This week’s “overwhelming” vote by unionized faculty members at University of Illinois Springfield to authorize a potential strike should send a message to university officials, the union’s vice president says. “In essence, the faculty are tired and fed up with the administration,” Steve Schnebly, UIS professor of criminology and criminal justice, told Illinois Times. “This […]
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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Charlie Kirk coming to Springfield
The Sangamon County Republican Central Committee hopes to follow up on record-breaking attendance at last year’s Lincoln Day Dinner with this year’s April 19 event featuring national conservative political activist Charlie Kirk. Kirk, 28, a Chicago-area native and Eagle Scout, has said he is dedicated to “win the American culture war.” Raised in Wheeling, Kirk […]
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Insurance reform proposal fails
State Rep. Sue Scherer asked fellow lawmakers April 6 to vote for legislation she said would protect patients harmed by the contract dispute between Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois and Springfield Clinic. Scherer, D-Decatur, whose 96th House district includes parts of Springfield’s east side and eastern Sangamon County, was unsuccessful in securing passage […]
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Progress for Pillsbury site
The site of the former Pillsbury factory on Springfield’s northeast side could be leveled and developed for future residential, industrial or commercial use – maybe even become a solar farm – in the next five years or more. Those are among the hopes of Moving Pillsbury Forward, a Springfield nonprofit that recently acquired the 18-acre […]
Posted inNews
Insurance reform proposal fails
State Rep. Sue Scherer asked fellow lawmakers April 6 to vote for legislation she said would protect patients harmed by the contract dispute between Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois and Springfield Clinic. Scherer, D-Decatur, whose 96th House district includes parts of Springfield’s east side and eastern Sangamon County, was unsuccessful in securing passage […]
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A rocky recovery
People are showing up at Gateway Foundation sicker than ever from drug and alcohol addiction because of various factors at play in the third year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many people with substance-use disorder who walk through the doors of Gateway’s Springfield Treatment Center begin to shut down physically and lose consciousness. That’s according to […]
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State still seeking answers from Blue Cross
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, which has agreed to pay a $339,000 state fine stemming from the insurer’s almost year-long contract dispute with Springfield Clinic, says the clinic is making unreasonable demands. Blue Cross divisional senior vice president Krishna G. Ramachandran said the for-profit, multi-specialty clinic, in its “first very specific counter-offer,” is […]
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Closing the digital divide
A Springfield steering committee planning for the city’s expansion of affordable broadband internet services, especially for residents of the city’s north and east sides, is receiving technical assistance from a new state program. Springfield is one of six communities selected by the administration of Gov. JB Pritzker to be in the first group served by […]
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Another downtown YMCA possible
YMCA of Springfield members have received emails asking whether they would like to see a second branch open downtown inside the future Springfield-Sangamon County Transportation Center. But the idea, being floated just a little over a year after a new $33 million downtown Y opened at Fourth and Carpenter streets, is preliminary, and there is […]
Posted inNews
Another downtown YMCA possible
YMCA of Springfield members have received emails asking whether they would like to see a second branch open downtown inside the future Springfield-Sangamon County Transportation Center. But the idea, being floated just a little over a year after a new $33 million downtown Y opened at Fourth and Carpenter streets, is preliminary, and there is […]
Posted inNews
State still seeking answers from Blue Cross
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, which has agreed to pay a $339,000 state fine stemming from the insurer’s almost year-long contract dispute with Springfield Clinic, says the clinic is making unreasonable demands. Blue Cross divisional senior vice president Krishna G. Ramachandran said the for-profit, multi-specialty clinic, in its “first very specific counter-offer,” is […]
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A reason to smile
Susan Wilham and her husband have had to spend hours on the phone with their insurer, fork out hundreds of dollars for medical services insurance wouldn’t pay and worry whether future oral surgeries for their 16-year-old son will be covered at all. The struggles these Springfield residents have gone through are common for families dealing […]
