MacArthur may be considered for TIF district

Master plan to be released Feb. 23

The MacArthur Boulevard Business Association may start to see the fruits of its labor as soon as Feb. 23, when the final master plan is unveiled for development along the corridor from South Grand Ave

Big Brothers and Sisters wanted

UIS students help out, but there’s still a volunteer gap

Yvonne Wapniarski says it takes her an average of two years to match a child with an adult mentor through Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Illinois Capital Region in Springfield.“Two years unless

‘Lawbbyists’

100 years of lawyerly lobbying in Sprngfield

From shady money transfers by former Gov. Rod Blagojevich to the return of a missing baseball signed by Babe Ruth, attorney Herman Bodewes has seen it all throughout more than 40 years with a Springfi

New restrictions possible for public food aid

Demand growing as state considers new controls

Krystal Taylor of Springfield doesn’t worry about not having enough to eat. She knows everything will be OK.Taylor, 35, has received Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits t

‘Put Illinois to Work’ doesn’t always work

Durbin commemorates Bloody Sunday in Lithuania

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin’s grandmother moved her and her children to St. Louis from her hometown of Jurbarkas, Lithuania, to make a better life for her family in 1911. “I know from one piece

New kid on the block

Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon arrives in Springfield with a legacy, accessiblility and a banjo

The year was 1969 and Sheila Simon remembers fidgeting in her seat as her father, the late U.S. Sen. Paul Simon, was sworn in as lieutenant governor of Illinois. Nearly eight years old at the time, Sh

Kids get up close with Cubs

Chicago Cubs Caravan spotlights reading in Springfield

Second grader Taylor Kennedy sits cross-legged in the front row of her classmates as Chicago Cubs second baseman Blake DeWitt reads about Abraham Lincoln’s hat. Leaning forward in his chair, a p

A Former Compulsive Gambler Speaks Out, A Family Torn Apart

Groups warn gambling expansion would increase costs to society

Jerry Prosapio watched Springfield this week as the General Assembly considered, but so far failed to pass, legislation to expand gaming. The proposal would have added slots to Chicago airports, a cas