By Jim Nowlan
Outside Columnist
I was challenged the other day when I heard an expert say that no one has—or could—explain the Illinois state budget clearly, even to capable readers of newspaper opinion pages. So here goes my attempt to do so, without your eyes glazing over (well, maybe that is too much to ask):
According to the Illinois Office of the Comptroller, in 2012 Illinois spent $67.8 billion and took in revenues of $64.5 billion (maybe that is part of our problem). Read More
by Dan Hagen
NP Columnist
“The supermarket is still open. It won’t close till midnight. It is brilliantly bright. Its brightness offers sanctuary from loneliness and the dark. “You could spend hours of your life here, in a state of suspended insecurity, meditating on the multiplicity of things to eat. “Oh dear, there is so much! So many brands in shiny boxes, all of them promising you good appetite. Every article on the shelves cries out to you, take me, take me; and the mere competition of their appeals can make you imagine yourself wanted, even loved. “But beware — when you get back to your empty room, you’ll find that the false flattering elf of the advertisement has eluded you; what remains is only cardboard, cellophane and food. Read More
by Brad Tuttle
Superintendent of Sullivan Schools
Readers may have noticed the legal ad in today’s newspaper regarding a Truth-in-Taxation hearing scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday, December 9 at our next Board of Education meeting (pg 4). I wanted to let people know why, after years of levying below the maximum allowed for our school district, we have reached a point where we now need to increase the school tax levy. Read More
by Angela Hogan RN MSPH
Administrator, Moultrie County Health Dept.
Food is an important part of many holiday celebrations. But don’t let food-related illness ruin your holiday. The Illinois Department of Public Health recommends the following food safety guidelines to help make sure your holiday meals are safe. Read More
By Jim Nowlan
Outside Columnist
Gov. Pat Quinn gave his campaign a strong shot of caffeine with his pick of nationally-known education reformer Paul Vallas as his running mate.
I was planning to write a column about “Ready for prime time?” I was going to question whether the lieutenant governor selections by gubernatorial candidates would be experienced enough to step into the top spot if needed. Read More
by John Golden
NP Columnist
Believe it or not, ladies and gentlemen, hens and toms, we find ourselves on the cusp of Thanksgiving once again. This fat feast of a fact gives me a fantastic opportunity to be extremely predictable and fervidly write about everything for which I am thankful. Why not be festive, am I wrong?
First, I am thankful for turkeys. Strange that I would start there, you say? Well, my daytime gig is as a meat department manager in a small market, and at this time of the year, believe it or not, I have turkeys on my mind. Read More
By Jim Nowlan
Outside Columnist
The U.S. Supreme Court is considering whether to eliminate most or all limits on money in politics. If the court lifts the already porous lid on campaign expenditures by megabucks players on the Right and Left, we may see confirmation that America is largely run by an oligarchy of wealth.
Is there anything we can or should do about it? Read More
By Glenn Mollette
Everybody needs medical insurance. Without it you are headed for the poor house or a shorter life.
Here is what our government should do: Read More
By Jim Nowlan
Outside Columnist
I write a column for the Oriental Morning Post in Shanghai, one of China’s leading newspapers. I try to explain our system to the paper’s upscale readers. Here is my recent take on American political dysfunction. This is edited down, as the Chinese paper likes long columns. Read More
by John Golden
NP Columnist
Whenever Halloween rolls around every year, the autumn air becomes eerily filled with everyone telling his or her own scary tales. The television networks run their plethora of materials that feature vampires, werewolves, ghosts, ghouls, and goblins. School children do their best to torment their classmates’ thoughts, and they attempt to keep each other up at night. To me, the most frightening stories are the stories that also happen to be true stories.
The following is a true story: Read More