Nine of the governments that did submit plans took note of a fundamental challenge: they don’t control their residents’ salaries.

"How lovely to wake up and read such a beautiful letter of hope, love, peace, and gratitude," Shannon Mayhall of Cary writes in a letter to the editor.

"And after a massive increase on the assessed value of my NOT-FOR-SALE home just two years ago, the Nunda Township assessor has just sent me the Dear John letter saying my assessed valuation has now increased again," Chuck Berndt of McHenry writes in a letter to the editor.

"Is it much different as we approach our 250th anniversary than it was in 1863?" Nicholas C. Kockler of Woodstock writes in a letter to the editor.

"The holidays have always resonated as a time to care for one another – to share what we have and look out for our neighbors," Kristin Sotos of Crystal Lake writes in a letter to the editor.

The present reality, at best, makes it harder for taxpayers to advocate for better allocation of public resources. At worst, the system offers an inviting shield for elected officials to deflect blame for poor (or intentionally harmful) decisions.

November is National Family Caregivers Month, which is meant to shed light on the job family members do in caring for their loved ones. Have you ever wanted to lend a hand but just don't know where to start? These suggestions might help.

Density, infrastructure and other factors vary widely by ZIP code, but every state agency deals with similar regional discrepancies and SB 2111 simply didn’t go far enough in addressing concerns about the shared basic need to get from here to there.

The projects might’ve cost less if started earlier but the Department of Natural Resources budget was shuffled down the priority list during years when even social service agencies weren’t close to adequately funded.