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IN THIS WEEK´S ISSUE
Performing Art

Les Mis local

Bringing the international hit to the Springfield stage

By Zach Baliva

Joshua Ratz could have done anything on Father’s Day. He could have spent time with his 19-year-old stepson. He could have helped his pregnant wife care for their infant. He could have worked on

Feature

A teaching forest

Guy Sternberg’s arboretum demonstrates the value of native trees

By Jeanne Townsend Handy

Guy Sternberg planted his first trees when he was five years old – in his sandbox. The silver maple seeds he collected on the way home from kindergarten class would sprout and begin to grow. For

Food - Julianne Glatz

A commanding General Tso’s chicken

By Julianne Glatz

“We had friends who went to China, and they went to Peking where they make the ducks, and what they say is that the food over there is not as good as here. You can’t get a sauce as sweet a

Film - Chuck Koplinski

No Clark makes for cold Steel

By Chuck Koplinski

One of the crucial aspects of superheroes is the notion of the secret identity, the physical and psychic split in the character that delineates the real person from the heroic persona. Whenever this n

Film - Chuck Koplinski

Midnight a bracing look at the realities of love

By Chuck Koplinski

Richard Linklater’s Before films are a special collection of movies that not only takes an unique look at romantic love but reminds us how engaging the fine art of conversation can be in capable

Film - Chuck Koplinski

Purge lacks the strength of its flimsy convictions

By Chuck Koplinski

James DeMonaco’s The Purge hints – and I mean hints – that it might be a socially relevant film that imagines that today’s divide between the “Haves” and the &ldquo

Music - Tom Irwin

A jumpin’ June to enjoy

By Tom Irwin

There’s so much to talk about I’m not going to pretend to fabricate an introduction or lead you down a merry path of assumed meticulous and attempted mellifluous wordplay and just get on w

Band Spotlight

What thou Will

By Tom Irwin

When the “about” section of a band’s Facebook page says, “A malicious onslaught of diabolical debauchery and brutal blasphemy!!!!!” you know they mean business. What thou

News

Inside the House of the Rainbow

Housing for ex-cons under fire following recent crimes

By Patrick Yeagle

In a humble house by the railroad tracks, a recently released ex-con sits idly on a worn-out couch, smoking a cigarette and ashing in a tuna can. He’s explaining his views on society with an air

News

Illinois leaders campaign for federal immigration reform

By Patrick Yeagle

Several prominent public figures in Illinois are pushing for passage of a federal immigration reform bill, which President Barack Obama called “the best chance we’ve had in years to fix ou

Illinois - James Krohe Jr

Temple of the Law

The state is doing justice to the Supreme Court Building

By James Krohe Jr.

The words audi alternam partum – roughly, “hear the other side” – are inscribed on the wall of the Illinois Supreme Court chambers in Springfield. As a maxim to guide the admin

Guest Opinion

UIS’s spirit of academic innovation

By Dr. Robert Crowley

Must innovation be a huge departure from what preceded it? Can an innovation be a small variation of what went before, creating or filling a new need? Must it be as dominant as the iPhone to be known

National - Jim Hightower

Let us commence toward the common good

By Jim Hightower

Ironically, June is both the month of the summer solstice and of America’s biggest annual blizzard. I don’t mean a weather event blowing in from the Arctic, but a merciless storm of words

News

Wanted: A new sheriff

By Bruce Rushton

The Republican primary for Sangamon County sheriff is nine months away, but the candidates have been prepping for years.That Wes Barr is running to replace Sheriff Neil Williamson isn’t surprisi

Politics - Rich Miller

Latest numbers in governor’s race

By Rich Miller

In a sign that some truly awful publicity for her father may be hurting her possible gubernatorial bid, Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s poll numbers have plunged in the past several months. And

News

Stalemate sells steaks

Statehouse controversy helps downtown’s economy

By Bruce Rushton

Michael Higgins loves America.The owner of Maldaner’s restaurant in downtown Springfield pays his taxes, votes and keeps abreast of current events, perhaps moreso than the rest of us, by going t

Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor 06/20/13

By Letters to the Editor

MAKING GOOD BETTERMany thanks to IT for your kind article of June 13 about the Regional Planning Commission, its staff and our work (“Planning a better Springfield”). Particular thanks to

IT Hot Picks
Yards of green
By Anita Stienstra
Fun fitness
By Anita Stienstra
Talking spirits
By Anita Stienstra
Advice Goddess

Coitus frustratus

By Amy Alkon

My boyfriend is a very spiritual person who practices yoga, meditation, etc. He showed me a website about karezza, which basically involves deriving sexual pleasure through long, drawn-out, non-vigoro