Cover Story
Spring Guide
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Cost of teaching degree followed by low pay, benefits, seen as obstacles
Illinois continues to suffer from a shortage of teachers and other education professionals, although recent efforts by the state to ease the strain have made an impact. That’s according to the latest annual survey of school officials from the Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools, which has been conducting the survey every year since…
Competition for scarce state dollars
As we’ve discussed before, the competition for scarce state dollars is particularly fierce this year in Springfield as various groups elbow each other for money while large surpluses and revenue increases start to dry up. A poll taken by respected national Democratic pollster Normington Petts in late February of 700 registered Illinois voters purports to…
John Mellencamp more than rocks
John Mellencamp brought his Live and in Person 2024 tour to the Sangamon Auditorium at the UIS Performing Arts Center on March 23. Most in attendance were likely longtime fans, since the majority seemed closer to his age of 71 than not, with a smattering of younger folks here and there joining in with the…
UIS Music Program educates future leaders, enriches local music scene
Nestled in the heart of the University of Illinois Springfield campus lies a hidden gem – the UIS Music Program, a vibrant interdisciplinary unit committed to educating tomorrow’s leaders and enriching the local music scene. Housed in the Department of Art, Music and Theatre, the UIS Music Program offers a rich tapestry of classes across…
Springfield doctors join push for statewide insurance reform
Two Springfield doctors are part of Gov. JB Pritzker’s push to reform what he called “predatory health insurance practices.” The Democratic governor’s proposed Healthcare Protection Act would ban “step therapy,” which can delay patients’ access to more-expensive medicines until cheaper medicines are tried first. House Bill 5395 also would ban requiring prior authorization for inpatient…
Building “an ecosystem of solutions” on the east side
A year from now, Dominic Watson expects to open a shared kitchen and culinary incubator for dozens of emerging minority-owned businesses in a 30,000-square-foot building at 11th Street and South Grand Avenue East. A year or two after that, his plans call for the former South Town Theater building – on the same block on…
ISP concludes investigation into shooting at juvenile detention center
An Illinois State Police investigation failed to determine how a 17-year-old obtained the handgun he fired inside the Sangamon County Juvenile Detention Center and carried as he tried to escape the facility with a hostage Sept. 30 before being shot by police. Camren Marcelis Darden, 17, was hit by several rounds fired from a semi-automatic…
Something for everyone to enjoy
Romance, drama, nostalgia or a few good laughs – be it a musical or dramatic stage production, our local theater scene has all the feels covered. Running March 22-24 at the Hoogland Center for the Arts, Nightmare at the Hot Mess Hair Salon takes you on a nostalgic jaunt through the early 2000s pop culture…
The hidden gems in Rockford
Peaches aren’t usually a spring treat but you can find them in Rockford along with some stunning gardens if you head 200 miles north this time of year. You also might encounter old bones and haunted spirits. “Rockford is a little bit of a hidden gem,” says Emily Plumb of the Rockford Area Convention and Visitors…
Perfect recipes for eggs, just in time for spring
Eggs have been a symbol of spring for centuries, long before the advent of Christianity and our modern hunts for Easter eggs. The ancient Greeks, Romans and Egyptians all had beliefs relating to eggs and the creation of the universe, that the earth itself was born out of an egg. Cultures around the world decorate…
Spring Guide calendar
Friday Night Jazz Every Friday, 5:30-7:30pm. Listen to some of Springfield’s finest jazz musicians with a different act every week. springfieldartsco.org. Boone’s, 301 Edwards St., 217-679-3752. Mystery Movie Monday First Monday of every month, 7pm. Through May 6. You won’t know the title of the film until the red velvet curtain opens on the grand…
Music marches on
Hang on to your hats and whatever else is blowin’ in the wind this month, as March is living up to its blustery reputation. The coming weekend looks to be pleasant enough for the season, so let’s see what is happening around town that will get you going out to see some live music. I…
Editor’s note 03-21-24
New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof noted this week that President Joe Biden has been talking increasingly tougher to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the humanitarian toll in Gaza caused by Israel’s war tactics. But Netanyahu continues to ignore the White House. Kristof quoted Israeli defense minister Moshe Dayan, speaking to an American in 1967.…
Horror fans will enjoy Immaculate and Late Night with the Devil, Road House is fun but predictable
Sweeney saves Immaculate Sporting an adept inversion of a 1970s horror film trope, Michael Mohan’s Immaculate is a lean, efficient shocker propelled by an innovative plot that’s so clever, you’ll likely forgive the liberties screenwriter Andrew Lobel takes in the third act. In many ways. Cecilia’s (Sydney Sweeney) path toward becoming a nun seems preordained.…
Idle Thoughts on Endless Things
Idle Thoughts on Endless Things I don’t know who wrote this; maybe I did? “An eternity precedes me that goes backwards in time FOREVER. During all that time I didn’t know anything about anything nor miss my non-being. Now there’s a brief span of “me” then time will go on forever, for time is limitless…
Letters to the editor 03-21-24
DON’T BLAME STUDENTS Marc Magliari wrote a scathing letter lamenting the public media landscape in our state and decided to blame the tuition-paying students at University of Illinois Springfield for not shouldering the bill (“Letters to the editor,” March 7). Of course, he leaves out that many other public media outlets have consolidated in recent…
My curriculum not the reason kids can’t read
Your Feb. 29 cover story, “When Kids Can’t Read,” references Springfield public schools and my curriculum, Units of Study. I applaud Springfield for attending to the individual differences among children as readers. It is fundamentally important to recognize that children are all different. Assessments from reading specialists and individualized support for those who need it…
Protecting and restoring our native habitat
Spring is always a welcome reward for enduring the cold temperatures of winter. Now that our days are filled with sunshine, the beauty of our landscape is awakening as the grass quickly greens and flowers begin to show their colors – proof of Mother Nature’s magnificent design. This beauty is part of an intricate system…
Spring crafts for kids
Spring is finally here. This is a wonderful time of year to get outside with younger children, but it can sometimes be hard to know what to do. Spring crafts are a great way to teach kids about nature, use fine motor skills and get outside. They can also be a fun way to reuse…
Backyard chickens 101
If you’ve ever stopped to admire fluffy chicks that appear at farm supply stores each spring, you may have contemplated bringing home a flock of your own. Keeping hens is likely the most approachable form of animal husbandry with a myriad of rewards, including access to scrumptious fresh eggs, reduced kitchen waste and the sheer…
