We have long been critical of Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s habit of governing by publicity stunt. But for all the ink we and the rest of the press in Illinois have spilled on this topic, it took two enterprising high school students to get the governor’s attention and call his bluff.

Last week’s special session of the Illinois General Assembly accomplished nothing — unless you consider progress passing a couple of bills rewritten by the governor and rejecting a pay raise that never should have been considered.

In 2005 Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens threw a tantrum when colleagues tried to block a $223 million earmark for his state's now-infamous "Bridge to Nowhere."

Start the countdown. Six months from now - Feb. 17, 2009 - will be the last day the television industry is allowed to broadcast in analog format. After that, signals will be broadcast digitally. The congressionally mandated conversion is the biggest thing to happen to TV since color.

Attention Illinois taxpayers. Don C. White would like a penny for your thoughts . . . especially if they are irritated, aggravated or downright angry thoughts about the budget mess in Springfield.

Wednesday's annual Democratic Party rally at the Illinois State Fair may not seem like an important event in the larger scheme of things. But Democrats run Illinois, and attendance and rhetoric at the ritual can provide a measurement of whether the ongoing discord between them will end anytime soon, which would allow something to get done at the Capitol.

In a case of "Milli Vanilli comes to Beijing," it has been revealed that the little girl in pigtails and red dress who sang "Ode to the Motherland" at the opening ceremony of the Olympics - 9-year-old Lin Miaoke - was actually lip-synching.

Happy Friday: two columns for the price of one: Salt of the earth: It's been Salty Sam mania here for two days.

They flipped, vaulted and twirled with ease. The Chinese gymnasts who beat the Americans for women's team gold were undoubtedly great athletes. But were they women?

The Games of the XXIX Olympiad have begun. In Beijing, the race is on for the largest collection of gold medals.

Dave Evans has touched many area residents in a big way. Known affectionately as Mr. Energy, the Willowbrook resident just celebrated his 25th anniversary with the tennis department of the Western Springs Recreation Department.

Today’s column is the first in a series I will be doing highlighting local businesses. Some will be new to you and others will be familiar to you.

Last Saturday was a day frozen in time as I experienced a full-circle moment as I sat and watched my next-door neighbor of 20 years, Jason Lahr, marry his college sweetheart Erin O’Connor, whom he courted for more than seven years.

James Dahle, a long-time Elmhurst resident, related to me his memories of how the Prairie Path evolved from dream to reality.

Chris Britt's editorial cartoon for Friday, Aug. 15. This is the second of two cartoons for Friday.