Feature | Wednesday, February 25,2009

Medical marijuana

Patient advocates believe the stars are aligned perfectly for this to be the year medical marijuana finally becomes a reality in Illinois.

Dennis nearly lost the lower portion of his right leg when the trencher he was working with unexpectedly hit a metal beam in the ground, causing the blade to jump up, catching the bridge

Feature | Wednesday, February 25,2009

The economic argument for legalization

Marijuana may have benefits beyond curing the sick

By R. L. Nave

Marijuana could help Illinois out of its budget mess. Advocates have long supported reforming current state and federal prohibitions against growing, trading and consuming marijuana. But existing ev

News | Wednesday, February 18,2009

The rose that grew from metal

Springfield man forges scraps into art

By R. L. Nave

Reactions of Travis Taylor’s friends and relatives to his artwork have ranged from admiration to puzzlement to, in the case of one piece, anger. According to Cindy, his wife

News | Wednesday, February 18,2009

Callahan in line for ag position

Access to broadband a

By R. L. Nave

For agreeing to jump into the race last year against GOP million-dollar golden boy Aaron Schock for the state’s 18th district congressional seat, Colleen Callahan probably deserves the politica

News | Wednesday, February 11,2009

Taylorville coal project moves ahead

Will the plan to “capture” carbon dioxide work?

By R. L. Nave

To put coal’s importance to the Illinois economy into perspective, consider that while state officials and members of the Congressional delegation tried feverishly to prevent Rod Bl

News | Thursday, February 5,2009

Setting borrowers free

A new Springfield agency to serve as alternative to payday loans

By R. L. Nave

Untitled Document Despite the bad reputation that payday loan stores have, Kevin Slot and the Rev. Charles Jackson aren’t looking to drive payday lenders out of business. Instea

News | Wednesday, February 4,2009

Back to the FutureGen

Burris and Durbin ask DOE chief for decision on coal plant

By R. L. Nave

Illinois Sens. Dick Durbin and Roland Burris, along with several other Midwestern lawmakers, took a critical step last week toward making the planned 275-megawatt coal-gasification plant, commonly r

News | Wednesday, February 4,2009

Safety hazards at the Stratton

Problems persist until state funds are found

By R. L. Nave

Nearly two years after the state was told to clean up asbestos and mold in the William G. Stratton building, the hazards remain. In March 2007 an Illinois Department of Labor (IDOL) inspectio

News | Wednesday, January 28,2009

Contamination examination

What exactly is underneath First and Washington? Is it dangerous?

By R. L. Nave

Ameren Illinois Utilities has made no secret about what’s going on under those big white tents just blocks away from the Capitol. As has been widely reported, the utility comp

News | Wednesday, January 28,2009

The budget mess we’re in

From the looks of it, nobody’s working on a state spending plan

By R. L. Nave

Rod Blagojevich appears to be coming to terms with the reality that his political fate will soon be sealed. He has acknowledged in recent days that the Illinois Senate is likely to convic