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Former U.S. attorney shares lessons he learned
Was there a quick answer? Yes. The police department began “saturation patrols” in the most dangerous areas, with additional officers from the city and nearby towns, with support from the general community, and with acceptance from residents in the most dangerous areas.

Inspect this
The city had gone ga-ga over her backyard fence, which was built years ago. Either someone had complained that it was too big or building inspectors cracked the case on their own, which we figured more likely, given that a citation arrived after someone from the city came to look at Connie’s new garage, for which she had gotten a building permit.

Pushing a progressive agenda
Before this year, the last time House Speaker Michael Madigan allowed a minimum wage increase through his chamber which he knew would be signed into law was 13 years ago. And that bill only increased the minimum wage by a mere 25 cents an hour each year for four years.

LETTERS
GOLDEN RULE FOR PETS There is so much disturbing in Greg Largent’s response to the allegations regarding mistreatment of Sangamon County Animal Control’s dogs by a new kennel attendant (“Trouble in Puppyville,” Feb. 19). According to the article, the new kennel attendant previously worked in a slaughter facility.

Old State Capitol needs paint
While state legislators decry crumbling roads and bridges, less noticed is the Old State Capitol, where wooden columns beneath the dome are in obvious need of love. Twice in the past five years, the state has put out bids to paint the columns and reroof non-domed parts of the building where Abraham Lincoln delivered his famous House Divided speech.

TODD GREEN, HOTELIER
The company has been rechristened Core Hotels and Resorts Green, and the new owner is bullish. “Our occupancy rate is in the 70 percent range,” Green gushes. “We’ve got a substantial amount of money sitting on the sidelines, waiting to do updates.

NEW METER CONDOMS
Sometimes, there’s a good reason: There’s construction going on. Sometimes, not so much: There will be a good reason tomorrow, when the festival/parade/concert comes, but crews had to bag the meters today during regular work hours.

City treasurer race
Buscher said since trading in her job as the vice president of mortgage lending at Marine Bank for a job in government, she’s proud of the adjustments that have allowed the treasurer’s office, along with its team of workers, to generate additional revenue for the city by collecting on outstanding debts.

Traveling while black
Imagine taking your family on vacation or traveling to visit out-of-town relatives, but not knowing where you would be able to stop to eat, use the restroom or spend the night. For decades, that was the reality for African-American travelers throughout the United States.

Immigrants and women moving humanity forward
During his appearance at the Oscars, activist chef and Nobel Peace Prize nominee José Andrés spoke of “the understanding and compassion that we all owe to the invisible people in our lives – immigrants and women – who move humanity forward.

Offbeat Captain Marvel a pleasant surprise
Let that sink in. Other studios have attempted to duplicate the shared universe concept Marvel has perfected, all of them failing in execution to one extent or another.

March on music
When (yes, I wrote when, not if) the weather breaks, there is going to be a happy party bursting with warmth somewhere. Let’s just keep dreaming of those hot and sweaty outdoor music events on the way in a couple months to get through these last few wintry weekends.

LIVE MUSIC
J.C.B. Entertainment Karaoke.

BAND SPOTLIGHT | Brandon Santini
For over 15 years he’s traveled extensively from Egypt to Europe and all through the United States, blowing his brand of harmonica blues. Over the past few years he’s received five nominations for Blues Music Awards, with his new album, The Longshot, set to garner even more.

THEATER | 19th Annual Murder Mystery Dinner Theater
The Friends of the Chatham Area Public Library was founded in 1986 and is a volunteer nonprofit organization dedicated to raising funds to supplement the library’s annual budget for materials and programs and supporting literacy initiatives in the Chatham community.

THE CALENDAR
19th Annual Murder Mystery Dinner Theater Fundraiser.

PHILOSOPHY | A conversation to die for
If you are interested in drinking tea, eating cake and discussing death, an opportunity for you to do so is forthcoming. The Chiara Center is hosting a Death Café on Tuesday, March 12. As strange as such a gathering might seem, the objective is to increase awareness of death in order to help people make the most of their finite lives.