China is a leading importer of Illinois soybeans – a bit of a concern given recent disruptions in traditional international trade relations – and the fact that so much of the yield leaves the state overlaps significantly with transportation infrastructure concerns.

In this week's column, Toby Moore writes that whether rich or poor, big or small, or healthy or unheathy, everyone must rise are take on the day.

Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson isn’t nearly as polished a social media performer as New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is, but they share an equally deep well of ignorance over how a big city funds itself.

It was a big day for Oregon girl athletics on Saturday with a regional softball title and a fourth-place finish in the IHSA track & field meet.

"The evidence shows the county was deliberately indifferent to the obvious risk of constitutional violations when it failed to act to address property owners’ loss of equity when a tax deed was issued."

A list of the governor’s proposed budget cuts was circulating among state legislators last week.

I enjoy having my grandchildren here, but this Grandma was ready for her recliner after everyone left. How nice to be able to enjoy them all, then still get your sleep at night.

If the president wants to help himself and his party ahead of this year’s midterm elections, the most effective thing he can do is eliminate the tariffs.

In this week's column, Dennis Marek writes gambling may not be brought into the body as alcohol or drugs, but it is otherwise the same.

BELZER: Winning the Reagan Run Scholarship is an incredible honor, and it has given me a chance to reflect on what this race, and this community, really mean to me as I get ready to graduate.

The president’s approval has been ticking downward for months – it started at 50.5% approval in January 2025 – and was brought to its current point by a number of polls showing his job approval in the mid-to-high 30s.

Betty Obendorf of the Polo Historical Society talks spring flowers around Polo and upcoming programs.

People are only limited in the amount they can earn by their talents, persistence, and a willingness to take reasonable risks.

"Susan Lagerloef is the most exquisite cook I know. She follows her instincts as much as she does recipes and, without her, I wouldn’t know my butt from a cake in the oven," Janet Lagerloef writes of her mother-in-law.

In this week’s “A Taylor-Made Life,” Taylor Leddin-McMaster writes about hitting the point of burnout and slowly learning how to take things off the plate.

Registering to vote is neither required nor a guarantee of actually voting, which might be partly why political types are so comfortable with the phrase “publicly owned” referring to a specific government entity and not the constituents whom that entity technically represents.

Marc Silverman predicts a 12-5 finish, another division title, and several statement wins in a loaded 2026 schedule for the Chicago Bears

Even though the country is still adding people at about replacement level, population alarmists are painting falling birthrates as an economic disaster in the making.

Government historians can explain how Illinois ended up with this timetable, but those recollections often explain only why it exists – not whether it’s the best approach.

If you spend too much of your life watching the crowd, eventually you stop asking what excites you, what moves you, and what feels true. You stop creating and start performing.

Unlike today’s event, which is annually run on the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend, the Indianapolis 500 was held on May 30 every year until the early 1970s.

Lower prices for prescription meds are positive, right? Sure, except in this instance, the purpose of the discount is so that those facilities can profit when selling the medication to patients.

Every year when the legislature arrives at mid-May, it’s always tempting to look around, see the absence of real bicameral movement on legislation and conclude that nothing’s gonna happen in time for the scheduled May 31 adjournment.

Across our region, industries are struggling to find the qualified workers they need. The roles they are trying to fill require bachelor’s degrees because of the complexity in manufacturing, technology, healthcare, engineering or skilled technical fields.

It’s “showtime” for track and soccer this week.

My mother often told me that it takes many prayers to raise children. I treasure those words!

Column: It was the commission’s honor to celebrate and recognize DeKalb area community members, businesses and organizations showing leadership in sustainability practices, writes Linda Srygler of the city's Citizens' Environmental Commission.

Halfway through May is a fine time to revisit some of the legislation covered earlier in the session, among more than 11,800 bills and resolutions filed since the current General Assembly started in January 2025.

In this week's column, Dennis Marek writes about how a certain cliff hanger movie and its star can teach us about surviving the moment.

The government is not some company unluckily plagued by incompetent executives. It is a different institution entirely from those beholden to the market.

Betty Obendorf of the Polo Historical Society talks about plans for Polo's Town and Country Days in June.

Megaprojects developers would negotiate with local governments what “special payments” they’ll pay on top of property taxes based on frozen assessments.

One striking aspect of the poll’s findings was that the assassination attempt that seemed most undeniably real – the Butler incident – was the event that the largest number of Democrats characterized as fake.

We also hope to sow seeds for those who can someday take our places, wherever they land, continuing the cycle of finding a little corner of life in which to make a difference.

Why do many voters get fooled almost every election cycle? It’s because they are not paying attention, or they are influenced by the increasingly negative political ads they see on television.

Marc Silverman explains why NFL schedule release day has become one of the biggest events on the sports calendar — and why this year’s daunting Bears slate makes it even bigger

We hope the stories in this special edition serve as a reminder that heroism doesn’t have to be extraordinary to matter.

The British election should serve as a warning to Democrats who let their left fringe run riot with scant criticism.

Even if the math isn’t perfect, it helps to understand promises and projections versus the likely reality.

In this week's column, Toby Moore writes there is one way to make a connection.

Remember: the Bears have a stadium. No one forced the team to spend almost $300 million to buy an old horse track without any concrete development plans.

As I type this, it is Mother’s Day and my thoughts are more on family than sports. However, there is an intersection between the two.

GUEST COLUMN: Being physically fit means having a strong heart, healthy muscles, flexible joints, and being at a healthy weight. It’s not just about looking good or being athletic.

In the Sauk Valley, disputes over gas-powered bikes have drawn ire from residents and law enforcement in recent years. Taking a clearer, statewide approach to e-mobility rules is a welcome step toward protecting riders, drivers, and pedestrians alike.

The Burma-Shave signs, which were a staple on American highways from 1926 to 1963, were a marketing bonanza for the company and became part of the allure of car travel in the era.

Lovina reflects on faith, family and gratitude while sharing everyday moments at home, visits with loved ones and simple recipes from the kitchen.

COLUMN: "This is just another desperate attempt by Democrats to hammer successful people and job creators with higher taxes."

Betty Obendorf of the Polo Historical Society chronicles a high-traffic day at the Polo Historical Society and the artifacts discussed.

To be fair, Frank Mautino isn’t the only person to benefit from these structures, just a convenient, timely proxy.

The Retirement Savings for Americans Act would automatically enroll workers earning below the national median income in new retirement accounts and provide government matching contributions.