A sad day in Illinois
For Illinois’ political class, Wednesday was Christmas, St. Patrick’s Day and the Fourth of July all rolled into one. What a cause for celebration — U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald is resigning! For the rest of us, not a good day. We who pay an untold …
Persistent Pappas presses on
Whether she truly views herself as Cook County’s Taxpayer Defender or is trying to burnish her image for a run for higher office, or both, county Treasurer Maria Pappas has been keeping the heat on local government. Whatever her motive, we’re glad she’s doing it …
New app makes sense to aid cops
We all know, or at least we should, that there can be no expectation of privacy while out and about in this age of smart phones. There’s someone nearby ready to text or take a photo of your misbehavior. That’s disconcerting to many, but there …
Miller: Quinn seems to leave opening for gambling growth
A tense and often confrontational meeting over gambling expansion last week ended with Gov. Pat Quinn being evasive but not explicitly saying “no” to adding slot machines at horse racing tracks. That might be the beginning of a reversal on the gambling issue for Quinn, …
Expanding Internet gambling deserves OK
The Legislature has plenty on its plate this session with budget issues and Medicaid and pension reform, but Senate President John Cullerton has piled more on with a plan to legalize online poker. Cullerton (D-Chicago) wants to create a gaming division within the Illinois Lottery …
McGrath: Should supermarkets solicit charitable donations?
Tell me you haven’t been there. You’ve filled your grocery cart, are feeling pretty good about many of your purchases being on sale and you have a stack of coupons for discounts on several other items. At checkout, the cashier is friendly, even remarking on …
Eaton: New book reveals more about Obama’s rise
Another book about the Obamas hit the stands this week, and it reveals more about his rapid rise to the presidency, including an interesting tidbit about the controversial Rev. Jeremiah Wright, the Obamas’ longtime pastor and spiritual advisor and a Tinley Park resident. After videos …
Drew’s trial should be televised
The judge who will decide when Will County trials will begin being televised says there’s no hurry. And even if there were a perceived need for haste, Chief Circuit Court Judge Gerald Kinney says it’s too difficult to do it as quickly as many would …
McConnell & Narain: NATO must focus on helping humanity
Irony abounds as the attention of the city of Chicago and the international media on the upcoming NATO Summit has focused on the potential violence of a few protesters, while ignoring the last 10 years of actual violence of the alliance that’s meeting here. Through …
