Editorials

Patronage loses as governor vetoes local Democrats’ power play

News opinion: Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner visited Granite City, IL in Southern Illinois near St. Louis, MO to veto bill meant to give back Democratic control of Metro East Sanitary District patronage hires. Democrats lose. Taxpayers win.

Alorton Mayor Jo Ann Reed in the village-owned car.

Editorials

Mayor again shows us that rules don’t apply to her

Alorton IL mayor faced felony for jail contraband, felony for vote fraud, so using dead father’s handicapped placard is little surprise. If you don’t respect law, how can poor village hope to see you enforce rules? News opinion

SIUE community pleads for President Dunn as board considers removal

Editorials

University president’s resignation will heal rift? Guess again

Southern Illinois University President Randy Dunn resigned to allow the rift to heal between the Carbondale and Edwardsville campuses. That won’t happen until funding stops favoring Carbondale and until trustees are replaced. News opinion

Editorials

Proposals to fight climate change can achieve bipartisan support

St. Clair County treasurer candidate is 4 years behind on property taxes

Editorials

If you want to be public’s treasurer, get your public finances in order

A Republican wants to be St. Clair County’s tax collector, but he’s repeatedly been late paying his property taxes. Not a good position for a candidate to be in for this public treasurer office in southern Illinois near St. Louis, MO. News opinion

Southern Illinois city named poorest in U.S.

Editorials

Right here is the No. 1 town in the nation — for poverty

Census Bureau estimates for a second year rank as the poorest in the nation a town in southern Illinois near St. Louis, MO. More than half of Centreville, IL, residents live in poverty despite potential economic assets. News opinion

Editorials

Trump’s blunt me$$age to NATO

When it comes to international diplomacy, President Donald Trump is no milquetoast mumbler. He can be undiplomatically blunt, even rude, but that doesn’t automatically mean he’s wrong. Take, for instance, the longstanding dispute between the United States and its NATO allies over how much everyone contributes to the collective defense of Europe.

Editorials

Metro loses 3 million riders, wants $3 million more from taxpayers

Metro Transit is asking for an additional $3 million from St. Clair County taxpayers at the same time ridership dropped by 3 million. St. Clair County should stick with demand for better security in southern Illinois and St. Louis, MO, so riders return, not just hand over money. News opinion

Spy mapping belongs next to Scott Air Force Base

Editorials

Fix spy mapping decision before taxpayers, military pay dearly

The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency belongs next to Scott Air Force Base for the best security and economy. St. Louis, MO, corrupted the site selection when they relied on a developer being investigated for fraud. Cheaters shouldn’t win. News opinion

Maybe OSHA should make strippers wear hazmat suits after a club patron overdosed on fentanyl? Five folks trying to help the man went to the hospital when they came in contact with the drug.

Editorials

Fix fentanyl problem by putting those strippers in hazmat suits

Fentanyl used by a strip club patron in southern Illinois near St. Louis, MO, sent six to the hospital. The clubs have been crime magnets for decades, but St. Clair County politicians welcome them. News opinion

Judge OKs dismissal of Duebbert sex charges; accuser felt intimdated by process

Editorials

Judge would be better off studying ethics of Tony Soprano

St. Clair County Judge Rob Duebbert escaped criminal charges but could have avoided personal mistakes by learning from TV mob boss Tony Soprano. Judge position and law license still threatened by relationships in southern Illinois near St. Louis, MO. News opinion

Editorials

Fireworks are illegal in Illinois. No, really

Illinois is one of four states that ban exploding fireworks, but police generally ignore offenders. In southern Illinois near St. Louis, MO, many people drive to buy firecrackers and bottle rockets. Legalize them, and keep the money in Illinois. News opinion

Editorials

Stick to your guns, but don't stick out your tongue at rule of law

Politics news opinion: Illinois gun sanctuaries, including in Monroe County, IL, in Southern Illinois near Belleville, IL, and St. Louis, MO, must respect laws, rights even as it supports Second Amendment.

Editorials

Offering Missouri a simple solution to mess it made of NGA

Politics news opinion: NGA, the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency headquarters HQ should be at Scott Air Force Base AFB in Mascoutah, IL, in Southern Illinois near Belleville, IL, rather than in St. Louis, MO.

Illinois Speaker of the House Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, left, and Illinois Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago, right. State lawmakers a year ago promised to use a $5 billion tax hike to balance the budget. They didn't.

Editorials

One year, $5 billion later, are Illinois finances better off?

Politics news opinion: Democrats tax hike lead by Mike Madigan over Gov. Bruce Rauner veto hurts Illinois residents, businesses including in Southern Illinois near Belleville, IL, and St. Louis, MO.

Editorials

Stripping Laura Ingalls Wilder's name from literature award is straight-out censorship

Last week, at its convention in New Orleans, the American Library Association announced that it was dropping Laura Ingalls Wilder's name from the prestigious children's literature award that was created in her honor in 1954, three years before her death. The award "recognizes authors and illustrators whose books have created a lasting contribution to children's literature" and has been given to only 23 people over the past 60 years.

Editorials

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