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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

  • Commerce Commission Issues Utility Diversity Buying Report March 23, 2026
  • State Senators Push “Affordability” in Newsletters March 23, 2026
  • Another Multi-Million Dollar Covid Fraudster Sentenced March 23, 2026
  • Vehicle Demolished Guard Rail Northwest of Woodstock March 23, 2026
  • McLaughlin Daycare Center Child Safety Gets Out of Committee March 23, 2026
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Commerce Commission Issues Utility Diversity Buying Report

Cal SkinnerMarch 23, 2026March 23, 2026

From the Illinois Commerce Commission: ICC 2025 Supplier Diversity Report shows robust investment from Illinois’ largest utilities Springfield, IL – The Illinois Commerce Commission’s (ICC) Office of Diversity and Community Affairs’ (ODCA) 2025 Annual Report shows the state’s largest investor-owned utilities’ diverse spending remains robust […]

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State Senators Push “Affordability” in Newsletters

Cal SkinnerMarch 23, 2026March 23, 2026

From State Senators Craig Wilcox, Don DeWitte Survey Finds Illinois Among Least Affordable States  A new survey found that most Americans believe the country is facing a cost-of-living crisis, and Illinois ranks among the states viewed as less affordable. According to 2026 […]

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Another Multi-Million Dollar Covid Fraudster Sentenced

Cal SkinnerMarch 23, 2026March 23, 2026

From the U.S. Attorney: FEDERAL JUDGE SENTENCES SUBURBAN CHICAGO MAN TO SIX AND A HALF YEARS IN PRISON FOR $3.3 MILLION COVID-RELIEF FRAUD CHICAGO – A suburban Chicago man has been sentenced to six and a half years in federal prison for […]

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Vehicle Demolished Guard Rail Northwest of Woodstock

Cal SkinnerMarch 23, 2026March 23, 2026

From the Woodstock Fire/Rescue District: Woodstock Fire News Release: Single-Vehicle Rollover Crash on Hartland Road On Thursday, March 19, 2025, at 4:07 p.m., the Woodstock Fire/Rescue District responded to the 2400 block of Hartland Road in unincorporated Woodstock for a reported vehicle […]

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McLaughlin Daycare Center Child Safety Gets Out of Committee

Cal SkinnerMarch 23, 2026March 20, 2026

From State Rep. Marty McLaughlin: State Rep. Martin McLaughlin Advances HB2190 to Help Protect Children in Daycare Centers SPRINGFIELD, IL – On Friday, State Rep. Martin McLaughlin (R-Barrington Hills) and Chairwoman, State Rep. Joyce Mason (D-Gurnee) worked in bipartisan fashion to unanimously pass HB2190 through the […]

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Most McHenry County Townships Assessed More Evenly That Those in Cook County

Cal SkinnerMarch 23, 2026March 17, 2026

I’ve been looking at Coefficients of Dispersion for pretty much sixty years. This is a measure of the uniformity of assessments in a given jurisdiction a member of the Illinois Department of Revenue pointed me to in the late 1960’s when I […]

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Gun Toting Drug Dealer Gets 20 Years

Cal SkinnerMarch 22, 2026March 22, 2026

From the State’s Attorne: STATE’S ATTORNEY SECURES 20-YEAR PRISON SENTENCE FOR ANTIOCH MAN FOLLOWING ARMED VIOLENCE, DRUG-RELATED CONVICTIONS McHenry County State’s Attorney Randi L. Freese announced that on March 20, 2025, John T. Boland, 41, of Antioch, Illinois, was sentenced to 20 […]

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Sunday Funnies

Cal SkinnerMarch 22, 2026March 22, 2026

From the Illinois :Policy cartoonist Eric Allie:

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Film Subsidy a Net Negative for the State’s Balance Sheet

Cal SkinnerMarch 22, 2026March 20, 2026

From The Center Square: Pritzker highlights film growth while studies question tax credit’s value (The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker visited a major film studio Thursday in Chicago to discuss the growth of Illinois’ film industry, joined by leaders and lawmakers. […]

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Voters Favor Accepting Federal Scholarship Money in All Referendums

Cal SkinnerMarch 22, 2026March 19, 2026

Previously, McHenry County Blog reported on local referendum results: Now comes Illinois Policy with results from all referendums on the subject: Lilly Rossi, Policy Analyst, & Hannah Schmid, Manager of Education Policy Illinois voters who were asked strongly support public and private […]

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State Rep. Jeff Keicher Seeks Interns, Pay $17.50 per Hour

Cal SkinnerMarch 21, 2026March 20, 2026

From State Rep. Jeff Keicher: Rep. Keicher’s Summer Internship Now Accepting Resumes SYCAMORE – State Representative Jeff Keicher (R-Sycamore) is seeking hard-working and passionate summer interns. If you are outgoing, organized, engaged and want to experience working in a state legislative office, this may […]

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Nick Shirley Exposes Hospice Fraud in California

Cal SkinnerMarch 21, 2026March 19, 2026

Remember what Nick Shirley did in Minnesota? Well, he’s now in California covering hospice fraud. If you would like to read summaries with links to h is videos, they are here. The full report is forty minutes, but summary only takes a […]

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Darby Hills Gets Wider Coverage of Her Bills to Strengthen Child Sex Offenders

Cal SkinnerMarch 21, 2026March 19, 2026

From The Center Square: Lawmakers push bills to close loopholes, increase penalties for child sex offenders (The Center Square) – A state senator and former prosecutor says it is time to change Illinois law that allows people who record or transmit video […]

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Public Radio Tries to Emulate Christian Radio Listener Financing

Cal SkinnerMarch 21, 2026March 19, 2026

From Chicago’s WBEZ: GOAL UPDATE: $188,026 left to raise before March 31, 2026 Over 4,000 WBEZ listeners have stepped up, but we haven’t heard from you this drive. Can you help us close the gap? Our station is 100% community-supported — which means your gift […]

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Northwest Headline on County Board Results Better Now

Cal SkinnerMarch 20, 2026March 19, 2026

This was the first internet headline after Jeff Schwartz and Marty Mohr were victorious over the inclubents they ran against: Here is the second day version: The votes did not change significantly between incumbents trailing and incumbents losing. My headline election night:

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Low Interest Loans Available for Those Hurt by August Storm

Cal SkinnerMarch 20, 2026March 19, 2026

From McHenry County: August 2025 Storm Damage Now Eligible for SBA Loan Assistance WOODSTOCK, Ill. – McHenry County residents and business owners whose properties sustained damage during last August’s severe weather can now apply for US Small Business Administration disaster loans. The […]

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Big Super Pac Spenders in 9th Congressional District’s Democratic Party Contest

Cal SkinnerMarch 20, 2026March 19, 2026

Spending from sources other than candidate Political Action Committees exceeded $10 million. Kat Abughazaleh received only ads attacking her candidacy. $4.3 million was spent by super pop-up committee Elect Chicago Women in support of State Senator Laura Fine. Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss […]

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Stepping into the Covid Vaccine Debate for the First Time

Cal SkinnerMarch 20, 2026March 20, 2026

During the epidemic, I had one shot of Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine (traditional definition). I was quite skeptical about the efficacy of vaccinating young people with mRNA Now comes this from Salem’s WIND morning email: Peer-Reviewed Study: COVID Vaccine in Kids Provided […]

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Kat Carries McHenry County, Erupts After District Loss

Cal SkinnerMarch 20, 2026March 19, 2026

Here are the 9th District Democratic Party Primary Election results: From the map below, you can see McHenry County was the only election jurisdiction where Kat Abughazaleh ran first, getting 30.8%, ahead of victor Daniel Biss’ 26.3:% Although Kat won McHenry County, […]

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New Pritzker Ad Attacks Trump on Inflation

Cal SkinnerMarch 19, 2026March 19, 2026

Tying all Republicans to President Trump will be a strong feature of the fall campaign. Here is the first salvo: And, it looks as if Pritzker has lost weight.

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Huntley’s Jennifer Davis To Face Off Against Melissa Bean in District South of McHenry County Line

Cal SkinnerMarch 19, 2026March 18, 2026

From John Lopez: Potential for a Campaign Based on the Issues and Policy Awaits IL 8th Congressional District General Electorate It’ll be an all-woman general election in the 8th Congressional District of Illinois as Republicans nominated Jennifer Davis (R, unincorporated Huntley) over […]

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Steve Willson, Asserting the Cost of Low Income Housing Is Too High, Replies to John Collins Critique of Willson’s Analysis

Cal SkinnerMarch 19, 2026March 19, 2026

When last we dipped into this intellectual contest, McHenry County Board member provided a point by point rebuttal to Steve Willson’s previous post. Here is the link that John Collins critique (the post contains links to all past pieces on this story): […]

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Vehicle Emission Testing Available in Johnsburg on Saturday, March 21st, and How Crystal Lake Got a Testing Station

Cal SkinnerMarch 19, 2026March 19, 2026

Here’s a new one. Illinois requires tailpipe tests to see if one’s vehicle’s motor is operating properly. Up to now, one had to drive to the Crystal Lake facility. When the legislature was pretty much forced by the Federal EPA to create […]

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Huntley Police Sponsoring 5k Run for Special Olympics Illinois for the Fifth Year

Cal SkinnerMarch 19, 2026March 19, 2026

From the Huntley Police: The 5th Annual “Don’t Be Fooled…By A Disability” 5K On Saturday, April 11, 2026, the Huntley Police Department will be hosting the 5th Annual “Don’t Be Fooled…By A Disability” 5K to benefit the Law Enforcement Torch Run for […]

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Misleading Headlines

Cal SkinnerMarch 19, 2026March 18, 2026

Both the Northwest Herald and the Daily Herald, which picked up the story, wrote misleading headlines on the story about the victories of Jeff Schwartz and Marty Mohr. Now, take a look at the results as of Election Day: Anything above 55% […]

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UPDATE: Election Judge Dies in McCullom Lake, COUNTY CLERK JOE TIRIO’S STATEMENT

Cal SkinnerMarch 18, 2026March 19, 2026

From the Coroner: McHenry County Coroner, Dr. Michael Rein, announced that his office was contacted by McCullom Lake PD on March 17, 2026 at around 9:15 pm to investigate the death of Petter Culver, age 75, of McHenry. Mr. Culver was working […]

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20-Year Old Wonder Lake Man Gets on Six Years for Drug Death of Friend

Cal SkinnerMarch 18, 2026March 18, 2026

From the State’s Attorney: WONDER LAKE MAN SENTENCED TO SIX-YEAR PRISON SENTENCE IN FATAL DRUG DELIVERY CASE McHenry County State’s Attorney Randi L. Freese announces that Carlos M. Paiz, 20, of Wonder Lake, has been sentenced to six years in the Illinois […]

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56% Approve Referendum Seeking Opinion on Illinois’ Participation in Federal Scholarship Program

Cal SkinnerMarch 18, 2026March 18, 2026

On the Primary Election ballot was this advisory referendum question: Advisory Referendum To The Voters Of McHenry County Regarding The Federal Scholarship Tax Credit Should Illinois participate in a federal program that would provide public school, private school, andhomeschool students with privately […]

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Ten Years for Crooked Tax Preparer in Covid Fraud

Cal SkinnerMarch 18, 2026March 18, 2026

From the U.S. Attorney: ILLINOIS BUSINESSMAN SENTENCED TO TEN YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON FOR $14 MILLION COVID-RELIEF FRAUD CHICAGO – An Illinois businessman has been sentenced to ten years in federal prison for fraudulently obtaining $14 million across 1,500 fraudulent small business […]

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Biss Issues Victory Email

Cal SkinnerMarch 18, 2026March 18, 2026

I’m proud to write to you for the first time as the official Democratic nominee for Illinois’ 9th Congressional District! The 9th District made its voice heard loud and clear for the whole country by electing a progressive fighter and rejecting dark […]

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Recent Comments

  • Voters Favor Accepting Federal Scholarship Money in All Referendums - McHenry County Blog on 56% Approve Referendum Seeking Opinion on Illinois’ Participation in Federal Scholarship Program
  • Northwest Headline on County Board Results Better Now - McHenry County Blog on With 100% of Precincts in McHenry County Board District 7 & 8, Challengers Jeff Schwartz and Marty Mohr Defeat Brian Sager & Larry Smith
  • Steve Willson, Asserting the Cost of Low Income Housing Is Too High, Replies to John Collins Critique of Willson’s Analysis - McHenry County Blog on John Collins Replies to Steve Willson’s Reply to Collins’ Reply to Willson’s Piece on the High Cost of Low Income Housing
  • Contested McHenry Township GOP Precinct Committeeperson Contest Results - McHenry County Blog on In the Two Hot GOP Committeeperson Contests Early & Absentee Ballots Show Interesting Results
  • John Collins Replies to Steve Willson’s Reply to Collins’ Reply to Willson’s Piece on the High Cost of Low Income Housing - McHenry County Blog on Point, Counterpoint: Wilson Replies to Collins’ Critique of His Analysis of the High Cost of McHenry Affordable Income Housing
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