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Northern Star

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The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

Quinn introduces bill that could reduce number of Illinois school districts

By Danny Ciamprone | March 9, 2011

Gov. Pat Quinn introduced a bill that could cut the number of Illinois school districts from 868 to 300 if passed. Quinn said the bill would save taxpayers $100 million."Those guys must be crazy," said James Briscoe, superintendent of DeKalb School District...

NIU alumna becomes successful novelist

NIU alumna becomes successful novelist

By Kyla Gardner | March 8, 2011

DeKALB | It was 20 minutes of inspired scribbling on a yellow note pad, but it was also the defining moment of her career: NIU aluma Jo Fredell Higgins knew, in that moment, that she wanted to become a writer. Higgins won a 1976 Aurora Bicentennial essay...

Gov. Scott Walker’s unwillingness to negotiate sets a dangerous precedent

By Philip Case | February 22, 2011

As I'm sure most of you have heard by now, there is a bit of an uproar in Wisconsin regarding Gov. Scott Walker's proposed budget package, which includes a provision that would strip many state workers of their collective bargaining rights. Putting aside...

Illinois needs to eliminate the death penalty

By Nathan Fulkerson | February 14, 2011

It is time we issued the death penalty a death sentence of its own. Illinois politicians have proposed and passed a bill that does exactly that, which only needs Gov. Pat Quinn's signature to abolish the penalty under state law. The bill has raised considerable...

Raising taxes in Illinois will only lead to more problems

Raising taxes in Illinois will only lead to more problems

By Portia Kerr-Newman | February 9, 2011

No person in their right mind would agree that the state of Illinois' idea to raise taxes was logical. Personal taxes were already 3 percent, according to a recent article by the Christian Science Monitor. The 66 percent tax increase will only make it...

Illinois must raise taxes to address its budget problems

Illinois must raise taxes to address its budget problems

By Aaron Brooks | February 9, 2011

Hooray for taxes! And I am not being sarcastic. Illinois has a serious budget deficit and is falling deeper into debt. Sure, there can be alternative measures to the problem; consolidation of municipalities, legalization of taxable goods and further overhaul...

First-year head coach Dave Doeren inked 22 new recruits to the NIU football team on Wednesday.

NIU inks 22 recruits

By Andrew Singer | February 3, 2011

DeKALB | Not even a blizzard was enough to derail National Signing Day for the NIU football team on Wednesday afternoon. First-year head coach Dave Doeren announced his first recruiting class as a head coach at the Yordon Center in DeKalb. The class of...

New state laws take effect this year

New state laws take effect this year

By Jim Maahs | January 23, 2011

With the start of the New Year, many new Illinois state laws went into effect, some odd and some expected. The new laws cover everything from campaign contributions to Illinois residents owning a primate. Campaign Contributions Under the new laws, there...

MAP grant awards will shrink by 5 percent

By Amy Kreeger | January 17, 2011

Students who receive the Illinois MAP grant will see their awards shrink by 5 percent this semester. An e-mail from the Financial Aid Office detailing the change was sent out to students on Jan. 6. "It stinks, but I understand why," said Jaimee Kartheiser,...

Civil Unions legislation passed, LGBT center weighs in on decision

By Jack Baker | December 2, 2010

Some NIU students are thrilled that the Illinois state legislature has passed a bill that will legalized civil unions for same sex couples. "I think it's a great move for Illinois," said Bryan Roush, a graduate assistant for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual,...

Band of thieves will make good company Friday

By Troy Doetch | November 17, 2010

Company of Thieves almost sealed their fate in a casket marked "another literary band" when they quoted Oscar Wilde's The Duchess of Padua in their 2009 single. Fortunately, Wilde is not to Company of Thieves as Chuck Palahniuk is to Panic! At The Disco,...

DeKalb leaf collection will continue until Nov. 30

By Northern Star Staff | November 17, 2010

The DeKalb Loose Leaf Collection Program will end on Nov. 30, according to a press release from the city. Crews will collect leaves in DeKalb now through Nov. 30. Landscape drop off sites will also remain in place through Nov. 30. Yard waste collection...