International Space Station commander Chris Hadfield soaks a washcloth in space, and gives it a twist. What happens next may surprise you in this week's video from YouTube, posted by VideoFromSpace.

Lake Forest Book Store Bestsellers

We love Craigslist. The online classified is easy to use, localized and discreet. Whether you're looking for collectables, furniture or a passive-aggressive gift for your in-laws, there's a good chance you could find it on Craiglist for cheap. 

In this weekly feature, we highlight some of the stranger items that appear on the website from around the North Shore. Share your Craiglist success and horror stories in the comments section below.

Boy Suspected Of Aggravated Twaining

A 14-year-old boy was charged with truancy after he was found fishing while he was supposed to be at school in Vernon Hills.

Police Investigate Burglary Cold Case

Someone stole two air conditioner units worth about $4,500.00 from a Glenview house and it’s unknown when the incident occurred.

Hey, great door. 
Thanks, it's stolen.

Evanston police responded to a burglary report where the offender(s) removed a screen door to gain entry, but it was unclear if anything else was taken.

Minnesotans Represent State Motto: We Don't Want To Cause Any Problems

A 16-year-old male juvenile was by the Baha'i Temple in Wilmette after he walked up to a female, pushed her and then started punching her in the head. Another male subject was pushed when he attempted to stop the juvenile. 

Upon his arrest, police transported the juvenile to Evanston Hospital for drug detox. The victims, both residents of Minnesota, did not want to sign complaints. 

Dark Side of the Skokie

A black guitar signed by the four members of Pink Floyd was reported stolen from a Skokie home.

Are high school dance dress codes out of control?

In New Jersey strapless dresses were banned by the principal because he said they were "distracting" to boys, the Chicago Tribune reported.

Earlier this year, 40 girls said they were subjected to "invasive" wardrobe inspections in California, Mission Viejo Patch reported.

"They were so thorough,"Lindsay Kamikawa wrote in the high school newspaper. "Girls were asked to lift their arms in the air, turn their backs to the administrators—some of [whom] were male—and walk back and forth. I saw at least three [girls] that were crying. They [school officials] took it to such bizarre extremes. The administrator looked at them from head to toe and pretty much at all angles."

Local high schools have their own codes, rules and regulations. Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire came out in September 2012 with a fairly detailed dress code:

• Length: Long dresses are strongly recommended for Winter Formal and Prom. Female students may wear dresses that are not floor length provided the length of the dress does not exceed 4 inches above the top of the knee and is not excessively form fitting.
• Neckline: Necklines on dresses may not at any point plunge drop/rest/go below the bust line; no excessive cleavage.
• Low Back/Backless: No dresses that drop/rest/go plunge below the height of the belly button on the back; no abdomen or torso may be exposed.
• Slits: Slits may not extend above the length of fingertips when the female's hands are at her side.
• Sheer Fabric: Any part of the dress comprised of sheer fabric constitutes the exposure of skin and can be used to enforce a dress standard violation.
• Undergarments: No undergarments may be exposed at any time.

With the temperature reaching 60 degrees in Market Square this afternoon, Market House opened its outdoor dining patio and diners flocked to take advantage of the experience.

The restaurant, which was voted Chicagoland’s best outdoor dining facility a year ago by Open Table, needs little prompting to begin the outdoor season.

“If it’s above 60 degrees and people want to go out there,” Market House General Manager Larry Flam said of the company’s thinking. “Last year we opened it in March.”

Market House was not the only place where customers were enjoying their lunch al fresco today. People were dining at tables outside Foodstuffs as well.

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TeddyFabz owner Ted Spear is not sure if current Lake Cook Road construction, which began April 15, is having a bigger impact on his business than the first phase of the road work did two years ago.

“It’s pretty darn close,” Spear said Friday comparing the current situation to the one in 2011. “I’m 25 to 30 percent down.” With business off, he does not feel a promotion is in order. “I wish I could do something.”

Earlier: Lake Cook Project Shows Flexibility

Spear is not along. DC Sarnies, located next to TeddyFabz on Lake Cook Road, is feeling the affect too. The eatery had barely opened two years ago when the work began and he did not compare.

“Lunch has definitely been slower,” General Manager Keith Butts said. “Dinner is a little less too. People are (arriving) a little later for dinner. They must be waiting for Lake Cook to calm down.”

DC Sarnies has tried to beef up its carry out and delivery business to ease the burden. “People can call in and give us their credit card,” Butts said. “When they get here we run it out to their car.”

Delivery is harder for the restaurant. “Our driver has to figure out the best route to avoid Lake Cook Road,” Butts said. Music is also offered between 7 and 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

Donna Price, who owns Cre8 Creative Workshop on Lake Cook Road, knows business is a little slower too. “I don’t know if it’s because of construction or I’m relatively new,” she said. “Customers tell me about the traffic so it has (probably) kept people away.”

The Village has been encouraging residents to patronize Lake Cook corridor business. “We’re currently looking for creative ways to promote commerce in this area,” Deerfield Project Manager John Guccione said last week.

Guccione is the Village’s liaison to the project devoting all his time to it until complete. “We’re doing our best to encourage residents to go there so they can still enjoy (the businesses) when then project is done.

Live Life Large — those three words sum up the life of U.S. Marine Cpl. Conner Lowry, who spent every day making sure he lived by those words. 

The lifelong Beverly resident’s life was cut short when, at 24, he was killed in combat while serving with the 2nd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment in Afghanistan. His mother, Modie Lavin, began a memorial fund in her son’s honor, www.connertlowrymemorialfund.com, so his life will always be remembered. 

"I was a self-employed decorative artist for 17 years. I retired my business after the passing of my son," says Lavin. "I took a full time position with the Chicago Park District implementing programs geared to the veterans community in Chicago."

Q. What’s the biggest challenge you’ve taken on?

A. I started the Conner T. Lowry Memorial Fund based on a text I received from my son while he was serving in Afghanistan. He said in the text if something ever happened to him in Afghanistan, he wanted a memorial in his name in Beverly Park. Conner spent many years at the park playing sports and just hanging out there with his friends. Conner also wanted money donated to St. John Fisher, where he went to grade school. The goal for the memorial fund is to provide scholarships for 8^th grade students at St. John Fisher and to keep up the grounds surrounding his memorial statue in Beverly Park.

Q. What inspired you to take this challenge?

A. My son inspired me to start the fund for the love of his grammar school and his love and passion for Beverly Park, where he grew up playing all sports. I achieved this goal by starting the website, and Conner’s friends have started the Conner T. Lowry Memorial Golf outing to be held every year in August or September. Last year’s golf outing was quite successful and hope it will be this year as well.

Q. What accounts for your success?

A. I have succeeded thus far by the generosity of so many. I know that continual support by donations will allow me to continue with scholarships for many years to keep Conner’s memory alive, along with recognition for all our veterans who fought for our freedom.

Mom Shares a Story About Her Son

Modie Lavin wanted to share a part of Conner’s life. She sent Patch part of Conner’s eulogy told by one of his best friends, Mike Roche.

"It’s hard to pinpoint a few stories that highlight the life of Conner, we could go on for days. There’s no telling which one of his notorious one-liners, practical jokes were the funniest. If Modie has ever painted your house, you would know she often painted the motto "Live, Love, Laugh" on many walls. Well, Conner came up with his own motto, LIVE LIFE LARGE. And boy did he ever. Before he went to Marine Corps boot camp in California, Conner decided to check in a 5-star resort in Scottsdale, AZ, and invite all his friends. Upon our arrival he made us all put on complimentary bathrobes. As more people showed up, he would call down to the front desk and request more robes. He demanded that if you were staying in his room, you 'must have a robe on.' When Conner called down to make these requests, the front desk referred to him as "Mr. Lowry." He thought it was hilarious and insisted he be called 'Mr. Lowry' for the next 48 hours. Whether it was to run across the street to buy more beer or for anything else we needed. He made bellboys run for his own entertainment. It was no surprise that his last weekend before entering the Marine Corps he Lived Life Large."

Lowry's decorations include the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Good Conduct Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with bronze star and Humanitarian Service Medal.

Today, Conner’s family and friends wear green bracelets with his three favorite words.

This story is posted throughout the Chicago-area Patch network.

We had several captions submitted for the photo of a cat sticking its tongue out in last week's Caption This contest.

The Patch judges awarded title of best caption to Seymour Taylor for "Whoo! Feel the burn!"

Both Seymour Taylor and Mommy102805, who submitted the photo, will get a digital copy of the photo with the caption affixed. You can click on the thumbnail above to see what it looks like.

For next week, we’ve got a photo of a chipmunk atop a mountain in Montana. You can start submitting your funniest caption ideas now.

Here’s how it works:

* In the comments section below, write in your best idea for a funny caption for this photo. Comments must be in by noon Friday.

* The esteemed Patch judges will pick our favorite and announce it Monday, along with a new photo to caption.

* Both the caption writer and the reader who submitted the photo will get an emailed copy of the captioned photo.

Want to upload your own funny pet photos for future caption consideration? Please do by clicking through to this article.

A Benedictine monk from Wisconsin was arrested in Antioch Friday and charged with felony attempted child abduction and misdemeanor disorderly conduct for trying to lure a 14-year-old girl into his vehicle, reported the Daily Herald.

Thomas J. Chmura, 57, who lived at St. Benedict's Abbey in Benet Lake, Wis., is in jail on $50,000 bond.

Chmura reportedly told police he had been offering teenage girls rides for the past six weeks, according to the Lake County News-Sun.

The girl Chmura attempted to lure into his vehicle last Thursday night gave the police his description and a local bulletin was issued. On Friday afternoon, an off-duty Antioch police officer saw the vehicle pull alongside three females walking on the sidewalk and was able to follow it to the Wisconsin state line before losing sight of it, reported local media.

Chmura was arrested several hours later when he returned to the area and police recognized his vehicle.

Last Wednesday, a Lake Villa man was arrested for attempting to abduct four little girls in Beach Park, reported Patch.

Read more on Patch:

Third Graders Run From Stranger Offering Rides

Lake County Man Tries to Abduct Four Girls

The City of Highland Park in conjunction with the Office of the Illinois Attorney General presents an opportunity to learn more about the Immigration Assistance Program at an informational event on Saturday, May 4 at 9:30 a.m. at Highland Park High School at 433 Vine St., in the Commons Room.

"This is a great opportunity for residents to bring any specific questions they may have about their rights as well as immigration reform," said Mayor Nancy R. Rotering.

A team of Attorney General staff will present in English and in Spanish on a multitude of topics to include renters’ rights, employee rights, fair housing and drivers licenses for immigrants as well as specific information about access to college. Updates concerning the new immigration reform and possible immigration-related fraud will also be addressed.

The Immigration Assistance Program was established by the Office of the Attorney General to ensure that state government is aware of the needs of Illinois’ immigrant population and the barriers which may prevent immigrants from seeking and obtaining government services.

For more information, call the City of Highland Park at (847) 926-1006.

More information about the Immigration Assistance Program can be found at http://illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/rights/immigrant.html.

Read more on Patch:

Poll: Should Undocumented Immigrants Have A Chance For Citizenship?

Patch Flash: IL House OKs Drivers Licenses for Undocumented Immigrants

In 1967, Jeff Cohen went on his first photo shoot for his new boss: Hugh Hefner.

"I was 22 and I had a job at Playboy," the 68-year-old said. "I became an instant celebrity."

In 1974, he photographed Clint Eastwood at his studio in California, after the two ate sandwiches together, drank a few beers and compared shoes. 

"There was a knock on the door, and there was Clint," he said. "We both had bought the same pair of sneakers."

Soon after, Cohen did a shoot with Cindy Crawford, who showed up to his place without the now-typical celebrity entourage of publicists and assistants.

"She came by herself. They never do that anymore."

Last Saturday, Cohen took photos of a father, his four children and their black Labrador. 

The dog sat on a black leather bar stool in the middle of Cohen's studio in Highland Park, alternating between staring straight at the camera and licking his owner's bald head. Cohen was affable and excited. He encouraged the family to move closer together, and occasionally told them to close their eyes and relax. 

Each time he got a good shot, he hustled over to the family to show it off.

After a four-decade career traveling the world for one of the biggest magazines in pop culture history, the North Shore native has brought his work home.

A typical job interview, except with whiskey

Cohen might never have worked for Playboy if he'd been just a little less bold in his early twenties. Born in Wilmette, Cohen went to New Trier High School and then to Syracuse University, where he studied economics and copywriting. He landed a copywriting job in New York, which asked him to start the Monday after graduation. 

But Cohen wanted more time to himself before he started working, so he turned the job down. 

Instead, he went on a road trip with a friend to California, Las Vegas and Mexico.

"I bummed around the country for five weeks," Cohen said. "At that point, I picked up a camera and started shooting."

Cohen had always liked photography — he used to clip his favorite pictures from Life Magazine as a kid — but taking photos on the trip made Cohen realize he had a knack for it as well. 

"I never really had the incentive to actually take pictures," Cohen said. "Not until I, duh, picked up a camera and thought, 'Well, I can do that.'"

He came home and started assembling a portfolio. Not that he would need it. The person who hired him at Playboy didn't even look at his work before offering Cohen a job. Instead, in a perhaps telling job interview, the two drank Jack Daniels and talked shop.

"I hit it off with the photography director," Cohen said. "We had a higher level conversation."

Soon, Cohen was assisting the magazine's eight staff photographers on shoots. He got to see how different photographers worked with models and celebrities to get the perfect shot. Some photographers gave a lot of direction. Others didn't. The steadfast rule was to make the subject comfortable.

This wasn't always easy.

"A 19- to 21-year-old young lady about to experience this dream come true, for her, as far as being photographed, is incredibly intimidating," Cohen admits.

Playboy soon promoted him to photo editor, which put him behind a desk rather than behind a camera. He grew restless.

"I got frustrated," he said. "I was handing out assignments that I would rather be doing myself."

So he took a leave of absence and went to San Francisco, where he opened a small studio.

He shot promotional material for United Airlines, Greyhound and Yamaha. He took pictures of the inventor of Atari, one of the first successful video game systems. 

He threw parties where people like current California Sen. Dianne Feinstein showed up to take photos of herself wearing funny glasses in Cohen's photo booth. Others played Pong on one of the Atari machines he'd borrowed.

Seven years went by.

"Then Playboy dangled a job for me to be photo editor of Oui Magazine," Cohen said.

His health wasn't great, his overhead was high and his parents were getting older. He was ready to come home.

"I packed up my studios and came back to Chicago."

'The power of Playboy'

He returned to Playboy, where he continued working in varying positions until retiring in 2010. Over the years he worked with legendary photographers like George Hurrell to shoot celebrities like John Candy as well as Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert.

He got questioned by guards in the former Soviet Union when his bags were suspiciously filled with women's underwear (he was there for a shoot). He saw Cuba and Europe. He photographed the Yakuza in Japan. 

He got to experience something few in journalism will ever see: assignments with no budget constraints.

"We'd just go off and do it," Cohen said. "It was the time of the power of Playboy."

Like many publications, Playboy magazine has lost the pull it once had. In a recent piece on Hefner, Esquire details how Playboy has changed from a magazine to a brand, and how the magazine itself is no longer the financial linchpin holding the company together.

In fact, the magazine seems to be fading fast. Soon after Cohen retired, his division at Playboy was shuttered.

"I was fortunate enough to be there during the heyday when we could do no wrong," Cohen said. "It was a great run."

Gary Cole, who worked as Playboy's director of photography for more than 30 years, says he's sad that the "Golden Age of Playboy has passed." 

"Playboy the print magazine will disappear one of these days," Cole said. "We were very lucky to have these jobs."

Cole, who lives in Evanston, still keeps in touch with Cohen, with whom he worked for decades.

"Jeff was really good at reassuring and making people feel comfortable," Cole said. "Without that, the shooting is not any good."

Cole said that he and Cohen were always all too aware of how good they had it, working for a magazine with so much recognition and so few limitations. They were nostalgic about their jobs while they still had them.

"We always knew when it was going on that these were the good old days," Cole said. "When I got the chance to work there it was like manna from heaven."

Exploring the moment

Cohen's Highland Park studio showcases his Playboy odyssey: a photo of one of his three children with Michael Jordan, a photo of Donald Trump shooting aspiring Playmates in New York and a photo of Cohen and his wife of 35 years in the Playboy mansion adorn a back room of the storefront on Roger Williams.

The bathroom wall is covered in framed, yellow faxes sent from Hefner to Cohen, reprimanding him for editorial decisions made during his time at the magazine.

But if the back of his studio is Cohen's attempt to brag about his exciting past, the front end exudes enthusiasm about his new venture. The front window facing the Ravinia Business District is covered with intimate, black and white portraits Cohen has taken since setting up shop.

One photo is of Abra Cohen, a 25-year-old from Highland Park (no relation to Jeff), who is an aspiring dancer living in New York. She went to Cohen to get headshots for auditions.

"There's a lot of thinking that goes on when someone is about to be in front of the camera," she said. "I didn't really know what the expectations were from the get-go."

Sensing that apprehension is what triggered Cohen to do what he's spent decades learning to do: making his subjects comfortable.

"He's got a great personality… I stopped thinking as much and I started just to be present," Abra said. "It's almost as if you're working together."

In the few months since opening, Cohen has wasted no time making his presence known. He put photos he took in Italy on display in Arriva Dolce, and recently displayed another group of photographs at The Art Center in Highland Park. He's gotten so busy that he's actually on the lookout for an intern. Recently, he was commissioned by the city to take photos of the city council when its new members are sworn in.

The call came after someone from the city's staff happened to walk by the studio window, Cohen said. It's not the first time the window has gotten him business.

"A woman comes in the door in January, and says, 'I'd like to have my picture taken,'" Cohen said. He assumed she wanted to schedule an appointment. She said she wanted it done now.

"Can you come back in 15 minutes?" he asked her.

No. Now.

"She had been down to Taylor Reese Salon," Cohen explained, chuckling. "She was meeting friends at Abigail's in five minutes. I said, 'Okay, let's do it.'"

It's that kind of spontaneity that keeps Cohen engaged in the job. He's the kind of photographer who believes a person looks best when they feel totally comfortable. The chance to catch people on camera looking natural is what makes the work worthwhile.

"I was never a darkroom guy. I like the interaction and the progress and the energy in taking pictures," Cohen said. "My true love is exploring the moment. That's the juice for me."

For complete Highland Park news and updates, sign up for our free newsletter, "like" us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

A Lake County Sheriff's deputy made a significant drug bust in Lake Villa, finding a woman in possession of heroin, cocaine and marijuana.

Stacie Vickers, 38, of the 24000 Block of W. Forest Drive, Lake Villa, was driving southbound on Route 59 near Busse Lane on April 22 when she was stopped by a Lake County Sheriff’s deputy.

The deputy smelled marijuana inside Vickers’ vehicle and conducted a search that produced 78.6 grams of marijuana, 9.4 grams of cocaine, 3 grams of heroin, drug paraphernalia and $1,062.00 in cash, according to a press release.

Vickers was arrested for Unlawful Possession of Cannabis, Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance-Cocaine, Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance-Heroin, Unlawful Possession with the intent to Deliver-Cannabis, Unlawful Possession with the intent to Deliver-Cocaine, Unlawful Possession with the intent to Deliver-Heroin and Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.  

Vickers’ was released on 10 percent of a $25,000 bond and is due back in court April 30.

Grille No. 43 owner Ted Boufis plans to open a whiskey bar and a French/Asian fusion restaurant in Lake Forest later this summer.

Both spaces will be in the same strip mall in Westwood Square, Boufis explained in an interview with Patch last week. The whiskey bar will be where King Maa was, and the restaurant will be where the Burger King was, Boufis explained.

"The Whiskey Bar is going to be more of a lounge setting," Boufis said. "Westwood Bistro is going to be a full service restaurant sort of like Grill 43 in Lake Bluff."

Boufis is still working on the menu for the restaurant. He's also working to compile a group of local distilleries to be served at the whiskey bar.

"I've been looking for space in Lake Forest for the past couple of years," Boufis said. "It's a great community."

Construction on both places is set to begin in the next two weeks. Boufis says he's still in the permit phase for each location, but he plans to have the bar open by the end of August and the bistro open by the end of September.

"We're trying to do something that's quite a bit different," Boufis said. "We want to differentiate ourselves from everyone else."

For complete Highland Park news and updates, sign up for our free newsletter, "like" us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

If you haven't shopped at your local Jewel-Osco grocery store in a while, be prepared for a new customer service initiative that you may, or may not, appreciate.

It's called the "cart-to-car" service, according to couponsinthenews.com, and whether you want the help or not, your bagger is expected to follow you and your cart out to your vehicle.

The service is mandatory, though Jewel-Osco denies it has anyting to do with keeping track of shopping carts, according to Coupons in the News.

"We understand that this is a very different service and it might take our customers some time to understand that we want this to be the norm," said a Jewel customer service representative in the article.

It was announced in January that Jewel-Osco stores cross the country, including here in northern Illinois, would be sold to Cerberus Capital Management LP, reported Patch. The new ownership has led to speculation that the new cart to car service is a result of this.

Super couponer Jill Cataldo is also weighing in on Jewel's new badger, er bagger, service, asking fellow shoppers what they have experienced:

"I've been to Jewel many times since the new owners took over, and (thankfully) I haven't been forced to use this service. I like taking my groceries to my own car...," stated Cataldo on jillcataldo.com.

Said one shopper on Cataldo's website:

Last week at my Jewel in Oswego I was asked if it was ok if the bagger took my cart out for me. I said it was not necessary and was told they have to do it. So there I am with walking along awkwardly with my 2 children and a bagger who unloads the cart and takes the cart away for me. Wouldn't you know it- she forgot to unload items on the bottom of my cart and I had to return to the store an hour later to pick them up. I ran in again last night and no one offered to help us out. I don't care for the service myself, seems like a waste of employee usage.

Said another shopper on couponsinthenews.com:

I like the idea…well except for the fact that it’s mandatory….I think it will help the employees of the stores get to know their customers better although I think ALL employees should get into the pile and do it not just the baggers.

Locally, there are Jewel-Osco stores in Deerfield, Grayslake, Highland Park, Lake Forest, Libertyville and many other communities.

Tell Us: Have you experienced Jewel's cart-to-car service? Did you find it helpful or annoying? If you refused, were you followed out anyway?

The Highland Park High School Bands will present their annual spring concert at 7 p.m. Thursday in the main auditorium.

The concert will feature performances by the concert band, wind ensemble and wind symphony. Also featured will be the District 112 Honor Band and the HPHS Percussion Ensemble.

This year’s spring concert features lighter music with a variety of styles. The concert band will open the program with an exciting rhythmic piece titled "Encanto" followed by Frank Ticheli’s "Cajun Folk Songs."

The concert band will conclude with the movie music from "The Avengers." The Wind Ensemble opens their portion of the program with Ralph Vaughan Williams' "Flourish for Wind Band."

Two movements from Malcolm Arnold's "Four Scottish Dances" will be performed followed by a fantasy adventure medley of movie music from Star Trek, Back to the Future, Princess Bride, The Rocketeer and ET.

The District 112 Honor Band featuring students from all three middle schools will perform Robert Sheldon's "Visions of Flight."

The HPHS Wind Symphony will open their program with Richard Strauss' "Festmusik Der Stadt Wien." Aaron Copland’s landmark composition "Appalachian Spring" will be the highlighted work for the evening.

Additional works from Leroy Anderson's "Irish Suite" will be performed and the concert will also feature some novelty pieces by the HPHS Percussion Ensemble.

A special addition to the concert is a video display which will accompany the movie music performed on the concert. Admission is free.

Information supplied by Highland Park High School Bands

Though former Rep. Robert Dold (R-Kenilworth) has not indicated he will seek a 2014 rematch against Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Deerfield), evidence is mounting he may try to regain his 10^th Congressional District seat.

Dold, who reported raising no money in the quarter ending March 31, according to the Federal Election Commission, is starting to solicit funds, according to an email from the Schneider campaign and a flyer which Patch recently obtained.

Earlier: Dold Resurfaces on Facebook

“We just got word that former Republican Congressman Bob Dold has decided to run again,” an email sent today to Schneider supporters soliciting funds for the current Congressman’s campaign, said.

A form Dold for Congress attached to this article indicates the maximum an individual can contribute is $5,200.00 of which $2,600.00 would be for a primary election and another $2,600.00 for the general campaign. These are the amounts allowed under federal law for the 2014 election. The amount was less in 2012.

Dold did not respond to a call or email from Patch to comment on whether he will run or not. He did tell Journal & Topics Newspapers April 18 he had been encouraged to run by the National Republican Campaign Committee (NRCC). The article reported he did not rule out being a candidate.

“No one works harder for his constituents than Bob Dold,” NRCC spokesperson Katie Prill said. “The NRCC is hopeful Mr. Dold will make a decision in the coming days to run for his seat again in 2014 because Illinois families deserve his independent voice back in the 10^th.” 

Schneider is currently in Israel leading a mission for the Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago and could not be reached for comment. Schneider narrowly defeated Dold to win the seat in November.