News | Thursday, December 9,2010

New east side center steers youth in the right direction

Leannette Black grew up in San Francisco, where she remembers her mother making and selling hot tamales and hamburgers out of their home to raise money for drum and bugle corps costumes. “I saw

News | Thursday, December 9,2010

Beyond civil unions: What’s next?

By Rachel Wells

As Republicans spoke out against a civil union bill approved by both the House and Senate last week, they argued that the measure would open the door to same-sex marriage, a prediction advocates for t

News | Thursday, December 9,2010

Study urges caution on underground CO2 storage

By Rachel Wells

Carbon dioxide leaks from deep underground wells could make otherwise good water undrinkable, a study by two scientists at the Duke University Center on Global Change found in a study released earlier

News | Thursday, December 2,2010

Charity says ‘No, thanks’

Animal shelter returns donations, locks out volunteers

By Rachel Wells

Not all dogs that find temporary refuge at animal shelters are destined for a new home with space to roam and lots of loving pats to the head. But, volunteer Nancy Hunter says, when a shelter houses m

News | Thursday, December 2,2010

Impatient with Medicaid patients

Committee hears personal responsibility is key to savings

By Rachel Wells

“Patient responsibility” was the phrase of the day Monday for the Republican co-chair of a special state Senate committee formed to review and recommend reforms for the state’s Medic

Holiday | Wednesday, November 24,2010

From the heart

Nonprofits ask their community for a helping hand

By Rachel Wells

Give what’s in your heart. It’s a phrase that, when applied in the figurative sense, precisely summarizes what most social service agencies ask of their donors, hoping that in those hearts

News | Wednesday, November 24,2010

Fired cops face civil rights jury next week

By Rachel Wells

Two former Springfield cops will face a jury next week in federal court for allegedly violating the civil rights of Larry Washington, the former Vice Lord gang member who was arrested in March of 2005

News | Thursday, November 18,2010

It’s a zoo out here

Morale and maintenance decline at Henson Robinson Zoo. Escape plan is in the works.

By Rachel Wells

When Rainier, a wolverine born last spring, sees a visitor to Henson Robinson Zoo rounding the corner to see her, she scampers to the front of her exhibit, ready to follow the new face from one end to

News | Thursday, November 18,2010

Coal miners find common ground with anti-coal author

By Rachel Wells

Asked if he was a proponent of coal as he waited for a lecture featuring an anti-coal author to begin, Mark Bloom, sporting an International Coal Group jacket and sitting next to his Williamsville min

News | Thursday, November 11,2010

Enos Park master plan already progressing

By Rachel Wells

Momentum is already building for just the change prescribed earlier this week when Enos Park, a historical but declining Springfield neighborhood, unveiled its redevelopment strategy. The master plan