Column

Being unable to control how another government acts is rarely an impediment to discussing ramifications. And when there are harbingers of action, bracing for impact is fairly presented as due diligence.

The guilty plea spares a little emotion from a drawn-out trial, but there will be victim impact statements at sentencing and then life in prison for the killer. Too many other Illinois towns have their own grim anniversaries.

Marc Silverman: If I told you the Bears would acquire the Chiefs 2024 MVP this offseason, you would’ve laughed. Joe Tuney was given that award by his teammates at the end of the season. 

Toby Moore writes about the idea of keeping our heroes in the proper perspective.

We can’t entirely legislate consumer behavior, especially when the broader market involves interests far beyond one family looking to settle.

The latest report from the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability shows that spending on “core” state services in the governor’s proposed fiscal 2026 budget will be 9.1% less in real dollars than it was in fiscal 2000.

Senate Bill 2040 would expand the Illinois Commerce Commission’s power to regulate vehicle towing companies.

Rural towns in Illinois and elsewhere have many landmarks of bygone eras. Among them are the remnants of the Chautauqua movement, called the “most American thing in America” by Theodore Roosevelt.

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

One reason for revealing my favorite go-to place goes like this: there are virtually innumerable places to walk, stroll, run, bike or skateboard (is that still a thing?) in Kane County.

Opinion: Kishwaukee United Way is in its second year implementing a new initiative centered around helping individuals upgrade their lives from survival mode to a thriving future with the Digital Crossover program.

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

Cooking can, at times, feel like an arduous task. But upcoming St. Charles Park District programs led by cookbook author and holistic nutrition and cooking coach Donna Fatigato have the recipe for fun.

The newness of this Bears marriage has finally pulled me out of my 2024 season malaise, Marc Silverman writes

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.

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

Executive director: After a few years of getting the Economic Development Administration grant in order and all the pieces in place, we can proudly open our doors and say, “Welcome back."

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.

In the Civil War, most soldiers were white. But some 190,000 Blacks served as well, and the facts behind their stories – and struggles – are sometimes overlooked. 

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.

With classes ranging from theatre production and all sorts of fitness opportunities to casting a new interest in fishing or aiming to explore archery, there’s never time to be bored at the St. Charles Park Districts teen center.

No legislation spontaneously lands on the governor’s desk, which makes paying attention to even efforts doomed to initial failure an important part of understanding the governmental process and the political priorities of those we send to Springfield.

Marc Silverman: With the combine days away and free agency less than three weeks from commencing, here’s how I would map out my perfect offseason for the Bears in order of importance

Toby Moore writes about how some in the medical field over the centuries were at first ridiculed for their innovations but were proven right years later.

I try to stay away from predictions, especially in the political sphere, an expected outcome from a couple of decades of guessing wrong more than right. So I’m not saying Pritzker will consider my next idea … but maybe he should.

Any candidate who can run even a modest turnout operation ought to succeed, especially in races where voters can make multiple choices.

Mike Madigan knew for a very long time that the U.S. Attorney’s office and the FBI badly wanted to put his head on a spike.

Charlie Ellerbrock’s stories were “hang it on the refrigerator” material for scores of readers over the decades. He featured the accomplishments of athletes, teams, students, artists and entrepreneurs, among other community members.

Abraham Lincoln was a man of many achievements. He’s also the only president to hold a patent.

The party in power has to make these changes. Republicans can’t do it alone, nor does their public relations campaign have influence unless and until it crosses over into motivating Democratic voters to either pressure incumbents or withhold electoral support.

Well, if you’ve been reading this column for the many decades it’s been in print, you probably know that the Holinger family had a spring tradition started by my mother.

Rep. Mary Beth Canty, D-Arlington Heights, filed House Bill 2396 four years ago today. Known as the “Full-Day Kindergarten” law, the bill passed the House 87-23 and the Senate 52-1.

If you're Ryan Poles, do you call Cleveland and offer the 10th overall pick and a second rounder next year for Myles Garrett? Marc Silverman explores the Bears offseason

'If the problems are fish in a barrel, the complaint contains an entire school of tuna.'

The latest report from the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget projected Illinois is facing a $3.2 billion deficit in fiscal 2026.

'Any legislative attempt to regulate homeschooling will be met with swift and certain opposition'

Wise: A constituent recently asked me what local authorities are doing about the immigration issue our nation is dealing with. My reply was, “What are we to do?” I added that, in my opinion, this issue is best left to the state and federal authorities.

She was called “Brave Bessie” or “Queen Bess.” Decades after her death, aviators still remembered her name.

Columnist pays tribute to local musician who had Top 40 hit.

St. Charles Park District's Sportsplex’s new Row Zone features eight rowing machines to get your cardio in, off a treadmill.

Taylor Leddin's column

A look at headlines from Februaries passed.

When does the looking backward overpower the looking forward? Does it happen when some childhood prank is seared into memory and festers year after year?

I’m officially atoning for repeated criticism about the General Assembly being slow to take advantage of the May 2018 U.S. Supreme Court opinion removing the barrier to legalized sports betting nationwide.

Lawmakers heard the concerns and put the $50 million in the fiscal 2025 budget. Crisis averted, right?

Marc Silverman writes: I don’t believe there was a single Chicago Bears player who maximized his potential in 2024

Your mindset isn’t about what happens to you. It’s what you feed it.

Neville further said "consistency between the two laws is essential" for both marijuana users and police, thereby giving lawmakers a path and the motivation to follow.

To many Statehouse types, some of last week’s news out of Washington, D.C., felt eerily familiar.