Scott T. Holland

It’s easy to picture a different state official next decade saying college enrollment isn’t a viable (or the primary) measure for the adequacy of secondary school classrooms.

Every time someone suggests consolidating or streamlining various public operations, there’s a counterargument regarding the importance of local versus state versus federal control and concerns about privacy, protection and simply letting subject-matter experts do their jobs.

Legislation billed as protective often amounts to enhancing penalties in hopes of protective or preventive effects. SB 1550 is different in that it does (subject to appropriations) create an actual pathway for physical protection of people and public property.

Despite the 78-40 Democratic control in the House and 40-19 Senate edge, it’s difficult to envision a scenario where the Bears cut in front of the Regional Transit Authority to access the same money pool. That’s true aside from other current and potential funding priorities.

“We want to protect our parks with action and investment,” said Jenny Vaughn, the Illinois Conservation Foundation executive director. “We believe parks are for the people, not for profit.”

While reserving the right to modify judgment once the program fully develops, at this early stage, it seems like another task piled on an already burdened infrastructure, especially if any of the onus goes beyond school nurses and psychologists or social workers.

After asking readers to share must-eat food stops throughout Illinois in 2021, I started focusing on cuisine at the State Fair, running through Aug. 17.

Certainly, at this point, I’ve spent enough to buy someone a new car. Or at least help the company with all its clever advertising and corporate sponsorships.

The current composition of Congress is the complete inverse of “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” – the general consensus is complete frustration with the status quo and no one seems remotely interested in exploring practical solutions.

It’s the feds who put away corrupt political figures, and county prosecutors taking on DCFS’ shortcomings. But in neither case do prison sentences seem to have the deterrent effect often presumed when gavels drop.

I was oblivious, but looking back at the pictures, there was my hero, watching my kid play his position.

I was much more compelled by the top AP headline from our current location: “Man with mental health issues found naked in Minnesota Capitol, raising new security concerns.”

The U.S. Constitution leaves almost everything related to elections up to individual states, but people who don’t like the outcomes are relentless in trying to use federal courts to reach their desired goals.

The agencies combine on a rental housing study titled Out of Reach, which this year determined a full-time worker in Illinois needs an hourly salary of $29.81 to afford the market price of a two-bedroom apartment.

The point of sharing isn’t to advocate for the report’s suggestions, but to present an opportunity to explore the groundwork lawmakers and lobbyists will reference as these concepts make their way into public remarks, committee meetings and eventually legislation.