Dems run risk of alienating black voters
Mary Mitchell: One thing's for sure: Hammond has seen the last of me. You heard me. Instead of crossing Indianapolis Avenue for lower-priced gas, I'll save the gas and patronize the pumps in Illinois. And, honestly, the bars, restaurants, casino and other entertainment venues in Hammond can't compare with those in Illinois.

Tireless effort to turn out vote pays off big

GARY, Ind. -- Waiting for the "Fat Lady to Sing" is hard work.

Prejudice could cast deciding vote for Obama, Hillary
Mary Mitchell: It's up to the good people in Indiana and North Carolina to do the right thing: They should ignore the political mischief and judge Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton on their visions for America, which has played out during this primary.

Both hurt when Obama turns his back on Wright

At some point, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr. must have known he would be left behind.

Sick of Obama's grin, Clinton's pantsuits, McCain's wife

I am sick of politics. Practically everyone I bump into tells me they are sick of politics, too.

Obama opens a can of worms
Well, it is likely that Sen. Barack Obama won't be going back to Trinity United Church of Christ. Not after this. On Tuesday, Obama responded to the Rev. Jeremiah Wright's ill-timed defense by condemning his former pastor's fresh comments as "ridiculous," "outrageous" and "appalling."

Wright's words could leave Obama's campaign in pieces
Mary Mitchell: Instead of dousing the flames, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr. has rekindled the fire that erupted after his videotaped sermons became fodder for conservative pundits. "This most recent attack on the black church is not an attack on Jeremiah Wright," he told a sold-out crowd during a speech delivered at the National Press Club.

More talk won't end violence

How many anti-violence summits, marches and town hall meetings do we have to convene before we stop crying in the wilderness?

Parking tickets give city license to trip up dancers

There's no disputing the fact that Maurice Fulsom owes the City of Chicago $13,000 for parking tickets.

Dirty tricks pay for Hillary
Mary Mitchell: 'Why can't Barack Obama close the deal?" Hillary Clinton asked a couple of hours before claiming victory in Pennsylvania. It was an interesting question considering that Clinton already knew the answer. Clinton banked on the strength of Gov. Ed Rendell's observation that conservative white voters in that state would not vote for a black man.

We need love, not weapons, to win this war

Truth be told, the war going on in our streets is a black and brown war.

Neighborhoods need dedicated eyes and ears

If parents of out-of-control children are too blind to see that their children's behavior is putting others at risk, what can the rest of us do about it?

Hillary shamelessly won't let it go
Mary Mitchell: Now I'm bitter. After 15 months of listening to Hillary Clinton tell the American public that Barack Obama's positive words don't matter, Clinton is now trying to derail her rival by exploiting negative sound bites. She's had a field day.

Brave victim of sex abuse steps forward

Kim A. Snyder's 27-minute documentary "Alone No Love" could change the way you think about sexual abuse of children.

Hillary again playing the race card

A disturbing trend has emerged from the long Democratic primary. Whenever Sen. Hillary Clinton is trailing in the polls, a racially divisive issue pops up.