The Springfield Police Department plans to adopt body cameras for officers under a new state law which took effect last week. The law was prompted by a growing public consciousness concerning people of color dying violently during encounters with police. It’s unclear how soon Springfield police will be wearing body cameras or how much implementing […]
Patrick Yeagle
Patrick Yeagle started writing for Illinois Times in September 2009. Originally from Farmer City, Ill., he graduated from Northern Illinois University in 2008 with a bachelor's degree in political science and a second major in journalism. He then graduated from the University of Illinois-Springfield in 2009 with a Master's degree from the Public Affairs Reporting program. In addition to Illinois Times, his work has appeared in the Chicago Tribune, the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, the Peoria Journal-Star, the Northern Star, the Parkland Prospectus and other publications. Yeagle writes about state government, the environment, energy, healthcare, elections, education, community issues, and more. He enjoys taking photos of news events, cityscapes, very small objects and wildlife. He enjoys running and has completed a marathon, three half-marathons, a 198-mile relay race and several shorter races. Other hobbies include cooking, gardening, making music and outdoor activities.
Posted inNews
The high cost of budget cuts
A young man uses the Teen Lounge at the Boys and Girls Club in Springfield, which provides a safe, positive environment for children and teenagers after school. PHOTO BY PATRICK YEAGLE In August 2014, a young, African-American student in his junior year at Lanphier High School was caught carrying a gun at school. The student, […]
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Springfield panhandling ordinance ruled unconstitutional
Springfield’s panhandling ordinance is unconstitutional, according to a court decision released last week. The decision means panhandlers can once again ask for money downtown with their voices instead of just signs. It’s a victory for freedom of speech, but some people see it as a setback. The case started in September 2013, when Springfield panhandlers […]
Posted inNews
Federal court rules Springfield panhandling ordinance unconstitutional
Panhandlers Karen Otterson, left, and Don Norton, right, filed a lawsuit against the City of Springfield in 2013, claiming a violation of their First Amendment rights. A federal appellate court ruled Friday that Springfield’s ordinance banning a certain form of panhandling downtown is unconstitutional.The case has been pending for almost two years, after panhandlers Don […]
Posted inNews
The case of the missing clients
Volunteers at Grace Lutheran Food Pantry unload supplies through a window into the church’s basement, where the food pantry operates. PHOTO BY PATRICK YEAGLE It started in a closet more than 35 years ago, eventually growing to help as many as 1,250 people per month. Lately, however, significantly fewer people have sought help from the […]
Posted inNews
Rebuilding Springfield
Karen Davis, director of the Office of Planning and Economic Development for the City of Springfield, will also lead the mayor’s new Economic Development Commission. PHOTO BY PATRICK YEAGLE A newly created business committee for Springfield offers opportunity for the city’s east side. Springfield mayor Jim Langfelder announced Tuesday a seven-member Economic Development Commission aimed […]
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Child care cuts threaten families on the edge
ILLUSTRATION BY WES BAUSMITH/TNS Chandra Ankoor of Springfield gets three or four hours of sleep a night, seven days a week. She’s not sure how much longer she can keep that up, but she does it for her three young daughters. On a typical day, Ankoor wakes up early to get her girls ready for […]
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Education funding bill fails in Senate
Sen. Andy Manar, D-Bunker Hill. Photo BY PATRICK YEAGLE Legislation to freeze Illinois’ property taxes and change the state’s school funding formula failed in the Senate last week, but not because of opposition to the bill. Instead, it was a casualty of the ongoing state budget stalemate. The bill’s Democratic sponsor says he was disappointed […]
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Rauner pension plan guts collective bargaining
Gov. Bruce Rauner’s new plan to reduce Illinois’ pension obligations would circumvent collective bargaining on several aspects of state employment. The 485-page plan earned criticism from Democrats in the Illinois House who say it’s too close to what the Illinois Supreme Court already dismissed. In a July 15 legislative hearing, two of Rauner’s advisors told […]
Posted inOpinion
Mobile homes, divorce and fancy fiddlin’
Housing is a big part of the human experience, but we rarely think about how much it affects our lives. A person’s home says a lot about them, and mobile homes are no exception. The fifth-ever issue of Illinois Times on Oct. 16, 1975, explored the rise of the mobile home and its evolving place […]
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An uphill battle over coal mining
PHOTO BY PATRICK YEAGLE If Catherine Edmiston of Hillsboro gets her way, coal mining in Illinois could be drastically curtailed. The 85-year-old Edmiston has been fighting for a decade to shut down the Deer Run Mine near Hillsboro, and her battle may be coming to an end as the Illinois Department of Natural Resources decides […]
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Rail consolidation chugging along
Springfield’s ongoing rail consolidation project could soon take a step forward, even as state lawmakers add a new layer of oversight. Construction on two new underpasses for the 10th Street rail corridor is scheduled to begin next summer, and an underpass already under construction is due for completion later this year if weather permits. Meanwhile, […]
