Recently in DuPage County Category

The Naperville Sun broke the story about the arrest of Nicholas T. Birkett, 21, the son of DuPage County State's Attorney Joseph Birkett, by Naperville police for possession of cannabis and drug paraphernalia. The younger Birkett faces a lesser charge--he was cited under a Naperville ordinance because he had no previous arrests or convictions, while two other men with him face state charges because they had previously been arrested.

What should be the response of the elder Birkett, a former Republican Party gubernatorial candidate who has been a tireless and ferocious prosecutor of narcotics dealers and drug-related crimes? If found guilty, what would be an appropriate punishment for the younger Birkett? What do you think of the arrest by Naperville police, who previously arrested Bolingbrook Mayor Roger Claar for DUI? (Claar was not convicted).

You can read the full Sun report here:

http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/napervillesun/news/947738,na14_birkett_s1.article

The first installment of real estate tax bills is due June 1 for many Naperville residents in DuPage and Will counties. Most homeowners pay the bulk of their real estate taxes to local school districts. Other taxing districts on bills are the city, county, township, park district, forest preserve, community college, and more.

How do your taxes this year compare to last? What about your assessment--how has the value of your home changed? A higher assessment can be a big part of the reason for higher taxes, though a taxing district's rate may have increased due to a referendum. How much are you paying, and are you getting your money's worth?

Another sign that Democrats are gaining traction in DuPage County is that a Democratic challenger for the solidly red 13th Congressional District is setting fundraising records and drawing the attention of national Democratic party officials for the first time. How good are Democratic Scott Harper's chances against Republican incumbent Judy Biggert in the fall?

The Ballot Integrity Project has gotten some ink of late, with its tireless criticism of the DuPage Election Commission. Now state Republican Party officials are charging that the Ballot Integrity Project is nothing more than a front for left-wing Democratic organizations, when it had positioned itself as nonpartisan.

A report in Sunday's Sun revealed how several elected DuPage County officials have accepted campaign donations from Aramark, a company that has provided food service to the jail for years. Aramark is trying to keep the jail food contract, but has repeatedly failed to meet bid requirements. Yet county officials are giving Aramark chance after chance after chance to get the contract by changing the bid rules, saying it would save taxpayers money if Aramark gets the contract. Do you see anything wrong with this?

DuPage County is poised to cut some 20 percent from its budget. If the axe falls, it will slash funding for sheriff's police, the state's attorney's office, the health department, the juvenile detention center and plenty of other programs that serve the public. How did we get here?

The DuPage County Board chairman proposes a budget that eliminates nearly 250 positions, prompting the chief judge, state's attorney, sheriff and other top department officials to say no way -- it cannot happen. What is going on?