In the race for Rock Island mayor, challenger David Kimbell is hitting some popular municipal positions: better schools, lower crime, and lower taxes. But in terms of reconciling different components of his platform, he can't explain how he'd save the $1 million to $3 million he'd like to while still finding more money for police officers.
With Stan Leach choosing not to run for re-election this year after 12 years in office, a pair of city-council members are seeking to replace him. Although the election is nonpartisan, there's a clear choice among the candidates politically.
She'd give him a real run for his money. Illinois Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka has a new poll that shows her trailing Governor Rod Blagojevich by just three points in a head-to-head matchup. Using just about any test, the numbers are real.
The Isle of Capri (IOC) continues to lobby city officials for their support to build a 10-story casino hotel on downtown Davenport's city-owned riverfront, using taxpayer financing and Riverboat Development Authority subsidy for nearly half of the cost.
I had the pleasure of visiting Davenport recently. I admired the downtown view of the river and the eagles soaring. I walked to the Rhythm City Casino. In the front lobby there is a big TV screen with a presentation and a petition to build a big hotel on its current site at the river's edge.
Dan Hynes is slowly working his way back to the top. Hynes was once the brightest of Illinois' young political stars. After winning his first statewide race for Illinois comptroller in 1998, the then-30-year-old Democrat's future looked limitless.
Almost half of the entire Illinois House has signed up to sponsor a pro-life bill this year. The proposal is an exact replica of a federal law that ostensibly protects infants who are "born alive" during botched abortion procedures.
"Too few Americans are saving for their own retirement. ... Savings, of course, is about more than protecting what you have; it's about creating and building greater wealth for a better future. With [private] accounts, working families will have a chance to invest just as wealthier families do today.
My name is Paul, and I'm an employee at the Bettendorf Hungry Hobo. I have to say I was very disappointed to see that our stores didn't make number-one deli (see "Best of the Quad Cities 2004," River Cities' Reader Issue 518, February 23-March 1, 2005), but the people have spoken, and we never give up.
Senate President Emil Jones was not treated too well during his 10 years as Senate minority leader. The majority Republicans locked him out of the room and killed most of his members' bills. His fellow Democrat, House Speaker Michael Madigan, treated Jones like a junior associate, occasionally helping him out, but not doing all that much to backstop him in the process.

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