I want to apologize to our readers.

The use of the word "decadence" today in a headline in our print edition for a story about free and reduced lunches at public schools was a terrible error in judgment.

In no way did the Daily Chronicle intend to demean those who participate in these programs.

We know you expect more from us, as we do. I apologize for letting our readers down today.
 

• Jason Schaumburg, editor of the Daily Chronicle

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Welcome to election season; the March 20 primary is less than two months away.

Sure, there is a presidential primary that will be on the Republican ballot, but that’s not the most important part of the March primary.

There are a number of local contested primaries in March, especially on the Republican ballot. Local races are far more important than the presidential election because they often involve people who will make decisions on policy and taxes that will play a part in your life nearly everyday.

The local contested primaries are:

• County Board District 1, Republican (please note that this race is contested because two candidates filed as write-ins with the clerk’s office)

• County Board District 6, Democrat

• County Board District 11, Republican

• County Board District 12, Republican

• DeKalb County State’s Attorney, Republican

• Illinois State Representative 90th District, Republican

• Illinois State Senate 35th District, Republican

• U.S. Representative 14th District, Democrat

• U.S. Representative 16th District, Republican

As always, it is our goal to educate you on the issues, the candidates and where those candidates stand on the issues. Starting next week, our print coverage of local races begins.

But available now to you is our Election Central website. Election Central features candidate profiles, candidate questionnaires and stories regarding the candidates and the races. As stories are published in the Daily Chronicle and at Daily-Chronicle.com, they will be warehoused at Election Central.

Election Central will be live throughout the primary election season and will be home to election results on election night.

Find it at Daily-Chronicle.com/election and bookmark it today.

The latest Twitter sensation on the Northern Illinois University campus is @NIUGeese.

My column in Saturday's Daily Chronicle will feature an exclusive interview with the geese. In print, however, there are space constraints. So some of the interview had to be cut and fell to the newsroom floor ... like goose droppings falling to the ground.

What? Too childish?

Anyway, here's a look at parts of the interview that didn't make Saturday's column.

How many of you exist?

@NIUGeese: Ah, the age old question, “How many geese in a gaggle”? Our flock is in the hundreds.  According to the 2010 Census there are 432 geese on the NIU campus. However, the Gosling Boom of 2011 has increased our gaggle by an estimated 40 percent.

I thought I saw a tweet that indicated the geese were supporting the Ravens to win the Super Bowl. Is that also your prediction?

@NIUGeese: We are cheering for the Ravens. We met them at a bar in San Diego once. They bought us some Grey Goose Vodka and some 312 beer from the Goose Island Brewery. While the Patriots seem to have the advantage, we say a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

What's your favorite part of campus?

@NIUGeese: As you can imagine, we favor the lagoons and ponds around campus. Anywhere outside that has water works for us since we cannot get into the Anderson Hall pool ever since the goose dropping incident. We do like to visit Chick Evans Field House, where we play pick-up basketball against the ducks that float in the Kishwaukee River. Those games are very predictable as both of our coaches call the “Flying V” play the entire game.

Campus with students or campus without students?

@NIUGeese: Whether it’s following them on Twitter or following them around campus, we love our students.

Mac or PC?

@NIUGeese: We love the PC; we are old school. Tradition and loyalty matter in both baseball and computers. Plus, we are too bird brained to learn a different operating system.

Android or iPhone?

@NIUGeese: We like Android smartphones. You probably already guessed that we are really good at the Angry Bird app. Our tech support office within the flock is also working on a squawk-to-text recognition app that will help us tweet more efficiently.

Where do you fall on the Cackling Goose vs. Canada Goose debate?

@NIUGeese: We are a progressive flock and we believe that all geese, both Cackling and Canadian, have a valuable place in our lagoon. There are some older geese in our flock that still make the Cackling Geese fly in the back of the “V”, but we are working hard to educate all geese that we may be two species but one flock.

How many miles a year do you fly?

@NIUGeese: We are Canadian so we actually use the metric system so I am not entirely sure how many miles we fly per year. We do not fly as much as some other flocks because we like the cold weather here. Sometimes we fly as far east as Buffalo to watch the Huskies play football. If we have to travel much farther, we rent a 15 passenger van and drive. Ever wondered how many geese can fit in a 15 passenger van? Stop by the Lagoon just before our spring break trip to Cancun and you will see.

U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Manteno, talks with Randy and Kathy Faber of Sublette during an event Wednesday at Dixon’s Loveland Community House. (David Rauch/Shaw Media)

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The war of words in the Republican primary for Illinois' 16th Congressional District has started, but it isn't between the two candidates.

Instead, a grassroots conservative organization – Illinois Conservatives – and Congressman Adam Kinzinger are bickering over an endorsement made this week by Illinois Conservatives.

Kinzinger represents Illinois' 11th Congressional District but is running against incumbent Don Manzullo in the 16th Congressional District because of how Democrats drew the legislative map.

On Wednesday, Illinois Conservatives endorsed Manzullo in the race for the GOP nomination in the 16th. But on Tuesday – before the endorsement was made public – Kinzinger's campaign issued the following statement:

"In anticipation of Congressman Don Manzullo’s 'major announcement' tomorrow morning in conjunction with the Illinois Conservatives Facebook Group, it is important to note that that the Illinois Conservatives Facebook Group is run by a 20 year old from Congressman Manzullo’s home county and is not an influential voice within the Republican electorate."

Illinois Conservatives responded with a statement of its own:

“I believe Lennie Jarratt, John Bambenek, Michael Harn, Jason Plummer, Don Manzullo, and other conservatives would disagree that our endorsement means nothing,” Illinois Conservatives President Zach Oltmanns said. “If we are not influential then why has [Congressman Kinzinger] spent the last couple days attacking us?”

It doesn't end there.

Kinzinger's campaign also disputed an endorsement the group did (or didn't) make in 2010.

"Also of note, the Illinois Conservatives Facebook Group is reportedly telling news outlets that Congressman Adam Kinzinger received their endorsement in the 2010 Republican Primary. This is completely inaccurate. In fact, the Illinois Conservatives Facebook Group backed David McAloon, who earned 9.6 percent of the vote to Kinzinger’s 63.7 percent in the 2010 five-way Republican Primary."

Responded Illinois Conservatives:

"We tried to endorse him in the general election in 2010 but just like most of the tea party groups are numerous calls were not returned by Kinzinger,” Oltmanns said.

Welcome to election season.

Jerry Angelo was fired as Bears general manager Tuesday. (AP file photo)

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Allow me, if you will, the chance to put on my old sports columnist hat.

In September, Shaw Media sportswriter Tom Musick sat down with Sycamore resident George McCaskey to talk about McCaskey taking over as the new chairman of the board for the Chicago Bears.

During that conversation, McCaskey said:

“There’s only one way to measure success. That is championships. We have more regular-season wins than any other team in NFL history, but we do not have more championships than any other team. We want to be tops in both categories.

“That’s the goal every year: to win the Super Bowl. Not to make the playoffs. Not to get to the Super Bowl. To win the Super Bowl."

I was prepared to call McCaskey's bluff on this as it appeared general manager Jerry Angelo and everybody involved in player personnel up at Halas Hall was going to be allowed to keep their jobs and ruin another Bears draft.

But then the news broke on my drive in Tuesday morning: Angelo was fired.

Finally, a McCaskey that lived up to the promise of winning. Finally, it appears there is some sort of accountability in Lake Forest.

Angelo has decimated this team's roster. The Bears have no depth and have continually shown they can't evaluate or develop talent under Angelo.

The Bears appeared in one Super Bowl in Angelo's time here. Since that 2007 appearance, the Bears have won one playoff game against the worst playoff team in NFL hostory.

To back up McCaskey's championship mantra, Angelo had to go. He's gone. Kudos to McCaskey.

Sears has released a list of 79 of the 100-120 Sears and Kmart stores that will close next year.

The Sears in DeKalb is not on the list. In fact, no Sears or Kmart in Illinois is on the partial list.

Sears announced Tuesday it was closing stores after disappointing sales during the holiday season.

About this time last year, we solicited aspiring writers for applications to become a page A2 columnist for the newspaper.

We like to offer a number of voices through our commentary, whether that’s on page A2 or the Opinions page. Our current page A2 lineup of community columnists includes Barry Schrader, Kay Shelton, Lauren Stott and John Seraphine. Each provides a different voice on various subject matter.

But we feel it is important to give other community members a chance to be heard. That’s why we again are inviting those interested in writing a page A2 column for us – including those already writing a weekly column – to apply for a spot.

We are looking for columnists that can offer local perspective on issues or subjects that interest the community – parenting, people, politics, youth, etc. We’re looking for writers who can engage and inform readers.

If this sounds like you, send a résumé, two sample columns and a letter (no longer than 500 words) explaining why you would be a good columnist for the Daily Chronicle and what the general focus of your weekly column would be to news editor Kate Schott at kschott@shawmedia.com.

Applications will be accepted until Dec. 9.