Columns
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What grows when zealousness and tolerance coexistApr 01, 2026 4:00 am - Editor’s Note: Columnist Jim Slusher is taking some time off. Today’s column is a reprise of his comments on Feb. 20, 2014. A democratic society thrives on tolerance...
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The tragic lesson on the gun lobby from MinneapolisMar 30, 2026 4:00 am - Even though national attention has shifted away from Minneapolis in the aftermath of the Trump administration’s so-called “Operation Metro Surge”, the community there is ...
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Nature doesn’t understand borders; Conservation requires global partnersMar 29, 2026 4:00 am - Guest columnists Michael Adkesson, Bridget Coughlin and Jill Koski: Species recovery is built on science, long-term planning, and cross-border collaborations. That's why the federal government’s decision to withdraw U.S. support from 66 international bodies, many focused on nature and conservation, matters deeply.
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Pandora, Chicken Little and messages for today’s worldMar 27, 2026 4:00 am - Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias conducted a press conference Wednesday that is frightening enough on its own. Its broader implications are an even greater c...
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A time of ‘inner mindfulness’ that’s good for all of usMar 22, 2026 8:21 pm - Guest columnist Javeed Akhter: I started Ramadan this year with the sense of anticipation and excitement, but then it all fell apart.
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Exploring the ‘realm of nearly’ on the road to NovemberMar 19, 2026 12:50 pm - Columnist Jim Slusher: I hope you will reflect on what the primary elections have shown us about the role of political messaging and the means of its delivery in the selection of candidates. On that theme, I have some preliminary observations.
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The facts show that Illinois indeed has a revenue problemMar 13, 2026 4:00 am - Guest columnist Ralph Martire:
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Unexpected lessons we can learn from election coverageMar 12, 2026 4:00 am - Columnist Jim Slusher: The most important goal of election coverage, of course, is to help you understand the candidates and what they stand for. But as you follow the stories, you may be surprised at how much you are learning about our system and human nature itself.
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Japan’s historic new leaderMar 12, 2026 4:00 am - Sanae Takaichi made history last fall when she became the first female prime minister in the history of Japan. Her professional mentors have included the late, powerful f...
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Getting beyond the hair’s breadth in political distortionMar 05, 2026 4:00 am - Columnist Jim Slusher: As a rule, I discourage outright cynicism when analyzing the news, but there is one venue where that approach may necessary. Political advertising.