heroes

If you want something done right, let a 9-year-old do it. That proved true recently as a girl from Aurora, Illinois was honored by her city for being a hero when she saved her mother's life.

This could have been a tragedy. Instead, it's a day to honor a 15-year-old Illinois girl who's quick thinking during her mom's medical emergency while driving likely saved both of their lives.

It's hard to put into words what we're witnessing happen to Houston, Texas. It's even harder to fathom that things are still getting worse down there, with experts opining that we haven't seen the worst of the storm yet. We've had extensive flooding here in the Rockford area (along with a big part of northern Illinois) this summer, but nothing comes close to comparing with Hurricane Harvey's wrath

I'm tired of all the cop bashing. I'm tired of reading stories about cops being denied service at restaurants. I'm tired of cops being blamed for the exceedingly bad choices that other people make. And, I'm sickened by those who cheer on and celebrate cops being killed. I don't even want to get started on those who openly hate and denigrate the police, only to run to them when there's trouble, loo

Dr. Mark Garrison is an Illinois native, and the author of the book "Guts 'N Gunships, What it was Really Like to Fly Combat Helicopters in Vietnam." From the book's synopsis: In the summer of 1967, Mark Garrison had dropped out of college at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois, just before entering his third year...