Retiring Illinois Auditor General William Holland makes a habit of not issuing news releases or even talking to the media.  But, some habits get broken.

The Illinois News Broadcasters Association named Holland “Illinoisan of the Year” as voted on by past presidents.

He says the Illinois legislature should pick someone to replace him who’s also fair and doesn’t have a political agenda, and says it would be “unwise” for Governor Bruce Rauner to exercise any influence over the selection.
In other state news, a week from Monday, some of us will take the day off from work or school, and some of us will look for great deals on furniture and cars. It’s all in the name of someone whose heroism is not unanimously recognized.

Duane Malany, external vice president of the Student Government Association at University of Illinois Springfield, says society would be better off to observe an Indigenous People’s Day instead of Columbus Day.

Malany, who says he hopes the campus senate passes a resolution in favor of the switch by this time next year, says many see Columbus as a plunderer who exploited the Americas’ first citizens.