Springfield weathers economic storm better than other cities

Springfield took an economic hit during the recent economic recession, but the city fared better than much of the country, according to new data from the federal government.Data released Feb. 24 by th

Quinn calls for cuts to social services

‘Debt restructuring’ would still leave providers suffering

Gov. Pat Quinn wants to borrow billions of dollars to pay the state’s backlogged bills, but social service providers could still face cuts.Illinois owes billions in overdue payments to mental he

Advocates: ‘Don’t prosecute teens for consensual sex’

Bill would change law for Romeo and Juliet

If Romeo were alive today, he would be a sex offender.That’s the situation with Illinois sex offender laws, say reformers calling for changes to laws they say unfairly stigmatize low-risk teenag

Will the next mayor please step forward?

So many candidates, so few bold ideas

Every candidate has ideas for what they will do when they are elected mayor. Spend more wisely, they say. Encourage business growth, develop the medical district and bring in more tourists. Get rid of

Death penalty fight not over

Capital punishment proponents call for public referendum

Though a bill to end the death penalty in Illinois awaits only the governor’s signature, proponents of capital punishment are calling instead for a public referendum on repeal.Saying the death p

Parking war

Proposed parking fine increase causes clash in city council

Parking in Springfield is cheap. Visitors from Chicago sometimes joke that it’s cheaper to get a parking ticket here than to simply pay the meter in their city. But that could change with a prop

Illinois health reform continues

GOP threats of repeal haven’t swayed state

A new reality for the east side

Ambitious plans for redevelopment, but funding still uncertain

Springfield’s east side could see a dramatic revitalization over the next three years, according to representatives of businesses, churches, nonprofits and government bodies who met to discuss r

Springfield blogger cleared of electronic harassment charges

Case tests 2008 state cyberbullying law

The pen is mighty, says Scott Humphrey of Springfield, but he’ll be more cautious when he uses it from now on. The 58-year-old construction worker and blogger learned that lesson after his recen

Victory in court nears for developmentally disabled

Illinois to offer more choice of living arrangements