The Sangamon County state’s attorney wants the Illinois Department of Human Services declared in contempt of court because of months-long delays by DHS in accepting jail inmates who need mental health treatment before they can stand trial. Department officials say the COVID-19 pandemic is to blame for an “unprecedented backlog” of about 150 people sitting […]
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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Candidates for 13th Congressional District square off
The sometimes stark differences in views among candidates seeking the Republican and Democratic nominations for the new 13th Congressional District seat were on display at a public forum June 7 in Springfield. When it came to issues ranging from the minimum wage to gun policy, the economy, health care and abortion, Republicans Regan Deering and […]
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“Paper terrorism” comes to Springfield
Sangamon County’s top prosecutor and two of his assistants have filed a civil lawsuit to stop what they describe as harassment from a member of the right-wing, anti-government “sovereign citizen” movement. And the Illinois Attorney General’s Office on May 25 filed a felony charge against the Springfield man named in the suit, Derick L. Turner, […]
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$48 million in new construction for Springfield Clinic
About $48 million in construction work is underway to expand, improve and update services for Springfield Clinic patients needing pediatric, laboratory and imaging services, clinic officials say. “At the end of the day, this is all driven by the patients,” Tom Fitch, vice president of facilities, real estate and construction, told Illinois Times. “It all […]
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Illinois hotels get $75 million in federal assistance
Illinois’ hotel industry received less than it requested from the General Assembly this year to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. But an industry leader said the final $75 million infusion definitely will help. “We’re very pleased with where we ended up,” said Michael Jacobson, president and chief executive officer of the Illinois Hotel & Lodging […]
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Town and Country Shopping Center sells to Miami developer
An investment firm in Miami that promotes itself as focusing on “distressed residential and commercial projects” was the winning bidder to acquire Springfield’s Town & Country Shopping Center. Larkspur Properties is scheduled to close on the deal June 24 after its $5.77 million bid in a five-day online auction that concluded May 24. The auction […]
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Dream Center moves closer to reality
The pastor of Destiny Church hopes to raise “several hundred thousand dollars” so a nonprofit founded by the church can open a “Dream Center” this fall to provide free or low-cost vocational classes to young people in Springfield. “It’s something that needs to happen in our community,” Rev. Eric Hansen told Illinois Times. The Dream […]
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Preserving abortion access
Gov. JB Pritzker and other prominent Democrats in Illinois have condemned a draft U.S. Supreme Court decision that would undo the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling issued almost 50 years ago. They pledged to preserve abortion access in Illinois while half of the states, including the five surrounding states, are poised to ban abortion in […]
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Sam McCann says he may plead guilty
Former state senator and gubernatorial candidate Sam McCann says he is considering pleading guilty as part of an agreement with federal prosecutors to resolve charges that he illegally spent more than $200,000 in campaign funds. McCann, 52, a former Republican senator from the Macoupin County community of Plainview, represented the 50th Senate District, which includes […]
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Sam McCann says he may plead guilty to federal charges
Former state senator and gubernatorial candidate Sam McCann says he is considering pleading guilty as part of an agreement with federal prosecutors to resolve charges that he illegally spent more than $200,000 in campaign funds. McCann, 52, a former Republican senator from the Macoupin County community of Plainview, represented the 50th Senate District, which includes […]
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A fatal encounter
The body of a 36-year-old nurse remained in a Springfield hotel room for more than two days after her fatal overdose. During that time, the woman’s boyfriend, Loren Letz, 40, who admitted to taking drugs with her on Jan. 18, used her car and debit card to make more than $500 in withdrawals from her […]
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UIS faculty approves new contract, avoids strike
Annual salary increases of 2% to 3.5% are part of a new four-year labor contract ratified by University of Illinois Springfield faculty members retroactive to the 2021-22 academic year. “I was glad,” Kristi Barnwell, president of UIS United Faculty-Local 4100, told Illinois Times. “We’ve got a contract that is stronger than our previous contract.” Ratified […]
