The Soapbox: Daily Herald editors offer brief thoughts on suburban topics in the news.
Tackling homelessness
Homelessness can seem like an intractable problem, so Elgin deserves credit for efforts to tackle it head-on with ideas possibly including helping to fund a new shelter initiative. Creative collaborations between the city and social agencies could lead to a new strategy that other suburbs might emulate.
What's he waiting for?
Every day he stays in office, indicted Democratic state Sen. Terry Link shows scorn for voters, but if he quits Sept. 1, taking advantage of a state law that allows lawmakers to collect a full month's pay for working just one day of the month, we'll know how deep his contempt really runs.
Relief after the storm
Monday's rare derecho brought 50 to 90 mph winds to the suburbs, toppling trees, utility poles and even the College Church steeple in Wheaton. Tornadoes touched down in Lombard, Spring Grove, Wheaton and Chicago's Rogers Park neighborhood. Hundreds of thousands lost power, but no major injuries were reported, so we can't help but feel lucky.
One more word on the storm
Add derecho to the lexicon of weird weather terms that seem to pop up from year to year. It's now on the list that includes bomb cycle, snowmageddon and polar vortex.
One way, please
Life's Great Mysteries, circa 2020: Why is it difficult for so many to follow the giant one-way arrows at the start of every aisle in the grocery store?
This week's Clippable Quote
"The final test of a work of art is not whether it has beauty, but whether it has power." - author John Hersey
Good to be back
While fall high school sports will look different this year for the six sports allowed to compete - boys and girls golf, boys and girls cross country, girls tennis and girls swimming and diving - athletes are elated to be back doing what they love. Now that the season has started, let's hope that they can continue practicing and competing safely.
Tough break
While some high school athletes are getting ready to compete this fall, many local athletes who play in college won't be able to, as several schools and conferences have made the tough decision to cancel fall sports. Tough decision, but also the safe decision. We'll look forward to watching them succeed again when it's deemed safe.
Have regard for our workers
Here's a shoutout to the Des Plaines public works employee who took our yard waste bag this week even though it was way over the weight limit. Thank you, but we promise to be more careful in the future. Your health is much more important than a spotless front yard.
Remembering Joe Segal
Joe Segal knew everybody in jazz, it seemed, and Chicago has been the better for it. For more than half a century he brought the greats and the up-and-comers to his Jazz Showcase, where generations of Chicagoans were introduced to something marvelous - even life-changing. Thanks, Joe.
Happy trails, Bob
We bid farewell today to Bob Smith, one of the newsroom's selfless unsung heroes for more than two decades. A mentor to some of our best reporters and a guardian of our highest standards, Bob edited his last story Friday. We remain thankful for the exquisite devotion he brought to local journalism and for the inspiration he provided our staff.