18 Blank slate by James L. Merriner
Political parties have given up on the farm club.

22 John Who? by Mark Brown
John Schmidt wants to be governor, but don't worry if you've never heard of him.

28 Critical Condition by Frank Vinluan
Managed care reforms have been put on life support.

30 Can green be in again? by Jennifer Davis
At the tail end of the "decade of the environment," the momentum to clean up and conserve has ebbed.

32 Charting the course by Christopher Wills
Peoria's charter school is up and running. It's the first in the state.

35 History lesson by Carol McDowell Frederick
"A good school is a great help to a community."

DEPARTMENTS

3 A Conversation With Our Readers
by Ed Wojcicki

4 Editor's Notebook
by Peggy Boyer Long

6 State of the State
by Jennifer Davis
How do we rate?

8 Briefly
by Donald Sevener

38 People
by Jennifer Davis

40 Letters

41 A View From Metro East
by Patrick E. Gauen
Jerry Costello's troubles

42 Politics
by Charles N. Wheeler III
Legislative session wrap-up