STATEHOUSE TAN BAN

Having successfully pushed for a ban on tanning for teens under age 18 within Springfield, Ward 5 Alderman Sam Cahnman continued his push into the Illinois Statehouse. On Monday, the Illinois Senate v

GOODBYE, COMPUTER

What do you do with that old computer that can’t handle the newest games or that old scanner you’ve used a total of four times in the past decade? In past years, most people probably would

DUI DEATH MEMORIAL

Danny Dapron Sr. hopes his son’s needless death can yield some positive results with the posting of a road sign memorial in his son’s honor. On the night of Aug. 8, 2010, Danny Wayne Dapro

WASHINGTON PARK WOODPECKER

If you’re enjoying the early morning coolness with a stroll in Washington Park, don’t be alarmed if you hear a metallic rat-a-tat nearby. It’s just a woodpecker who likes to sit atop

GARDEN ALL YEAR

Lincoln Land Community College is giving garden enthusiasts the opportunity to learn how to garden year-round. On May 9 and 10, Four Season Tools gardening experts will host a workshop on movable stru

FARM-FRESH FOOD

It’s spring in the fields, and for Springfield, that means it’s farmers market time! The Old Capitol Farmers Market opens next week with a variety of food, goods, and festivities.  To

ECONOMIC OUTLOOK

Is this sluggish economy ever going to get back to normal? A recent survey of Sangamon County employers doesn’t hold out much hope, though the employers seemed optimistic about their own situati

HELP HISTORIC FIREHOUSE

Springfield’s first African-American firehouse is in need of restoration. The Springfield Area Basic Crafts Council, Operating Engineers Local 965 and The Springfield Project have helped raise m

COP CRIB

The Enos Park neighborhood has some real momentum going these days. On the heels of a beautiful new duplex on Fifth Street, built by Habitat for Humanity of Sangamon County to look like it was built a

DOCTORS GIVE DOLLARS

The Sangamon County Medical Society Alliance awarded 11 grants to 10 local nonprofit organizations and three Medical Alliance Health Program certificates. The grants were given to organizations that p

Harris Murder Trial

The right to remain silent

But Harris didn't shut up

As a murder suspect, Christopher Harris was less than astute.

Harris Murder Trial

Tabitha survives, lawyers duel

Prosecution nears end of case

Photos of Tabitha Gee’s head were bad enough. But CT scans of the toddler’s shattered skull after she was beaten with a tire iron and left for dead were, if anything, worse.

Mistrial winds

Prospects of early end raised

Twice now, the prosecution has stumbled. Twice the defense has acquiesced, allowing proceedings to continue without strenuous objection despite opportunities to demand a do-over.

A booty call after a blood bath

Harris acted normally after slaughter

Christopher Harris may or may not have beaten the Gee family to death with a tire iron. But the sight of blood and battered bodies didn’t interfere with his libido.

A star witness testifies

But can he be trusted?

An imperfect witness took the stand Wednesday in the murder trial of Christopher Harris, at once helping and harming both sides.

Filet-O-Snitch

A prosecution witness gets grilled

Jason Harris is the sort of criminal who seems incapable of telling the truth. On matters large and small, he lied and lied and lied again.

Timing is everything

Witness undermines defense

A key witness testified Tuesday in the murder trial of Christopher Harris, and if the jury believes Ronald Frakes, the defense faces tough odds.

The calm before the storm

Harris talks smooth before arrest

Less than 12 hours after Raymond “Rick” Gee, his wife Ruth and three of their children were beaten to death with a tire iron, Christopher Harris answered a booty call from a girlfriend.

If the shoe fits

Testimony centers on footwear

Christopher Harris wasn’t much good at covering his tracks. But he was a cool customer.

Sex and violence

Testimony continues in Harris trial

Amid lurid tales of sexual escapades and stomach-wrenching photographs of battered bodies, the prosecution dropped two potential bombshells Thursday in the murder trial of Christopher Harris.

Fracking bill draws harsh criticism in Statehouse

Protestors claim deceit over controversial drilling process

In the formerly quiet towns of western North Dakota, there are new strangers arriving every day. New housing is being erected at a breakneck pace, and newfound wealth is flowing quickly into the rolli

Oil wells not so well

Edinburg couple soured on oil production at their farm

Paula Cook has had it with oil. She and her husband, Jim Cook, live on the 65-acre farm Paula’s ancestors owned 100 years ago. Located outside Edinburg, about 20 miles east of Springfield, the f

Medical marijuana closer to legalization

As Illinois waits for Gov. Pat Quinn’s decision on the medical marijuana bill, many citizens are wondering how they will be affected if he signs it into law. The Illinois Senate last week approv

Pridefest, a celebration of tolerance and progress

Other cities – Chicago, San Francisco, Seattle, to name but a few – have parades. Big parades. Parades featuring outlandish costumes and leather and tattooed women on motorcycles aka Dykes

News

Tabitha survives, lawyers duel

Prosecution case nears end

Photos of Tabitha Gee’s head were bad enough. But CT scans of the toddler’s shattered skull after she was beaten with a tire iron and left for dead were, if anything, worse.

Calvin Christian III jailed

Christian has ongoing lawsuits against the city

Calvin Christian III was jailed Thursday for the second time in a week after he failed to produce required financial paperwork in connection with a collection action by the City of Springfield. S

Treegate review ends

No criminal charges for cutting down relative's tree on city time

Sangamon County state's attorney says that he will not prosecute City Water, Light and Power workers who illicitly cut down a tree last year. "This is a CWLP employee matter, not a matte

Juvenile Justice shows progress

Fewer youth in prison, but mental health care still lacking

When the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice was created in 2006, the state’s youth prisons held 1,500 juvenile offenders. Today, there are fewer than 900 kids behind bars in Illinois juveni

Physician claims prescription drugs worse than marijuana

Two doctors stood on opposing sides as the Illinois Senate was preparing to vote on legalizing medical marijuana.Dr. Dora Dixie, an addiction specialist from Chicago, argues that marijuana is highly a

Betting on bikes

City may adopt bike plan as infrastructure improvements begin

Kevin Greene of Springfield still remembers getting his first bicycle as a child. “It took me a long time to figure out how to ride a bike, but once I learned, I never looked back,” Greene

News Quriks 5/23/13

Curses, foiled again• Authorities charged Carolyn James, 55, with assaulting her 96-year-old mother in Dickson City, Pa., after a neighbor recorded James slapping the invalid woman on the back an

News Quirks 05/16/2013

Homeland insecurityObjecting to the bipartisan immigration bill, U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas, declared that radical Islamists infiltrating the United States “are trained to act Hispanic.&rd