CAT SCRATCH FEVER

Once again, a fat cat has come out on top. No, we’re not talking about a Wall Street banker or a well-connected politician. This time, it’s literally a portly feline gaining the spoils. Me

TAKING THE BULLET

Vice President Joe Biden is apparently a fan of Illinois, and maybe even a bit of a dreamer. In a recent report from the White House, Biden touted the present and future accomplishments of $787 billio

ABE TODAY

One-hundred and fifty years ago on Aug. 26, Abraham Lincoln went to church, ran into a man named J. Henry Brown and made quite an impression on the portrait painter. It was a Sunday and Mr. Brown foun

MILITARY DOGS COME HOME

Dogs are often said to be man’s best friend, but with a military working dog, that saying takes on a whole new meaning. Working dogs sniff for bombs and drugs, and often provide a measure of pro

WINE TIME

It’s said that the first miracle Jesus Christ ever performed was turning water into wine, so it’s fitting that St. Joseph School and Parish in Springfield is hosting a fundraiser centered

GOLF FOR BASEBALL

The baseball season ended with a loss for the Springfield Sliders but not before they claimed the regular season championship title for the Prospect League’s Western Division.To celebrate, and t

EGAD, BAD WEBSITE

Central Illinois has a lot of great nonprofit groups that help the poor and the vulnerable of all ages. They do great work and meet a lot of important needs, but sometimes their presence on the Intern

PEACE PARADE

About 60 kids aged 4 to 12 years old celebrated the simplest of ideas – peace – after spending several days last week learning how to preserve it.“We talk about positive conflict res

BEER WITH YOUR DINNER?

A good beer is always a welcome treat, and the right beer can really set off a meal. This Sunday at Sebastian’s Hideout restaurant in Springfield, beer is the main ingredient on the menu.The res

BIG BONANZA A BIG DEAL

Springfield resident Blair Dial has made a monster pizza that just might win him a monster prize. Dial is a one of three finalists in the Papa John’s Pizza Challenge, a contest to create the bes

Nice guys finish last

Pat Quinn tries to win votes by being honest about bad news

When he’s not governing, one might find Gov. Pat Quinn blowing off steam while shooting some hoops at the Fenwick High School gym in Chicago – the same school he attended as a young man an

Farmer sells produce online

Award-winner looks for ways to extend the selling season beyond farmers markets

Summertime farmers markets have helped Chad Wallace of Oak Tree Organics prove the worth of small-scale, organic farming. But they’ve also taught him that packing up the produce and putting on t

Why Illinois lost the race

Not enough local support for federal education reform

After waiting to sign on to Illinois’ application for federal Race to the Top funding until after the state lost out in round one, in part due to inadequate local district and teacher union supp

Legalized video gambling stalled

A year after passage, Illinois has yet to receive any money

Guards allegedly beat inmate in Sangamon Juvenile Center

The parents of a juvenile delinquent allegedly beaten by guards in a Sangamon County youth jail are taking their case to court, but official records of the incident remain out of public reach.On July

Group wants local rail jobs

Green spaces, safety, economic development on list of goals

A Springfield-based community group is hoping to make the contentious arrival of high-speed rail into a blessing by making sure 30 percent of the jobs from the project go to local disadvantaged worker

CO2 study group stalled

Group to report on carbon capture by Dec. 31 hasn’t met

A commission created in 2009 to study issues related to carbon capture and sequestration has yet to meet, despite being charged with reporting to the Illinois General Assembly by the end of the year.D

A new type of med school, 40 years young

SIU%u2008School of Medicine’s first dean relects on the early years

Forty years ago, the success of the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine was anything but certain. Six years of planning had brought the school to the point of leasing a building for its he

The dirty business of CLEAN COAL

Take a drive this time of year down any state highway and you’ll likely see chipboard signs promoting this guy for sheriff and that guy for Senate. This much is true when traveling down Route 48

Springfield health center expanding

Stimulus money helps community clinic grow staff and services

Ask Racine Freeman how long she has been a patient at Capital Community Health Center in Springfield, and she chuckles.“A long time…a long time,” she says with fondness in her voice