by the numbers

Looking at some of the latest legal marijuana sales numbers here in Illinois might leave you with the impression that some (actually, a lot) Illinois marijuana fans have kept the phone number of their "weed guy."

Before this morning's announcement by President Biden that the United States would stop purchasing Russian oil, the national average for a gallon of gas was $4.06, which is 45 cents more than a week ago, 62 cents more than a month ago and $1.30 more than a year ago.

We've got all sorts of Midwestern border rivalries involving sports teams, foods, amount of beer and liquor consumed per capita (Wisconsin always wins that one), and of course, which Midwestern state has the best and worst drivers.

If you happen to be single, this is supposed to be encouraging. If you're married, and reading this spurs you toward being single, please just leave me out of it. I don't want any troubles with angry spouses.

MoneyGeek.com, using the most recent crime statistics from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), took a look at nearly 300 American cities (297) with populations of over 100,000 to determine the safest and most dangerous places along with their per capita costs of crime.

The FBI says that in 2020, there were 314 burglaries for every 100,000 people nationwide. However, in three Illinois cities, that number was a whole lot higher.

I think it's fair to assume that most of us are really tired of this incredibly frigid weather we've been enduring off and on for nearly two weeks.

I think it's fair to assume that most of us are really tired of this incredibly frigid weather we've been enduring off and on for nearly two weeks.

As a long-time morning radio show host, I feel as though I'm more than qualified to weigh in on Illinois' coffee obsession because I completely and totally understand, relate to it, and...find myself wanting coffee as I write this.

I would have written this piece a lot sooner, but I was scrolling through all the incredible Cyber Monday deals Amazon has got going this morning and I lost track of time.