Columnist

Pritzker needs unions to back down on energy bill

Published by admin on Sat, 07/24/2021 - 3:02pm

This past May, Illinois House Deputy Majority Leader Jehan Gordon Booth (D-Peoria) and Gov. JB Pritzker worked out a deal with some key state business groups to mandate seven days of paid leave per year for every employee in Illinois. Workers wouldn't have to give any reasons for the guaranteed paid leave.
But organized labor, in particular some Chicago union leaders, angrily came out against it, arguing that the bill's home rule preemption language would prevent Chicago from eventually enacting an even broader ordinance.

Roads and Rivals, Wilmington vs. Braidwood

Published by admin on Tue, 07/20/2021 - 11:52am

Although Wilmington had a thirty years head start, Braidwood began life on the run and soon the two towns were “friendly” rivals. Braidwood had certain advantages. More money was made and spent in one week there when the mines were open than in three weeks in Wilmington. Braidwood had a disadvantage too, such as the frequent strikes. And of course, the many murders in Braidwood didn't help much.

Public and Private, the great library debate

Published by admin on Tue, 07/20/2021 - 11:37am

Taxpayers are a funny lot. Some of us are fussy about how our governmental bodies spend our hard-earned tax dollars. We hate to see one group profit over another, hence the need for the bidding process. But there are times that taking this point of view may be like “cutting off our nose to spite our face.” Let's look at one of them.
The year was 1877, and despite the Braidwood Coal Strike and the general bad condition of the nation's economy, the town of Wilmington itself was doing pretty good.

The new and improved Hanky-Panky cocktail

Published by admin on Tue, 07/20/2021 - 11:36am

Ada Coleman was a trailblazer. She was the first (and only) female bartender at The Savoy Hotel's American Bar from 1903-1926 during which time she created a classic gin cocktail that has been featured on bar and fine restaurant menus for over one hundred years. Ada's creativity and some on the spot feedback from a movie star gave us one of the most enduring gin cocktails, the Hanky-Panky.

Illinois Legislative Inspector quits with good reason

Published by admin on Sun, 07/18/2021 - 8:50pm

Illinois Legislative Inspector General Carol Pope announced her resignation last week and will leave office by Dec. 15. She cited several reasons, including her thwarted attempt to issue subpoenas without any checks or balances.
"True ethics reform," she said of the legislature, "is not a priority."

John Broadbent, entertainment was his business

Published by admin on Tue, 07/13/2021 - 12:00pm

Most of us have some special thing that we are good at. For some it might be driving, or teaching, or selling or even writing. There is a special class of people who are good at dealing with other people. Some of these are entertainers, bartenders, hotel keepers, and those who work in restaurants. That was the kind of guy John Broadbent was, all of the above.

What we can learn from the numbers, 1840

Published by admin on Tue, 07/13/2021 - 11:55am

Last week I had the privilege of holding 175-year old document thought long since lost. It was a census of Will County taken in 1845 by the State of Illinois. It had been found in the walls of the old 1880's court house when it was being demolished; given to historian Billie Limacher who put a note with it that it was to be given to the County Historical Museum and then put it in the back of a drawer.

Bring on shark week with a Shark’s Tooth Cocktail

Published by admin on Tue, 07/13/2021 - 11:54am

It's that time of year again! Yes, it's summer, but it's that special week of summer that I have looked forward to each summer since I was a teenager: Shark Week. This is the 33rd installment of the iconic Discovery series, and Shark Week 2021 will not disappoint! We'll toast this year's Shark Week with a classic Donn Beach creation, the Shark's Tooth.

Fitch owes Illinois an upgrade

Published by admin on Sat, 07/10/2021 - 10:28am

As I write this, two of the three national credit rating agencies have upgraded the State of Illinois’ rating in a week’s time. And the only remaining holdout owes us one. Bigtime.
As you know, Moody’s Investors Service upgraded its Illinois rating by a notch in late June and S&P Global Ratings followed suit on July 8. Fitch Ratings is the only one left.
Back in April of 2020, when the pandemic was gripping the world, Fitch downgraded Illinois’ credit rating – the only credit downgrade Illinois has received since Bruce Rauner’s days as governor.

Beat the heat with the Ranch Water cocktail

Published by admin on Tue, 07/06/2021 - 12:11pm

Looking for a something to beat the heat? Let's consult the experts in West Texas where the mercury regularly rises above 100 degrees in the summer months. Texans will tell you that the best way, and for some the only way to beat the heat, is with a tall glass of Ranch Water.
It's hot in West Texas. You may or may not have experienced the Texas desert heat in person, but the fact that it's a “dry heat” really doesn't help. Ask the folks in Monahans, TX where the mercury hit 120 degrees in 1994. Having a way to cool off in the Lonestar State isn't a want, it's a need.