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Tuesday, May 7, 2013
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Online dispute leads to stabbing
FAREWELL GALA FOR RETIRING PRESIDENT
NIU celebrates Peters
By JILLIAN DUCHNOWSKI jduchnowski@shawmedia.com SYCAMORE – A political argument that started on Facebook ended with a Sycamore man being stabbed in the chest and cut on the hand early Sunday, authorities said. A 21-year-old Sycamore man sent Robert A. Church, 24, of the 1400 block of Larson Street in Sycamore, a Facebook message about 4:30 a.m. Sunday indicating he wanted to beat him after the two had debated political issues online, authorities said. Church provided the younger man his address, court records show. When the victim showed up at Church’s home, the two men wrestled. When the victim saw Church Robert A. had a knife in Church each hand, he asked: “Are you serious?” Church sliced the victim’s hand as they struggled over the knives, court records show. Church swung a knife at the younger man’s neck, missed and suggested the victim leave, court records indicate. When he didn’t, Church stabbed the man in the chest, puncturing his lung, court records show. The victim had a friend take him to Kishwaukee Community Hospital, where he was in good condition Monday morning, police said. Church told police that he never feared for his life and that he prepared the knives for the fight before the victim arrived at his home, court records show. Church was charged with two counts of aggravated battery, which typically is punishable with probation or up to five years in prison. Church was sentenced April 22 to 18 months of conditional discharge, or nonreporting probation, and 240 hours of public service for driving drunk in April 2012, court records show. His bail was set at $50,000, which requires posting $5,000 for release while the new case is pending. He is next due in court Wednesday. The investigation in ongoing, but no charges had been filed against the victim Monday, Sycamore Police Lt. Darrell Johnson said.
Photos by Monica Maschak – mmaschak@shawmedia.com
Northern Illinois University departing president John Peters greets staff at the farewell celebration Monday held in his honor. He will retire June 30.
Leader remembered for student focus, response to tragedy By DAVID THOMAS dthomas@shawmedia.com DeKALB – Julie Konczyk thinks that Northern Illinois University President John Peters was focused on students. Starting as an undergraduate student in 2003, and now as the credit coordinator in the College of Liberal Arts and Science, Konczyk remembers when she first met Peters at a football game in 2006. “You’d see him and he’d shake your hand and just always be very open, despite obviously being a very busy man,” Konczyk said. “... You got that sense that he wanted to talk to you.” Konczyk was among the 200 or so people who attended Monday’s farewell ceremony for NIU’s outgoing 11th president. Peters will retire June 30. Students, alumni, university officials and community leaders flocked to the event that featured some of Peters’ colleagues reflecting on his time at the university. Speakers included Robert Boey, the vice chairman of NIU’s Board of Trustees, and Ray Alden, NIU’s executive
vice president and provost. Speakers praised the changes that have occurred since Peters became president in 2000. They mentioned the university’s True North fundraising campaign, which brought in more than $180 million, and the construction of campus buildings including Barsema Hall and the new residence hall. They remembered Peters’ character and leadership in handling the Feb. 14, 2008, shooting on campus. A former NIU student walked into Room 101 of Cole Hall shortly after 3 p.m. that day, and opened fire, killing five students, and injuring at least 16 others before killing himself. How Peters reacted to the tragedy stood out to Laura Gallagher, a sophomore mechanical engineering major. “I love how he brought [the university] back from that tragedy ... to make NIU stronger and show how much NIU cares,” Gallagher said. And it made an impression on Erin Ortiz, a senior physical therapy major, who met Peters at an
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Peters sits with his granddaughter, Emily, in his lap during the farewell celebration Monday held in his honor. Peters, who led the university for 13 years, will be succeeded by Douglas Baker.
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Cullerton: Senate Dems back union-favored pension plan By SARA BURNETT The Associated Press SPRINGFIELD – Senate President John Cullerton announced Monday his chamber will move forward with a new union-backed pension reform proposal he says will save Illinois money and is at less risk of being tossed out by the courts than a plan approved by the House last week. The decision creates dueling legislative plans and the
possibility of further delays – or another stalemate – in addressing the nation’s worst state pension crisis. The nearly $100 billion shortfall already is squeezing out other areas of the budget and has prompted credit rating agencies to give Illinois the lowest credit rating of any state in the nation. But Cullerton was optimistic the measure could move smoothly through both chambers, where Democrats hold veto-proof majorities
and where a union-friendly proposal could pick up votes from lawmakers who have opposed other measures. He predicted bipartisan support, and said the proposal that moved through the House last week – sponsored by powerful House Speaker Michael Madigan – was beneficial because it pushed the unions to compromise. “This [union-backed] plan is the best chance for the General Assembly to pass a clearly constitutional proposal that
will save money and avoid an expensive and lengthy court battle,” Cullerton, a Chicago Democrat, said. A Senate committee is expected to take up the measure Wednesday and a vote on the floor could happen Thursday. Madigan would then have to decide whether to call it for a vote in the House. The measure gives workers and retirees a choice of benefit packages. For example, if workers choose to receive health insurance in re-
tirement they would receive smaller cost-of-living increases. Those who choose to keep 3 percent cost-of-living increases compounded annually wouldn’t get health insurance. Current workers would get to choose from three different packages, while public employees who already are retired have two options. Cullerton says under his plan, the annual pension payment would be about $850 million less in 2015 than is currently scheduled. Madigan
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says the payment would be about $1.8 billion less under his proposal. But Cullerton insists that Madigan’s plan – which unilaterally cuts benefits – violates a clause in the Illinois Constitution that says pension benefits cannot be reduced. So a court would likely throw out the bill, making the savings essentially zero. He says his plan is safer because offering employees a choice in benefits makes it constitutional.
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