Category Archives: Uncategorized

Remembering ‘Bridge of Spies’ attorney James Donovan

Remembering ‘Bridge of Spies’ attorney James Donovan

Posted on February 21, 2016

The Academy Award-nominated film Bridge of Spies is the Cold War tale of James B. Donovan, a private attorney recruited by the U.S. government to represent captured Soviet spy Col. Rudolph Abel. Not very many people wanted to be associated with a communist enemy at the height of the Red Scare. Donovan’s daughter, Mary Ellen…… MORE

Durbin: ‘Embarrassed’ by Illinois’ school funding failure

Durbin: ‘Embarrassed’ by Illinois’ school funding failure

Posted on February 16, 2016

Enrollment is down, prospective college students are ready to go out of state and there are questions if some colleges can continue to keep their doors open because of a lack of state tax dollars for higher education eight months into the fiscal year, according to the Coalition to Fund Higher Education.… MORE

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…