News | Thursday, December 22,2011

‘We must do better for our young people’

Juvenile justice group pushes for sea-change in kid prisons

Illinois’ system of warehousing juvenile delinquents doesn’t work, according to a state-appointed reform group calling for sweeping changes in how youth offenders are handled.The Illinois

News | Thursday, December 15,2011

East side commercial zone could get facelift

Funding could hinge on cooperation by businesses

By Patrick Yeagle

The cluttered skyline near South Grand Avenue and Dirksen Parkway in Springfield overlooks a swirling mass of fast-food wrappers and plastic shopping bags blown across an empty and unkempt lot by the

News | Thursday, December 8,2011

Coal gasification plant approved by Senate

Proponents, critics at odds over need for Taylorville project

By Patrick Yeagle

The Illinois Senate recently approved a controversial proposal to build a cutting-edge coal power plant in Taylorville, paving the way for what proponents say should be an easy victory in the Illinois

News | Thursday, December 8,2011

Illinois mulls public financing of elections

By removing influence-buying from judicial campaigns

By Patrick Yeagle

Illinois needs a system to publicly fund election campaigns, reform advocates told a state committee examining potential campaign finance reforms last week. But one expert says lawmakers probably won&

News | Thursday, December 8,2011

The Forgotten War

Springfield veterans remember Korean War 60 years later

By Patrick Yeagle

During the cold December of 1951, 12 Illinois military service members lost their lives in the Korean War. Those Marines and Army troops from Illinois were among 1,754 Illinoisans and the 54,246 Ameri

News | Thursday, December 1,2011

Illinois EPA steps up feedlot pollution regulation

Complaints to feds prompt changes in farm oversight

By Patrick Yeagle

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency is stepping up regulation of feedlots following complaints from environmental groups to the federal government.Bruce Yurdin, manager of field operations fo

News | Thursday, December 1,2011

St. Pat’s is back on track

East side school survives to help kids thrive

By Patrick Yeagle

On a giant alphabet rug in Rosemarie Bates’ classroom, a gaggle of first- and second-grade children giggle as they clap and over-pronounce words in order to count the syllables.A short walk down

News | Wednesday, November 23,2011

Juvenile prisons now safer and more effective

Understaffing and other problems still need work, reform group says

By Patrick Yeagle

Conditions in Illinois’ juvenile prisons are improving, according to one watchdog group, but problems of overcrowding, lack of education and inadequate staffing linger.A report released Nov. 16

News | Thursday, November 17,2011

Catholic agency transfers foster care cases to DCFS

Other groups created new agencies to take cases

By Patrick Yeagle

Catholic Charities for the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois announced Monday it would work with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services to transfer its 290 foster care cases to other

News | Thursday, August 18,2011

Springfield charity ends work in Haiti

Charity built medical clinic in impoverished nation, but it wasn’t a “forever deal”

By Patrick Yeagle

Dr. H. Brent DeLand of Springfield recalls doing minor surgery while on a humanitarian trip to Haiti in 2002, as his friend and later charity co-founder Greg Richmond of Chicago held a single light bu