We Americans live in a representative democracy. That’s a fundamental feature of public life in the United States, a part of who we are as a people. We elect leaders to...

It is true that when I walked away from the manager trainee program at Otasco, I did so for love, but it wasn’t as noble and heart-rending as all that. It’s not as if I was...

Headlines about teacher shortages abound as schools recover from the pandemic. The challenges teachers faced during the pandemic significantly increased, and many...

No matter what report you read, the teacher shortage has gone from what we at the Association of Illinois Rural and Small Schools (AIRSS) were discussing in 2015 to the...

It’s likely not the first heart-themed celebration that comes to mind in February – that of course goes to Valentine’s Day – but American Heart Month certainly deserves...

Like many Americans, I watched with dismay this month as the House of Representatives struggled through 15 votes over four days to select a new speaker. The sense of...

It looks like U.S. consumers will have to stomach another year of historically high food prices. The latest food price outlook from the US...

Social movements in divided America? Looking at the most controversial social movements in the US over the past few years we might come to the conclusion that it’s really...

I followed my sister to Lake Charles, Louisiana for my first year of college, except she wasn’t there. My sister Kay was plagued in her early life by a measure of mental...

Owning a home is a dream shared by millions of people. Investing in property that can be owned within 15 to 30 years of closing on the home makes more financial sense to...

November is the month of Thanksgiving! It is a time when families and friends take a break from the hectic and stressful works and can peacefully spend time with friends...

The best home upgrades not only make spaces more livable and energy-efficient but are also cost-effective. Making energy-efficient improvements is...

Anyone who bites into a big chunk of garlic bread knows that less-than-fresh breath is a likely outcome of such an indulgence. But for some people, halitosis, otherwise...

Home trends come and go. Today’s must-have items tend to become tomorrow’s outdated features in the blink of an eye. Homeowners who plan to stay in...

I was talking to someone the other day, a relatively new acquaintance but a native of southwestern Illinois who also happens to be well-traveled, having lived in the West...