Pandemic

Like many, I'm thrilled the mask mandate is gone for now. Returning to 'normal' life is the catchphrase. Could we keep one part of our pandemic lifestyle?

"It's been a tough couple of years for students and their parents" is one of the great understatements of our current times.

According to the experts, it's not just turkey that could be in short supply around here, it's chicken, too.

The big topic of conversation is whether or not elementary, middle, or high school students will be required to wear masks during the upcoming school year.

If you've asked me what I've missed most about "normal life" in the past year, you probably heard me say the movies.

It seems like nothing really says that it's time to rejoin civilization quite like a run on all those things we need to make ourselves feel better about how we look after a year of near isolation.

As it's set up currently, Illinoisans collecting unemployment insurance receive an extra $300 a week from the federal government, which is intended to help them through the pandemic. Since individual governors can opt their states out of that particular benefit, 18 governors have done just that, and more are seriously considering it.

In our state's first foray into trying to drive tourism to Illinois since the beginning of the pandemic, the "Time For Me To Drive" campaign gets rolling this week.

There's almost nothing I enjoy more than live music. As a fan, and a musician, I could not be more excited to have live music back as an option for a night out.

COVID-19 had a lot of families back home together again for the first time in a long time. People who thought they'd never be living at home again found themselves posted up in their parent's basement. College kids who dreamed of going off to school found themselves doing online school from their bedroom...