Opinions

News-Gazette Editorials

Court fight over Ryan's pension

Friday, November 20, 2009

He's back – maybe not in body, but certainly in spirit.

George Ryan, the imprisoned former governor, was a strong presence in the state capital Wednesday. Ryan's lawyer, another former governor, Jim Thompson, argued before the Illinois Supreme Court that Ryan, despite his corruption convictions, is entitled to a state pension.

Taxing experience

Friday, November 20, 2009

The cheaters got caught this time.

The continued recession has taken a heavy toll on tax revenue paid to the federal government, but Internal Revenue Service officials have managed to find a new revenue stream – one that will please the ordinary taxpayer.

Second look at nuisance issue

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Dealing with public nuisance issues can be a real nuisance.

Irresponsible landlords and tenants can cause a problem not only for their neighbors but for the city in which they're located as well. That's why the Urbana City Council recently took up a proposed "chronic criminal nuisance ordinance."

Theater project moving foward

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Another chapter in the renovation of the Virginia Theater in downtown Champaign will soon be written.

The late Michael Carragher, a successful entrepreneur, loved the Champaign's parks and the Virginia Theater so much that he left nearly $1 million to the park district to use for the theater's renovation.

New York trial looming disaster

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

The U.S. Justice Department is creating its own alternative universe in equating acts of terror with routine violations of criminal law.

President Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder have bought themselves a snootful of trouble with their inexplicable decision to try the architects of the 9/11 terror attacks at a federal court in New York City.

Taxpayers take sucker punch

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

The Abraham Lincoln Hotel in Springfield, which the state acquired by foreclosure, is scheduled to be auctioned Dec. 14, but the state will probably not come close to making from the sale what it lost in this arrangement.

Next month, if all goes as scheduled, Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias will pull the plug on one of the state's longest running political scandals.

Quinn takes leap of faith

Monday, November 16, 2009

Illinois' governor took a gamble last week when he authorized releasing prisoners ahead of schedule.

Gov. Pat Quinn officially rolled the dice late week, taking a chance with his political future and the public's safety.

After review, release the report on shooting

Monday, November 16, 2009

The public is getting closer to answers about a controversial police shooting.

It's been more than a month since Illinois State Police initiated an investigation into the fatal police shooting of a 15-year-old Champaign youth following a call to police about a burglary in progress.

Cracking down on crime

Friday, November 13, 2009

A basketball player played basketball for fun in the summer. Oh, the horror.

Some things never change, and the National Collegiate Athletic Association, the regulating body of Division 1 college sports, is one of them.

Back to school on new FOI law

Friday, November 13, 2009

Illinois' Freedom of Information Act is getting a sharper set of teeth.

Playing the role of tutor, Attorney General Lisa Madigan is overseeing an extensive effort to educate public officials in Illinois about how to comply with the new Freedom of Information law that goes into effect Jan. 1.