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Why’s there so much focus on the presidency?
Because we live in such tumultuous political times, it’s easy to believe that today’s intense public focus on the Trump presidency is something new – an obsession like none we’ve ever seen before. Yet to one degree or another, the president has always been at the center of the public’s attention.

Something in the water?
Ives is running around 20 percent, according to recent polls, and so Rauner likely won’t have much to worry about until November. Still, there’s the Blue Backlash school of thought that holds Republicans everywhere are going to get haircuts come fall..

Inequality is feeding America
That’s likely far more than cities and states can recover through sales, property, income, and all other taxes those jobholders would pay in their lifetimes. Worse, the rise of mega-deals in the past 10 years has made the job-incentive argument mega-ridiculous:.

LETTERS
As I absorbed all this, my thoughts turned to two 19th century Unitarians – firstly Abraham Lincoln and then to Walt Whitman. Lincoln was a friend of the immigrants of his era – for example, he sponsored a German language newspaper in St. Louis.

Donne Trotter’s legacy
Sen. Trotter has been talking about retiring for years, but he has repeatedly been convinced to stick around a while longer. This time, the entreaties fell on deaf ears. He’s done, and he told me he wants to enjoy his retirement while he’s still able..

Women march for resistance
On Saturday, Jan. 20, over 1,500 people gathered in front of the State Capitol for the second annual Women’s March, part of a worldwide protest in favor of legislation and policies supporting women’s rights, environmental preservation, health care reform, immigration reform, reproductive rights, LGBT rights and other progressive issues.

City faces budget hole
With a $17 million gap to fill and no appetite for tax increases, the city council in 2010 slashed budgets for the police, fire and public works departments, which together consume the lion’s share of the corporate fund. Cuts in the fire department were deep enough that the city temporarily closed fire stations on a rotating basis.

Sexual harassment response continues into spring session
One bill would allow former legislators and legislative employees to face consequences for events that occurred during their time with the legislature. The other bill allows the IG to commence an investigation without prior approval from the commission.

A program to prevent Alzheimer’s
In spite of the amount of money spent on research, no drug has been developed to prevent, cure or reverse Alzheimer’s. Bredesen is a research neurologist who has studied the disease for over 28 years. Through his extensive research, he has come to several conclusions:.

Healthy mouth, healthy body
More than 300 different kinds of bacteria live in the mouth. While some bacteria are beneficial and help protect us from disease, other bacteria can cause infection in the gum tissue that leads to inflammation and over time to gingivitis which, if left untreated, progresses to periodontal disease.

To prevent knee problems, get ‘hip’
Knee pain is common and may be caused by many things, including sports injury, trauma, repetitive strain or arthritis. Patellofemoral pain occurs when the kneecap does not track properly and causes anterior knee pain.

A healthy dose of mindfulness
The benefits of being in shape mentally include regaining control of our mind and body. We can begin to a have a deeper concentration and joy for each of life’s moments when we begin inner work. Many of our daily struggles are far more mental than physical these days.

Deadly myth of ‘nonclinical’ heart disease
At a White House briefing, the president’s doctor, Ronny Jackson, M.D., initially denied that Trump has heart disease, then called the atherosclerosis “nonclinical,” meaning that the president is symptom-free. Dr. Jackson credited “good genes” for Trump’s “excellent” health.

My face-off with Instant Pot
I’m not one for single-use kitchen appliances or gadgets. Bread makers take up too much space, and generally I’m not a fan of slow cookers. They’re fine for making broth or reheating soup, but the inability to sear or brown foods before they settle in for the long braise was a deal breaker.

Hostiles a wasted opportunity
Christian Bale gives one of his finest performances as veteran Calvary officer Captain Blocker. Having spent his life doing the government’s bidding in wiping out one Native American group after another, his heart and soul have hardened to the point that’s he’s retreated within himself and simply wants to be left alone.

There goes January
It’s the last Thursday of the month, and that means its time for Americana Night at the Curve Inn, and that brings awardwinning trio The Deep Hollow (Dave Littrell, Elizabeth Eckert and Micah Walk) along with troubadour deluxe Ben Bedford to the Ric Major-designed sound stage at the Curve.

PUB CRAWL
Casey Cantrall’s Jukebox Open Jam.

BAND SPOTLIGHT | ZXO
This Saturday, ZXO comes strolling over from Champaign to the lower level Radon Lounge (contact info at radonlounge@gmail.com.

THEATER & COMEDY | Jokes and juggling
See Mark Nizer, one of the greatest entertainment comedians and jugglers of today, on Saturday, Jan. 27, 7:30 p.m., at Kirkland Fine Arts Center in Decatur.

THE CALENDAR
Jan 28, 11am-3pm Sun. View work by local junior high and high school students. On display through Feb 22. Free. springfieldart.org. Springfield Art Association, 700 N. Fourth St., 523-2631..

FILM | Film buffs and foodies unite
If you’ve ever wanted to learn more about the people, places and history behind the food you eat, this film festival is for you. The 10 th Annual Slow Food Springfield Film Festival will run from 5 through 9 p.m., on Saturday, Jan. 27, inside Foundation Hall at Springfield’s Old State Capitol State Historic Site.

SPORTS & FITNESS | Musings of Mr. Matheny
Hear a presentation by St. Louis Cardinals manager Mike Matheny on Saturday, Jan. 27, 7:30 p.m., inside the Sherman Gymnasium at Illinois College’s Bruner Fitness and Recreation Center. Matheny, who is about to enter his seventh season of management with the St.