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How to make Democrats Medicare heroes
It was the right move at the time – reaching a deal averted fiscal catastrophe. But now, Democrats are thirsty for a win, and rightfully so. They need an opportunity to show the American people they’re serious about fiscal reform – but that they’re also uniquely committed to preserving vital public services in the process.

Unscientific methods
As news goes, it wasn’t very new. The company that administers the ACT college prep tests announced recently that fewer than a quarter of Illinois’ 2011 graduating high school class met the firm’s college readiness standards in English, reading, math and science. That’s even worse than a very poor U.S. national average. U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan, who as the former head of Chicago’s public schools knows a thing or two about failing education systems, said that the ACT results showed the need for states to raise their academic standards and commit to education reforms that accelerate student achievement.

Your job, Mr. President, is jobs
Jobs should have been Priority No. 1 when he first took office. But instead, the Obamacans put Wall Street banksters first, dumping trillions of dollars from our public funds into saving the butts of greedheads who crashed our economy. They bailed out Wall Streeters without even requiring that the bankers invest in job-creating, grassroots enterprises.

LETTERS
“Neighborhood” is an important distinction surrounding MacArthur Blvd. A lot of research and community input led to conceptualizing quality redevelopment. The idea is to create something new where people live, walk, shop, dine and mingle. The idea is a boulevard that’s less a barrier between neighborhoods and more a destination shared by neighborhoods.

How to make Democrats Medicare heroes
IPAB is just bad policy. And, politically, getting rid of it is a no-brainer. The GOP is all but unanimously against the board. Republicans have formed caucuses in the House and Senate exclusively comprised of physicians with the single purpose of getting rid of IPAB.

Why Democrats are angry at each other
I always thought this guy was a centrist, pragmatic sort. But he was obviously caught up in the national meltdown over the debt ceiling fight. He was furious beyond comprehension. Actually, considering that Congress’ job approval rating is now rapidly approaching zero, his bone-chilling anger is probably comprehensible to a lot of people.

ON THE RUNWAY
Harney is one of 22 semi-finalists in the second annual FASION|NEXT initiative, a project headed by SCAD and fashion magazine ELLE, and sponsored by Maybeline New York.

THIS OLD, OLD HOUSE
The limestone house, completed in 1861, is structurally sound after years upon years of restoration, McGee said, and it is wired for electricity. But plenty of finishing touches remain on a house with lots and lots of windows that has been vacant since the 1930s.

Including agriculture in the broadband plan
New mobile technology, plus the effort to make broadband coverage more available in rural areas by the National Broadband Plan of the Federal Communications Commission, is reshaping the technology scene in Illinois. However, the changes to Illinois agriculture practices have received little attention when it comes to planning the future of broadband.

Jury finds jailers didn’t use excessive force
It took a federal jury less than 90 minutes last week to decide that Sangamon County jailers did no wrong during a struggle with an inmate who claimed that guards used excessive force to subdue him.

WSEC back from the precipice
“I was on every single day of the year, just about, until the first of July,” says Gruebel, who has been a near-constant on the air for the past few years, imploring viewers to send cash or risk losing stations with signals that stretch to Missouri and Iowa.

Efficiency group gets organized. Slowly.
Nine months after Sangamon County voters approved the formation of a government efficiency commission, organizers hope to get the final three members of the 23-member body named so that meetings can begin.

Pinchin’ pensions
Rita Tarr Scheibe spent most of her career helping others as executive director of social service agencies, including Contact Ministries and Catholic Charities. The jobs were fulfilling, but not ones that would pay the bills after she got divorced and became a single parent.

Pinchin’ pensions
The changes proposed in Senate Bill 512 would offer three choices to tier one employees – pay a larger portion of salary to receive the same benefits, pay less and receive lower benefits after working longer, or enroll in a 401ktype program with no defined benefits, only defined contributions. No current retirees would be affected and new employees would not have tier one benefits as an option.

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Pinchin’ pensions
John Patterson, a spokesperson for Cullerton’s office, says the Senate president would vote against SB 512, “but he wouldn’t stop a vote.” Cullerton has also floated the idea of pushing future costs of the teachers’ pensions back onto local school districts, but Patterson says no legislation has been drafted.

Until it rains, water your trees
We need rain! We could ask for a miracle and hope it rains but in the meantime, get out and water your plants. Your most important investment is trees and shrubs. Trees and shrubs entering winter without adequate soil and tissue moisture become more susceptible to low-temperature injury or rapid fluctuations between warm and cold.

Mad about Illinois River Valley melons
Melons – specifically watermelons and cantaloupes. Every so often my grandfather used to grow watermelons and cantaloupes. But they were never more than just OK. Our black, loamy soil was much too rich. Papa knew that was why, but it aggravated him that he couldn’t grow good melons.

Saldana’s impassioned turn almost saves Colombiana
Going in, you know there will be more than a few ridiculous moments as Besson and director Olivier Megaton treat logic as so much collateral damage. Cataleya may be a crack shot, but if it weren’t for the many fortuitous, split-second turns of events that save her bacon, she’d be a dead one as well.

When Lincoln held office hours in Springfield
When Springfield Mayor Mike Houston announced in July that he would hold regular open office hours, he was in good company. In 1860, after he became president-elect, Abraham Lincoln did the same, but his experience with Springfield office hours was quite different from Houston’s.

PUB CRAWL
Brooke Thomas & The Blue Sons, Suns of Circumstance.

BAND SPOTLIGHT | Fallen Angel
When these four experienced musicians (nearly 100 years of combined playing time in area bands like Affliktion, Xavier, Passion, Kancelled, Destiny, Ariel, Blue Racer Rockhouse, Poetic Justice and fantasia) got together in October of 2009 something special happened.

PUB CRAWL
Dizolver - End of Summer Labor Day Party.

Jason Sturgeon perseveres with luck
Willie Nelson – and he should know – got quoted saying to be successful in the music business takes perseverance, perseverance, perseverance and luck.

THE CALENDAR
rides, 3-on-3 tourney, car show,beer tent w/ live bands, kiddie tractor pull, 5K run and lots of free entertainment and family fun. Free. Mt. Pulaski Courthouse, 113 S Washington St, Mount Pulaski..

MUSIC | Home run
The Illinois Symphony Orchestra hits a home run with a free baseball-themed concert on the Old State Capitol grounds Sept. 4. You’ll hear all the songs you love about America’s favorite pastime, including “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.” Yaniv Segal conducts.

THEATER | Scottish tragedy
Shakespearean actor Rob Clare and television and off- Broadway actress Reiko Aylesworth return to the Theatre in the Park outdoor stage in a 90-minute adapted performance of MacBeth..

THE CALENDAR
Smoke on the Mountain Sep 02-04, 8pm Fri-Sat, 2pm Sun, Be witness to the stories and toe-tapping hymns from less-than-devout Sanders Family invited to perform in church circa 1938. $18. Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 S. Sixth St.

THE CALENDAR
Blue Suns play at 6 p.m. Knights of Columbus Hall Council 4179, 141 N. Lakewood Dr, Chatham, 483-3013..

FESTIVAL | Stories, song, supper
“Heroes of the Civil War” is the theme of this year’s Prairieland Chautauqua, a four-day fest of stories, songs and suppers under the big tent in Jacksonville Community Park.

THE CALENDAR
Art and Commerce of Chicago Portrait Company Sep 03, 10am, 9:30am doors open, Presentation about products, technology, and sales techniques used in artist renderings from family photographs. Vachel Lindsay Home State Historic Site, 603 S. Fifth St, 217-524-0901

PUBLIC NOTICES
Circuit Court of the Seventh Judicial Circuit, Sangamon County, Illinois Estate of MARGARET L. POANI, Deceased No. 2011-P-456 CLAIM NOTICE Notice is given of the death of Margaret L. Poani. Letters of office were issued on August 16, 2011, to Ricardo A. Poani, 4730 Bachman Dr.

PUBLIC NOTICES
the surface of said land and all rights and easements in favor of the estate of said coal and other minerals). Situated in Sangamon County, Illinois. Permanent Index No. 18-07.0-282-016 D) The time and place of the sale are: Public sale at 9:00a.m. on September 13, 2011, inside the Sangamon County Courthouse, 200 South Ninth Street, Springfield, IL 62701.

NEWS QUIRKS
Authorities identified Audrey Shirley, 34, as the woman who stole money and credit cards from homes in Forsyth County and Milton, Ga., by asking to use the bathroom. A victim mentioned the thief first asked to use the phone because her car had broken down.

THE ADVICE GODDESS
My husband is extremely analytical, to the point where he has a negative or argumentative response to almost anything I say, including positive or even insignificant things. Then, when he makes some remark, unless I respond with “I agree” or “uh-huh,” he debates me.