MY HEART IS DOWNTOWN I’m encouraged to see the hearts downtown. Let’s keep that spirit alive by generating local economic growth versus economic growth for non-local corporations. As a reminder, the rest of the country remembers us for some of our more progressive times in history: freeing slaves during the Underground Railroad, being the home […]
Illinois Times Staff
Posted inUncategorized
Letters to the editor
DO IT FOR THE PEOPLE If I was running for office, I would run for the people, not the party (“Marc Bell drops out of sheriff’s race,” Feb. 12). Barack Obama did not have the support of Sangamon County, including most Black voters, until he won the primary against Hillary Clinton. The local Democratic party […]
Posted inLetters to the Editor
Letters to the editor
OPPORTUNITY IN SANGAMON COUNTY As someone who has spent my career representing working men and women across central Illinois, I’ve seen what real investment can mean for a community. I’ve also seen how quickly progress stalls when we hesitate to invest in our future, which is why I believe the CyrusOne data center project deserves […]
Posted inArts & Culture
The Wedding Issue 2026
More than 40% of engagements in the U.S. occur between Thanksgiving andValentine’s Day, so this is the time of year many couples are startingto plan their weddings. We talked to area business owners involved inthe wedding industry to find out the latest trends. Couples are focusingon more personalized details and experiences to engage their guests,rather […]
Posted inLetters to the Editor
Letters to the editor
VOTE YES In March, Sangamon County voters will decide whether to create a county mental health board funded by a small, dedicated sales tax (“Creation of mental health board will be up to voters,” Jan. 29). As a pediatrician and president of the Sangamon County Medical Society, I strongly support voting yes. Mental health needs […]
Posted inIT Picks
Legacy Jam
Event celebrates Lincoln’s love of reading Celebrate Abraham Lincoln’s love of reading and lifelong learning with the Lincolns4Lincoln Literacy Jam, benefiting Compass for Kids’ afterschool program. This special kids’ event in the museum plaza features celebrity story readers, musical entertainment, a magician, local sports mascots and interactive children’s activities. Tater Tots Rock gets things rolling […]
Posted inCommunity & Lifestyle
Healthy, Wealthy & Wise 2026
Trying to maintain or improve our physical health is an important aspectof being healthy, but certainly not the only one. Our annual health andwellness issue also looks at the importance of mental health and simplesteps we can take to improve not only our diet but our overall well-being. Related
Posted inLetters to the Editor
Letters to the editor
YES TO LOGAN COUNTY DATA CENTER As a proud Logan County resident, I support our county moving forward with the proposed data center project near Latham (“Data center opposition,” Jan. 7). Logan County has always been built on hard work, progress and providing for the next generation. This project brings over 100 long-term local jobs, […]
Posted inIT Picks
The Phantom of the Opera
This weekend the Hoogland Performing Arts Education Achievers (grades 9-12) present this classic musical. In The Phantom of the Opera. a mysterious, masked figure lurks beneath the Paris Opera House, exercising a reign of terror over all inside. He falls in love with a young soprano, Christine, and devotes himself to creating a new star […]
Posted inLetters to the Editor
Letters to the Editor
UPHOLD CONSTITUTION The situation involving Larry Criscione is more than a disagreement over tone or workplace etiquette (“The cost of free speech,” Dec. 18). It reveals a federal agency disregarding the constitutional protections, statutory requirements and due‑process procedures that exist to safeguard both employees and the public interest. When a regulatory body charged with protecting […]
Posted inLetters to the Editor
Letters to the editor
NOT THAT EASY I’m a Springfield native who moved back a couple of years ago, but was a resident of Normal for many years. Leah Wilson’s column is an apples and pineapples comparison with Springfield (“From planning to implementation” Dec. 18). I lived there throughout that progression, for almost 30 years. Uptown Normal may look […]
Posted inLetters to the Editor
Letters to the Editor
THANKS FOR HELPING Julie Benson has been a voice for those in Springfield down on their luck for many years (“Sober living house for LGBTQ+ in the works,” Dec. 4). She has gone above and beyond her call of duty as a person caring for others without asking anything in return. She could have given […]
