Cap City

The conservative Illinois Policy Institute has released its own “State of the State” analysis of Illinois’ economic ills, with some proposed solutions. “Since the decade began, Illinois has experienced the greatest population loss of any state in the nation,” writes the organization’s chief economist, Orphe Divounguy. “This period of decline has had detrimental effects on […]

Grover Johnson died in prison in 1996, 25 years into a 40-year sentence for the rape and attempted murder of an elderly woman, Ida White. More than two decades later, Johnson became the first case in Illinois of an individual posthumously exonerated, an action former governor Bruce Rauner took just before leaving office. Paul Echols, […]

City changes courseThe City of Springfield invites the public to attend an informational session for something called a Downtown Traffic Signal Modernization and Operational Modifications project, according to a Jan. 2 press release. That’s fancy lingo for: we want to talk about turning one-way streets back into two-way.  The city announcement states there will be […]

The Illinois State Museum is chock full of interesting stuff to see, ponder and sometimes hear. Next week likely will prove a delight for all the senses as Bryan Bowers is scheduled to perform at 7 p.m. on Jan. 10 as part of the Music At The Museum concert series, which brings oft-overlooked acts to […]

No one was happier than us when Mayor Jim “Jelly” Langfelder pulled the trigger on buying the iconic Sonrise Donut sign for the low, low price of $22,000 during a recent auction that made us, frankly, wonder who else was bidding on a broken neon sign that will cost a mint to move and perhaps […]

Sam Cahnman, who’s looking to move from erstwhile Ward 5 alderman to newly elected Ward 5 alderman in upcoming city elections, is vowing to reject a pay raise approved last month by the city council and Mayor Jim Langfelder, who broke a 5-5 tie (surprise) to up aldermanic salaries by the same rate as inflation, […]

Newly minted U.S. attorney John Milhiser is making moves in an office rocked by revelations that prosecutors and other employees have exchanged improper emails with U.S. District Court Judge Colin Bruce, a former federal prosecutor himself, that last summer prompted the judge’s removal from all criminal proceedings, including the corruption case against former U.S. Rep. […]

The city is allowing free downtown parking for shoppers during the holidays. Until Dec. 22, shoppers who obtain permits labeled “Shopper” from one of 10 downtown retail businesses – and what a pity it is that there are not three times that amount – can park for free between Fourth and Seventh streets east-west and […]

“Wishes really do come true,” says Jim Leach, in a press release, “and the 2019 Springfield Muni Opera season proves it.” Leach is president of the Muni board of managers. “But it’s not just the wishes of the characters in our four shows. It might be the wish to let your talent shine on stage, […]

We’re doomed. Well, maybe not doomed, but nonetheless in a heap of trouble, thanks to a heap of coal ash from the city’s power plant that’s built up next to Lake Springfield. That’s the takeaway from a report released this week by the Sierra Club, Prairie Rivers Network and other usual environmentalist suspects who have […]

You gotta love Ward 7 Ald. Joe McMenamin, a man who knows his seasons. Take winter, for instance. In August, when sunshine was cheap and the city council, alarmed that an out-of-town outfit had underbid local contractors by more than $80,000, delayed a vote on a $364,000 crack-sealing contract for Chatham Road. At the time, […]

Final signatures aren’t yet on paper, but a contract between State Journal-Register newsroom employees and GateHouse Media, corporate owner of the Springfield daily, has been ratified by workers and is all but a done deal. According to a union publication, workers get a 1 percent raise this year and a 1.75 percent raise next year. […]