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The lone ranger
These are the cops who go after barricaded gunmen, rescue hostages, serve search warrants and otherwise engage in the type of law enforcement that calls for cool heads, quick thinking and teamwork. Members are known for their tattoos: “Often tested, brothers forever.

The year of the woman in politics
Most political pundits declare this midterm season The Year of the Woman. That title was coined in 1992. It was minted after Anita Hill’s ungracious grilling by the Senate committee looking at Supreme Court nominee, now justice, Clarence Thomas. It was the year Illinois elected Carol Moseley Braun, the nation’s first female African-American senator.

A bawdy house of bad right-wing ideas
In our dark times of money-soaked and bitterly negative campaigns, however, policy discussions are being shoved aside by raw partisanship and vitriol. This not only means that good ideas are ignored, but also that downright bad ideas can become public policy without the public knowing it.

LETTERS
VOTE ON ELECTION DAY Americans are incredibly lucky to be able to vote, but just 56 percent took advantage of this opportunity in the last presidential election. In contrast, 26 countries have a higher voter turnout, with Belgium topping the list with 87.

A hole Pritzker never closed
And now a similar line of attack is cropping up elsewhere. In southern Illinois, for instance, state Rep. Jerry Costello’s Republican opponent David Freiss says he’ll “always put southern Illinois first,” and then an announcer claims of Rep. Costello (D-Smithton), “He’d rubber stamp the Madigan/Pritzker agenda.

Judge, prosecutor’s office exchange notes
“Both Judge Bruce and the United States attorney’s office act as if Judge Bruce is still the first assistant United States attorney (the position he held immediately before taking the bench),” public defenders write in a motion for a new trial filed on behalf of Sarah Nixon, who was convicted of international kidnapping in 2016.

CONGRATULATIONS!
When last we heard of Springfield police officer Paul Carpenter, the city was paying $24,000 to neighbors who sued after the officer, while on duty, pulled over a woman who lived down the street whom he suspected of flipping off his son, or being related to someone who did.

COME TOGETHER THURSDAY
The gathering is 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 1, at the Lincoln statue in front of the Capitol. “This will be an opportunity for Springfield residents of all faiths to come together as one in memory and in honor of the victims of violence, anti-Semitism, racism and hate,” the groups said in a press release.

Faith Coalition registers hundreds to vote
Unfortunately, many choose not to vote, for a variety of reasons. Some think their vote doesn’t matter. Springfield-based Faith Coalition for the Common Good is working to change that.

She fought the law and the law won
Watkins wept as she signed the paperwork in the courtroom of Cass County Circuit Court Judge Robert Hardwick, Jr. Just one reporter was present to witness the end of a case that once drew national attention and was the subject of a “Dateline” episode..

The real fight against fake news
Through it all, the list of censored stories remains central to Project Censored’s mission, which, the editors point out, can be read in two different ways, “as a critique of the shortcomings of U.S.

How not to cut a squash
This past summer I received a Facebook message from my old musician friend Eric. He wrote: “You will have to meet my girlfriend Cathy … she works for a company called NuWave doing infomercials … she works with a lot of cooks and is always looking to film.

Rhapsody missing a few vital notes
A rote exercise from the start, this by-the-numbers biopic is a thumbnail overview of the highs and lows the London quartet endured, playing out in such a predictable manner that their journey comes off as nothing but a collection of clichés.

November music comes
Our week kicks off with a bang as the Martin Barre Band plays the Curve Inn this Thursday evening. Who, you say? If I said he was the main guitarist for Jethro Tull during the English rock and folk band’s heyday, would that help? I thought so.

PUB CRAWL
Chahrm with John Crisp and Ada Lou.

BAND SPOTLIGHT | California Jeff
There’s no Jeff like California Jeff, and we say that with the full confidence he’s a one-of-a-kind folk-singing, storytelling and entertaining performer who says it like it is and is as he does.

THE CALENDAR
44 Lessons from a Loser Book Launch Party.

ART | Affection between African-American men
On Thursday, Nov. 1, take in a reception for “Love You, Bro,” an exhibition by Chicago-based visual artist Stephanie Graham that explores relationships and the ways in which affection is expressed between African-American men.

BOOKS & AUTHORS | Stories from The Biggest Loser
On Friday, Nov. 2, join Sonya Jones, a speaker, author and a finalist on NBC’s hit weight-loss reality show “The Biggest Loser,” for a party celebrating the launch of her book, 44 Lessons from a Loser..