Police arrest 60 on drug war anniversary

About 60 alleged criminals in the Springfield illicit drug trade face charges after a multi-agency sweep of arrests on June 21 and 22, marking the 40th anniversary of the U.S. War on Drugs. But some r

Some people get all the breaks

Loopholes allow Springfield man to drive after four DUI arrests

Just after midnight on Nov. 6, 2010, a Riverton Police officer noticed a blue pickup truck speeding down the street by Riverton High School. The truck slammed on the brakes to avoid rear-ending a car

Overcrowded Illinois prisons could be next

Supreme Court decision on California’s overcrowded prisons should serve as a warning to Illinois

A U.S. Supreme Court opinion ordering the State of California to reduce its prison population should serve as a warning to Illinois lawmakers, says an Illinois prison watchdog group.In a 5-4 vote, the

The free ride is over for ethanol

Subsidies, under attack, are likely to be modified or eliminated

A push to eliminate federal subsidies for ethanol production could affect Illinois farmers and consumers, while more moderate efforts to adjust the subsidies are gaining momentum. Ethanol is an alcoho

Rebirth of a rivertown

Signs of life in Cairo

Walking down the main business street in Cairo, Ill., it’s tempting to think that this spring’s floodwaters of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers were sent to put the languishing town out of

Holding Wall Street accountable in Illinois

Coalition wants to close Illinois tax loopholes for businesses

If corporations paid their fair share of taxes in Illinois, the state’s budget crisis would disappear, according to an advocacy group calling for higher taxes on big businesses.Make Wall Street

Sex offender board can’t manage sex offenders

New election district may benefit Springfield’s east side

Linking east side to Decatur provides urban representation

A new election map approved by the Illinois General Assembly could result in better representation for Springfield’s east side.Ward 3 Ald. Doris Turner testified at a May 24 hearing of the Illin

Swim, bike, run for fitness and fun

Maybe it’s the obesity epidemic that has so many people worried about their waistlines. Or maybe it’s the ongoing recession that has people looking for low-cost extracurriculars. Whatever

Smart grid or smart grab?

Consumer advocates blast ComEd rate increases

The state’s largest electric utility is asking lawmakers for a series of automatic rate increases to upgrade infrastructure, but consumer advocates say it’s an unfair deal.Commonwealth Edi