These church leaders seem to be engaging in a kind of immoral equivalency. Do they not know that the Islamic regime hates Christians and Jews and believes their deity demands they be killed?

When ethics laws don’t explicitly ban certain conduct, the result is that the powerful are invited to dance in the gray areas until jurists ultimately define the actual rules.

While EV tax credits were dismissed as wasteful "rent-seeking," they were actually subsidizing America's economic competitiveness, energy independence and technological future – advantages China is already seizing.

A teenager in work boots scooped up a stranger's dropped wallet, handed it back with a joke, and in 10 seconds turned a tired man's frustration into laughter that rippled through the entire coffee shop.

Current law empowers the board to expel implicated students for up to two calendar years. Under SB 2991, the mandatory minimum would be one year.

State revenues are up sharply this quarter, but federal budget cuts and tax law changes could erase those gains — and shift massive costs to states.

DOC’s glowing education release stands in stark contrast to inmates who just want to hold a birthday card from a child or parent, but along with HB 4235’s broad support, it does foster optimism for commitments to prepare inmates for healthy returns to society.

Last week, Chicago Marshall boys basketball program was chronicled. It would be remiss for me not to mention the girls program, as well.

GUEST COLUMN: Do you know how much fiber you consume every day? If you are reading this, I can almost guarantee it’s not enough.

April 14 marks the 180th anniversary of the departure of the Donner expedition, which took off from what is today the south side of Old Capitol Plaza in downtown Springfield in 1846.

Betty Obendorf of the Polo Historical Society talks artifacts and a day at the Polo Museum.

Granddaughter Jennifer (daughter of Susan and Ervin) wrote the column for me while she was at our daughter Verena’s.

Whatever one thinks about our national security needs, this budget commits the country to trillions in additional cumulative spending layered atop existing obligations.

In this week's column, Dennis Marek writes about a PGA golfer who battled a condition far removed from the fairway grass or a putting green.

Legislation contemplating a pathway to driving privileges for people who have racked up three separate license suspensions is little more than a concession that the penalty structure can never be expected to achieve the implicit goal of keeping dangerous drivers off the road.

A major opportunity for Illinois families awaits Gov. JB Pritzker, and once again, the question is whether he will play politics or listen to the people.

It’s difficult to envision a restaurant, from fast food to fancy steakhouse, that lets customers pay a tab with plastic then fish out physical dollars and cents to cover the tax and tip.

Addressing thousands in St. Peter’s Square, the Pope claimed that God rejects the prayers of leaders who wage war. He called the Iran war “atrocious” violence that cannot be justified by faith.

In this weekend’s “A Taylor-Made Life,” Taylor Leddin-McMaster reminds dog owners to keep their dogs leashed following an incident which injured McMaster's young puppy.

When politicians start talking about hybrids, demons, Roswell and secret files, even sensible people begin to look up a little longer at the night sky.

During the campaign, Trump promised to “bring prices down, starting on Day 1.” How he would do this was left to our imagination.

Districts participating in the vacancy grant program hired more than 12,400 new teachers, according to the report, with retention numbers looking good and more than 2,300 employees pursuing endorsements or licenses in the high-need areas.

Zoom conversations, grossly popularized during the COVID-19 era, invite deception that never existed in face-to-face encounters.

The poll was released as Gov. JB Pritzker and others are pushing a plan to build “missing middle” residences, including multi-family developments and “granny flats” throughout the state.

Economic projections and policy proposals aren’t guarantees. If or when plain language appears on a ballot, opponents will be quick to argue against the wisdom of giving lawmakers a blank check.

Recently, mention was made in this column about 1A boys basketball champ Chicago Marshall declining in enrollment from over 1,000 students to under 200.

Record stories that captured people's attention in years passed.

Richard Becker, who lived in Jacksonville in the late 1930s and early 1940s, was among the 712 survivors of the Titanic, which smashed into an iceberg in the north Atlantic late on April 14, 1912.

In addition to dropping the cost, it clears a path to solar for condo owners, apartment renters (who could just move the panels with them should they relocate), and homeowners whose roofs aren’t suitable but might have room in the yard for a smaller setup.

Verena fills in for her mother with stories of a busy week spent cleaning with her sisters, playing games with young nieces and nephews, hosting a family brunch, and sharing a deviled egg recipe.

Betty Obendorf of the Polo Historical Society writes about an upcoming time capsule and new exhibits.

When the World Bank seems more interested in engaging with right- and left-wing populism than in promoting good economics, it tells you a lot about the era in which we live.

In this week's column, Dennis Marek wonders how much knowledge does the public have when it comes to a deck of playing cards.

Last year the push was behind Senate Bill 98, which didn’t get a committee assignment before the deadline. This time around it’s Senate Bill 2991.

Since the 9/11 terrorist attack in 2001, government officials have said their greatest fear is self-radicalized individuals they call “lone wolves.”

Reflecting on the question "What would be on your plate for your last meal?" Taylor Leddin-McMaster answers from a Kankakee County perspective.

The Bears let key defensive production walk this offseason. With the draft three weeks away, fixing a unit that wasn’t close to championship level is now the top priority, Marc Silverman writes

As Rochelle moves forward, residents and leaders alike are tasked with finding the right balance between progress and preservation, ensuring that growth benefits the entire community while maintaining the character that defines the city.

Column: "It’s understandable that a term like mindfulness might seem confusing – especially when we know how crowded, noisy and not always congenial the mind can be," writes Joan Budilovsky.

'I’m 69 and my kids have been out of public schools for over 20 years, but I am happy to fund the schools for future generations. Society is much better off with a good education system.'

Trump carried the 2024 vote by playing the Democrats on three issues that aggravate even moderate Americans.

You tell yourself that now is not the time to start the business, write the book, make the call, apply for the job, have the baby, buy the ticket, or take the leap. But fear is never short of arguments. It always knows how to sound wise.

Whether this version is the one that finally crosses the legislative finish line remains to be seen. If it does, one thing it won’t do is resolve a personal peeve: a lack of good information on receipts about sales taxes.

The trend in special elections across the country over the past several months has shown spiking Democratic turnout and tanking Republican turnout.

There are three major Illinois House bills related to firearms currently moving through the legislative process.

For this article I want to step back a bit and discuss how the use of the horse for power and transportation affected human culture and technology.

April 1 is April Fools’ Day, and for many, it provides a moment of humor. Most jokes are fast and harmless, while others are sophisticated efforts to pull one over on the masses.

AI is a branch of computer science that enables machines to simulate human intelligence, to include reasoning, problem-solving and creativity.

Lovina reflects on her family's move from Indiana to Michigan 22 years ago, sharing memories of early spring 2004 when they loaded hay, unloaded lumber, and nearly lost their barn to a grassfire in their first weeks as neighbors.

Betty Obendorf of the Polo Historical Society remembers the Polo High Class of 1950 and baseball and teaching.