Feature | Wednesday, April 15,2009

Bigger isn’t always better

Karen Hudson has become a reluctant expert on the consequences of concentrated animal feeding operations

Karen Hudson didn’t know what to think when she first learned that factory farming was coming to her town. Elmwood, Ill., is a small but prosperous bedroom community about 20 miles

Dusty Rhodes: Fresh Ink | Wednesday, April 8,2009

Give me Liberty or give me my identity

Tax service trashes names and Social Security numbers

By Dusty Rhodes

Untitled Document Normally, if somebody offered to bring me a sack of trash, I’d find a polite way to say no thanks. But when Glenn Sisco called me, his trash sounded intriguing.

News | Wednesday, April 1,2009

Quinn picked two 29-year-old directors over these more experienced men

Medal of Honor recipient, former deputy director, had applied for top Veterans' Affairs position

By Dusty Rhodes

{image-1] When Gov. Pat Quinn chose a young West Point graduate to head the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs last month, he skipped over a highly decorated veteran who served

News | Wednesday, April 1,2009

Illinois EPA takes hands-off stance toward manure regulation

U.S. EPA investigates lack of state regulation

By Dusty Rhodes

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has expanded its investigation of the Illinois EPA, according to a group seeking improved regulation of factory farms. The group, Illinois Citizens for Clean

Dusty Rhodes: Fresh Ink | Wednesday, March 25,2009

Born leader

Quinn appoints 29-year-old to direct Illinois State Police

By Dusty Rhodes

Ask Jonathon Monken how he got the job as director of Illinois State Police — at the tender age of 29, with no law enforcement experience — and he’ll start with a story ab

News | Wednesday, March 18,2009

Nice bridge, but would you want to live there?

Tax increase depends on definition of “habitable”

By Dusty Rhodes

As bridges go, this one is deluxe. It’s built on a vintage single-span construct donated by the township of Island Grove, and topped with a newly-made pitched roof that, once complet

News | Wednesday, March 18,2009

Buckhart hog operation opens while neighbors fume

Courts may decide whether “new” facility remains in operation

By Dusty Rhodes

Last month, Bob and Sandy Young hosted a ribbon-cutting and open house at their hog farm a few miles east of Rochester on Buckhart Road. About 350 people showed up to listen to a few spee

Dusty Rhodes: Fresh Ink | Wednesday, March 11,2009

Give me Liberty or give me my full refund

Taxpayers seeking quick cash may end up trading their big check for a high-interest loan

By Dusty Rhodes

Last week, my younger son lost two teeth in the same day. We all know what that means: he was in for windfall from the Tooth Fairy. At a dollar per tooth, he was due two bucks minimum. He

News | Wednesday, March 11,2009

Smith revives GOP club

Former party chair says leadership needs to lead

By Dusty Rhodes

The Sangamon County Evening Republican Club, declared disbanded and dead about a year ago, will be resurrected just in time for Easter, according to several former party officers. Irv Smith, who cha

Feature | Wednesday, March 4,2009

Raise the colors

Scouting for diversity among the troops

By Dusty Rhodes

Last summer, while William Ferguson was working as a junior counselor at the Urban League’s Freedom School, a child fell and broke his arm. Ferguson used two sticks and a bandana to