By Dena Sattler For more than 30 years, I worked among fellow journalists who were passionate watchdogs reporting on the actions of people in power as a way to hold them accountable. I’m proud to see that important work continue, from the reporting on local government budgets to investigations of corruption in the halls of […]
Category: Opinion
Posted inOpinion Vedette
Editorial: Support or Stop Complaining
By Andrea Arens My son performed in community theater last month. It was his second time performing in the ensemble cast for Acting Out Theatre Company. He volunteers countless hours along with the entire cast to put on a production that’s outdoors and hosts an auction that benefits a local charity. This year, as the […]
Posted inOpinion
Hating all the hate in politics
. By Ray Hanania . There is too much hate in the American presidential election and honestly, it is sickening. We’re Americans. We’re supposed to be the role models for the rest of the world and the icon of democracy, which is supposed to represent our freedoms. But that’s not the case anymore. I blame […]
Posted inOpinion Vedette
Editorial: Cicadas Aren’t So Bad
By Karen Haave I have a confession to make: I love the sound of the cicadas. So many friends have said they hate the racket the little bugs make when they sing their love song in search of a mate. But I find it captivating, the rhythmic rise and fall of their melody that we […]
Posted inOpinion
The best pols are easy to attack
. By Ray Hanania . I was first introduced to Mike Madigan in 1978 by then Mayor Michael A. Bilandic. The amayor told me, a cub reporter at the time, to keep an eye on him because he was a “rising star.” As it turns out, Madigan not only was a rising star, but he […]
Posted inOpinion
Pritzker turns thumbs down on Johnson demand
. By Rich Miller . An oft-repeated $1.1 billion demand from Chicago’s mayor would actually wind up costing state taxpayers $5.5 billion. And Gov. JB Pritzker is turning a big thumbs down. Chicago Public Schools made the huge mistake of putting a ton of temporary federal pandemic aid into its permanent spending base for years […]
Posted inOpinion
Do-gooders do good for themselves
. By Ray Hanania . Many not-for-profits thrive on grants and funds that come from the taxpayers through government agencies, but they are not accountable to the public which funds them. Recent revelations about the La Grange-based LeaderShop, a social service agency which recently lost $300,000 in funding, has raised some serious issues about the […]
Posted inOpinion
Turf tussles prevent transit reform
. By Rich Miller . A little-noticed bill passed both the Illinois House and Senate that will generate $300 to $400 million a year for local governments, including $95-127 million for the Regional Transportation Authority. The bill (SB3362) will help capture sales tax revenue from more out of state retailers and in-state retailers who ship […]
Posted inOpinion
Pritzker wants to buy his way to White House
. By Ray Hanania . There is no office that Gov. JB Pritzker doesn’t think he can’t buy. But that shouldn’t bother you. What should bother you are Pritzker’s policies, which he has pushed to position himself to buy his way into the White House. President Biden’s failed performance at the debate with former President […]
Posted inOpinion, Orland Park, Regional Top News, Top News, Your Town
Orland Park once had a great mayor
How do you assess the failures of Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau? Compare him to his predecessor when it comes to helping people. In July 1996, when Dan McLaughlin was mayor, a dozen areas of Orland Park had been slammed by heavy rainstorms and extensive flooding that caused massive property damage. The Village of Orland […]