Opinion

With classes ranging from theatre production and all sorts of fitness opportunities to casting a new interest in fishing or aiming to explore archery, there’s never time to be bored at the St. Charles Park Districts teen center.

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.

Marc Silverman: With the combine days away and free agency less than three weeks from commencing, here’s how I would map out my perfect offseason for the Bears in order of importance

Heroes come in many forms.

After a cancer diagnosis, there's nothing routine about routine screenings. And the anxiety that accompanies each test sometimes isn't always much ado about nothing.

With the widest collection of indigenous grapes in the world and a gentle climate where vines transplanted from other countries easily can adapt, Italy has a wine for everyone.

Toby Moore writes about how some in the medical field over the centuries were at first ridiculed for their innovations but were proven right years later.

I try to stay away from predictions, especially in the political sphere, an expected outcome from a couple of decades of guessing wrong more than right. So I’m not saying Pritzker will consider my next idea … but maybe he should.

Even as a Packers fan, I also have had respect for Chicago Bears long-time owner Virginia McCaskey.

Any candidate who can run even a modest turnout operation ought to succeed, especially in races where voters can make multiple choices.

Mike Madigan knew for a very long time that the U.S. Attorney’s office and the FBI badly wanted to put his head on a spike.

Abraham Lincoln was a man of many achievements. He’s also the only president to hold a patent.

The party in power has to make these changes. Republicans can’t do it alone, nor does their public relations campaign have influence unless and until it crosses over into motivating Democratic voters to either pressure incumbents or withhold electoral support.

Well, if you’ve been reading this column for the many decades it’s been in print, you probably know that the Holinger family had a spring tradition started by my mother.

Since the substance of the Origin of all things is Love, that means at your heart, you are love too.

McCombie: Americans want leadership that works for them – not political insiders or party elites. This is a real opportunity for Republicans to lead, not just as the opposition, but as the party that listens, governs and delivers results.

Who managed Ronald Reagan's media campaign? Armed with 30 years of radio, television, and advertising experience, 58-year-old Moon Reagan became the media mastermind behind Ron’s 1966 campaign.  

Rep. Mary Beth Canty, D-Arlington Heights, filed House Bill 2396 four years ago today. Known as the “Full-Day Kindergarten” law, the bill passed the House 87-23 and the Senate 52-1.

If you're Ryan Poles, do you call Cleveland and offer the 10th overall pick and a second rounder next year for Myles Garrett? Marc Silverman explores the Bears offseason

Being a caregiver requires exhibiting a lot of patience, even more so when one's charge has dementia. However, the need for patience goes to another level entirely when a caregiver also must deal with the limitations brought on by an injury.

'If the problems are fish in a barrel, the complaint contains an entire school of tuna.'

We all set standards for ourselves – expectations that shape our choices, define our success and push us toward the future we envision.

The latest report from the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget projected Illinois is facing a $3.2 billion deficit in fiscal 2026.

'Any legislative attempt to regulate homeschooling will be met with swift and certain opposition'

Wise: A constituent recently asked me what local authorities are doing about the immigration issue our nation is dealing with. My reply was, “What are we to do?” I added that, in my opinion, this issue is best left to the state and federal authorities.

She was called “Brave Bessie” or “Queen Bess.” Decades after her death, aviators still remembered her name.

Isn’t it interesting what divergent memories children from the same family can have, especially of their elderly relatives?

Columnist pays tribute to local musician who had Top 40 hit.

Taylor Leddin's column

St. Charles Park District's Sportsplex’s new Row Zone features eight rowing machines to get your cardio in, off a treadmill.

When does the looking backward overpower the looking forward? Does it happen when some childhood prank is seared into memory and festers year after year?

I’m officially atoning for repeated criticism about the General Assembly being slow to take advantage of the May 2018 U.S. Supreme Court opinion removing the barrier to legalized sports betting nationwide.

Deep inside of us, no matter how old we are, we long for our mother.

Lawmakers heard the concerns and put the $50 million in the fiscal 2025 budget. Crisis averted, right?

Marc Silverman writes: I don’t believe there was a single Chicago Bears player who maximized his potential in 2024

Chicago-area sports fans don't have much to cheer about this winter. Why, some of us can't even watch our favorite teams. However, the debut of the Unrivaled Basketball League offers a bright spot amid the viewing gloom.

Unfortunately, oversalting sidewalks, parking lots and roadways in an effort to reduce ice-related injuries is also causing chloride toxicity in our waterways and impacts aquatic life, soil and human health, writes Julie Jesmer of DeKalb's Citizens' Environmental Commission.

Neville further said "consistency between the two laws is essential" for both marijuana users and police, thereby giving lawmakers a path and the motivation to follow.

Your mindset isn’t about what happens to you. It’s what you feed it.

James Nokes champions winning wine picks to pair with fare for the big game, and showcases a historic Spanish winery that's still pushing the envelope in the vineyard and cellar.

To many Statehouse types, some of last week’s news out of Washington, D.C., felt eerily familiar.

'It’s not punishment for the individual who committed the crime. It’s to protect all of our kids and to ensure that the people who committed the crimes get the help that they need.'

While watching bowl games and NFL playoff games, I encountered some young men, who, after the game, thanked God or Jesus Christ for watching over them.

It was televised by two networks and was not even close to a sellout, despite ticket prices as low as $6. It was thrown together in 26 days. And it had an unwieldy name. 

The unity and outpouring of love to help in times of need are powerful reminders of our shared humanity.

This past week was a reminder of those times and that awful place

St. Charles Park District's Norris Recreation Center offers something for everyone.

It can be difficult to stay positive

There is nothing like making a good decision and being reminded how good it was

More than two decades ago, a popular show called “The Bachelor” debuted on television.