The guilty plea spares a little emotion from a drawn-out trial, but there will be victim impact statements at sentencing and then life in prison for the killer. Too many other Illinois towns have their own grim anniversaries.

We can’t entirely legislate consumer behavior, especially when the broader market involves interests far beyond one family looking to settle.

Senate Bill 2040 would expand the Illinois Commerce Commission’s power to regulate vehicle towing companies.

Running a government means striking a balance between competing priorities. Leadership requires acknowledging mistakes, attempting amends and pursuing different solutions.

On this specific issue, courts have made it clear the status quo is unsustainable.

If one fix has been sufficiently attempted, trying another is reasonable.

The best time to make this change has long since passed, so the second best time is now.

The governor can’t just pull the plug on those programs in the current fiscal year as the money is already appropriated. Abruptly reversing course would be disruptive, unwise and likely illegal.

No legislation spontaneously lands on the governor’s desk, which makes paying attention to even efforts doomed to initial failure an important part of understanding the governmental process and the political priorities of those we send to Springfield.