Today's Opinions
News-Gazette Editorials
Farm bill a tribute to politics, not reform
Friday, May 16, 2008
Congress has sent President Bush a farm bill so lacking in reform and so bloated with special favors that lawmakers should be embarrassed. The president says he will veto it and ask Congress to extend the old farm bill for another year. He's right.
Every congressman and senator who rails against bloated budgets, unfair corporate handouts and wasteful spending in Washington should have voted "no" on the bloated and wasteful Farm Bill of 2007 (yes, it's is a bit late) that won overwhelming approval Wednesday in the House and Thursday in the Senate. More …
Taking the long view on Curtis Road
Friday, May 16, 2008
It's taken a long time – nearly 15 years – but Champaign now has its fifth interchange on I-57.
The first reference to a Curtis Road interchange on Interstate 57 that we could find in our files was from 1994. It was reported then that federal officials had notified Champaign planners that the city had one remaining access permit for Interstate 57 and that if the city didn't use it, it might lose it. Curtis Road was the logical place for the location, planners agreed, but no one was sure when the interchange would be built nor how much it would cost. So they estimated it would take a decade and cost $7 million to $9 million. More …
Letters to the Editor
Local food drive was a big success
Saturday, May 17, 2008
As the local food drive coordinator, I would like to express my appreciation to everyone who donated food to the 2008 "Stamp Out Hunger" food drive sponsored by the National Association of Letter Carriers. Donations in Danville were up 50 percent over last year.
It's also important to recognize the postal employees, their families and community members who donated their time and efforts to ensure the success of this event. And then there are my fellow letter carriers. Without them, this event would not be possible. More …
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Pope's visit was a major triumph
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Veni Vidi Vici (I came, I saw, I conquered) was the boast of Julius Caesar after defeating the barbarians in ancient Gaul. The same conquering spirit could be applied to the recent United States visit of Pope Benedict XVI.
Fearlessly facing the molesting clergy issue head-on, albeit with profound sorrow and lamentation, the pontiff dealt with it on three different occasions, culminating in private meetings with some of the victims – actually making this the focal point of his visit. More …
Grateful for community support after wife's death
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Although it seems like yesterday, it has been just over a month since my wife and Cristian's mother, Cathy Acevedo, passed away. While we have a moment and before time slips away, we would like to express our gratitude to everyone from the UIUC campus, the Champaign-Urbana community and beyond who have been so wonderful and have done so much for us.
To all the various units of the University of Illinois, especially the Office of the Dean of Students, we thank you for the warm and heartfelt acknowledgements of Cathy's work and her service to the UI. To everyone who participated in and attended Cathy's memorial, your words and presence touched not only Cristian and me but Cathy's extended family in California as well. More …
The pothole report drew quick response
Saturday, May 17, 2008
I would like to express my gratitude for the pothole report contained in the community section of The News-Gazette's Web site.
I recently reported two last week, and both requests were addressed in a timely fashion. I was pretty amazed because one request was on a smaller, less-used side street (though the holes were at some points about six inches deep). I really appreciate both of them being filled, and I want to let other people be sure that their reports won't be ignored. More …