Local Columnists

Back when this state was fairly well-run – meaning, before Illinois voters elected three anti-Springfield “populist” governors in a row – th…

U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar is back in the news again, and not in a good way. The former state representative who won a seat in Congress last fall …

Transportation is a vital part of the Illinois economy.When it comes to interstate highways, Illinoi…

Many people moving to Waterman in the past 50 years or so may not know there is a large monument in town dedicated to the founders and pione…

Reactions to this year’s General Assembly regular session are justifiably varied, but on a personal note my biggest takeaway was an apprecia…

Last December, before the new Legislature was even sworn in, I donned a yellow jacket in solidarity with the French protesters sick of their…

Fourteen years ago, lawmakers saw a problem: Union contracts across the state specified big automatic pay raises for schoolteachers and admi…

Over a year ago, I began my first campaign for public office with a straightforward platform. My goals included protecting taxpayers, creati…

During my school days, I used to enjoy taking standardized tests the way some people like doing crossword puzzles. To me, they were more rew…

It was an ugly story, but I didn’t realize the impact it truly had until I saw the letter my 5-year-old daughter brought home from her summe…