Illinois should protect its wetlands

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Chicago Tribune Opinion Thursday, January 15, 2026

Good morning. How much thought have you given to what exactly is in a McDonald's McRib sandwich? We're not sure our court system ought to be contending with that question, but that 's what's happening, whether we think it should or not. The Tribune Editorial Board has some thoughts. Elsewhere, the board notes that Illinois' wetlands are at substantial risk of being filled and developed following a Supreme Court ruling that removed federal protections. We offer a case for state action. Did you know that opioid deaths in Chicago plummeted last year? Todd Smith, special agent in charge of the Chicago field division for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, penned an interesting op-ed on what's behind this highly encouraging trend. Willie Wilson, a regular contributor, gets an early start on honoring the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr, and quotes extensively from King's haunting last speech before his assassination. And for all you regular users of LinkedIn, I recommend an opinion piece on how a social media platform meant for business connection can bring out a little bit of the middle school insecurity in all of us. As always, we offer thoughts from readers, which we never cease to appreciate. Thanks for those missives, and we'll be back here tomorrow. — Steve Daniels, editorial board member Submit an op-ed | Submit a letter to the editor | Meet the Tribune Editorial Board | Subscribe to this newsletter Editorial: A Supreme Court ruling has put Illinois' wetlands at risk. Springfield should respond. When the U.S. Supreme Court overturned long-standing federal protections for wetlands, some states were left without any wetlands regulation. Illinois is one of them. Read more → Editorial: If you believed the McRib was a real rib, we have some nuggets to sell you Does anyone truly believe the McRib is real rib meat, especially if they've taken the time to read the menu online? Read more → Todd C. Smith: Who deserves credit for the drop in Cook County's opioid overdose deaths? Chicago saw a dramatic decrease in opioid overdose deaths in 2025. Law enforcement and public health professionals worked in parallel on this issue. Read more → Willie Wilson: What the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. would encourage us to do today Since the death of Martin Luther King Jr., landmark laws he championed have been weakened. Read more → Tania Zamorsky: Navigating the quiet tyranny of the LinkedIn 'like' Low engagement on a LinkedIn post can trigger a cringey mix of self-consciousness and status anxiety. Read more → Letters: The data center proposed for a Chicago suburb raises some serious questions Public confidence depends on decisions grounded in complete information, careful review and sound policy, not personal or partisan considerations. Read more →

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