It’s important for regular folks and elected officials to have a working knowledge in order to participate in meaningful discussions about solutions.

When we're young, we often view ourselves as invincible. Cancer is for older people. However, new statistics from the American Cancer Society show that we all need to stay on top of our health.

Ambiguity might decrease if lawmakers were more explicitly prescriptive when establishing policy, but that’s often politically unpleasant compared to taking credit for at least passing something and then waiting it out for years while jurists finalize checks and balances.

'For transit to be useful, it has to be within walking distance of the places people are actually going. And the destinations where people are actually going are not in the middle of the freeway.'

Rather than cover the expected funding gap, the RTA said doing things right actually would cost twice as much: $1.5 billion. Further, the report calls for "a strengthened RTA to oversee region-wide minimum service standards."

"Frank McClatchey has always made himself personally available to his constituents by telephone or in person," Jon Petersen of McHenry writes in a letter to the editor.

If you’re not subscribed to your officials’ newsletters, do so now! I’m interested in hearing who has the best strategy and how we can improve communication for all.

"The new year brings an abundance of opportunities for those in our county to access needed services," writes guest columnist Leonetta Rizzi of the McHenry County Mental Health Board.

An unexpected trip to the hospital was a stark reminder of why it's important to make important decisions about one's health care or know the wishes of one's care recipient in advance of an emergency.

'When people asked me for help, if possible, I tried to help them,' Madigan said last week, surprisingly testifying in his own defense.

The good news is the website randomizes the list of options with each visit. The bad news is everything else.

"I want to thank you for printing the Christmas story in your paper!" Eileen Manning of Huntley writes in a letter to the editor.

"As a lifelong bird lover, I have been deeply disturbed and disgusted by the Northwest Herald’s coverage of the recent snowy owl sighting near McHenry," Heather Rohde of Crystal Lake writes in a letter to the editor.

"The Woodstock City Council along with the McHenry County Board dropped the ball in approving this development, despite strong environmental impact concerns that were presented," Thomas Dujmovich of Marengo writes in a letter to the editor.

"I see in the Chicago newspaper that there is a farm on the far south side that accepts live Christmas trees as food for their goats," Sandra Minor of McHenry writes in a letter to the editor.