Once a brash young political outsider dubbed “The Chosen One” for his rapid rise under Toni Preckwinkle, Christian Mitchell now returns to the spotlight as Gov. Pritzker’s running mate –battle-tested, bridge-building and still fiercely ambitious.

In proposing the fiscal 2026 budget, Pritzker suggested spending $7.6 million less on housing programs. Lawmakers actually cut $14.6 million. The Court-Based Rental Assistance Program, which helps people facing evictions, is down $25 million.

The wedding was nice and worth all the work to get everything set up for it. We couldn’t have done it alone. Many hands make light work.

Dennis Marek is shocked by the increasing number of high school graduates who are not interested in a college education.

How much does the marching band spend on new music each fall? Who pays to paint the school logo at midfield? What is the impact of overdue fines on the library budget? When I buy a box of popcorn at the pool, does any of that go toward lifeguard paychecks?

The Illinois Economic Policy Institute and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s Project for Middle Class Renewal reported that the state currently is short 142,000 housing units but would need to open 227,000 units over the next five years to meet projected demand.

Even if the pace of life keeps accelerating, your path doesn’t have to. Time, like clay, is shaped by the hands that hold it. Don’t let it be molded by algorithms, ads and someone else’s agenda.

I appreciate a quality professional display a few times a year yet have almost zero tolerance for amateur hour, especially when it extends across a whole weekend.

According to the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, out-of-staters spent more than $1 million per day on recreational marijuana in 2024, accounting for 22.35% of annual sales.