Running a government means striking a balance between competing priorities. Leadership requires acknowledging mistakes, attempting amends and pursuing different solutions.

Dennis Marek writes about the importance of the numbers 7 and 13 in his life.

State Sen. Patrick Joyce writes about all of what his office has done for area residents this month.

On this specific issue, courts have made it clear the status quo is unsustainable.

If one fix has been sufficiently attempted, trying another is reasonable.

When someone says something cruel or mean, they aren’t aiming it at you. They’re aiming it at people from their past who left emotional scars. You happen to be standing in the crossfire.

The best time to make this change has long since passed, so the second best time is now.

Illinois House Speaker Chris Welch didn’t sound all that enthused about passing any new ethics reforms during an interview last week.

The governor can’t just pull the plug on those programs in the current fiscal year as the money is already appropriated. Abruptly reversing course would be disruptive, unwise and likely illegal.