I am in third grade at school. I like math best. My favorite time of school is recess. I like playing with my friends.

As January’s chill has had a tight grip throughout the month, I reflect on the city’s recent efforts and activities, and share some of the highlights within this monthly update.

Those pushing Pritzker to opt in make the logical argument that federal tax credits don’t affect the Illinois budget. Opponents who have always stood against tax dollars funding private education challenge the new federal program on the same grounds.

Louie was about my age when he flew from his home in Caracas, Venezuela, to visit his cousins. They lived in the neighborhood and were part of the gang of friends who hung out together on weekends and summers.

Roberts: There seems to be a big fuss lately about fraud in state governments, as evidenced by the misuse of federal funds in Minnesota.

Please think of the trees before choosing to print something like Chapter 6: System Reliability Investments (243 pages), but there is good information available for those willing to spend the time.

Column: With the new year, businesses and organizations are already embracing fresh opportunities to connect, give back, and grow together, writes Shirley Mott of the Batavia Chamber of Commerce.

I’m all for Poles taking multiple swings at the defensive line through the draft and repeating what he accomplished on offense last year, Marc Silverman writes

When it comes to "cures" for diseases like Alzheimer's disease, it's best to bring a healthy dose of skepticism to every report. Sadly, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Find out how not to be caught by a scam.

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.

In this week's column, Toby Moore weighs the question: Is it better to miss an opportunity rather than joining with the wrong person?

Column: What's Happening in Batavia? Prevent frozen pipes, learn about internet safety, donate to a prom giveaway, writes Lori Botterman.

Oil production has been at the forefront of many news stories lately, so let’s look at oil production in the world and see if we can make some sense of it.

In Kevin Hieronymus' first school year at the BCR, he witnessed Angie Noble put on the finishing touches on a record-setting career for the Princeton High School girls basketball team. 40 years later, he's watched Keighley Davis take over as the PHS girls scoring leader

"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."

Politically, it’s imperative that the state not be seen as giving the billionaire Bears ownership a taxpayer-funded stadium. If they can give themselves enough cover, then maybe (maybe) they might possibly find enough votes for this.

In a closely contested girls basketball game between Byron and Dixon, it was the Tigers emerging on top in overtime. From the opening tip-off until the final score of 46-43, it was tight all the way between the pair of state-ranked teams.

McDermott: You do not need to like what happened, but you owe it to the future to remember the good and the bad. This story is about the bad. 

Many of its words were improvised, and some were not even original. But Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech summarized the struggles of millions and inspired people of all backgrounds, then and now.

Sullivan Rutherford Estate's Cœur de Vigne Cabernet Sauvignon has hints of blueberry, plum, dark chocolate and dried flowers.

As a child, I saw people in wheelchairs, power chairs, mobility scooters and many other pieces of equipment. I never once thought I would need to rely on any of those.

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.

Time becomes more precious, golden, invaluable, even sacred ... when you’re waiting.

Cayden Hansen, 20, and Kenny Wilcoxen, 68, who had a 37-year Hall of Fame career at Walnut/Bureau Valley, have made for a perfect match coaching the Princeton Logan eighth grade basketball team together this season.

“When you encounter difficulties and contradictions, do not try to break them, but bend them with gentleness and time.”

The list of guests who were reported to visit the Nachusa House in Dixon reads like a Who’s Who in American history. In today's history column, Tom Wadsworth elaborates on three notables: Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant and Ronald Reagan.

Sometimes one individual can make a difference. In the case of Sarah Raymond Fitzwilliam, she took on segregation in the schools of one of Illinois’ most important cities – and won.

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.

For me, the 2025 Bears season will be remembered for restoring my faith in an organization that I’ve loved since I was a young child, Marc Silverman writes

Coach Lalor, our family and I are beyond humbled by the overwhelming outpouring of love, support and gratitude by so many families, friends, coaches, officials, community members and players who have been our football family for so many decades.

If you happen to catch a bug, how do you decide whether it’s best to get some activity or get some rest? You can base it on your symptoms.

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.

In this week's column, Toby Moore writes that the huge steps taken by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. certainly should take away our own excuses to change our reality.

Column: Winter doesn’t mean life on the farm comes to a halt. Quite the opposite, especially these days with the addition of the Primrose Farm Agricultural Education Center, writes Patricia MacMillan for the St. Charles Park District.

Morris resident Mike Gallagher responds to State Sen. Sue Rezin, R-Morris, comments on the passage of the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability act.

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 Illinois Constitution does allow the General Assembly to set up a replacement procedure, so it could act if it wanted to.

Lovina reflects on a quiet January day filled with faith, household work, family visits, shared meals, and gratitude for the simple blessings that shape daily life at the Eichers’ home.

At the risk of being labeled naïve and unrealistic, I am exploring in this week’s column a reality I have experienced myself on many occasions.

It is up to each person to find the cost of freedom.

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.

Studs Terkel’s candid reflections capture a universal longing for dignity, pride and the need for every working person to leave something tangible behind.

A judicial branch is separate from the executive and legislative but also equal: our judges and justices are, at least in some portions of their careers, politicians. They have to finance campaigns and occasionally face voters.

For years, we asked for coaches and players who truly understood the Bears/Packers rivalry and, more importantly, winning football games, Marc Silverman writes. Ben Johnson is that guy.

One of the scariest things about Alzheimer's disease goes beyond the illness itself. The uncertainties about the financial impact it will have can be stressful. A new offering from the Alzheimer's Association aims to put caregivers in a better position to cope.

One thing that stuck out from the entire process was JCAR members strongly preferring IDOC had taken a more conventional approach to addressing a situation they hadn’t adequately shown to be a crisis.

Toby Moore shares his perspective after watching talks from sales coach Brian Tracy and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.

Gov. JB Pritzker set off a chain reaction last November when he told reporters he’d be open to changes in the SAFE-T Act, which eliminated cash bail and replaced it with a new pre-trial release/retention system, among other things.

There are already too many high school graduation requirements; not all districts can sufficiently hire staff to offer the courses. Integrating languages into elementary schools would be more logical from an educational and curriculum density standpoint.