When you embarrass yourself on national television, why not try for an encore? At least that's the attitude of Kyra Phillips, the babolicious CNN anchorvixen. She gets a gold star for having a sense of humor.

Being a Philistine myself, I'm not much for art, although I do like that picture of the dogs playing poker. But it's always good to see paintins' go back where they belong.

Will voters really buy the Democrats' anti-Wal-Mart rhetoric? Maybe? Should they? No. Curious? Read Robert Samuelson's Washington Post column.

OK, it's time for a sitdown, and the good news is that we don't have to worry about the feds listening in. Indeed, they're welcome because it's time for another recommenation from Jim's Pseudo-Intellectual Book Club.

Former Champaign Mayor Dan McCollum has a new mission in life.

Last week, the Champaign City Council approved a public smoking ban, and the city council in Urbana is expected to do the same soon.

I have a suggestion that applies to dog lovers as well as parents who enjoy reading to their children.

Landon Parvin, Champaign native and comic consultant to Republican presidents, struck again last weekend, teaming up with President Bush and a Bush impersonator to bring down the house at the annual dinner of the White House Correspondents' Association

It's not often that a first-rate author makes an appearance in Champaign-Urbana to discuss the art of writing, explain how he came up with the idea for a best-selling book and answer questions. But that's what happened last week when Ernest Gaines appe

George Ryan's defeat at the hands of federal prosecutors was so complete that he couldn't have done worse if he'd been represented by a first-year law student. Guilty on all counts.