Column: Ah, September. As the crisp air rolls in and the leaves begin to turn, there’s a collective sense of new beginnings, writes Johanna Patterson of the Geneva Chamber of Commerce.

"Illinois has taken a major step to protect individuals and families from the financial shock that too often follows a medical emergency," writes Kim Godden of the Illinois State Ambulance Association

Column: Meditation can be quite a strenuous workout. Most people don’t realize they can control their personal mind chatter, writes Joan Budilovsky.

Record stories that captured people's attention in years passed.

The summer I was six years old, I began first grade at Church School in Wheatland Township. In those days, we had no kindergarten, and neither did we have anything like “Sesame Street,” so all the basic learning was done during our first grade year.

Illinois has had four constitutions in its history – 1818, 1848, 1870, and 1970

Fifty years ago, parts of western Illinois could have become their own state – though whether the move was fact or fantasy is somewhat unclear.

Column: How are you honoring your community and the businesses in it? writes Beth Lynch, the Sandwich Area Chamber of Commerce's new executive director.

Though their service is often forgotten today, eight players from Major League Baseball died during World War I. One had been traded by the White Sox for the legendary “Shoeless” Joe Jackson.