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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

  • UPDATE: Eric Hendricks Elected McHenry County Republican Party Chairman WITH VOTE TOTALS April 27, 2026
  • Algonquin Township Republicans Holding Open House Wednesday Evening April 27, 2026
  • Cary Event to Call GOP Voters Monday Night April 26, 2026
  • Third Marengo 2021 Circle-K Armed Robber Convicted April 26, 2026
  • What SAFE-T Act Has Wrought April 26, 2026
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UPDATE: Eric Hendricks Elected McHenry County Republican Party Chairman WITH VOTE TOTALS

Cal SkinnerApril 27, 2026April 26, 2026

The Central Committee of the Republican Party convened last night to elect officers. The results are Hendricks is a McHenry County Board member, having been elected twice. He is an attorney. Donald will serve his second term as Vice Chairman. He laid […]

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Algonquin Township Republicans Holding Open House Wednesday Evening

Cal SkinnerApril 27, 2026April 26, 2026

From Algonquin Republicans:

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Cary Event to Call GOP Voters Monday Night

Cal SkinnerApril 26, 2026April 26, 2026

From We the People, McHenry County: oin us for an important ACTION Night as we reach out to our Consistently Republican voters (“Hard R’s”) to strengthen our grassroots network and mobilize support. This is a focused volunteer call night dedicated to: Whether you are an experienced […]

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Third Marengo 2021 Circle-K Armed Robber Convicted

Cal SkinnerApril 26, 2026April 26, 2026

From McHenry County: JURY FINDS CICERO MAN GUILTY OF SHOOTING CIRCLE-K CLERK DURING ARMED ROBBERY IN MARENGO McHenry County State’s Attorney Randi L. Freese announces that on April 24, 2026, Walter R. Moran, 32, of Cicero, Illinois, was found guilty following a […]

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What SAFE-T Act Has Wrought

Cal SkinnerApril 26, 2026April 26, 2026

From the Marengo Police:

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Sunday Funnies

Cal SkinnerApril 26, 2026April 26, 2026

From Illinois Policy cartoonist Eric Allie:

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Lowering Birthrate Brings Financial Problems to Higher Education

Cal SkinnerApril 26, 2026April 24, 2026

From Illinois Policy: Illinois’ number of high school grads to plunge 32%. Lawmakers still want more college money Despite a projected sharp decline in high school graduates, Illinois lawmakers are considering jacking up university funding that’s already twice the national average. House […]

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More Trouble at Marlowe Middle School

Cal SkinnerApril 26, 2026April 24, 2026

From the Lake in the Hills Police:

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The Outrageous Cost of Subsidized Housing

Cal SkinnerApril 25, 2026April 24, 2026

Every once in a while, I’ve posted information about the cost of subsidized housing. Always because the cost per unit is outrasgeous. Now comes “A City That Works” with a takedown of its subsidized housing program: Last year subsidized housing in Chicago […]

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McLaughlin Fires Shot at Chicago Teachers Union

Cal SkinnerApril 25, 2026April 24, 2026

From State Rep. Marty McLaughlin: Rep. Martin McLaughlin Stands up for Illinois Students; Urges Common Sense SPRINGFIELD – State Representative Martin McLaughlin (R–Barrington Hills) introduced House Resolution 832 to highlight concerns over the Chicago Teachers Union’s planned “Day of Civic Action” on May 1, 2026, […]

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Wisconsin Man Arrested for Pot in Vehicle

Cal SkinnerApril 25, 2026April 24, 2026

From the Crystal Lake Police:

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UPDATE: Looking for Bears’ Subsidy Bill’s Financial Trigger, BGA’S TAKE

Cal SkinnerApril 24, 2026April 24, 2026

It’s a simple question I have. How much does a “megaproject” have to spend to be so designated? Below is what I found in the 375 page bill: If the bottom number is only $100 million, then the Prairie Lithium Battery Farm […]

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Another Federal Gun Charge

Cal SkinnerApril 24, 2026April 24, 2026

From the U.S. Attorney: FEDERAL INDICTMENT CHARGES REPUTED CHICAGO GANG MEMBER WITH ILLEGALLY POSSESSING FIREARMS CHICAGO — A reputed member of a violent Chicago street gang has been indicted on a federal firearm charge for allegedly unlawfully possessing two firearms. ALEXANDER MARTINEZ-QUIROZ, 35, […]

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Looking for Bears’ Subsidy Bill’s Financial Trigger

Cal SkinnerApril 24, 2026April 24, 2026

It’s a simple question I have. How much does a “megaproject” have to spend to be so designated? Below is what I found in the 375 page bill: If the bottom number is only $100 million, then the Prairie Lithium Battery Farm […]

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FBI Offers $50,000 Reward to Find Man Who Killed National Guard Soldier

Cal SkinnerApril 24, 2026April 24, 2026

From the FBI: FBI Chicago Announces Reward of Up to $50,000 for Information Leading to Arrest and Conviction of Joseph “Troubles” Matos Douglas S. DePodesta, special agent in charge of the Chicago Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), announced a […]

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Jailed Illegal Indicted by Feds for Unlawful Re-Entry

Cal SkinnerApril 23, 2026April 23, 2026

From the U.S. Attorney: ILLEGAL ALIEN WHO POSSESSED A DANGEROUS WEAPON IN COOK COUNTY JAIL AND COMMITTED AN ATTEMPTED VEHICULAR HIJACKING INDICTED FOR ALLEGEDLY UNLAWFULLY RE-ENTERING U.S. AFTER DEPORTATION CHICAGO — An illegal alien who resided in a Chicago suburb has been […]

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The House Vote on the Bears Subsidy Bill

Cal SkinnerApril 23, 2026April 23, 2026

Below is how State Representatives voted: Locally, State Reps. Ness and McLaughlin voted in favor, while the others voted “No.”

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Prairie Grove’s Transparency or Lack Thereof Concerning a Data Center

Cal SkinnerApril 23, 2026April 23, 2026

From a Community Contributor: Prairie Grove FOIA Timeline Raises Serious Questions as Data Center Communications Emerge re Data Center A series of FOIA responses and subsequently released emails are raising increasingly direct questions among residents about how communications related to data centers […]

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County Seeks Storm/Flooding Reports in Attempt to Obtain Federal & State Aid

Cal SkinnerApril 23, 2026April 23, 2026

From McHenry County: Report April Storm Damage to Your Home or Property WOODSTOCK, Ill. – If your McHenry County home or property was damaged by the April 17-18severe weather, or by the ongoing flooding (through April 30), the McHenry County EmergencManagement Agency […]

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Pritzker Grab of Local Zoning Control Explained, Critized

Cal SkinnerApril 23, 2026April 23, 2026

From Michael Rein’s Facebook: Michael Rein Snetrdspooch1u627m3af7c123liac9gfmu4th0f1010a34tum640h08tuau · There are a few “good” things in Housing Bills being proposed in Illinois, however, in my opinion, many of the proposals are bat s_hi_, CRAZY. Considering in towns like Cary, Crystal Lake, Lake Zurich and […]

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Sheriff Warns of Tickets for Those Driving on Closed, Flooded Roads

Cal SkinnerApril 22, 2026April 22, 2026

From the Sheriff: Road Closures Due to Flooding Recent flooding across McHenry County continues to cause road closures as water levels are expected to rise. Barricades and closure signs have been placed to help keep people safe, protect nearby homes and property, […]

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Crystal Lake City Council Votes to Purchase HealthBridge for $4.2 Million, Claiming

Cal SkinnerApril 22, 2026April 22, 2026

“We’re trying to get all the information to the public that we possibly can,” Crystal Lake Mayor Haig Haleblian stated after a woman asked a question whose content could not be heard. That in spite of this clause in the resolution that […]

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Latest on the Prairie Grove Battery Farm: Bailout for Grade School District 46?

Cal SkinnerApril 22, 2026April 22, 2026

From Terri Rybicki: The Battery Bailout: Is Prairie Grove CSD 46 Trading Safety for Solvency? Recent discussions at Prairie Grove school board meetings have exposed a disturbing trend in our district’s financial strategy. If you haven’t watched the meetings firsthand, you are […]

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Property Tax Seminar Scheduled Shortly after Real Estate Bills To Be Mailed

Cal SkinnerApril 22, 2026April 20, 2026

From McHenry County: Property Tax Workshop Taking Place May 6 at MCC Auditorium to Accommodate Demand WOODSTOCK, Ill. – McHenry County’s property tax workshop is back by very popular demand in a much bigger venue – and attendees will learn about new […]

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Questions Crystal Lake City Council Should Consider Before Buying HealthBridge

Cal SkinnerApril 21, 2026April 21, 2026

From Scott Coffey: 1.  The current tax bill for the property is $120,465.  Once taken off the tax rolls, that amount will be picked up annually by all the other taxpayers in the community in perpetuity. 2.  Has there been any discussion or […]

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River Road Closed Part of Way from McHenry to Island Lake

Cal SkinnerApril 21, 2026

From the McHenry County Transportation Departmnt: McHenry County Division of Transportation Closes River Road as Water Rises WOODSTOCK, Ill. – The McHenry County Division of Transportation (MCDOT) is closing River Road near Moraine Hills State Park due to rising waters that are […]

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Loan Fraudsters Plead Guilty

Cal SkinnerApril 21, 2026April 21, 2026

From the U.S. Attorney: TWO KENTUCY MEN PLEAD GUILTY TO OPERATINGNEARLY $12 MILLION FRAUDULENT LOAN PROGRAM ROCKFORD — Two men from Kentucky have pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges for operating a scheme that caused borrowers, lenders, and investors to turn over […]

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Garage Fire Southwest of McHenry’s Pederson Park

Cal SkinnerApril 21, 2026April 21, 2026

From the McHenry Township Fire Protection District: 4400 Block Parkway Ave Fire On April 9th, 2026, at approximately 02:20 a.m., the McHenry Township Fire Protection District (MTFPD) responded to a reported structure fire in the 4400 block of W. Parkway Avenue in McHenry. […]

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Lake in the Hills Man Found Dead in Home with Fire Damage Inside

Cal SkinnerApril 21, 2026April 21, 2026

From the Huntley Fire Protection District: Man Found Dead in Brittany Bend Home On Monday, April 20, 2026, at 1:07 p.m., the Huntley Fire Protection District and Lake in the Hills Police Department responded to the 1000 block of Brittany Bend in […]

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Street Gangbanger Sentenced to Life

Cal SkinnerApril 21, 2026April 21, 2026

From the U.S. Attorney: LEADER OF CHICAGO STREET GANG SENTENCED TO LIFE IN FEDERAL PRISON FOR PARTICIPATING IN RACKETEERING CONSPIRACY INVOLVING MULTIPLE MURDERS  CHICAGO — A leader of the Four Corner Hustlers street gang in Chicago has been sentenced to life in […]

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Recent Comments

  • Property Tax Seminar Scheduled Shortly after Real Estate Bills To Be Mailed - McHenry County Blog on Property Tax Assessment Seminars Continue & The First First Ones in 1972
  • $150,000 Do-Little Patronage Jobs Called Out - McHenry County Blog on Woman- and Minority-Owned Business Promotion Goes from One Woman to …
  • Eric Hendricks Elected McHenry County Republican Party Chairman - McHenry County Blog on Johnsburg’s Kirk Donald Running for Re-Election as Vice Chairman of the McHenry County Republican Party
  • Bill to Send Kids to Mental Health Providers without Parental Permission - McHenry County Blog on Bill To Create a Children’s Conveyer Belt to Mental Health Industry Analyzed from Motivation To Result
  • All But One Volunteer Board of Health Member Wants Pay - McHenry County Blog on Budget Talk from a County Board Budget Hawk
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