Downtown Davenport's "number one" corner at Second and Main is really coming to life these days. The exterior renovation of the Redstone (formerly Peterson/Von Maur Department Store) building as part of the Vision Iowa project is phenomenal.
Congressmen almost never have much influence in Illinois politics. The political class sometimes even ships them off to Washington to get them out of the way - often to keep them from running for a truly important job, like alderman.
Employment Uncertainty and the Holiday Season Thanksgiving is the start of the holiday season. The holiday season is a time when families, friends and acquaintances gather in an expression of goodwill and comradery.
Every legislative session has its own feel, and its own rhythm. This fall's veto session feels like death - in more ways than one. One should never predict anything about what could happen in a veto session, but nothing big seems to be moving or percolating this fall.
Thanksgiving is relative. It almost always depends on your viewpoint. Americans can be thankful that the terror of 9/11 was a decidedly rare event for our nation when compared to the daily terror that plagues Middle Easterners.
Last week, the Riverboat Development Authority (RDA) announced more than $1.3 million in grants for its fall cycle. The RDA makes decisions about how to distribute a percentage of gambling proceeds from the Rhythm City Casino.
I remember a time when journalists were an integral part of crime solving. There was a competitive edge to their investigations in order to scoop the story. Journalists rivaled one another, but they also rivaled authorities in their efforts to solve crimes.
You've probably heard by now that Illinois Governor George Ryan has ordered almost all state agencies under his control to come up with 2-percent budget cuts. The idea is to find $250 million in savings to make up for a drop in state revenues.
In late September, ground was broken in Davenport for the construction of a new shelter for homeless people. The shelter, an effort by the John Lewis Coffee House, will provide lodging for 78 additional homeless men and women.
From the totally pro-life Jim Ryan, to the tough-talking, pro-life, pro-gun prosecutor Joe Birkett, to the "Let's attack Iraq today!" U.S. Senate candidate Jim Durkin, the right wing got its head handed to it last week in Illinois.

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