By Jim Nowlan
Outside Columnist

Mother always said it was darkest just before dawn. When it comes to the state of Illinois, I cannot yet see the sun or its penumbra from beneath the horizon, but there are signs that the future may brighten. We need to build on those portents.

Illinois has been in a funk. People I talk with lament our reputation for corruption and the state’s embarrassing fiscal situation. Most say we are headed in the wrong direction. Many say they would like to be someplace else.

Americans have a sour view of Illinois as well.

A survey a couple of years ago by Public Policy Polling found that only 19 percent of Americans had favorable views of Illinois, while 29 percent had unfavorable views; the rest had no view whatever of Illinois. Most states had more favorable than unfavorable mentions.     Login or Subscribe to read the rest of this story.