Two years after Sara Bowen-Lasisi began working for the Phoenix Center, she realized the Springfield nonprofit appeared to be overbilling the state for grant-supported HIV testing. But Bowen-Lasisi said the questionable practice was openly admitted and encouraged by the former executive director, Jonna Cooley. According to Bowen-Lasisi, Cooley said, “‘We were doing the work, so […]
Dean Olsen
Dean Olsen is a senior staff writer for Illinois Times. He can be reached at:
dolsen@illinoistimes.com, 217-679-7810 or @DeanOlsenIT.
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Marc Ayers to resign from County Board
Springfield resident Marc Ayers isn’t ruling out running for Ward 7 alderperson or mayor in April 2027, or maybe another elected office someday. But the 40-year-old Springfield native has decided to leave the Sangamon County Board seat he has held since 2022. “No one was forcing me out,” Ayers, the board’s District 12 representative, told […]
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Logan County takes its time on data center proposal
A recently approved 60-day moratorium on accepting applications for data centers will help Logan County Board members become better informed and thoroughly review any proposals in the future, a board member told Illinois Times. “We could use some more time. This is new,” said board member Michael DeRoss, a Lincoln resident. “There are people on […]
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A roundup of county election results
Appointed Sangamon County Sheriff Paula Crouch won the Republican primary forsheriff on March 17, fending off an enthusiastic challenge from retired deputy David Timm, while incumbent County Board member Sam Cahnman was defeated in the Democratic primary by political newcomer Miguel Valente. Paula Crouch, 52, a retired former Springfield Police Department lieutenant, credited thesupport of […]
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Using her own words against her
A video shot by the family of former Sangamon County deputy David Timm shows the 25-year veteran of the sheriff’s office being honored by his boss and future political opponent at a retirement ceremony. The grainy video from the January 2025 ceremony shows Sheriff Paula Crouch getting choked up as she stands next to Timm […]
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New owner and plans for Town & Country Shopping Center
Town & Country Shopping Center has a new owner, who says he plans to make about $5 million in renovations at the site on South MacArthur Boulevard and begin the work in the next 30 days. “I think it has a lot of potential,” Trent Overhue of Springfield, Missouri, told Illinois Times on March 9. […]
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A heated race for Sangamon County sheriff
A retired Sangamon County deputy challenging incumbent Paula Crouch to become the Republican candidate in this year’s race for sheriff says Crouch and her allies are using lies and distortions to sway voters as the March 17 primary approaches. David Timm is pushing back against an onslaught of radio, print and video advertisements paid for […]
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Data center project moves forward
Opponents of a proposed $500 million data center in southwestern Sangamon County went away disappointed and angry but unbowed, while officials from a Dallas-based company left smiling, after a pair of nonbinding votes by county officials Feb. 19. “This is a long-term catalyst for the labor and construction industry,” Bradd Hout, location and power strategy […]
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An overview of Springfield’s finances
Several of Springfield’s city council members voiced concern that the city’s rate of spending could lead to future shortfalls, but a majority still approved a new fiscal year budget of almost $203 million. The new corporate fund budget for fiscal 2027, which supports most city functions, such as road repairs and police and fire protection, […]
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Economic development efforts expand
A Black alderperson called a white alderperson racist, then suggested they settle their differences “outside.” Depending on your point of view, this might have been upsetting or entertaining to those sitting in the audience or watching online during the Springfield City Council’s Feb. 3 meeting. But Ward 2 Ald. Shawn Gregory told Illinois Times that […]
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Jack Campbell speaks out
The former Sangamon County sheriff – who refused calls for his resignation after Sonya Massey’s 2024 murder, then abruptly retired, citing stress on his family and the sheriff’s office – recently defended the office against recent allegations of “institutional shortcomings.” Jack Campbell, 61, responded to questions from Illinois Times after Sangamon County deputy Travis Koester […]
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Union president asked for leniency for Grayson
The president of the union that represents deputies in the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office pleaded with a judge to be lenient in sentencing former deputy Sean Grayson for the murder of Sonya Massey. Sangamon County Deputy Travis Koester was ultimately unsuccessful but told Circuit Judge Ryan Cadagin in a letter that Grayson, 31, deserved mercy […]
