In this week's column, Dennis Marek writes that while students deemed "gifted" can have doors of opportunity opened, it doesn't guarantee balance in other aspects of life.

In this week's column, Toby Moore writes that permission from the so-called gatekeepers or institutions are no longer needed to reach customers, readers or supporters.

Density, infrastructure and other factors vary widely by ZIP code, but every state agency deals with similar regional discrepancies and SB 2111 simply didn’t go far enough in addressing concerns about the shared basic need to get from here to there.

The literally last-minute petition filing meant that people who would’ve run if García had announced his intent earlier were shut out of the race.

The projects might’ve cost less if started earlier but the Department of Natural Resources budget was shuffled down the priority list during years when even social service agencies weren’t close to adequately funded.

Neighbor Amy brought us some Winesap apples from her tree. I was really glad for them. They have a good taste for fresh eating, but are also good to bake with.

In this week's column, Dennis Marek says farewell to a trusted and good friend, Robert Boyd.

In this weekend’s “A Taylor-Made Life,” Taylor Leddin-McMaster writes about SAD, or Seasonal Affective Disorder, and the methods that have helped her better it.

What’s a better framing for the reserve, 2% or $29 million? What about Pritzker’s proposal versus what Democrats formally budgeted: who wanted to pull which levers of power at what time or, from the other side, who was willing to bear the criticism if the money doesn’t move?