Illinois State Representative Julie Hamos (D-Chicago) begged me last week not to make her out to be some kind of lone-wolf hero or get her in trouble with her fellow legislators. But what she did rates a notice.
Just one month into his term as governor, Rod Blagojevich has already alienated legislators and other politicians who should be completely in his corner. Last Tuesday, a group of 20 elected African-American officials from Chicago's west side, including U.
I am writing in reference to a letter recently posted in The Reader entitled "Will War Make Us Safer?" by Cathy Bolkcom. (See Issue 411, February 5-11, 2003.) Ms. Bolkcom, have you been stuck in a box in someone's basement for the last 60 years? Or do you not bother to check facts before you spout off random opinions to look smart? As an American citizen, you have the right of speech and the right to voice your opinion.
Ten years in the minority often frustrated the Illinois Senate Democrats to no end. They would sponsor bills that had passed the House with huge bipartisan majorities - and often with significant public support - only to watch them quietly die in the Senate Rules Committee, which was controlled with an iron fist by the Republicans.

When the loss of someone dear occurs, I can’t help but stop and reflect on how the measure of our lives is mostly defined by those unique and special humans that we love and are loved by. I find that the greatest blessings God bestows are the significant relationships that we enjoy throughout our lives.

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Every now and then it might be healthy for a reporter/columnist to get slammed in the media and have his motives and integrity questioned. It could be a humbling experience for those of us who make our livings routinely and cynically questioning the motives and integrity of others.
As reported by CBS News last week, if the Pentagon sticks to its current war plan, one day in March the Air Force and Navy will launch between 300 and 400 cruise missiles at targets in Iraq. This is more than the number that were launched during the entire 40 days of the first Gulf War.
Every new governor has problems getting started. But Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich has had to learn some hard lessons during his first two weeks on the job. Most of the problems center around Blagojevich's penchant for absolute secrecy.
The notion that Davenport's City Council doesn't get paid enough to be professional politicians, and thereby is not entirely accountable for its actions as a council, especially on complex issues such as Tax Increment Financing (TIF), is ludicrous.
By now, you've probably heard that new Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich was so surprised about the actual size of the state's budget deficit that he is considering breaking his campaign promise to not raise taxes.

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