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Monday, January 14, 2013
girls basketball • sports, b1
Area teams battle for Little Ten Conference title
local, A3
NIU supportive of gun safety efforts By JEFF ENGELHARDT
jengelhardt@shawmedia.com DeKALB – Northern Illinois University President John Peters is keeping an eye on Vice President Joe Biden’s gun violence task force. “President Peters is supportive of a holistic public policy approach to reducing gun violence that includes components such as enhanced licensing and registration regulations, appropriate
data sharing and mental health policies and issues,” the university said in a prepared statement. Peters has been providing suggestions for Biden’s task force, the statement said. It’s a topic that has been gripping college leaders in recent weeks. Presidents Lawrence Schall of Oglethorpe University and Elizabeth Kiss of Agnes Scott College, both in Atlanta, Ga., released an
open letter Dec. 19 urging gun safety legislation. It has received the support of more than 300 college and university presidents and is receiving more signatures on a daily basis. The petition calls for lawmakers to oppose legislation allowing firearms on campuses or in schools; end the gun show loophole that allows people to buy guns from unlicensed sellers; reinstate bans on military-style weapons; and require safety stan-
dards on all guns. “We fully understand that reasonable gun safety legislation will not prevent every future murder,” the letter states. “But, in many of our states, legislation has been introduced or passed that would allow gun possession on college campuses. We oppose such laws.” The letter also cites a report in the Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery that states among the world’s 23 wealthiest coun-
tries, 80 percent of all gun deaths occur in the United States and 87 percent of all children killed with guns are killed here. Northern Illinois University’s written statement did not address whether Peters would sign the petition. The petition has gained the support of Kishwaukee College President Tom Choice, although he said he would not sign off on
John Peters Northern Illinois University president
See NIU, page A6
No clear path in debt limit Video gambling boosts revenue at three county bars debate
Business gamble pays off
If limit reached, what will be paid? By JIM KUHNHENN The Associated Press
WASHINGTON – In the summer of 2011, when a debt crisis like the current one loomed, President Barack Obama warned Republicans that older Americans might not get their Social Security checks unless there was a deal to raise the nation’s borrowing limit. After weeks of brinkmanship, Republicans consented and Obama agreed to a deficit-reduction plan the GOP wanted. Crisis averted, for a time. Now that there’s a fresh showdown, the possibility of Social Security cuts – and more – is back on the table. The government could run out of cash to pay all its bills in full as early as Feb. 15, according to one authoritative estimate, and congressional Republicans want significant spending cuts in exchange for raising the borrowing limit. Obama, forced to negotiate an increase in 2011, has pledged not to negotiate again. Without an agreement, every option facing his administration would be unprecedented. It would require a degree of financial creativity that could test the law, perhaps even the Constitution. It could shortchange Social Security recipients and other people, including veterans and the poor, who rely on government programs. It could force the Treasury to contemplate selling government assets, a step considered but rejected in 2011. In short, the Treasury would have to create its own form of triage, creating a priority list of its most crucial obligations, from interest payments to debtors to benefits to vulnerable Americans.
Photos by Rob Winner – rwinner@shawmedia.com
ABOVE: Kingston resident Brenda Atkinson reacts to winning $2.50 while playing on one of the three video gambling machines Wednesday at Karlsbad Tavern in Genoa. BELOW: Atkinson looks over the video gambling options available before deciding on which game to play. By DAVID THOMAS
Voice your opinion
dthomas@shawmedia.com Bar owners in DeKalb County had hoped to make more money after installing video gambling terminals in their establishments. Now there’s proof. Three bars – Karlsbad Tavern in Genoa, Houlahan’s Tavern in Waterman and Olde Tyme Inn in Sandwich – have raked in thousands of dollars in November and December just by operating terminals. This is not including revenue the bar might have re-
Have you played one of the new video gambling machines in Illinois? Vote online at DailyChronicle. com.
ceived from more customers. “They’ve brought new faces into our business and that in turn helps business,” said Karl Gallagher, owner of Karlsbad Tavern, 413 W. Main St. He estimated that his food and liquor sales have increased by 10 to 20 percent. Gallagher operates three terminals. According to records the Illinois Gaming Board – the state’s gambling overseer – publishes monthly, the three terminals produced $10,578 in net income
See GAMBLING, page A6
See DEBT, page A6
Inside today’s Daily Chronicle
Lottery Local news Obituaries
A2 A3-4 A4
National and world news Opinions Sports
A4, A6 A9 B1-3
Advice Comics Classified
B5 B6 B7-8
Collectors & Electronics Roadshow!
Mon., Jan. 14 through Sat., Jan. 19 • 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
Best Western DeKalb Inn & Suites, 1212 W. Lincoln Highway, DeKalb PAYING CASH FOR THE FOLLOWING ITEMS:
Gold, Silver, Coins, Guitars, Cell Phones, Cameras, CDs, Computers & MORE!
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