News | Thursday, May 24,2012

Tenaska drops clean coal plan for Taylorville

Project still seeks state subsidies for natural gas plant

A proposed state-of-the-art “clean coal” power plant in Taylorville has been sidelined, but the project could still continue as a natural gas power plant.Nebraska-based Tenaska, Inc. says

News | Thursday, May 24,2012

City proposal could spur action on civil union benefits

Aldermen would have final say

By Patrick Yeagle

The City of Springfield is one step closer to an agreement on health benefits for civil union partners of city employees and retirees. A committee composed of representatives from the city and labor u

News | Thursday, May 17,2012

Making downtown lovable

Design experts envision a walkable, bike-friendly urban core

By Patrick Yeagle

What started as a search for office space has turned into an investment adventure for Springfield architect Larry Quenette. He took a gamble when he decided to turn the three-story Dunn Building at 20

News | Thursday, May 10,2012

Lawmakers vote to keep supermax prison open

Panel’s 3-7 vote against Tamms closure isn’t final word

By Patrick Yeagle

A panel of state lawmakers voted last week to keep the state’s “supermax” prison open, but the costly facility’s ultimate fate rests with the governor.

News | Thursday, May 10,2012

Coal curriculum

What is the state teaching children about coal?

By Patrick Yeagle

Illinois is a coal state – the eighth-largest producer of coal in the nation at 33.2 million tons in 2010, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. The Illinois Geological Survey estimates Il

News | Thursday, May 3,2012

No mandate? No problem.

Group pushes for health insurance exchange even if federal reform is struck down

By Patrick Yeagle

As the U.S. Supreme Court considers the fate of controversial federal health insurance reforms, advocates in Illinois are urging the state to implement the federal law even if it’s struck down.A

News | Thursday, May 3,2012

Not too young to know

Targeting STDs, teen pregnancy through better sex ed

By Patrick Yeagle

At least 21 children between the ages of 12 and 14 had the sexually transmitted disease chlamydia in 2006, according to the Sangamon County Department of Public Health.That startling fact illustrates

News | Thursday, April 26,2012

Incarcerated but innocent

Illinois Innocence Project expands work to free the wrongfully convicted

By Patrick Yeagle

When Jonathan Grayson went to the Kane County courthouse on March 6, he wasn’t expecting to walk out a free man. The 30-year-old had spent 10 years in prison for murder, and he still had another

News | Thursday, April 19,2012

Reformers: sex offender mandate would hurt Illinois

Other states shrugging off law because of costs

By Patrick Yeagle

As Illinois lawmakers debate a bill to increase registration requirements for sex offenders under a federal mandate, reform advocates say it would cost the state too much. They say many other states h

News | Thursday, April 19,2012

Early release would save $153 million

House committee mulls prison overcrowding solutions

By Patrick Yeagle

Putting a halt to early prison release in Illinois has cost the state $153 million a year, says one prison reform advocate. Meanwhile, inmates complain of cockroaches in their cells and a lack of reha