Columns
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How the separate practices of writing and faith can convergeJun 01, 2026 4:00 am - Guest columnist Tom Montgomery Fate: Forty or so years ago, in the early eighties — when telephones still “rang” and were wired to walls, and we still relied on typewriters — I did two seemingly unrelated MA degrees back-to-back. One in creative writing and one in religion.
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Another opportunity to choose skepticism over cynicismMay 28, 2026 4:00 am - Columnist Jim Slusher: Stories about fraud and public misdeeds need to be evaluated on their own terms. They point to issues that deserve attention; they do not cast doubt on every person in a particular field or occupation.
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A Gold Star wife’s Memorial Day messageMay 25, 2026 4:00 am - EDITOR’S NOTE: By request of Greg Padovani, chairman of the Veterans Memorial Committee of Arlington Heights, the following letter is reprinted and updated with the a...
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Illinois Affordable Housing tax credit expands housing opportunity across IllinoisMay 22, 2026 4:00 am - Guest columnist Rob Anthony: Addressing Illinois’ housing challenge will require a wide range of solutions, but one of the state’s most effective and proven tools is already making a meaningful difference: the Illinois Affordable Housing Tax Credit (IAHTC).
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I, rebel: When the urge to break the rules can’t be resistedMay 21, 2026 4:00 am - Columnist Jim Slusher: To many of you, I apologize in advance for the following column. Some of you, I bet, will feel my pain.
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What if AI stood for Actual Intelligence?May 18, 2026 4:00 am - Guest columnist Tom Montgomery Fate: I’m a 60-something writer and teacher who sometimes uses Chat GPT and other AI apps. But, in the tradition of Thoreau and Mary Oliver and others, I also still like to walk through the woods with a pencil and journal, observing and taking notes..
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‘News you can use’ can appear in unexpected waysMay 14, 2026 4:00 am - “News you can use” is something of a marketing cliche related to newspapers, but the phrase, like most cliches, has some basis in fact. In addition to stories about polit...
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Little treats, big impact: How Illinois can retain teachers without breaking the budgetMay 11, 2026 4:00 am - Guest columnist Yameira Church: When we build micro-moments of celebration, we teach children what community looks like. We show them how to see each other. Adults need the same.
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The example of Pope Leo offers hope of return to sanityMay 10, 2026 4:00 am - Guest columnist Javeed Akhter:
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Why Illinois should support Taiwan’s participation in the WHOMay 07, 2026 4:00 am - Health is a fundamental human right and a universal value. Stronger health systems lead to greater community well‑being, economic stability and global security. For a sta...