Opinion
Dems’ intraparty rift may not matter much
By Rich Miller Illinois Senate President Don Harmon decided last week to join House Speaker Chris Welch in his decision to not participate in the Democratic Party of Illinois’ new “BLUE Committee” structure. The state party chair, U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly, is barred by federal election laws from participating in any fundraising or spending of…
Read MoreWhy can’t I get a refund from Ticketmaster for this rescheduled show?
Diane Dukes can’t make it to comedian Ron White’s show after she receives a cancer diagnosis. Is there a way to get a refund for the event? Q: My husband and I have tickets to see a Ron White show in Minneapolis. We bought the tickets through Ticketmaster. The event has been rescheduled twice because…
Read MoreSheriff’s Office expands innovative program to assist suburban police on Mental Health-Related Calls
By Thomas J. Dart, Cook County Sheriff On a cold December night, Sheriff’s Police responded to a frantic 911 call from a family whose son was behaving erratically and threatening to kill himself. When they arrived, the distraught and angry young man was being held down by family members attempting to prevent him from grabbing…
Read MoreIt takes a village to end human trafficking
By Mara Vanderslice Kelly Human trafficking is the act of compelling someone into work or commercial sex through force, fraud or coercion. It is illegal everywhere but happens every day in big cities and small towns across the United States. Human trafficking takes many forms: A foster care youth forced into commercial sex work by…
Read MoreThe thrill is gone for first-time car buyer
By Ray Hanania Do you remember that feeling when you got your first car as a kid? The excitement and thrill? My first was a 1962 Corvair. It wasn’t a hot rod, but it was reliable. A real memory. I feel bad because Kia has prevented my son from having that same experience. I bought…
Read MoreCensus data may bolster Dem-drawn map
By Rich Miller In the wake of last week’s Census numbers release, the news media has widely reported a seeming reduction in the number of white people, both nationally and here in Illinois. “Census shows U.S. is diversifying, white population shrinking,” the Associated Press reported. “Overall, in the five collar counties, the white population declined…
Read MoreBig Brother blocking Blago from ballot
By Ray Hanania Rod Blagojevich was always his own worst enemy. An arrogant and selfish politician who cared more for himself than he did the people of Illinois, Blagojevich was an easy target for his many political enemies. His enemies — Republicans and Democrats — not only ousted him from office, but they inflicted punishment…
Read MoreVax carrot failed, so Pritzker uses the stick
By Rich Miller When Gov. JB Pritzker recently announced that state employees who work in congregate facilities would have to be vaccinated by Oct. 4, the largest state employee union, AFSCME, released a statement chiding the governor. “We strongly oppose any effort to define them as part of the problem,” the powerful union claimed on…
Read MoreThese dancers are delusional
By Thomas L. Knapp “We can dance if we want to,” sang Ivan Doroschuk of Men Without Hats in 1982. “We can leave your friends behind / ‘Cause your friends don’t dance and if they don’t dance / Well they’re, no friends of mine.” The song seems to be enjoying renewed popularity on classic hit…
Read More‘Small ball’ won’t fix city’s big needs
By Jim Nowlan Not long after college, in the late 1960s, I was visiting friends on the gentrifying Near Northwest Side. My host couple and I took a stroll before a night on Old Town nearby. As we came upon the Armitage Avenue Methodist Church, we saw maybe a dozen young men lounging on the…
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