Friday, January 9, 2015

FBI recommends charges against ex-CIA chief Petraeus: NY Times - Yahoo News

 

The FBI and US Justice Department prosecutors have recommended bringing felony charges against retired General David Petraeus for allegedly providing classified information to his former mistress while he was director of the CIA, The New York Times reported.

The investigation stems from an affair Petraeus -- who was also commander of American forces in both Iraq and Afghanistan -- had with an Army Reserve officer who was writing his biography, the newspaper said, citing unnamed officials.

The probe focuses on whether Petraeus, who resigned in 2012 when the affair became public, gave Paula Broadwell access to his CIA email account and other highly classified information.

FBI agents discovered classified documents on her computer after he quit, according to the Times, which said that Attorney General Eric Holder must decide whether to seek an indictment that could send Petraeus to prison.

Holder was expected to decide by the end of last year whether to bring charges against Petraeus, the newspaper said.

Petraeus has said he never provided classified information to Broadwell, who was 20 years his junior and wrote a biography of the general before becoming his lover.

Petraeus is one of the most decorated and respected military officers of his generation.

After the affair came to light, he voiced regret for the "pain" caused by the fling with Broadwell, a counter-terrorism expert and lieutenant-colonel, and pledged to try to "make amends to those I have hurt and let down."

Marc Raimondi, spokesman for the Justice Department, declined to comment on the Times report.

 

FBI recommends charges against ex-CIA chief Petraeus: NY Times - Yahoo News

Ambulance Agencies Compromising in North Boone

 

UPDATE: POPLAR GROVE (WIFR) -- People in northern Boone County will soon know who exactly will be responding to emergencies should they need an ambulance.

North Boone Fire District #3 leaders say they realize Capron Rescue Squad District has the upper hand meaning North Boone will likely have to cave into what Capron wants North Boone's role to be.

"I really didn't think it'd be that hard to do something to serve the public, and that's all we ever wanted to do. We just would like to get along and work together. They have everything and I guess it would be up to them to give up something for us, and I understand that," says Ray Morse, president of North Boone Fire District #3 board of trustees.

Morse says negotiations with Capron were going smoothly today. North Boone Fire District #3 bought an ambulance this year and want to run it out of their Poplar Grove station but Capron Rescue Squad is a taxing body with jurisdiction over ambulance service in that area and has been for decades. Capron board president Owen Costanza says he would like North Boone's ambulance to act as a back up for Capron but North Boone originally wanted more.

"North Boone 3 does a great job at what they do; they're a great resource and we to work together with everybody," says Costanza. "We have to follow the structure that's put in place by us and the comments I've made is we will continue to follow the law and the protocols."

North Boone Fire District #3 says acting as Carpon's backup is likely the only thing they can do because Capron has jurisdiction and they hope to hammer out an intergovernmental agreement soon.

In the meantime, Boone County 9-1-1 will not be dispatching North Boone's ambulance to any emergencies until an agreement is reached.

We heard from sources that North Boone fire leaders walked out of the early morning negotiation with Capron Rescue Squad. We asked North Boone if it's true, and they said while they didn't say good-bye to the Capron Rescue Squad in person, they didn't walk out and are determined to come to an agreement on how they can help serve the area.


UPDATE: BOONE COUNTY (WIFR) – North Boone Fire leaders say they need to clear the air as they continue to fight to expand their ambulance services.

The North Boone Fire District No. 3 and Capron Rescue Squad say they're working on an agreement, avoiding a legal dispute determining who can offer ambulance service in Poplar Grove.

Capron Rescue Squad has been the ambulance authority in North Boone District 3 since the late 50's, but this year North Boone decided to buy a and operate an ambulance out of its Poplar Grove station- a move than met much resistance from Capron Rescue.

Capron filed an injunction against North Boone Fire District 3 earlier this year, but dropped the lawsuit earlier this week when both sides agreed to discuss North Boone's role in offering ambulance services moving forward.

Those discussions have yet to take place but are scheduled for January 8th of next year.

"It's a little disturbing that we got so much friction from the Rescue Squad," said North Boon Fire District No. 3 board president Ray Morse. "They want us to come to a joint agreement where we'll be happy, they'll be happy and we can work together and that's all we wanted to do is work together."


BOONE COUNTY (WIFR) – A plan to put more ambulances on the road, which could mean quicker responses in emergencies, has been put on hold.

The Capron rescue squad filed an injunction to stop the formation of the North Boone Fire Protection Number Three’s Ambulance Squad. Capron Rescue says the fire district needed to put a referendum on the ballot which didn’t happen.

"We're not against the fire department starting ambulance service the way the law is interpreted by our lawyer they need to go to referendum before starting an ambulance service. We felt they didn't do that, they didn't take the proper steps,” said Capron Rescue Squad Board President Owen Costanza.

The Capron Rescue Squad has been around since the late 1950’s and is funded through taxes. The board’s president, Owen Costanza says people who live within the Fire District would have to vote whether to pay an additional tax for that new ambulance service. However, when it comes down to it, Costanza says his squad has no problem handling the nearly 70 runs each month.

Terry Logan’s bar, The Stumble Inn is right next to one of the stations and say she doesn’t think there are enough calls to warrant the need for two companies.

"I don't know exactly how much these folks are utilized but without knowing that, I just don't see another, I just don't see the need,” said Logan.

We spoke with the fire chief who didn’t want to comment.

We’re told the Capron Squad is willing to work with the Fire District and Costanza says he has a standing offer for the Fire District to have an ambulance assist the squad when they’re overwhelmed with calls. The Capron Squad already works with three other ambulance services for those situations.

Ambulance Agencies Compromising in North Boone

Kane Co. could lose $2.5 million if federal prisoner deal ends - DailyHerald.com

 

Since 2009, Kane County has made as much as $2.5 million a year holding federal prisoners awaiting trial, but the deal could be in jeopardy with the U.S. Marshal's office poised to move about half the inmates.

But details on the arrangement possibly coming to an end are not forthcoming from the man in charge of the county jail, newly elected Sheriff Don Kramer, who did not return repeated phone calls, emails and Facebook messages on Wednesday and Thursday.

 

 

Some county leaders, who say they would like to preserve the deal, confirmed they had heard Kramer planned to end the six-year-old agreement that makes the county $88.32 each day for each federal detainee it holds in the county jail in St. Charles.

"I can't tell you why the sheriff made that move," county board member Drew Frasz said. "It would have been standard protocol to have a lengthy discussion about a decision like this."

Frasz and others said they were stunned by the prospect of giving up the added income from use of the jail.

"From a taxpayers' point of view, if you have an asset, why not make it a revenue-generating asset?" he said.

Managing these prisoners costs the county overtime, but the arrangement still nets about $2.5 million a year, which county leaders have used to fund such projects as a new shooting range and a law enforcement regional training center that opened last year.

The U.S. Marshal's office was going to take back about half of the detainees from the Kane County jail this week, said Sheriff's Lt. Pat Gengler.

He could not specify how many detainees were being moved, or to where.

County board Chairman Chris Lauzen deferred all inquiries about the agreement's status to Kramer, but insisted the sheriff was working to overcome the "bump in the road."

"They're going to be working on making sure we continue as in the past. It's a little premature at this point because we really don't know where it stands right now," Lauzen said. "(Kramer's) taken various actions and he would need to describe them."

Messages left Wednesday and Thursday with Belkis Sandoval, spokeswoman and special inspector at the U.S. Marshal's office in Chicago, were not returned.

Word that the agreement could be ending -- along with the loss of $2.5 million, or about 10 percent of the sheriff's budget -- surfaced at the county board's executive committee this week and caught members by surprise.

County board member Cristina Castro said she was "a little flabbergasted" by the potential loss of revenue.

Frasz said he expected such a major decision would create more discussion, especially because the county has worked to keep the county's tax levy flat from year to year.

Lauzen predicted board members would further discuss the U.S. Marshal's agreement at the county's judicial and public safety committee next Thursday.

The practice of housing federal detainees at local county jails while they await trial has been tried in other counties.

One example is DuPage County, where Sheriff John Zaruba inked a deal with the U.S. Marshal's office in 2003 to house federal detainees for about $107 per day per inmate.

At the time, about 55 federal inmates were at the jail in DuPage. But the practice ended after the DuPage jail in Wheaton filled up with the county's own defendants.

"When we contracted with the U.S. Marshals (in 2003) they brought in a more stable clientele because they tended to be longer-term clients which made it easier on staffing," Zaruba said. "But that only lasted for a year or two because the jail started filling up with judges putting more prisoners in. The deal became less attractive to the marshals because they wanted their inmates bulk-housed, but we no longer had the jail space to do that."

Kane Co. could lose $2.5 million if federal prisoner deal ends - DailyHerald.com

BCJ Criticizes Lack of Accounting Audit in Circuit Court Clerk Office Crime

 

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The Boone County Journal is available free of cost at merchants across the county and on-line at:  http://www.boonecountyjournal.com/news/2015/Boone-County-News-01-09-15.pdf#page=1

THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT REGARDING  THIS EDITORIAL WAS PUBLISHED BY THE BOONE COUNTY JOURNAL on January 16, 2015.

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Above is from:  http://www.boonecountyjournal.com/news/2015/Boone-County-News-01-16-15.pdf#page=1

BCJ: Articles regarding new Animal Services Building

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The Boone County Journal is available free of cost at merchants across the county and on-line at:  http://www.boonecountyjournal.com/news/2015/Boone-County-News-01-09-15.pdf#page=1

Republicans to interview county board candidates Jan. 17 | The Rock River Times

How Winnebago County handles vacancies.

A meeting to interview candidates to fill a vacant seat on the Winnebago County Board has been moved from Saturday, Jan. 10, to Saturday, Jan. 17.

The Jan. 17 meeting will be at Republican headquarters, 515 N. Court St., Rockford, beginning at 11 a.m. Precinct committeemen will interview candidates interested in filling the Winnebago County Board District 1 seat vacated by Lynne Strathman.

Those interested in filling the vacated seat are required to submit a letter of interest, résumé, bio sheet and letters of recommendation to the Winnebago County Board Chairman’s Office by 5 p.m., Monday, Jan. 12. The office is inside the Winnebago County Administration Building, 404 Elm St., Room 533, Rockford, IL 61101.

The following requirements must be met by anyone seeking to fill the open seat:

• Must be a registered voter;

• Must live within the Winnebago County Board District in which vacancy occurs (District 1); and

• Applicant must be of the same political party of which vacancy occurred (Republican).

State statute requires the vacancy to be filled by the county board chairman within 60 days, with the advice and consent of the county board.

Deadline for this appointment is Monday, Feb. 9, 2015. The last board meeting within the 60 days is Thursday, Jan. 22, 2015, and the appointment will need to be made on or before that county board meeting. For more details, contact the County Board Chairman’s Office at (815) 319-4225.

The Republican Party is asking candidates to also submit a copy of their paperwork to Republican headquarters by Jan. 12 to allow review of materials prior to the Jan. 17 interview of candidates. Paperwork can be submitted by mail or hand-delivered to Republican headquarters, or emailed to countygopw@gmail.com.

Following the Jan. 17 meeting with candidates, the Republican Party will make a recommendation to Winnebago County Board Chairman Scott Christiansen (R).

Republicans to interview county board candidates Jan. 17 | The Rock River Times

Winnebago, Boone counties offer warming centers | The Rock River Times

 

Warming centers will be available in Winnebago and Boone counties during the 2014-2015 season. These centers provide safe and warm locations during extreme cold temperatures for those without housing or those who may not have the resources to heat their homes adequately.

Following is a list of warming center locations:

Winnebago County

The Carpenter’s Place — 1149 Railroad Ave., Rockford. 8:15 a.m.-3 p.m., Monday-Friday.

Winnebago County Justice Center — 650 W. State St., Rockford. Lobby open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Women’s Crisis Center of the Rockford Rescue Mission — 809 Cedar St., Rockford. Women and children only. 8 a.m.-5 p.m., daily.

Men’s Crisis Center of the Rockford Rescue Mission — 715 W. State St., Rockford. 7 a.m.-7 p.m., daily. Meals served three times per day at 7 a.m., noon and 5:30 p.m.

Pecatonica Village Hall — 405 Main St., Pecatonica, Illinois. 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday-Friday.

Village of Machesney Park — 300 Roosevelt Road, Machesney Park, Illinois. 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday.

Harlem Community Center — 900 Roosevelt Road, Machesney Park, Illinois. 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday.

Boone County

Keen Age Center 2141 Henry Luckow Lane, Belvidere, Illinois. 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday.

 Salvation Army 422 S. Main St., Belvidere, Illinois. 9-11:45 a.m. and 1-4 p.m., Monday-Friday.

Belvidere Public Safety Building 615 N. Main St., Belvidere, Illinois. Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Area state authorized sites

Illinois Department of Human Services Family Community Resource Center — 1111 N. Avon St., Rockford. 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday (except closed on state and federal holidays).

Illinois Department of Human Services Rockford Home Services Division of Rehabilitative Services — 107 S. Third St., Rockford. 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday (except closed on state and federal holidays).

Belvidere Oasis/Illinois Tollway East of Belvidere Toll Plaza on I-90. Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Originally posted Nov. 18, 2014

Winnebago, Boone counties offer warming centers | The Rock River Times

Habitat for Humanity of Boone County receives $12,500 grant | The Rock River Times

 

Habitat for Humanity of Boone County has been awarded a grant of $12,500 by the Dr. Louis and Violet Rubin Fund of the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois,” said Henry Repay, president of the Board of Directors for Habitat for Humanity of Boone County.

“Our organization has acquired a lot in Belvidere on which we plan to start construction, within the next few months, of a new home for a deserving local family who otherwise might not be able to afford one,” said Repay. “The funds provided by the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois will be instrumental in allowing us to complete this build on schedule.

“Habitat for Humanity has provided six new homes for deserving residents of Boone County over the last eight years,” Repay added. “The grant from the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois will give us additional resources to complete our seventh home in Boone County.”

Habitat for Humanity of Boone County, a locally run affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, was founded in 2007, and works in partnership with people in need to build and renovate decent, affordable housing in Boone County.

The Community Foundation of Northern Illinois is the area’s largest provider of grants and scholarships. Its mission is to attract, grow, and preserve an endowment for the needs of the people of northern Illinois.

Posted Jan. 8, 2015

Habitat for Humanity of Boone County receives $12,500 grant | The Rock River Times