Free Republic

Chicago Democrat Barack Obama did what at one time seemed politically impossible: win throughout the suburban region long considered home base for the GOP. In DuPage County, where Republicans for decades have counted on strong turnout to boost the GOP ticket, Obama won 54 percent of the vote with 99 percent of the precincts in. To put Obama's early, unofficial total in DuPage County in perspective, his more than 224,000 votes there are nearly as many votes as Ronald Reagan received there in his 1984 landslide over Democrat Walter Mondale. Not only are Obama's votes the most a Democrat has...

WHEATON, Ill. (STNG) -- A veteran DuPage County prosecutor was driving drunk with a blood-alcohol level three times the legal limit when she died in a May 11 car crash, authorities said Friday.Jane Radostits died after the 3:45 p.m. head-on crash near Winfield that occurred when her county-issued Chevrolet Impala collided with a Chevy Tahoe SUV, officials have said. Two other vehicles also were damaged in the collision, which happened on a four-lane stretch of Winfield Road and seriously injured a West Chicago woman driving the Tahoe.

Leading suburban Republicans said Tuesday the decision by veteran GOP U.S. Rep. Henry Hyde to not seek re-election next year could result in a torrent of candidates vying to replace him and create a potentially costly primary contest for a seat that Democrats are likely to aggressively target. Patrick Durante, a longtime Hyde aide who also is head of the Addison Township Republican organization, estimated a hard-fought primary contest in the 6th Congressional District could cost a contender $1 million or more to gain the name recognition and support necessary to win in March. And for some of the candidates...

August 20, 2002 West Nile Virus Web site SEVEN ADDITIONAL WEST NILE VIRUS HUMAN CASES SPRINGFIELD, IL – Seven new human cases of West Nile virus illness have been confirmed in Illinois, bringing to 16 the number of cases reported so far this year in the state, Dr. John R. Lumpkin, state public health director, today announced. Dr. Lumpkin said the state is working to provide assistance with mosquito abatement efforts in areas with human cases, is operating its Chicago laboratory seven days a week to assist hospitals and doctors with the testing of human samples and is continuing to...