Life in America — future.

The news media seems surprised the big box made a lot of money during the COVID quarantine/shutdown. After all, they were the recipients of the $1,200 stimulus check.

In the best of times, one in four diabetics ration their insulin. Many are forced to pay full list-price for their insulin ($300 per vial, about three vials per month) -- paying more to stay alive than they pay for rent. Because of insulin rationing, many people have died, and many more live…

If masks worked, then why are small businesses closed? If they don't, why are we being forced to wear them?

On April 16, Mike Frey wrote in an editorial that Harv Schmidt was the area’s best basketball player. I would like to know how he could even say that as I lived in that time as I graduated in 1954.

I attend St. George Parish in Bourbonnais. May is the month of the Blessed Virgin Mary and on Wednesday evenings the parishioners gather in the parking lot of the church to say the Rosary. I couldn’t help but feel sad we have to gather together in prayer isolated in our cars. At least in Ame…

I just wanted to give praise and thanks to Jessica Shaw, Melissa Kutemeier (Jessica and Melissa are the originators), Rockeye Jackson, Erica Baptist and JuTun Andrews-King for making this amazing outpour of love, cheer, and support for the Class of 2020 seniors, via Facebook, in a group call…

I was wondering if the governor has the power to call the assembly to Springfield, why has he not done it? If Walmart, Menards, and Target can open safely, why can’t our legislators come together? Where are the checks and balances of our government? This whole virus thing just doesn’t add up…

Life’s most important question:

As the City of Kankakee works to present a budget in the coming months, it is vital congressional leaders consider the role and impact of municipalities on residents, the economy and services. While many cities, villages and towns face furloughs and reduction in services to balance budgets, …

The human race was working tirelessly to perfect self-driving cars, explore space tourism, develop gene therapy to reverse aging, reach beyond the boundaries to make what we once thought was impossible a very real possibility. Humans were delving into the depths of our wildest imagination to…

It ain't over til the Fat Lady sings and she's about to!!

To all the doctors, nurses, hospitals and their staff, medical clinics and their staff, EMTs, policemen, firemen, all first responders, volunteers all the people in the food chain, farmers, etc., the Walmarts, grocery stores, Dollar Generals, Army Corps of Engineers and all military personne…

This is in reply to Alan Webber's opinion column on May 5 "So what exactly is Pritzker's plan?"

I have been meaning for sometime to put my thoughts on the pandemic in print but hesitated thinking that those who are in agreement are the choir, and I am afraid it’s too late for those who would deny the obvious. It may only prove to be cathartic, but here goes.

Wow! The ignorance of the Illinois state leadership is astounding. Those people and those surrounding them haven’t a clue. The continuing of our state shut down is not only stupid, it is ridiculous. They shut down the schools when 95 percent of the young people are asympomatic or have mild s…

The current virus pandemic should cause everyone to take a good look at their financial, physical and mental habits. In the past, occasionally our existence may have been inconvenienced or upset by events that adversely affected those habits. But for Americans it has been a long time since a…

I, as a human being, can't understand how an unborn baby made in a mutual act of love by a man and woman can be thought of as something to be aborted as something none human.

Earth Day has come and gone with another tree planted on the White House lawn. Symbolic ceremonies are sometimes empty, but no ritual could be so hollow as this particular one by this particular president. Earth would be better served if President Donald Trump chopped down all the trees on t…

This is in my memory the first time Gov. JB Pritzker at his daily briefing (April 27) actually discussed rural Illinois counties. But he did so to defend his "one-size-fits-all" policy. However, he did not mention that the two counties that had as high per-capital death and case rates are Ja…

Medical Laboratory Professionals Week, April 19-25, has been canceled due to COVID-19. There is no time to honor the unseen professions in the basement laboratory. Laboratorians are an invaluable part of the health care team, with approximately 70 percent of physician diagnosis and treatment…

I live in the rural Midwest. Dairy country. Like many of you from one coast to the other, my wife and I sometimes find our grocery store to be short on milk and cheese. I wish that was my biggest problem when it comes to dairy products, but it is not.

Gov. Pritzker considers marijuana “essential.” He must believe that being high is fundamental to survival. Whatever his reasoning, he has done a great injustice to Illinois families, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 crisis has impacted all of our daily lives, but especially vulnerable populations like those impacted by Alzheimer’s and dementia. Age and common health conditions that often accompany dementia may increase risk for COVID-19. Fortunately, the Alzheimer’s Association continues to…

Your April 13 article (editorial) regarding forming a coronavirus museum is splendid in keeping history alive but it also says that the destruction that occurred in New Orleans was the result of a natural disaster. Whereas the hurricane (Katrina) was natural, the destruction was the result o…

The governor removed toilets from his mansion to lower his real estate taxes. My husband is taking the tires off the trailer to lower his license fee.

Illinois physicians and hospitals commend Gov. J.B. Pritzker for his steadfast leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic.

These past weeks have proved to be extremely burdensome on most of us. There has been so little to smile about, especially since the holiday of Easter is upon us, until suddenly “a single rose” appeared among these thorns of gloom and doom.

He can do no wrong. Suck up to dictators, treacherously ask for help from foreigners in an election, defy the Congress when subpoenaed. Yes and he probably could shoot someone in the streets of Manhattan and get away with it. The apologists for Trump would probably come up with some excuse f…

To our guardian angels or as we earthly people call them "first responders (2020).''

Thank you Gov. Pritzker and the Democratic Party of Illinois. Because of you I will almost surely have to give up my most enjoyable pastime of fishing.

The petty partisan criticisms of the Trump Administration by political leaders who only seem interested in stoking anxiety and exacerbating division among the American people is disturbing. Gov. J.B. Pritzker has made a name for himself as one of the nation’s chief nitpickers.