A story of love and courage NIU baseball game provided fans a chance to show they care, too
On April 16, my family attended the Northern Illinois University vs. Notre Dame baseball game at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago. We were moved to attend by an article in The Beacon News. The game was played to raise money for students injured in the tragic Feb. 14 shootings that killed five students and wounded many others.
Kane right to reject higher pay raises
Elected officials in Kane County do deserve pay raises, unlike, say, Illinois legislators who have accomplished very little lately and turned our state into an embarrassment. But the County Board acted wisely this week in rejecting the excessive recommendations that were being considered.
Pay raises a hypocrite's dream
Sen. Rickey Hendon, D-Chicago, is often loud, obnoxious and willing to make personal attacks on people. He was in fine form last week on the issue of pay raises for lawmakers.
Primary not necessary in city races
The timing couldn't be better for the Aurora Election Commission. Faced with a $600,000 deficit this year largely because of a special congressional election that should have never been held in the first place, a change in state law could save Aurora taxpayers a portion of that amount next spring.
No raises without a capital bill
There has been some heated discussion in the General Assembly recently regarding legislative pay raises. Although the cost of gas is increasing dramatically, food costs are escalating and utility costs are not getting any cheaper, I am opposed to accepting a pay increase this year.
Fox Metro hurting local restaurants
As various restaurants have opened and closed their doors in downtown Aurora over the past couple decades, a few have been able to survive as the city has struggled to slowly redevelop the area. One of them is Tavern on the Fox.
Sixteenth no longer so sweet
To all those 15-year-olds out there, well, sorry. The 16th birthday just isn't what it used to be.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Clearing the air over Sugar Grove's 'new' pot law
I knew it! It all started when you picked Pat Perez over a white Republican for sheriff. Then you had the temerity to send Democrat Bill Foster to fill Denny Hastert's congressional seat. Now, in what can only be described as the inevitable outcome of the categorical renunciation of your conservative legacy, Sugar Grove has virtually legalized marijuana.
Tasers useful, but also pose serious risks
To critics, including human-rights advocates, Tasers have become symbols of police brutality because of headlines about suspects dying after being zapped. They allege the weapon has been abused by cops too eager to use electric pulses to subdue unruly suspects and point to cases where multiple shocks amount to excessive use of force.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Playing games with IDOT funds
Pretty neat trick, that. A day after the Senate Democrats saved his behind from a possible recall, Gov. Rod Blagojevich took aim at the city he despises and announced that 150 Illinois Department of Transportation jobs will be moved from Springfield to southern Illinois.
Gas holiday won't help at the pump
At first glance, the gas-tax break looks like a winner. Who couldn't use a few more bucks this summer, a little relief at the pump as gas prices soar?
Voters identifying with McCain
If the election were today, Democrats would sweep local, state and national offices -- and John McCain would be the nation's 44th president.
Badminton not just for back yards
At this time of year, we think about spring sports like baseball or track and field. There's one spring sport you migjt not hear much about, but it's just as exciting to watch.
Immigration reform still a pressing need
Two years ago, thousands of supporters rallied in the streets of Aurora for immigration reform while 400,000 others simultaneously marched in Chicago and millions demonstrated across the country. The issue became a national priority, and our elected officials vowed to find solutions.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Most schools allowing the LCD to get its way
Please spare me from conspiracy theories. These utterly improbable hypotheses are nothing more than a feeble attempt to blame others for your life. Our esteemed leaders can barely think a week ahead, much less have the capacity to determine our destiny.
Miley Cyrus' parents are the ones who should be embarrassed.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
IDOT says it won't idle trucks
Rumors were swirling last week that the Illinois Department of Transportation was going to idle all of its trucks starting May 1. The reason was the department is out of money to pay for fuel, forcing trucks off of the highways.
Cut bottled water from city budgets
Over the past decade, the city of Aurora spent $129,480.99 on bottled water. While that's just a drop in the bucket when it comes to the city budget, it's no minor expense to most of us.
Party loyalties will lead to squeaker
At various times during the past few months, as many as 25 percent of Democrats have said they'll vote for John McCain if Barack Obama/Hillary Rodham Clinton is not the party nominee. Some conservative Republicans have said stormily they'll vote for the Democrat over McCain because they think he's too liberal.
Schools right to punish kids for drinking
In a perfect world, schools wouldn't have to worry about disciplining kids for breaking the law when not in class or at a school function. Unfortunately, especially when it comes to teen drinking, too many parents are still looking the other way and not taking it seriously enough.
Tackling the madness of infidelity
The excitement of March Madness is the ultimate experience. I am, of course, talking about the NCAA basketball tournament. The seemingly non-stop games provide as much as exhilaration as a group of middle-age guys can handle -- at least most of us. In recent years, the tournament has given me another reason to get together with old friends.
Sugar Grove being smart with pot law
Let's get one thing out of the way: We're not advocates of legalizing marijuana. Having said that, however, we do think Sugar Grove's decision to start writing tickets instead of making arrests in some cases of simple possession is a sensible move.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Go ahead -- express yourself
Within minutes of adding a new reader comments feature to stories on The Beacon News' Web site earlier this week, the conversation had already started.
Ethics bill still waiting for vote
It will be one year tomorrow since the Illinois House unanimously passed an ethics-reform bill that targets pay-to-play politics. And despite most of the state's senators signing on as co-sponsors, the legislation has yet to be called for a vote in the Senate.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
A scary thought: Mr. Ward goes to Springfield
That headline probably frightens you even more than it scares me. I have neither been elected nor appointed to public office. There's been no talk of me replacing Jim Oberweis on the November ballot.
Tide turning in Aurora's war on gangs
In the span of four days, police and prosecutors earned two huge victories in the ongoing operation to dismantle Aurora's street gangs. On Friday, one of the gang members involved in perhaps the city's most infamous murder was brought to justice after a decade. Then on Monday, six gang members were convicted of racketeering in a potentially precedent-setting federal conspiracy trial.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Governor hides behind children
Over the years, Gov. Rod Blagojevich has used other adults, his security detail and even his family to shield himself from answering questions from reporters. Last week, he branched out to include schoolchildren.
Give it a try: Keep track of your trash
Think fast: Can you remember every piece of trash you threw away yesterday? What about this morning? In the last hour?
Are candidates paying attention?
The other day I saw an elderly woman, bent over with osteoporosis, at the grocery store. She picked up a package of hamburger, looked at the price, sighed and put it back. Later I saw her in the bakery department, seemingly astonished because the price of her favorite loaf of bread had gone up again.
Metea land deal done, so let's move on
As far as we're concerned, the protracted search for a site for Metea Valley High School has ended. The small but vocal group of opponents who almost succeeded in derailing the Indian Prairie School District's Eola Road deal should now consider it over, too.
Family ties run deep in APD
When Joe Coronado joined the Aurora Police Department, people asked where his father had gone wrong. They wanted to know why Nick Coronado, a 23-year veteran of the APD, had not convinced his son to become a fireman instead. After all, Joe explained, "Firemen douse your home with water and cut a hole in your roof, but they're thanked for it. People don't often have such a warm fuzzy reception for the police."
A kinder, gentler Oberweis?
BATAVIA -- For a guy whose family name graces a chain of ice cream stores, Jim Oberweis isn't nearly as popular as you might think.
Voters deserve positive election
Apparently Jim Oberweis finally got the message. If he really intends to stay positive in his fall congressional campaign and have "a serious and respectful discussion of issues that are important to people in the 14th Congressional District," as he says, then we look forward to his rematch with Bill Foster.
By pushing a proposal that would require a percentage of city contracts be set aside for minorities and women, Alderman Richard Irvin has started an important discussion that will at least tell us whether Aurora potentially has an institutional discrimination problem. The city doesn't keep track of what percentage of Aurora's business goes to such firms, so that alone makes this an issue worth exploring.
