April 19 marks the anniversary of the clashes at Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts, between colonial militia and British regulars in 1775 that opened the Revolutionary War.

Communion services are held twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall. Singing is usually done for the first hour or so. 

Betty Obendorf of the Polo Historical Society covers a recent presentation she made on the Waterbury family.

It had to be years ago when I first heard someone refer to a vacation as an escape. It was clever and pushed the right buttons. I mean, yeah, taking time off is kind of an escape.

Rose, who co-chairs the Legislative Audit Commission, dressed down DOC Director LaToya Hughes for helming an agency with 40 shortcomings in fiscal 2023 and 2024.

A data-driven breakdown of the five most damaging tax myths in American politics – from billionaire taxes to corporate rates – and what the actual numbers show.

Longtime Ogle County sports columnist Andy Colbert talks preparing to run the Boston Marathon on April 20, along with local sports happenings.

A vice president having to go along with an action he himself would never have initiated highlights Vance’s fundamental problem as he hopes to succeed Trump as president.

Stories about “Dixon’s Darkest Day” often focus on its horrific elements. But this column will focus on its heroic elements.

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.

Column: Now that spring has finally sprung, there is much happening in Geneva, writes Elisa Reamer of the Geneva Chamber of Commerce.

The recent trade of Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese to the Atlanta Dream might sound like a good plan to the organization's management, but it leaves her fans in Chicago wondering what the team is doing.

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.

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.

Column: What's Happening in Batavia? Lori Botterman shares info on engaging with police, being energy efficient and collecting yard waste.

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.

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.

Column: "Those looking for a party that is anything but run-of-the-mill need not look any further," writes Patricia MacMillan for the St. Charles Park District.

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

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.

Guest column: Illinois needs less red tape – and more urgency – so people with intellectual disabilities can access supportive housing in the communities that welcome them.

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.

In a long-anticipated move, the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Causes of Saints recently announced Archbishop Fulton Sheen will be beatified on Sept. 24 in St. Louis.

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

“We are the last generation of American children who will ever know what true boredom felt like. And that seemingly small detail may be one of the most significant losses in human history.”

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.

As Tony's Alzheimer's disease has progressed, we've had to make adjustments to many aspects of our life together. With the onset of spring storms, our emergency preparedness plan has had to change, too.

Jurisdictional lines may define geography, but they should never limit public safety, law enforcement expert Tom Weitzel writes in his Roll Call column

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.

The Spring Valley ‘Uriah’ Walla Walla Valley Red Wine 2022 is a dark, brooding red with blackberry, plum, cedar, tobacco leaf and cracked pepper flavors.

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.

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.

With farmers capturing only a small share of the food dollar, even modest swings in commodity prices or increases in input costs can quickly strain farm finances.

Minooka resident Brayden Caraynoff-Huber discusses the need to ban the sale of kratom, a substance sold openly in gas stations and smoke shops, in municipalities.

Morris resident Mike Gallagher discusses the importance of Illinois wetlands, and how recent changes have reduced protections.

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.