Viewpoint

We would be better served with an election commission for the whole county

By Julie Prandi

Nov 08, 2009 | 12:00 am | Loading…

It's up to Bloomington voters to decide if they want election commission

By Paul Shannon

Nov 08, 2009 | 12:00 am | Loading…

A look at Democrats' health care plans

House Democratic leaders have presented a new health overhaul bill that melds legislation passed by three committees over the summer and makes a series of changes to accommodate lawmakers' concerns.

Nov 01, 2009 | 12:00 am | Loading…

A physician's-eye view of health care debate

I will never forget the look of pain on the young man's face.

Nov 01, 2009 | 12:00 am | Loading…

Change redistricting; stir up competition

In the decades before becoming a state senator, David Luechtefeld guided the Okawville Rockets to 738 victories, more than all but nine coaches on the fiercely competitive Illinois hardwoods of boys' prep basketball.

Oct 25, 2009 | 12:00 am | Loading…

Vaccinate all emergency workers

In the immediate aftermath of the ill-fated 1976 H1N1 swine flu program, I became lead counsel for the United States in the Swine Flu Products Litigation.

Oct 18, 2009 | 12:00 am | Loading…

Don't force H1N1 vaccine on anyone

The rush to approve the vaccine for the H1N1 flu - also known as swine or "novel flu" - was based on a combination of the greed of the pharmaceutical industry and uninformed decisions by the awkward alliance of public health and federal emergency management officials.

Oct 18, 2009 | 12:00 am | Loading…

Obama needs to listen to general's advice

I feel sorry for Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal. The top commander of U.S. troops in Afghanistan is in hot water. He recently rejected the idea of scaling down U.S. troop levels and fighting al-Qaida there with drones and missiles. Such a strategy shift - which some in the administration are …

Oct 11, 2009 | 12:00 am | Loading…

Despite critics, a bar on czars would go too far

Don't blame President Obama for appointing too many "czars"; blame the news media (go ahead, the news media gets blamed for almost as many things as Obama does these days).

Sep 28, 2009 | 12:00 am | Loading…

Chaos in the world continues its spread

It may be time to start channeling Noah and begin building an ark. The world is a huge mess, and it's getting worse every day. Iran is on track to develop nuclear weapons, but global warming may incinerate us first. The Israeli-Palestinian hate fest rolls on, and Afghanistan is falling ap…

Sep 26, 2009 | 12:00 am | Loading…

Rename park to honor links to Abe Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln deserves to have a park named in his honor in Bloomington and the park outside the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts is a good location.

Sep 21, 2009 | 12:00 am | Loading…

Gravel pits: Give students, residents adequate safeguards

In recommending a revision of the county's gravel pit ordinance to the County Board, the McLean County Zoning Board of Appeals made four errors fatal to a good ordinance.

Sep 13, 2009 | 12:00 am | Loading…

Gravel pits: Strike a balance that protects property rights

The McLean County Zoning Board of Appeals conducted three public hearings and made recommendations to the County Board for text amendments to the ordinance pertaining to gravel pits and other mining operations.

Sep 13, 2009 | 12:00 am | Loading…

How Washington is spending your taxes

You get itemized bills from your doctor, your car mechanic and your cell-phone provider. Why not from the federal government?

Aug 23, 2009 | 12:00 am | Loading…

Halvorson: Reduce costs for families, add stability

I'm writing this not only as a member of Congress, but also as a mom, grandmother, wife and daughter.

Aug 08, 2009 | 1:20 pm | Loading…

Johnson: Don't scrap our health care system

America has the best health care system in the world, the best doctors and the most advanced resources.

Aug 08, 2009 | 1:15 pm | Loading…

'Pay-go bill' may not live up to hopes

There is less than meets the eye to the Democrats' "pay-go bill," the lavishly touted gesture toward fiscal responsibility that the House passed on Wednesday.

Jul 25, 2009 | 9:10 pm | Loading…

Sneaky media harms America with its bias

About a month ago, in this space, I told you The New York Times had rigged a poll about Americans wanting to pay higher taxes to fund government-run health care.

Jul 24, 2009 | 9:50 pm | Loading…

Openness is crucial to government reform

Every day thousands of people in Illinois find themselves in need of information from their government, whether from a state agency, city hall or their children's school.

Jul 19, 2009 | 12:00 am | Loading…

Gas prices high enough? Not for Washington

They're back. Rising gasoline prices, that is.

Jun 22, 2009 | 12:00 am | Loading…

Give non-custodial fathers more time with kids

Fathers Day focuses our attention on the importance of the role of fathers in children's lives. As perennial as the traditional Fathers Day gifts, pronouncements on the virtues of fatherhood by elected officials such as Barack Obama are offered to reinforce its value.

Jun 22, 2009 | 12:00 am | Loading…

Form-based code is problem, not answer

I llinois State University, Illinois Wesleyan University, BroMenn Regional Medical Center, the town of Normal and the city of Bloomington hired "new urbanist" and consultant Doug Farr, with the Chicago-based firm Farr Associates to present a proposal for the future Main Street

Jun 07, 2009 | 12:00 am | Loading…

Abandoned veterans should be given their due

Here's what is known of Joseph Glass, as pieced together from some recent news accounts.

Jun 07, 2009 | 12:00 am | Loading…

Sotomayor is committed to equal justice

Yes: She's committed to equal justice

May 30, 2009 | 12:00 am | Loading…

Sotomayor's personal bias could affect rulings

In choosing a Supreme Court justice, President Obama - like any president - should look for someone who will apply the Constitution and the laws as written and interpret them consistent with their plain and original meaning.

May 30, 2009 | 12:00 am | Loading…

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