Village Voices - We don't write papers, we build scrapbooks

Okay, I need your help. This is actually a serious request - and not just column material, so bare with me as I get to the point. Each week we do a section in the front called the Court Report. In...

It’s always darkest just before the dawn. Have you noticed how dark it is in the morning just before the sun comes up? It’s always like that this time of the year. This has nothing to do with the...

Four weeks ago, I called on Senator Marty Sandoval (D-Chicago) to resign from Chairmanship of the Senate Transportation Committee, after he became ensnared in a federal investigation. Later that day,...

Senators and Representatives return to the Capitol November 12-14 for the second and final week of the fall Veto Session. Nearly two dozen committee hearings are scheduled for the week on a variety...

Some of you may find this hard to believe, but I've never been a role model when it comes to fashion. Recognizing one's limitations is a good thing, and trust me - in the world of fashionable...

Snow is magical. (Or so I’ve been told). We’ve come a long way, baby. That was the theme for a billboard advertisement a few years ago. I think it had to do with women’s suffrage. But it really...

What has happened to Halloween? I’m sorry but the kids today are stupid – as well as spoiled. I mean, here you have the perfect opportunity to load up on candy for the next four months and yet I...

It’s all about the candy. I’ve read in the news where some schools in California, Illinois, New Jersey, and Vermont are cancelling Halloween celebrations and parades. Their argument is that some...

Pension Reform Is The 800-Pound Gorilla You cannot address budgetary reform in Illinois without addressing pension reform. You cannot address high property taxes in Illinois without addressing...

Maybe it was because I was a member of a fraternity, or maybe it was because 20 year old guys tend to pull pranks on each other all the time, but when I was in college, getting “pimped” was a...

It’s kind of early to be talking about Christmas but it’s everywhere already - especially on the Hallmark Movie Channel. I like an occasional Hallmark movie around Christmastime. I take some heat...

During the upcoming fall veto session, during which we generally take action on bills vetoed by the Governor, Illinois lawmakers could also be asked to consider a proposal to consolidate suburban and...

I’ve gotten into some stupid arguments before, but the most recent one … well … it boggles the mind. How we got onto the conversation isn’t important – although it revolved around the new...

As Veterans Day approaches I am asking constituents to submit a photo and tribute to a loved one who has served in the United States Armed Forces to be displayed on the Veterans Day “Wall of...

If you were given 100 million dollars but the only way you could collect on it is if you continued to work a 40 hour week for the rest of your life, what job would you choose? Life comes at us in all...

Well by now we’ve all heard the news. Another Chicago-area lawmaker ensnared in a federal investigation with search warrants served on multiple state and local government offices in Chicago, the...

So, be honest, what does National Newspaper Week mean to you? If you are like most people, the answer is simple, “Not a damn thing.” And I won’t lie, when I got all of the emails and...

Personal finance publication Kiplinger has ranked all U.S. states to determine which is the most, and the least, tax-friendly, based on the tax burden placed on residents. According to the...

Have you ever felt insignificant, or not important, or like you’re not even in the room? Several years ago, my wife and I visited Chuck Swindoll’s church in Dallas, Texas. Chuck Swindoll is a well...

I miss television. I don’t know about you, but as for me, it was a lot easier finding time to watch television when I was younger than it is now. But before you think I’m going to go off on one...

Being prepared is one thing, being in all out panic is something else. Around these parts when a big snowstorm is coming people go to the store and buy groceries, they top off their gas tanks, bring a...

Demonstrating a firm commitment to Illinois’ vast agricultural industry, a Taiwanese delegation recently announced their intention to purchase $2.2 billion in Illinois corn and soybeans over the...

My first clue was when I got home from covering a volleyball game and noticed the next morning that our backyard had already had the grass cut. Now normally that's my job, and I had noticed it was abo...