Columnist

It’s too volatile to know what to expect

Published by admin on Sun, 04/12/2026 - 4:37pm

State government revenues were up $1.571 billion at the end of the third quarter, according to the most recent report from the legislature’s bipartisan, bicameral Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability.
The almost $1.6 billion in new revenues is an increase of 4.2 percent.
The state budget was crafted last year with an expectation that revenues would rise just 2.3 percent for the full fiscal year, so that’s pretty darned good news.

Earning an education, funding early public schools

Published by admin on Mon, 04/06/2026 - 10:54am

One certain topic of conversation, especially during referendums, is the funding of the public school system. The needs and wants of the school are battled over, and the programs are funded or cut according to monies available. It was always this way as far as I can tell, but early educators found funding sources right in their own schools.
The earliest schools in the area were primary in nature. There were no grades; children went as long as they wanted or until they had learned all they thought they needed.

Tramping through Braidwood history

Published by admin on Mon, 04/06/2026 - 10:09am

Times is tough, no doubt about it. Jobs are scarce, money even scarcer. Homelessness is on the rise, and people are on the move looking for jobs. No, I am not talking about 2026, but about the Great Depression of 1873. It was known as the Great Depression until the 1930's when another tough time surpassed it.
After the Civil War ended in 1865 the United States economy boomed. Railroads led the way, laying over 56,000 miles of track in 8 years. Men went back to the farm and factory and production went way up.

Poll: Affordable housing is a major problem

Published by admin on Sat, 04/04/2026 - 12:16pm

A YouGov poll conducted last month shows Illinois registered voters overwhelmingly believe that the cost of renting and buying a home is a problem in Illinois, think that there aren’t enough affordable homes for average folks and want the state legislature to take action.
The poll of 806 Illinois registered voters was taken March 1-9 and has a margin of error of +/-3.8 percent. The survey was conducted on behalf of YIMBY Illinois, a nonprofit which “advocates for abundant housing and sustainable, inclusive cities throughout Illinois.”

The monster of the prairie and the town - fire

Published by admin on Mon, 03/30/2026 - 1:26pm

Since mankind first stepped out of the cave, fire has been with him, sometimes for good and sometimes for evil.

Women’s changing role, and how they dressed for it

Published by admin on Mon, 03/30/2026 - 1:22pm

We are just leaving March, designated Women’s Month, and looking toward Easter. So, today’s topic is both. I have memories of going to church on Easter, always wearing a brand-new outfit, from head to toe. And I wasn’t the only one. It seemed that Easter was a time to bring out our finest new clothes in the latest fashion. Of course, it was mostly the women who took part in this annual ritual. Men just wore their best suite with maybe a new tie.

Republican voters missing at the polls

Published by admin on Sun, 03/29/2026 - 2:22pm

The trend in special elections around the country for the past several months has shown spiking Democratic voter turnout and tanking Republican turnout. And some preliminary primary election results from earlier this month show the same trend here.
What follows is a quick look at governor’s race turnout in the state’s five most populous counties. Not all votes were counted when I wrote this, so the numbers are accurate as of early March 27th. But the final count will be very close to what I have here.

Fur, farms and the French, early life on the Kankakee

Published by admin on Mon, 03/23/2026 - 12:18pm

Parlez vous Francais? That means do you speak French. Why should you speak French? Because gentle readers, you are standing on soil that once belonged to France. It is hard to imagine that time in our local history, but let's give it a try.

The greatest forger ever known, Edward Piper

Published by admin on Mon, 03/23/2026 - 12:00pm

There have been many famous criminals pass through our area, Al Capone being only one of them. Lost to our collective memory is one of the greatest criminals of all time - Edward Piper.
If you visit Oakwood Cemetery in Joliet you will find the final resting place of many of Joliet's rich and famous. But in a silent corner there is the grave of one man, though at one time rich, was definitely infamous - Edward S. Piper.

The most money doesn’t mean you’ll win

Published by admin on Sat, 03/21/2026 - 10:43am

One of the biggest stories to come out of election day was that several candidates with the most money came up short.
The obvious example is the race for United States Senate, where US Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi reportedly spent $29 million on TV ads and benefited from another $10 million spent by the crypto industry against Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton.
Stratton was the beneficiary of a lot of money as well, including from the governor, but she started relatively late and never came close to matching Krishnamoorthi’s total spend.