The theme of the Aug. 8-18 Illinois State Fair in Springfield is “It’s Showtime,” and fair officials have planned a full schedule of activities and events that live up to that catchphrase, including the unveiling of the newly-renovated Coliseum and other recent fairgrounds improvements. The $31.5 million state-funded Coliseum renovation is the most prominent of […]
David Blanchette
David Blanchette has been involved in journalism since 1979, first as an award-winning broadcaster, then a state government spokesperson, and now as a freelance writer and photographer. He was involved in the development of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum and more recently the Jacksonville Area Museum. David and his wife, Sue, live in Petersburg.
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No more bitcoin for one Springfield business
A Springfield man has removed a once-prominent feature of his business after he witnessed an alarming trend. “One hundred percent of the time that we saw somebody at the machine they were being scammed,” said Matthieu Fortin. “So I was like, this machine has to go. I’m not going to be a part of that.” […]
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Rabbi Rob returns to Jacksonville
He tools around town in a pickup truck with the license plate “Rabbi R.” He has bought several downtown buildings and is transforming them into retail, entertainment and living spaces. He’s going to bring actual World War II tanks to town and have them fire off a few rounds. He’ll even officiate at a wedding […]
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Durbin views the national scene
No submitting questions in advance, no take-it-or-leave-it prepared statements, no off-limit topics, and no hesitation when responding to the interviewer. It’s rare that a national political figure agrees to a no-holds-barred interview, but U.S. Senator Richard Durbin, a Springfield Democrat, thinks that’s how it should be when elected officials interact with the news media. “What […]
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Turmoil at senior housing complex
Senior citizen residents and the new management of a Springfield west end apartment complex have been at odds for several months over what some residents say is a concerted effort to intimidate them into moving out. The management, however, alleges that the problem is just a handful of residents who don’t want change and who […]
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A self-serve farmers market
The tiny Scott County community of Riggston, 50 miles west of Springfield, with a mere 18 residents, is drawing national attention for a self-serve operation in a small building that is addressing the issue of rural American food deserts. “There is not another one like this in the United States,” said Jenny Sauer-Schmidgall, the owner […]
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LaHood, comfortable in Congress
The dark-paneled office walls in the United States Courthouse in downtown Peoria are steeped in history. Photographs depict the office’s previous esteemed denizens meeting world leaders, appearing at historic events, meeting constituents and even riding an elephant in a parade. That tradition isn’t lost on the current office occupant, 16th District Congressman Darin LaHood, 55, […]
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Grass is good for land, livestock and livelihoods.
This economical process makes healthier soil, which makes healthier plants, which makes healthier animals, which makes healthier consumers. So why haven’t more livestock farmers adopted the practice of regenerative grazing? “The answer is really very simple, lack of knowledge and awareness,” said Allen Williams, a founding partner of Understanding Ag LLC. “You can’t implement what […]
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A history of the Armbruster Manufacturing Company
Rudolph Herman “R.H.” Armbruster was born in 1852 in Baden, Germany. He emigrated with his parents to the United States before the Civil War and the family settled in Springfield in 1855. In 1875, R.H. Armbruster broke away from his family’s prominent Springfield jewelry business to open an awning and upholstery store. His first shop […]
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“There’s a magic about this place.”
Several Armbruster Manufacturing Company employees have worked for the 149-year-old firm for approximately one-third of its history. What keeps the employees coming to work at the same place for decades? “It’s been a fun job. I’ve been to England four times and to Norway,” said Jim Wiggins, who has worked for 51 years at Armbruster. […]
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The end of an era
A 149-year-old family manufacturing business in Chatham is closing its doors in early June and an unrelated, but well-known, national franchise business will move into its space along Interstate 55. Armbruster Manufacturing Company will close and its 33,000-square-foot facility will be the new home of the central Illinois Roto-Rooter franchise. The sale of the legacy […]
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How to succeed as a Black-owned business
Black people comprise more than 14 percent of the nation’s population but only 2.3 percent of businesses are Black-owned, according to recent U.S. Census Bureau figures. The most recent American Communities Survey shows that while Black businesses make up approximately 11 percent of all businesses in Illinois, they comprise only two percent of the state’s […]
