Fletcher Farrar: Reporter at Large | Wednesday, March 1,2006

Cartoons and clashing cultures at the Daily Illini

The best response is to educate the ignorant, and that includes me

I wouldn’t have published the cartoons, but I wouldn’t have suspended the Daily Illini editors who did. And I wouldn’t have participated in violent pro

Fletcher Farrar: Reporter at Large | Wednesday, February 15,2006

Illinois, poverty capital of the Midwest

Smoke-and-mirrors budgeting sends lives up in smoke

By Fletcher Farrar

There is an air of unreality to the progressive but dishonest state budget proposed this week by Gov. Rod Blagojevich. It is hard to object to “Preschool for

Fletcher Farrar: Reporter at Large | Thursday, January 26,2006

Give us more artchitecture

At the Springfield Art Association, local talent looks for a chance

By Fletcher Farrar

Now comes an art show to complement Springfield’s rediscovery of design in its built environment. Architecture as Art, showing through Feb. 18 in the gallery of the

Fletcher Farrar: Reporter at Large | Thursday, January 12,2006

The politics of God-talk

The mighty best not be so sure about the Almighty

By Fletcher Farrar

You’d think that political scandals, inept disaster relief, a war going badly, and low poll numbers would be enough to humiliate politicians and the religious right

Fletcher Farrar: Reporter at Large | Thursday, December 29,2005

Time for a little tenderness

There’s a whole lot wrong with the world. What’s ripe?

By Fletcher Farrar

At a recent party, a friend was way down. George W. Bush had ruined his Christmas. He was so upset about the state of the world that he could hardly function. There is so muc

Fletcher Farrar: Reporter at Large | Thursday, December 15,2005

Landlord journal

Life is hard, but don’t take it out on the windows

By Fletcher Farrar

My tenant came by first thing this morning and turned in his key, just as he had said he would. He said that he had swept up as much of the broken glass as was possible and,

Fletcher Farrar: Reporter at Large | Thursday, December 1,2005

Let’s find a better place for the Salvation Army

The first step is to reject the current proposal

By Fletcher Farrar

Let’s keep working on this Salvation Army issue. There has to be a better location for a homeless shelter than the site the Army has picked, out by the airport. The

Fletcher Farrar: Reporter at Large | Thursday, November 17,2005

No gap, no letting go

Closing the achievement gap is doable — and must be done

By Fletcher Farrar

A veteran Springfield teacher expressed frustration as she left the Nov. 14 forum on “Closing the Achievement Gap”: “We’re already doing so much of

Fletcher Farrar: Reporter at Large | Thursday, November 3,2005

Finding the homeless shelter a new home

Leaders need to step forward. The Salvation Army needs help.

By Fletcher Farrar

Sometimes it takes a defeat to get everyone’s attention and gather more resources to start building toward a victory. That is an optimistic assessment of the

Fletcher Farrar: Reporter at Large | Wednesday, October 19,2005

Is this war really necessary?

Getting ready for David McCullough by finding no glory in 1776

By Fletcher Farrar

As I read 1776, the best-selling introduction to the Revolutionary War by historian David McCullough, I kept hoping the American colonists and their British cousins woul