THURSDAY, JULY 19, 2012 | Late Sports Final

COMPANY

75 City/Burbs $2 Elsewhere | 850 670 UNRELIABLE Page 44

CHICAGO UNDER FIRE

KEEVIN WOODS PHOTO

THE NATION STEPS IN

MARY MITCHELL EXCLUSIVE, PAGES 14-15

In a city that has looked everywhere for a solution to the shooting epidemic, Louis Farrakhan says the time for talk is over and has put representatives of the Nation of Islam on the streets.

JOAKIM NOAH HELPS KIDS RAISE THEIR VOICE PAGE 26

THE DAILY SPLASH

NO

SCHOOL BOARD, TEACHERS REJECT ARBITRATORS REPORT, 6-7

GRAND JURY CALLED IN KOSCHMAN CASE 3 PAGE

NEWS

THURSDAY, JULY 19, 2012 CHICAGO SUN-TIMES

THE KILLING OF DAVID KOSCHMAN | A WATCHDOGS INVESTIGATION

GRAND JURY CONVENED TO INVESTIGATE DEATH

BY TIM NOVAK, CHRIS FUSCO AND MARK BROWN
Staff Reporters

Wheaton College joins fight against Obama rule

BY MONIFA THOMAS
Health Reporter/mjthomas@suntimes.com

A grand jury is now investigating the death of David Koschman, who died in 2004 after he was punched in the face by Richard J. R.J. Vanecko, a nephew of former Mayor Richard M. Daley. Former U.S. Attorney Dan K. Webb, the special prosecutor appointed to investigate Koschmans death, acknowledged Wednesday he has empaneled a grand jury and that his investigation is moving quickly. The grand jury enables Webb and his staff to compel witnesses to testify under oath and to issue subpoenas for documents. Webb who spoke with reporters after an unrelated court hearing for one of his clients, William F. Cellini declined further comment Richard J. about the KoschVanecko man case. Webb began investigating following his appointment April 23 by Cook County Judge Michael P. Toomin, who granted a request from Koschmans mother, Nanci Koschman, for a special prosecutor. Toomin ordered Webb to investigate whether criminal charges should be brought against any person in connection with the homicide of David Koschman in the spring of 2004 and whether, from 2004 to the present, employees of the Chicago Police Department and the Cook County states attorneys office acted intentionally to suppress and conceal evidence, furnish false evidence and generally impede the investigation into Mr. Koschmans death.

Dan K. Webb is the special prosecutor named to investigate the death of David Koschman. | JOHN H. WHITE~SUN-TIMES.
Last month, Toomin issued another order sealing the Koschman case. That means Webbs legal bills or any subpoenas the grand jury has issued in the Koschman case cannot be made public. I sense that it would be inappropriate to acknowledge or comment upon the progress of the special prosecutors investigation, Toomin wrote in a July 10 letter to the Sun-Times explaining the seal. The order engaging Mr. Webb as special prosecutor envisions, upon completion, a full reporting of his findings . . . Koschman, 21, of Mount Prospect, and four high-school friends had been out drinking in the Rush Street nightlife district on April 25, 2004, when they bumped into Vanecko, who was with three other friends, according to police reports. An argument ensued, and Koschman was punched in the face, falling backward, cracking his head on the street. He was rushed to the hospital, where he died 11 days later from brain injuries. Vanecko, who ran off and jumped in a cab with one of his companions, appeared in a police lineup on May 20, 2004, but no one could identify him as the man who punched Koschman. Koschmans homicide remained unsolved until last year when a Chicago Sun-Times investigation prompted the police to re-examine the case. They concluded on March 1, 2011, that Vanecko had punched Koschman in self-defense, closing the case without seeking charges. The Sun-Times investigation found problems with how the case was investigated by the police and states attorneys office, including case files that went missing. Vanekcos lawyers did not return telephone and email messages seeking comment.

Joining several other religious institutions, Wheaton College has filed a lawsuit against President Barack Obama administrations socalled contraception mandate. On Monday, the west suburban evangelical college joined Catholic University of America in its suit, filed in May, against federal Health and Human Services (HHS) in the U.S. District Court for District of Columbia. The suit opposes Health and Human Services preventive services requirement that most employers provide health insurance that covers the cost of contraception and sterilization procedures to their employees as part of the health care law Obama signed, or else face a fine. Though Wheaton College has been concerned about the mandate for months, Wheaton College President Dr. Philip Graham Ryken said the decision to file the suit came after the U.S. Supreme Courts decision to uphold the Affordable Care Act in June. Were very clear on the sanctity of life, and this insurance mandate is against our conscience, Ryken said. Wheaton College and the Catholic University of America disagree on the issue of contraception Wheaton College allows it for married people. But Ryken said he is concerned about being forced to offer morning-after pills because they can induce abortion. The policy already ensures that if a woman works for a religious employer with objections to providing contraceptive services as part of its health plan, the religious employer will not be required to provide, pay for or refer for contraception coverage, but her insurance company will be required to directly offer her contraceptive care free of charge. That, however, is considered a shell game by many religious organizations.