Columnists

229 Results / Page 1 of 26

AD
Stars and Stripes

Columnists

KNAPP: Stars and Stripes, perhaps not forever

In late 1861, Union soldiers in Bloomfield, Missouri, found the local newspaper’s office empty and decided to put it to good use. Stars and Stripes covered the activities of the three Illinois regiments. Their commander in chief, of course, was U.S. President Abraham Lincoln. Over time, the paper gained direct funding from the military, but with supposed “editorial independence,” and a mission “to provide first-hand reporting from bases around the world and unbiased, credible news to America’s military.” Those who worked in […]

todayAugust 23, 2026

fashion

Columnists

SIMPLE SCENES: My return to fashion

All my life, I’ve found it hard to resist a good bargain. So, the pandemic a few years ago briefly curtailed my excellent purchasing decisions. I was always out in the stores, shopping for the latest in exercise equipment, self-help videos, or ideas to impress my supervisors. I really liked clothes. At work, I usually wore nice khakis and a golf shirt that made me look semi-cool. I shopped both in-store and online. Truth is, I wanted to look better […]

todayAugust 23, 2026

farm

Columnists

KNAPP: For real “farm aid”, go “free trade”

On August 6, the US Senate’s Agriculture Committee rejected the latest version of the federal government’s quinquennial “farm bill.” I say “quinquennial” because Congress normally passes this legislation every five years, but it’s still operating on the 2018 version and has been arguing on a new version since 2023. SNAP dispute stalls the latest bill The major hang-up this year seems to be over a Republican plan that would require state governments kick in for the cost of the Supplemental […]

todayAugust 7, 2026

drive-in movies

Columnists

SIMPLE SCENES: Seeing a drive-in movie

There’s nothing like a cool night, a warm date, and a cold drink at a drive-in movie. It’s sad to read that this sunset entertainment is declining. In the 1960s, there were about 4,000 nationwide. Today, there are reportedly fewer than 200. Drive-ins were places that welcomed children — many had playgrounds — several teenagers piled into one car, young romantics, and older people who enjoyed an open-air event. At our neighborhood drive-in, they sold admission tickets “by the carload.” […]

todayAugust 7, 2026

Illinois Missouri back-to-school tax holiday

Columnists

How to spot and avoid back-to-school shopping scams

The first day of school will be here before you know it. School supplies can be expensive, so it makes sense to search out the best prices – just make sure you’re not falling for a deal that’s too good to be true. Plenty of retailers capitalize on the busy back-to-school buying season with late summer sales. Unfortunately, scammers and untrustworthy vendors may also take advantage of the demand with phishing attempts or ads with outrageous deals. This is a […]

todayAugust 3, 2026

livestock show stock show

Columnists

SIMPLE SCENES: Stock show

Imagine yourself in a sea of cows, surrounded by thousands of pounds of beef. That’s how I feel when I go to one of our state’s stock shows, which attracts thousands of visitors. Farmers and ranchers spend several days showing off animals which have taken months or years to raise. I am a city boy. However, I have been to a farm, and I once owned two rabbits, a goldfish, and a chicken with irritable bowel. But I don’t really […]

todayJuly 31, 2026

technology children

Columnists

Creating healthy technology habits for families

Technology is a constantly adapting and growing form of communication, education, and creation. Children and families spend hours on screens every day. How can parents monitor their child’s technology usage while ensuring safety, learning, and development? Is technology all evil, or can we foster positive human-screen interaction? Illinois Extension Educator Tessa Hobbs-Curley and Extension Extra Help Erin Curley share that the online world offers opportunities to connect with people across the world, advocate for personal beliefs or values, learn new […]

todayJuly 24, 2026

garter snake

Columnists

SIMPLE SCENES: Snake story

This is an odd story, and lots of it is true. (I made up a couple of parts because I forgot.) I was on a long walk when I passed a home with a “For Sale” sign. It was an “open house” day, and the realtor was opening the door. “Mind if I have a look?” I asked. “My cousin’s being transferred here, and this size house is ideal.” The realtor, introducing himself as Dan, invited me in. The house […]

todayJuly 24, 2026

saving business money investments summer spending

Columnists

Create a saving habit

Saving money can be a challenge for some people. Illinois Extension Educator Jamie Mahlandt shares some great information with us. Recently, with rising consumer costs, personal savings rates are just 3% of disposable personal income as of May 2026, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Even when saving money is hard, it can be beneficial to work on building savings habits. Making a conscious decision to save money at every opportunity can build positive financial habits. So, even […]

todayJuly 18, 2026

AD

Heartland Media Group of Central Illinois & Eastern Missouri
107 W. State Street PO Box 149
Nokomis, IL 62075
Tel: (866) 420-7790

STAY CONNECTED

CHECK OUT OUR STATIONS

DEADLINES & PUBLICATION INFORMATION

Deadlines
News and sports submissions
: 11 p.m. Central
Advertising, legals, obituaries: 5 p.m. Central

Publication times
Late breaking news as it happens
Normal publication:
11 p.m. Central daily
Other news:
Published as it’s made available

hmgcil_newfooter_November2024
Some rights reserved 2016-2027 Heartland Newsfeed and 2023-2027 Heartland Media Group of Central Illinois & Eastern Missouri
Some images copyright United Press International, Capitol News Illinois, Missourinet, Missouri Independent, Public News Service.
Other images courtesy of Adobe Stock, Pexels, Pixabay, and Unsplash.
AD
AD
AD