Counting all four-year public schools and nearly 50 community colleges, the state has a physical infrastructure presence geographically proximate to virtually its entire population.

"The back of the Will County property tax bills will include a warning to get ‘same day’ or ‘manual’ postmarks if sending payments on or near the due dates. I’m predicting more than usual payments considered ‘late’ due to the change."

Anyone running for governor now has about four weeks to craft their own budget proposal for the next fiscal year and can do so in the context of Thursday’s memo. That means going deep into details.

As the session continues, I suspect we’ll find McCombie correct. Not just on the push to increase revenue, a bit like guessing the sun will rise in the East, but in her other prediction: the toughest votes will wait until January’s lame duck session.

New statistics from the American Cancer Society are cause for optimism, even for those with the most fatal forms of the disease. It's also a stark reminder about the need for early detection.

With the caveat that our state’s ballot access laws allow for changes before the November election, here’s a look at the current electoral math.

Those experienced with returning ballots are likely familiar with their county’s drop boxes, handing a sealed ballot to someone at the election official’s office and tracking their ballots online or through phone calls.

The People in Need Forum on Jan. 31 at McHenry County College is the largest annual gathering of McHenry County resources, with 125 exhibitors and more than 20 breakout sessions.

As noted in October following oral arguments, the opinion in Bost’s favor says nothing about the merits of his case but effectively sends us back three years and enables a federal judge to rule on the underlying constitutional question.