Free Republic

 CHICAGO — Two Georges met here several times in the past days. Both were born in this town, both of German extraction and from the north side neighborhoods. One was a frail priest on life-support, felled by Parkinson’s and a recent tragic accident: a quadriplegic, riddled with tubes and wires rendering him unable to speak; with a breathing tube hooked up to a machine pumping oxygen and a feeding hose dispensing nutrition. He was Fr. George J. Helfrich, 78, once Mundelein Seminary’s brightest and one of Quigley Prep’s top athletes, a priest for 52 years, a canon lawyer, and child...

Who won, lost in budget game July 31, 2004 BY THOMAS ROESER When the spring legislative session dawned, Big Daddy decided he would have to take The Kid in hand (ahem). It was only right: House Speaker Michael Madigan had served in the General Assembly since 1971, the governor (The Kid) had a few years of legislative service under his belt, sitting on the remotest back bench in Madigan's caucus. Also, all other legislative leaders were new or untried: Tom Cross, in his first term as GOP House leader; Democrat Emil Jones had never been Senate president; Frank Watson was...

This story is especially for those in the political circles in Illinois that have followed my involvement in issues and politics. A crusty lovable guy by the name of Tom Roeser (who also writes for the Chicago Sun Times - and - has a Sunday night talk show on WLS in Chicago), stepped in it a bit on this past Sunday evening because of some statements he made about the exclusive news newcomer The Illinois Leader - one of the prime outlets that carries the Kevin McCullough Column each week. ERIC ZORN, Chicago Tribune Columnist outed the story. The ILLINOIS...