The reason? They don’t want to endanger their safe seats. Opposition from Illinois Democrats […]

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Rockford Man Gets Federal Gun Charge Sentence

Cal SkinnerSeptember 23, 2025September 23, 2025

From the U.S. Attorney: ROCKFORD MAN SENTENCED TO MORE THAN SIX YEARS IN PRISON FOR ILLEGALLY POSSESSING A FIREARM ROCKFORD — A Rockford man has been sentenced to more than six years in prison for illegally possessing a firearm. WESLEY SMITH, 37, […]

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Bailey Says He’s Announcing for Governor Thursday

Cal SkinnerSeptember 23, 2025September 23, 2025

In his second press release of the day, Daren Bailey announces his candidacy for Governor: Darren Bailey to Kick Off Gubernatorial Campaign with Statewide Launch Events Louisville, IL] – Conservative farmer, businessman, and former State Senator Darren Bailey will officially launch his campaign for Governor […]

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Law License of Former Republican Attorney General Candidate Suspended for Sixty Days for Having Sexual Relationship with Client

Cal SkinnerSeptember 23, 2025September 23, 2025

From the Muddy River News:

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Bailey Criticizes Pritzker on Budget Failure

Cal SkinnerSeptember 23, 2025September 23, 2025

It appears that I have missed the press release from Darin Bailey announcing his candidacy for the Republican nomination for Governor. The following press release arrived on the letterhead you see below; It pretty much says Bailey is running for Governor. Here […]

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Postal Robber Gets Seven Years, Not Granted Bail in 2023

Cal SkinnerSeptember 23, 2025September 23, 2025

From the U.S. Attorney: FEDERAL JUDGE SENTENCES MAN TO MORE THAN SEVEN YEARS IN PRISON FOR ROBBING U.S. POSTAL SERVICE CARRIER IN CHICAGO CHICAGO — A federal judge has sentenced a man to more than seven years in prison for robbing a […]

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Cook County Jail Holding Illegal Accused of Murder, ICE Seeks Custody

Cal SkinnerSeptember 23, 2025September 22, 2025

From Homeland Security: ICE Lodges Arrest Detainer for Venezuelan Criminal Illegal Alien who Brutally Murdered Victim and Claimed to Bury Body in Concrete in Illinois   This criminal illegal alien who now faces homicide and kidnaping charges was released into the U.S. by […]

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Is State Senator Darby Hills Using AI to Produce Newsletters?

Cal SkinnerSeptember 23, 2025September 22, 2025

Remember the movie “Wakanda?” And, how people contacted Wauconda, Illinois, in its wake? Yesterday, State Senator Darby Hills sent out a newsletter with the following announcement of an event to be held in “Wakanda:”

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Darby Hills Meets Jim Edgar in Champaign at Last Month’s Edgar Fellows Gathering

Cal SkinnerSeptember 23, 2025September 22, 2025

From State Senator Darby Hills: Remembering Former-Governor Jim Edgar Jim Edgar, 38th Governor of Illinois (1991–1999), died September 14, 2025, at 79 after battling pancreatic cancer. Known for his dedication to bipartisanship, he tackled the state budget deficit, reformed education and welfare, […]

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Suicide Prevention Walk This Saturday

Cal SkinnerSeptember 23, 2025September 22, 2025
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Chris Lauzen Running for Re-Election as Kane County Treasurer

Cal SkinnerSeptember 23, 2025September 22, 2025

From Kane County Treasurer Chris Lauzen: Chris Lauzen Announces Re-Election Campaign for Kane County Treasurer Aurora, IL In a statement issued in his Aurora childhood neighborhood, current Treasurer and former Kane County Chairman and State Senator Chris Lauzen announced his campaign for re-election to […]

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Hopefuls to Succeed Jan Schakowsky Now Down to Nineteen

Cal SkinnerSeptember 23, 2025September 22, 2025

From Evanson Now: “Chicago community organizer Miracle Jenkins, one of nearly 20 candidates vying to replace Rep. Jan Schakowsky in Congress next year, suspended his campaign Sunday evening, announcing he’s endorsing Bushra Amiwala of Skokie in the 9th Congressional District Democratic primary.  […]

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Suggestion to End Lake Wars in Crystal Lake

Cal SkinnerSeptember 22, 2025September 23, 2025

Crystal Lake Park Board member Cathy Cagle came up with an interesting idea to get the Park District out of contention concerning who controls Crystal Lake (the lake). It was her second idea. Deed the bottom of the lake in Lakewood to […]

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Refuge for Women Thanks Lake in the Hills Rotary Club

Cal SkinnerSeptember 22, 2025September 22, 2025

From Refuge for Women: THANK YOU LAKE IN THE HILLS ROTARY! Thank you to our generous friends at the Lake in the Hills Rotary Club for awarding Refuge for Women Chicago a grant to support survivors! We are grateful for their compassion, care, […]

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Hundreds in Woodstock to Watch Charlie Kirk Memorial

Cal SkinnerSeptember 22, 2025September 22, 2025

McHenry County GOPAC sponsored a gathering at Niko’s Red Mill Inn Sunday at the same time that Charlie Kirk was being memorialized in Arizona. GOPAC leader Karen Tirio supplied the photos below, while The Response’s Richard Rostron wrote the text. Local supporters […]

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Five Years for Ringwood Traffic Death Caused by Woman Thought To Be under the Influence of Pot

Cal SkinnerSeptember 22, 2025September 22, 2025

This began with the arrest of Wisconsin woman Alyssa Popp in 2011: Here is the Sheriff’s press release: CRIMINAL CHARGES FILED IN FATAL TRAFFIC The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office announces the results of a 3 month long investigation into a fatal traffic […]

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Crystal Lake Grade School District 47 Finally Releases Board Member Lea Grover’s Statement about Complaints Concerning Her Comments on Charlie Kirk’s Assassination

Cal SkinnerSeptember 22, 2025September 22, 2025

Why do I use “finally” in the headline? Because the Board Secretary said it would be posted on the Grade School website last Tuesday. Anyway, here is was Lea Grover told the overfill audience of constituents: Just in cae you don’t want […]

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Justification for Money to Bring Passenger Service to Rockford Challenged

Cal SkinnerSeptember 22, 2025September 22, 2025

An article in the Rockford Register Star on September 19 confirms that the Illinois Department of Transportation is going to build the $275 million Metra extension to Rockford. Study: Thousands could ride Chicago to Rockford train each year Illinois officials returned to Rockford […]

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Alternative Kirk Shooter Posited by Blogger

Cal SkinnerSeptember 22, 2025September 22, 2025

One of my conspiracy-minded friends sent me this ten-minute video from “Val Venis” claiming that one of Charlie Kirk’s body guards was the one who shot him. No motive is presented, but the analysis of the video is enough to prompt me […]

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Here We Go Again, Same Justification for CTA Subsidy as in 1974

Cal SkinnerSeptember 22, 2025September 22, 2025

In 1974, CTA Board Chair Milton Pikarsky made the pitch for a “Yes” vote on the referendum to establish the Regional Transportation Authority with its gas and parking taxes, plus diversions statewide from license plate fees that is now coming back for […]

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Illinois Arts Council Rolls Out Awards to Nine in Crystal Lake and Woodstock

Cal SkinnerSeptember 22, 2025September 19, 2025

The following local artists and organization received grants:

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Wilcox and Kownick Holding Constituent Services Event in Cary Tuesday Evening

Cal SkinnerSeptember 22, 2025September 8, 2025

From State Senator Craig Wilcox:

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Local Members of Congress Split on Resolution Condemning Political Violence and Honoring Charlie Kirk’s Life

Cal SkinnerSeptember 22, 2025September 22, 2025

From the Chicago Sun-Times: “The four yes votes from Illinois came from U.S. Reps. Nikki Budzinski, Bill Foster, Brad Schneider and Eric Sorensen. “U.S. Reps. Lauren Underwood, Delia Ramirez, Mike Quigley, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Robin Kelly, Jonathan Jackson and Danny Davis voted against […]

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Sunday Funnies

Cal SkinnerSeptember 21, 2025September 21, 2025

From Illinois Policy Institute cartoonist Eric Allie:

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Cary Police Arrest Transient on State and Federal Warrants

Cal SkinnerSeptember 21, 2025September 19, 2025

From the Cary Police:

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Lack of Registration Lands Marengo Man in Jail

Cal SkinnerSeptember 20, 2025September 19, 2025

From the Marengo Police:

Posts pagination

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Recent Comments

  • Examples of Homeowners Who Lost Equity Through the Property Tax Sale Process - McHenry County Blog on McHenry County Taxpayers May Be on the Hook for $13 Million to Repay Home Equity Lost in Tax Sales
  • U.S. Treasury Secretary Calls Out Illinois for Refusing to Stop Taxing Tips - McHenry County Blog on Senate Republicans Seek to Mirror Federal End to Tax on Tips
  • A Democratic Party Governor Favoring School Choice Financed by Private Donations - McHenry County Blog on County Board Proposing Referendum to Put Pressure on Pritzker to Opt Into Federal School Choice Plan
  • Correction: Riley Grade School District Announces 103% Tax Increase - McHenry County Blog on Riley Grade School District Cutting Taxes by 46%, a One-Year Cut to Spend Down Excessive Balance, Back Up the Next Year
  • Democrats Trying to Out-Left-Flank Each Other in 9th Congressional District Which Covers All of Algonquin Township - McHenry County Blog on Rocio Cleveland Gains More Free Publicity in Quest to Win GOP Nomination in Jan Schakowsky’s 9th Congressional District
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