David Blanchette

“As soon as I enter the door of a tavern, I experience oblivion of care, and a freedom from solicitude,” said 18th-century English author Samuel Johnson. “There is nothing which has yet been contrived by man, by which so much happiness is produced as by a good tavern or inn.” In spite of changing tastes […]

The stories embodied in Springfield’s locally owned and family-operated taverns through the years are the basis for Tavern Talk: Old Taverns and Tales in Springfield, Illinois, a new book by local husband and wife authors Bobby and Sandy Orr. The book opens with a disclaimer that the volume “was compiled from several sources, many of […]

The job description for a nurse is full of things that people with autism have difficulty doing. But to Elijah “Eli” Hernandez, difficult does not mean impossible. “There were plenty of times where I thought, ‘I don’t think I can do this’” including the period where he was homeless, Hernandez said. “But what’s important is […]

With 15 directors in 16 years, court-ordered compliance, government reviews, stormy legislative hearings and several recent highly publicized deaths of children, the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) has become everyone’s punching bag. The newly nominated DCFS director, former department employee Marc D. Smith, faces the unenviable task of trying to run the […]

“If you spend any time with these kids, your heart will melt. You look at these kids, some as poor as church mice, and they’re learning, they’re excited.” Those are the words of Harvard Park Elementary School building principal James Hayes, who is proud of what the teachers, volunteers and administration of the nearly 500-student […]

It’s only been legal since Aug. 26, but there are already farmers throughout the state who want to start growing Illinois’ latest cash crop. The Illinois Industrial Hemp Act was signed into law by Gov. Bruce Rauner this summer. It allows farmers to obtain state licenses to grow hemp for use in a wide range […]

Organized labor will have a friend in the State Capitol no matter who wins the 96th District state representative race on Nov. 6. Democratic incumbent Sue Scherer of Decatur was a longtime union member and contract negotiator, and Republican challenger Herman Senor of Springfield has been a Teamsters Union member for more than 20 years.   […]

The two men running for the 99th District State Representative seat in the Nov. 6 general election had the exact same thing to say about each other: “He’s a nice guy.” Democrat Marc Bell and Republican Mike Murphy have known each other for several years and have ridden bicycles together as members of the Springfield […]

She’s 47, he’s 48. Both grew up in central Illinois, married hometown sweethearts, and they each have two sons and one daughter. Serious family health issues have shaped both of their outlooks on health care, and life experiences have firmed their convictions regarding gun violence, education and economic opportunity. Meet Betsy Dirksen Londrigan and incumbent […]

Springfield may not be a suburb of Chicago, but efforts are afoot to make practical, daily commuting between the two cities – and other Illinois cities – a reality. And it would only take a rail system almost three times as fast as current high-speed trains, at a cost nearly equal to the entire fiscal […]

The man who wants to be Illinois’ next attorney general has a mean jump shot, would rather listen than talk, has survived cancer and draws inspiration from his own life experiences when taking a stand on key issues. One of those experiences profoundly affected his life and political outlook. “I recall about seven years ago […]

Talk about being unfriended. If State Senator Sam McCann from the Macoupin County community of Plainview was unpopular with the powers that be in Springfield before, he became a virtual pariah following his April 19 announcement that he would form the Conservative Party and become the third candidate for Illinois governor. The reaction from those […]