News | Thursday, September 27,2012

Pharmacists win abortion drug spat in court

Pharmacists can’t be fined for refusing to dispense an abortion drug for religious reasons under a court ruling released Friday. It’s a win for groups concerned with freedom of religion, b

News | Thursday, September 27,2012

State gives Ameren a pollution pass

Stricter limits put off until 2020

By Patrick Yeagle

State regulators won’t enforce pollution limits on one of Illinois’ largest power generators until 2020 under a ruling released Sept. 20. The Illinois Pollution Control Board last week gra

News | Thursday, September 20,2012

Downtown prepares for life without TIF

By Bruce Rushton

Promoters of downtown Springfield are looking toward the day when the area’s tax-increment financing district is scheduled to dissolve, leaving the city’s core without a dedicated funding

News | Thursday, September 20,2012

Ag experts: Farm bill delay endangers food supply

Congress’ inaction affects farmers, low-income families

By Patrick Yeagle

As Congress wrestles over an agriculture bill that will set policy for the next five years, local farmers and ag experts worry the delay could endanger a variety of important programs when the current

News | Thursday, September 20,2012

Agreement paves way for juvenile justice reforms

By Patrick Yeagle

A federal class-action lawsuit settled last week requires Illinois to improve conditions for incarcerated youth, but the state agency overseeing the facilities says many reforms are already in place.T

News | Thursday, September 20,2012

DiCenso tries to unseat battle-scarred Libri

By Bruce Rushton

After two decades in elective office, it’s safe to call Tony Libri a survivor.The Sangamon County circuit clerk has won more than a few and lost a couple, notably the 2003 race for Springfield m

News | Thursday, September 13,2012

AFSCME under siege

Union faces unprecedented challenges, even from allies

By Patrick Yeagle

What would drive a crowd of unionized state employees to boo the very governor they helped elect? The answer is about $83 billion of pension underfunding, a broken labor contract and a lot of jobs in

News | Thursday, September 13,2012

Payday loan law doesn’t apply to TitleMax

By Bruce Rushton

Debate over short-term loan businesses on MacArthur Boulevard has erupted anew three years after the Springfield City Council restricted the proliferation of businesses that profit from making install

News | Thursday, September 13,2012

Judging the judge

Appointed judge John Schmidt faces challenge at polls

By Bruce Rushton

The race for a Sangamon County Circuit Court judgeship is not, the participants readily acknowledge, a particularly sexy one.“I don’t think the judicial race is a big draw,” says Tim

News | Tuesday, September 11,2012

Parsons declares bankruptcy

Filing comes under pressure from judge

By Bruce Rushton

Jeffrey Parsons, apparently failed entrepreneur, has declared bankruptcy under pressure from the judge in his pending divorce case.