01.01.70

Twenty-five computers valued at nearly $20,000 were stolen from Everett School in Lake Forest sometime between 11 p.m. on Feb. 3 and 11:45 a.m. on Feb. 4.

In addition to the computer equipment, $300 in petty cash was stolen from the school office, which was locked but the door was pried open and the office was ransacked.

In all, the locked doors of 14 rooms were pried open. The perpetrators also took the time to draw male genitalia on a cabinet with a marker, leading police to believe that youths were involved, Lake Forest Deputy Police Chief Glenn Burmeister said.

Police believe the perpetrators broke a window on the south side of the building near St. Patrick’s Cemetery to enter the building.

“We are working on leads,” Burmeister said Tuesday afternoon.

Should anyone have information about the incident or discover the 25 computers, Burmeister urges them to call Detective Martin Blitstein at 847-810-3815.

Source: Lake Forester

Don't have the slightest clue what your health insurance covers?

The Obama administration says that's going to change. Officials announced Thursday that starting later this year private health plans will have to provide consumers with a user-friendly summary of what's covered, along with key cost details such as copays and deductibles.

Just six pages long. No fine print.

And because the summaries will use a single standard format, it will allow "apples to apples" comparisons among health plans that aren't possible now. That will help working spouses trying to pick between employer plans, as well as people who buy coverage directly from an insurance company.

"If an insurance plan offers substandard coverage in some area, they won't be able to hide it in dozens of pages of text," said Medicare chief Marilyn Tavenner, who also oversees implementation of President Barack Obama's health care law.

Insurers and business groups were unhappy, calling it another costly new regulation under the overhaul. Consumer groups said the new summaries won't be perfect, but called them a strong start. Employees should start seeing them during open enrollment season this fall....

Read more...

The City Council previously had approved killing the ducks, which were soiling city facilities, but public opposition led to a change of heart. Federal and state laws prohibit non-native ducks like the Muscovies from being moved to another location. However, the city obtained a permit to relocate the ducks provided the birds cannot escape from the new location. The ducks will have their wings clipped at the new site so they cannot fly.

The ducks are being moved to an undisclosed farm in Marion County that has accepted hundreds of the prolific Muscovies in the past. The owners of the farm have asked that their names not be disclosed and the city is honoring that request. Previous inspections of the farm by the Star-Banner have confirmed that the ducks are, indeed, there and are thriving very comfortably with plenty of nutritious food and suitable habitat.

Lawrence began moving the roughly 120 ducks on Jan. 31.

City spokesman Sonny Allen said Tuesday that, so far, Lawrence has removed 30 ducks from the Polly Palmer Park off Southwest 27th Avenue.

Read more...