IHSA football championships shouldn't lump private and public high schools together

The IHSA state football championships were played last weekend, and they were, once again, a complete mismatch.

Private schools were featured in seven of the eight championship games. Guess how many of those seven games were won by public schools? That’s right: zero. The games weren’t even close. Six final scores were 57-14, 47-0, 49-8, 40-6, 55-34 and 35-14. The only close game all weekend? A 29-27 battle between two private schools, Nazareth and Joliet Catholic (Nazareth won).

The games aren’t competitive, and they aren’t fun to watch because the Catholic and other private schools have an unfair advantage of being able to recruit talent for their all-star teams.

If a public school has a player who lives a block outside its boundaries, he’s ruled ineligible, and the team must forfeit any game in which he plays. If all the teams in the tournament were playing by the same rules, I’d tip my hat to the private schools and say well done, but the present system isn’t fair, and the results show it.

Loyola has won three straight state championships, as has Nazareth, whose coach has won 10 state championships (none at a public school). Those teams have Division I players all over the roster, while public schools are lucky to have one, maybe two in the larger classes.

The head coach at Mount Carmel said: "Every kid at Mount Carmel is recruited to Mount Carmel." Let the private schools have their own state tournament or make them play by the same rules.

Right now, the IHSA has created a completely unfair system, and it’s not a competition; it’s a coronation. It has also made the state championship games a complete joke.

Jim Rodgers, Bloomington

Raise maximum income allowed under ‘senior freeze’

I appreciated the Sun-Times Watchdogs probe and follow-up editorial on the ineffective administration of the low-income senior citizens assessment freeze. I believe that there is another side of the issue that has been ignored.

My wife and I are in our late 80s and have lived in our home in a senior community in Plainfield for 29 years. Our income comes from Social Security, mandated IRA withdrawals and some hours at a part-time job.

Our gross income has increased over the last five years, but inflation and medical expenses have resulted in fewer spendable dollars.

Illinois initiated a senior citizen assessment freeze homestead exemption as a way to help and encourage seniors to remain in their homes and not be forced out because of the increase in their property value. Low-income was added to the title in 2023 without fanfare.

The current maximum allowable income is $65,000 and has been in place since 2017. I asked my state representatives, in person and email, for their review and support to raise the maximum, with little action and no results on House Bill 2529.

We enjoyed this senior benefit beginning in 2018. But our gross income in 2023 slightly exceeded the maximum, resulting in a property tax increase of $158 a month. We will need to dig into our already-limited monthly budget now and moving forward.

It is clear that the current state legislature has no interest in helping seniors remain in their homes.

Bob Bonomo, Plainfield

‘Senior freeze’ falls short

The Illinois Legislature needs to take another look at the low-income senior citizens assessment freeze and change the $65,000 limit to taxable income of $100,000, especially the way the Cook County assessor operates. Give the seniors a break instead of letting them lose their homes because of the reassessments by Fritz Kaegi and Cook County. No politician seems to be moving on reducing property taxes and we seniors don’t bring in the big bucks like politicians do.

Gerald Bernson, Tinley Park

Channel ‘climate anxiety’ into advocacy work

As an outcome of the election, I've noticed a spike in climate anxiety among the young people I encounter. Students and young adults who are experiencing it need to talk about it.

But the most effective antidote for that anxiety is action, and seeing those actions translate into results. These kids need to get involved with organizations like Citizens' Climate Lobby, the Sierra Club, or the Illinois Environmental Council. These organizations are effectively driving results but also are teaching young people effective advocacy techniques and how to manage stress.

Students would do well to participate in marches, call and write Congress, meet with representatives, enroll other students in getting active and challenge their universities to co-sponsor effective climate legislation, as their time permits. They need to feel and be empowered as a change agent with the support of others in their group.

When students come to know they are helping to create the political will for change and start seeing climate legislation pass, it will do wonders to alleviate their anxiety.

Andrew Panelli, Homer Glen

More emissions reductions, please, in Illinois

The Sun-Times editorial board recently highlighted ways Illinois can defend and reaffirm existing climate protections in anticipation of federal rollbacks (“Illinois must step up as Trump prepares to back away from protecting our environment”). This defense will be critical but insufficient.

An analysis released by Environment America Research and Policy Center found that Illinois reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 25% between 2005-2022, ahead of the national pace (national emissions went down 15%).

Illinois’ most significant reductions came from the power sector, where emissions decreased 48% from 2005 levels. The editorial board is correct that it will be critical moving forward for Illinois to protect the existing climate and pollution regulations that helped the state make those cuts, and to double down on its commitment to an electric grid powered by 100% clean, green renewable energy.

But as increasingly frequent and intense weather events make the urgency of climate action more apparent, we cannot hope to meet our national goal of cutting emissions by 50% from 2005 levels by 2030 if leading states like Illinois simply play defense.

Further emissions reductions will require focusing new attention on the areas where we’re falling behind. Despite overall reductions, Illinois’ emissions from residential buildings increased 7% between 2005-2022. Emissions from the commercial sector — primarily from burning fossil fuels to heat commercial buildings and the water they use — increased 14%. Emissions from residential buildings alone make up nearly 12% of the state’s overall greenhouse gas emissions.

Currently, more than 80% of Illinois homes rely on fossil fuels for home heating. Burning gas in our homes and buildings creates indoor air pollution that is bad for our health, and releases potent, planet-warming methane into the atmosphere. Just as state action has worked to drive down emissions from the electric sector, now it must do the same for our homes and buildings. The ongoing Illinois Commerce Commission Future of Gas investigation into how to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions from the gas distribution system is an important first step.

Regardless of who’s in the White House, state-level policy can continue to be an engine for climate action. Illinois legislators must prioritize making progress on emissions reductions, not just holding the line. We don’t have four years to wait.

Theo Rosen, climate campaigns associate, Environment America

Make Illinois a leader for Advanced Clean Trucks

Illinois got an early start laying the groundwork for the jobs boom that will come with the electrification of the U.S. trucking industry. Two prime examples: the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act and the Reimagining Energy and Vehicles in Illinois Act have boosted the state’s clean energy economy and established the burgeoning electric vehicle and battery manufacturing industries here since their 2021 passage.

It has never been more important for state leaders to take decisive action to fight climate change, safeguard our health and invest in cleaner transportation alternatives. Gov. Pritzker has made clear that he will seek environmental wins for Illinois regardless of what happens with the incoming administration.

If we want to maximize all the benefits the electric vehicle transition will produce, Illinois needs to adopt the Advanced Clean Trucks rule.

It is the most powerful tool to incentivize manufacturers in the state to sell their zero-emission trucks to Illinois businesses and fleets. The ACT addresses the supply side of the market by setting and gradually increasing sales targets of zero-emission vehicles for medium- and heavy-duty vehicle manufacturers in states that adopt it. Those sales targets create market certainty for truck manufacturers and fleets alike, and help local utilities plan grid improvements that will speed and smooth the transition.

Without the ACT, we’ll export not just Illinois-made electric vehicles, but also the cleaner air and missed economic opportunity costs produced by every electric truck sale to the forward-thinking states that have already adopted it. The ACT will help keep more of the economic and environmental benefits of all of Illinois’ electric vehicle investments close to home.

Illinois advocates have filed a citizen petition with the state’s Pollution Control Board to urge the Pritzker administration to adopt the ACT along with other tailpipe-pollution reduction programs. The first hearing on the clean-trucks standards was held recently and proceedings will continue through the spring, with more opportunities for Illinoisans to speak out in support of this vital program.

By adopting the Advanced Clean Trucks rule, we can supercharge electric truck manufacturing in the state while keeping the benefits of cleaner air here for all Illinoisans instead of exporting it to the coasts.

Neda Deylami, manager of vehicle electrification, Environmental Defense Fund

Biden’s pardon of son pales in comparison to Trump’s actions

For all of you who are Donald Trump supporters and are criticizing President Joe Biden for pardoning his son, take a look in the mirror. You elected a sexual predator and convicted felon (he was convicted of 34 felonies) to lead our country. He has promised to pardon his co-conspirators who attempted to overthrow our democracy and falsify our election.

Black Friday deals will not hold a candle to the pardons that will be coming down the line. Unfortunately, this will become a cyber-sale presidency of insider deals and pardons in the future. By the way, take a look at the next ambassador to France. He already has received a pardon. The rotten apples don't fall far from the rotten trees. How's that reflection looking now?

Tony Prevolos, Bonita Springs, Florida

Nepo babies rule GOP

Republicans rant and rave about DEI, but have nothing to say about nepotism.

Warren Rodgers Jr., Orland Park

Talking turkey

I am writing regarding the article about the thoughtful person who, at Thanksgiving, drops frozen turkeys from a low and slow-moving plane to remote Alaskan homes. I started laughing, remembering the “WKRP in Cincinnati” episode where a station dropped live turkeys from a helicopter! All we can hear is shrieking and screaming from below and a newsman whinging, “As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly!”

Barbara Tomko, Edgewater