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Rams running back Steven Jackson took exception to a recent comment made by Coach Jim Haslett, saying he wished Haslett "would stop saying that.'

We're changing the lineup for our Friday and Saturday newspapers and hope to head off any confusion when you see the Lifestyle/Your Place section in tomorrow's paper.

Today's talk around the water cooler ...
Fairmont City residents win fight to have their kids attend Collinsville schools
Belleville man faces charges for sex abuse of 3-year-old relative
Cops testify about shootings at Pontoon Beach bar

The nation's slow economy and recently declared recession has forced many Americans to file for bankruptcy. If this is your story, business reporter Will Buss would like to talk to you. Please call him in the newsroom at 239-2526, or e-mail him with a contact number at wbuss@bnd.com

Are you planning to attend the Inauguration of President-elect Obama? How are you planning to get there? What housing arrangements have you been able to make? Drop us a line; we're trying to tell the story of metro-east residents bound for Washington and this historic event. E-mail your story, with your name and contact info, to online@bnd.com and include the word 'Inauguration' in the subject line.

Want a piece of history? You can get commemorative items from the Belleville News-Democrat about Barack Obama's historic election. You can purchase a shirt, tote bag, coffee cup or other item — showing the front page of the paper Nov. 5 that reported Obama's win — by going to The BND Store.

The latest installment in our history series examining the last 150 years of life in the metro-east looks at our region's role in war time; other entries in the year-long series — done to commemorate the News-Democrat's 150 years of publication — include religion, politics, sports, business, health care and other aspects of life in our region.

Send your story ideas to ideas@bnd.com or mail to Ideas, C/O the Belleville News-Democrat, PO Box 427, Belleville, IL, 62222. Or tell us your story by calling our ideas hotline at 239-2743.

— Online Editor Joe Ostermeier
Online Producer Carla Anderson