The Soapbox
Don’t sign that bill:
Gov. Pat Quinn has one week to decide whether to expand gambling by adding five new casinos and slots at racetracks, including Arlington Park. While we accept the slots as a solution to save horse racing, the overall bill goes too far. Veto it, governor. If gambling must be expanded, another redo is in order. It has to be done right.
Grading your ‘FBI’:
With another year of high school sports here, it’s always good to remind fans to police themselves. What Fan Behavior Index rating would you give your community after last night’s football game? You know what’s appropriate and what isn’t. Let your school officials know when someone is out of bounds.
Trainers are key:
While we pay lots of attention to the football players and coaches, there’s an unsung group on the sidelines that deserves our support: athletic trainers. They are so important to the futures of these young athletes, and we’re thankful they always put health and safety first, which is how it should be.
Duckworth’s unworthy explanation:
Congressional candidate Tammy Duckworth admitted to illegally claiming two homeowners exemptions on her property taxes. She said it was because the exemptions automatically renew and she didn’t pay attention after moving out of a house she ended up renting. In other words, she’s both a tax cheat and disingenuous in her explanation.
Good work, COD:
Some heads-up work by College of DuPage officials in unearthing a financial aid scam. After discovering suspicious tuition checks, further investigation revealed 44 people signed up for classes, withdrew in time to claim refunds, then pocketed the financial aid money. COD has installed several measures to thwart future scams.
An ‘officer’ remembered:
We join Round Lake police in mourning the loss of a four-legged department member. Highway, a German shepherd, died Monday from cancer. For five years, he participated in arrests and drug seizures and helped find missing people. Highway was known in the community through his public demonstrations at various events.
Tongue lashings:
It’s hard to imagine what possessed usually discreet Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle to make her reckless condemnation of former President Ronald Reagan. But, her apology included a message true for any issue. “Inflammatory language only distracts from the larger issue,” she said. Would that she had kept that in mind earlier.
That took way too long:
A Kane County judge Thursday sent Cliff McIlvaine, still resisting inspectors over a 37-year home improvement project in St. Charles, to jail for contempt of court. It’s about time. Everyone deserves due process, but at some point, which was reached a long time ago in this case, delays look more like merely thumbing your nose at authority.
All about family:
Maryville Academy in Des Plaines has done a good thing five years running with its Friends and Family Day. Academy residents reconnect with family, sometimes after years without seeing them. “We go to great lengths to keep these children in touch with their families,” said a Maryville spokesman. It’s not only important, it’s heartwarming — for all involved.