Dave Granlund editorial cartoon on Al Franken being declared the U.S. senator from Minnesota.

Justice was served Monday when financier Bernard Madoff was sentenced to 150 years in prison for concocting a Ponzi scheme that cost investors more than $13 billion.

Sadly, many folks died last week in central Illinois. There was Jim P., 68, of East Peoria, whose music brought many joy, especially in the area's senior citizen homes. He founded his own dance band, the Starlighters, and kept it alive for 50 years. Marcella S., 95, of Germantown Hills, founded the library there in 1952 and when she retired after 40 years, they named the place after her. Mary C. of Peoria was 95, too, and boy did she love to cook, especially those green beans for her three kids and 29 grandkids and who knows how many great-grands and great-greats.

At its legalistic heart, the Supreme Court's decision on Ricci v. City of New Haven turned on the distinction between measuring discrimination cases on the basis of intentional discrimination or disparate impact. In terms of politics and rhetoric, it was all about Sonia Sotomayor, empathy and judicial activism.

Dave Granlund editorial cartoon on the U.S. economy this Fourth of July.

Dave Granlund editorial cartoon for the Fourth of July holiday.

In 1977, it was Elvis Presley. Thirty years later, Anna Nicole Smith. We don’t know yet if Michael Jackson had a similarly enabling cadre of hangers-on who helped hasten his death last week at age 50, but there’s a common thread regardless. From Elvis to Anna Nicole, from Britney Spears to Jon and Kate Gosselin, we’ve seen countless times the power of fame to destroy lives.

For a decade, the federal government has stumbled along without an energy strategy and without an answer to global climate change. Friday, the House of Representatives finally grabbed these bulls by the horns.

Dave Granlund editorial cartoon on Bernie Madoff going to jail.

Joe Liccar cartoon on makeshift memorials for recent celebrity deaths.

Dave Granlund editorial cartoon on the debate over climate change.

Dave Granlund editorial cartoon on the plan to rebuild America's economy.

Illustration tribute to Michael Jackson.

Michael Jackson discography

Michael Jackson timeline

Fast facts about Michael Jackson 

Cartoon on GOP family values.

High school graduates are about to embark on a new era. The best advice we can give is follow your gut.