W.J. Kennedy Stories | Dupage Policy Journal

Burr Ridge attorney leading fight to defeat home rule question on March ballot

By W.J. Kennedy | Jan 16, 2020

Burr Ridge attorney Ellen Raymond is forming a coalition with the Illinois Realtors and Taxpayers United of America (TUA) to defeat a question on the March 17 ballot that would give the village home rule powers.

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Jeanne Ives: Springfield’s property tax reform task force another ploy from state lawmakers

By W.J. Kennedy | Nov 20, 2019

The Property Tax Relief Task Force established by the General Assembly is just another prop in a multi-year game of sleight of hand by state lawmakers holding out the promise of property tax reductions, according to former state Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton), who is running in the Republican Primary to take on first-term Democratic Congressman Sean Casten in the 6th District.

'A lot of unknowns' in an alleged racist incident at Buffalo Wild Wings in Naperville

By W.J. Kennedy | Nov 7, 2019

A source with first-hand knowledge of an alleged racist incident at a Buffalo Wild Wings in Naperville said that initial news reports left out key elements of the story of a white customer asking management to move a group of African Americans, six adults and 12 children, to a table away from where he was sitting.

Islamist expert: Casten, Grasso should be held accountable for validating Muslim center that hosts promoters of hate

By W.J. Kennedy | Oct 21, 2019

U.S. Rep. Sean Casten (D-Downers Grove), Burr Ridge Mayor Gary Grasso and other local officials need to be held accountable by voters over their recent visits to a Muslim center that hosts Islamist leaders who preach hate against Jewish people and war against the United States, according to a Chicago official with the Counter-Islamist Grid (CIG).

Mottl asks for Hinsdale board member Chval’s resignation in light of “operating while intoxicated” charge

By W.J. Kennedy | Oct 4, 2019

Zach Mottl, the leader of a grassroots movement opposed to the $140 million Hinsdale D86 referendum approved in April, sent an email to the board of education asking for the resignation of member Keith Chval in light of his being charged for operating a vehicle while intoxicated in Michigan last summer.

Industry leader cites bad science as Sterigenics throws in towel in Willowbrook fight

By W.J. Kennedy | Oct 1, 2019

A massive over assessment of risk from a U.S. EPA regulated compound, ethylene oxide (EO), has driven Sterigenics, a medical sterilization company, out of Willowbrook, says Mark Biel, chief executive officer of the Chemical Industry Council of Illinois.

EPA estimates of risk from ethylene oxide greatly overblown, Texas environmental regulators say

By W.J. Kennedy | Sep 27, 2019

Texas officials have a much different take on the latent dangers of a chemical compound, ethylene oxide (EO), at the center of Willowbrook's Sterigenics dispute.

Sanguinetti resurrects 'ludicrous' Ives/Madigan connection from Rauner days

By W.J. Kennedy | Sep 25, 2019

Political analysts are questioning the wisdom of a campaign maneuver by former Lt. Gov. Evelyn Sanguinetti, running in the Republican Primary in the 6th Congressional District, that drags out an old, discredited claim about her opponent, former state Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton).

Hinsdale district backs Central High 10-lane pool, fulfilling predictions of referendum opponent

By W.J. Kennedy | Sep 13, 2019

The Hinsdale Township High School District 86 board on Sept. 12 approved an expensive 10-lane swimming pool for Hinsdale Central, making a Nostradamus of one leading opponent of the $140 million referendum approved by the voters in April.

Sean Casten has no response to Washington Post columnist remarks that the Republican Party should be “burned down”

By W.J. Kennedy | Aug 29, 2019

Rep. Sean Casten’s (D-Downers Grove) office did not return requests for comment on Washington Post columnist Jennifer Rubin’s recent remarks that the Republican Party should be “burned down with no survivors.”

Former Rauner aide posts, then removes, attack on Ives congressional bid

By W.J. Kennedy | Aug 29, 2019

Sources tell the DuPage Policy Journal that a former media relations official with Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner’s administration was behind a post on the DuPage County GOP Facebook site belittling the chances of former State Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton) in her run for the congressional seat held by liberal Democrat Sean Casten.

Sterigenics lawsuits media driven, not fact driven, air quality expert says

By W.J. Kennedy | Aug 23, 2019

Thirty-two injury lawsuits were filed this week against a Willowbrook company, Sterigenics, with a sterling record of complying with emission rules set down by state and federal law.

Hinsdale referendum costs going up just as Zach Mottl and others in the “No” movement predicted

By W.J. Kennedy | Aug 21, 2019

Opponents of the $140 million Hinsdale D86 referendum approved in April are beginning to have their “I told you so” moments. An ardent supporter of the referendum, Yvonne Mayer of Burr Ridge, wrote on social media that she was troubled by estimated cost overages of projects funded by the tax increase, and the lack of public access during the school board’s recent meeting on the progress of the projects.

Sterigenics fallout could trigger media/mob attacks against other businesses, air quality expert warns

By W.J. Kennedy | Aug 2, 2019

One disturbing takeaway from the year-long mob and media assault on Sterigenics, the Willowbrook plant that sterilizes medical equipment, is that it leaves hundreds of other businesses in DuPage County alone vulnerable to the same contrived, targeted campaign, says air quality expert and author Rich Trzupek.

Past 'incident with a black student' haunting D41 board president Robert Bruno

By W.J. Kennedy | Jul 31, 2019

Some concerned Glen Ellyn residents are questioning what D41 board president Robert Bruno, 64, is hiding about his past as a high school social studies teacher in New Jersey.

Casten, Underwood took campaign money from law firm that represented sexual predator Jeffrey Epstein

By W.J. Kennedy | Jul 16, 2019

Campaign records show that Sean Casten (D-6th District) and Lauren Underwood (D-14th District), both freshmen House members, accepted thousands in campaign donations from the law firm that represented sexual predator Jeffrey Epstein, 66, on an earlier sex crimes indictment.

Naperville School District 203 parent fears diversity program is more 'indoctrination than education'

By W.J. Kennedy | Jun 21, 2019

A parent in Naperville School District 203 is exasperated with school officials who have plunged headfirst into a “diversity and inclusion” program as a way of boosting the academic performances of minority students.

From Prairie State Wire

Pritzker’s claims of paying down pension debt “simply dishonest,” fiscal watchdog says

By W.J. Kennedy | 6 years ago

The recently approved state budget hardly makes Illinois the beacon of fiscal prudence that Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker and legislative leaders claim it is, budgetary analysts at Wirepoints say.

Motor vehicles cited as sources in new ethylene oxide study; health risk re-assessed

By W.J. Kennedy | May 30, 2019

The results of new studies into sources of and the potential dangers from ethylene oxide (EtO) gas identify motor vehicles as a primary source of the gas, an entirely different story than media reports over potential health risks from the detection of the gas near the Sterigenics plant in Willowbrook.