Tracks on 10th

Will consolidating three rail lines divide the city or bring it together?

The bright red bricks of the boxy building at 427 S. 12th St. in Springfield stand out boldly against the drab colors of winter. A remnant of Springfield’s past, the building incorporates window

People with disabilities seek independence

Illinois ranks worst for institutional care

Health care reform could be a big plus for the disabled, says one Springfield disability advocate, but only if the state fundamentally changes how it handles those with special needs.Tyler McHaley, pr

Patriot Guard watches over military funerals

About 100 somber men and women in black leather vests line every pathway in front of the cream-colored funeral home in Chatham. On every vest is a collection of colorful patches proclaiming the wearer

A big push to end capital punishment

Death penalty abolitionists say now is the time

A group calling for the end of capital punishment in Illinois says it is within “striking distance” of passing its bill in the final days of the legislative session.The Illinois Coalition

Stamping out hate

Coalition addresses hate expression in Springfield

IEPA vows to step up factory farm enforcement

More inspections, faster responses to manure complaints

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency vows to step up enforcement of anti-pollution rules on factory farms after criticism from the federal government and environmental advocates.In a letter da

The Ambassador of Salsa

Springfield entrepreneur uses dance as a teaching tool

Pulsing Latin rhythms echo through the cavernous gymnasium at Springfield College, as a handful of college students take their first few steps into the world of salsa dancing. Some glide gracefully ac

Serving those who served

Help for homeless veterans in Springfield

As the cold November rain spits against the Springfield Overflow Shelter windows, Mark Weldon, 54, sips from a Styrofoam cup of hot chocolate mixed with coffee, the milky brown concoction dripping fro

Hockey players help out at Hazel Dell

They come from all over the nation – Arizona, Minnesota, New Jersey, Wisconsin and more – but Springfield’s Jr. Blues hockey players are giving back to this city as if it were their

Record-breaking year for campaign spending

Expensive election surpasses old highs, worries advocates

This election cycle is turning out to be the most expensive in Illinois’ history, and campaign finance reform advocates are troubled by what that means.The Chicago-based Illinois Campaign for Po