Throughout the western suburbs, coyote sightings in residential areas have long been a cause for concern. Their animal nature of hunting for food sometimes conflicts with our human nature to minimize inconveiences.
The Issue: The Illinois House has passed a bill that could affect where mentally unstable convicts are committed.
Our View: This measure should become law, thereby giving greater peace of mind to those who’ve been confronted with violence.
The original purpose of the census was to determine the country's population and figure out how taxes should be apportioned. But now every taxing body wants to use the information to obtain a bigger piece of the federal spending "pie."
The Issue: Officials from Lyons Township recently awarded their first round of grants to improve local recreational areas.
Our View: As the original purpose of the bond measure has changed, the rest of the money should be returned to taxpayers.
Last year, 368 children younger than 18 were listed as homeless in DuPage County, with 169 of them younger than 5. Children younger than 18 made up 32 percent of the homeless sheltered and 6 percent of the unsheltered homeless in 2009 in western Cook County.
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State Sen. Kirk Dillard of Hinsdale and Illinois Republican Party chairman Pat Brady of St. Charles believe the narrow gap between Dillard and state Sen. Bill Brady in GOP gubernatorial race demonstrate a high level of interest in this campaign. Republicans are hopeful they'll be able touse this to their advantage this fall.
The Issue: The use of performance-enhancing drugs has been a scourge on professional sports.
Our View: Local and state officials are taking the proper steps to protect the health of our children.
To be sure, most Americans express belief in a deity, and public officials enjoy mirroring the faith of their constituents. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that nonsectarian prayers offered as part of government meetings are permitted. So, as public officials, why not remind the voters that you’re on their side in the culture wars?
The Issue: Some people try to multitask when they’re in a car just like they do when they’re sitting at their desk at work.
Our View: We commend legislators for making it illegal for drivers to read or send text messages, or use a cell phone in a school zone, and residents should abide by the new laws.
The primary used to be held around St. Patrick’s Day, officially the third Tuesday in March. But the primary was moved in 2008 to the first Tuesday in February, this year falling on Groundhog Day, and it feels strange. Sprightly leprechauns collecting signatures on behalf of candidates have been replaced by temperamental woodchucks with weather charts.
Obama should have approached health care reform as a long-term project. He should have prioritized the major issues and then worked on them one step at a time. It may have taken him three or four years to get all the pieces passed through Congress, but he would have eventually completed his goal of reforming the system.
Tuesday was Illinois’ earliest primary election ever. Let’s put that down in the history books and move future primary elections to later in the year.
Get ready for months and months of clashing campaigns, with conflicting talk about the hurt of taxes on one side, and the benefit of the programs they pay for on the other side.
Suburban Life opinions editor Jerry Moore will live blog all day on the primary election.
