Thank you, Governor
I appreciate the governor of Illinois confirming a point that I made in my drafts of “Graduation exercise” but which I couldn’t squeeze into the finished piece. From Doug Finke: Rauner, speaking at an event in Springfield Monday, said a graduated state income tax would be a bad idea for Illinois, especially for small…
EXCLUSIVE: Pension perks
Local elected officials due for pensions would have to keep logs showing that they have worked enough hours to qualify for pension benefits under a bill now pending in the state legislature. That could mean a lot of paperwork for local pols. Elected officials aren’t required to take pensions, but all but one member of…
Modern spirit
In “More jet-age wonders” I praised the jet-age barn on the state fairgrounds known as the Illinois Building, which was completed in 1950 to plans drawn up by the Chicago firm of Loebl, Schlossman and Bennett. I wouldn’t want you to take just my word for it. Here is Emil Smith, then the editor and publisher…
Shadow children
Victor Vieth, founder of Gundersen National Child Protection Training Center in Minnesota, says nighttime is “the terrible time” for many children. “It’s at nighttime when many children are beaten, shaken, sexually abused and cry themselves to sleep,” Vieth said. “These are the shadow children of our country.” On April 25, Vieth joined supporters of the…
Job-killers
Samuel Scott III, the retired chairman and CEO of Corn Products International, which now calls itself Ingredion. He gave a speech to the Chicago Council on Global Affairs in which he examined the crisis in Chicago’s African-American community, which was excerpted recently in Crain’s Chicago Business. Among his remarks, which were otherwise unremarkable, was this remarkable fact. …
Graduation exercise
Rep. Lou Lang, D-Skokie Everyone who cares enough to have an opinion agrees that revenue is at the heart of the State of Illinois’ present distress. Some say that’s because the state doesn’t raise enough of it, others that it raises it inefficiently or unfairly, yet others that it spends what it raises foolishly. They’re…
Panama Papers reveal hypocrisy
Jim Hightower PHOTO BY LARRY D. MOORE It’s always educational to observe the behavior of wildlife in their natural habitat. For example, we learn that there’s nothing more vicious than a wild animal that’s cornered. I would add that there’s nothing more devious than a top political or corporate official caught in a scandalous hypocrisy.…
Blog post temporarily breaks stalemate
PHOTO BY ALAN SOLOMON/TNS A blog post appears to have helped at least temporarily break the long stalemate at the Illinois Statehouse. Rep. Mike Fortner (R-West Chicago) wrote up a story and I posted it on my blog (http://CapitolFax.com) last Monday about a way to provide some funding for higher education. Universities and community colleges…
Letters to the Editor 4/28/16
RETIREE INCOME TAX I note that there seems to be a concern that retirees would flee the state of Illinois in droves if the state were to tax retirement income in excess of $50,000. I am wondering if low-income Illinoisans would also flee the state if only their income in excess of $50,000 was taxed.…
Showing my heart to the world
My name is Thomas J. Bestudik and I am currently an inmate at Taylorville Correctional center serving three years. My world revolves around my nearly 9-year-old daughter, and I wrote a poem to express how I feel for her and if published, to show she does not have to worry what others think. Showing your…
Animal-free antics
Cirque Italia Founded in 2011, Cirque Italia is the United States’ first traveling water circus. This magical European-inspired spectacle is the brainchild of Manuel Rebecchi, who spent his childhood traveling across Italy and Europe with his late aunt Moira Orfei, who ran one of Europe’s largest circus shows. Cirque Italia’s extraordinary stage features a 35,000-gallon…
New gallery, new show
“Translations” opening reception Join local artists David Brodsky, Jed Leber and Corrin Smithson McWhirter for the opening reception for “Translations,” the first exhibition to be displayed at the newly established SAA Collective Gallery in the Hoogland Center for the Arts. The SAA Collective Gallery, formerly known as the Prairie Art Alliance Gallery at the Hoogland…
Making Springfield look cool
PHOTO BY PATRICK YEAGLE On the set of “The Studio Show.” Left to right: Keil Isham, Arlin Peebles, Dave Heinzel. What started as just an excuse for a group of friends to hang out has turned into a Springfield-focused, bi-weekly web series generating a strong buzz and garnering increasing numbers of viewers. “The Studio Show,”…
Conner’s new Springfield film
Jensen Atwood and Omar Gooding in Before “I Do.” Before “I Do,” the latest feature from Springfield filmmaker Kimberly Conner, was a long time in the making. The first draft of the script for the film, which has its premier at the Hoogland Center for the Arts on Saturday, April 30, was written back in…
Come, creative spirit
An opening reception for the “Exhibit of Liturgical and Sacred Art” will be held on Saturday, April 30, from 4:30-6:30pm at the Springfield Art Association as part of the 11th annual Liturgical Arts Festival of Springfield. The Liturgical Arts Festival of Springfield is a weeklong interfaith arts festival presented every two years by a nonprofit,…
Why are they still in prison?
Harrison Chancy, left, and Joseph Hurst. Harrison Chancy has spent the last 38 years behind bars for a murder and armed robbery that took place in 1977. Now age 57, he still maintains he didn’t commit those crimes, and despite evidence that he would pose no criminal threat if released, he has been denied parole…
County quirk
A big election year for Illinois policymakers means some politicians are stepping on eggshells, but that’s not the case for Sangamon County Clerk Don Gray. Despite the criticism he encountered as a result of running out of ballots during the presidential primary election in March, Gray, a Republican, still has no Democratic opposition in the…
State settles minority contracting case
Capitol Strategies, a Springfield technology firm, and two affiliated companies have agreed to pay $550,000 to the state of Illinois for violating laws intended to ensure that minority-owned firms benefit from state contracts. The company remains a state contractor. In addition, Berjaya, Inc., a separate Chatham-based company, has agreed to pay a $10,000 fine and…
MacArthur makeover
Public Works director Mark Mahoney, left, discusses options with a constituent. Photo by Patrick Yeagle. MacArthur Boulevard has seen better days. The historic thoroughfare, originally called West Grand Boulevard, once marked the western boundary of Springfield. It was built as a two-lane road in 1919, and by the 1930s it had become a hotspot…
IT’S ONLY MONEY
Just how much money has been spent – some might say wasted – on the Salvation Army’s fledgling homeless shelter on Ninth Street is becoming clear as Evans Construction this month filed a $340,000 lien against the property, which records in the Sangamon County recorder’s office show was purchased in 2009 for $3.4 million. Renovations…
BEAUTIFUL BIRDS
Spring means the return of migratory birds which headed south for winter, and the Lincoln Land Association of Bird Banders is asking for help tracking two particularly pretty species. The nonprofit group focuses on monitoring, protecting and enhancing the population of Illinois’ native birds and their environments. While the common American robin has long been…
Cheadle salvages Miles Ahead
Don Cheadle as Miles Davis in Miles Ahead. PHOTO COURTESY SONY PICTURES CLASSICS. Making a film biography is fraught with hazards, even more so when tackling the life of an artist. Unless the movie is based on the subject’s autobiography, who can truly say where their inspiration comes from, especially if the artist themself can’t…
April into May music
Mary Jo Curry performs with Johnny Rawls and James Armstrong as part of the Rockin’ Blues Soul Revue on Saturday night, April 30, at the Capital City Bar & Grill. Another tough weekend lies ahead for Springfield music fans, but only for making choices (not in a lack of entertainment offerings). Things start on Thursday…
The Mix
The Mix PHOTO BY WILLIAM RICHARDS (W.R. PHOTOGRAPHY) Back in January of 2014 plans were made to develop a band capable of knocking out current and popular radio dance hits live, without tracks. Band founder Pete Jeffers (drums) was joined by Ed Boyd (keys), Tony Dyer (guitar), Preston Searl (bass), Liz Christofilakos (lead vocals), Ashley…
Algorithm blues
CARTOON BY JEN SORENSON
What you seethe is what you get
PHOTO COURTESY AMY ALKON Amy Alkon My boyfriend of a year used to fly into rages. He and his ex had huge, ugly screaming fights. He now uses “mental tricks” to stay calmer. Obviously, rage is a bad thing, but it’s also a passionate thing. Is it crazy to worry that he doesn’t care enough…
Editor’s note 4/28/16
Voices for Illinois Children, the Chicago-based advocacy group, knows how to encourage children – and legislators – when they do something right. Emily Miller, the group’s policy and advocacy director, writes, “Since last week’s bipartisan agreement to provide emergency cash to higher education, a narrative of regret and finger-pointing has emerged from officials who are…
insect thoughts #4
insect thoughts #4(more than you want to hear) on my kitchen floor in a bowl of waterlives a live tick I found it on my neckafter burning charlie’s prairie last weekdon’t think it had time to bite isn’t swollenhas its mouth parts six appendages I havestudied it several times with a magnifyingglass consulted wikipedia it’s…
Simply, asparagus
Asparagus “rafts” on the grill. PHOTO BY PETER GLATZ During college, I spent my summers farming with my wife’s grandfather – her “Papa” – on his organic produce farm. Every evening, weary, sore, and satisfied from a true hard day’s work, we were rewarded with Nana’s sublime suppers. Nana was a farm cook. She did…
