Jeffrey Parsons avoided arrest today for skipping court-ordered restitution to his former employees, but the judge put Parsons on a short leash for the next four months. Parsons is the former owner of THR & Associates, a now-defunct gold and antiques buying business that went belly-up and left several employees unpaid, even after a $12.3 […]
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
Sounding off on Sangamon County
Happy days are here again in Sangamon County – at least by some measures. The results of the second Sangamon County Citizen Survey were released on June 26, showing that residents of Springfield and the surrounding area generally feel happier and healthier than two years ago. Still, a measure of gloom persists about some of […]
Posted inNews
Hunter Lake poised for passage
Springfield’s long-debated proposal for a second lake appears poised for approval by the city council, but the controversial Hunter Lake would still face hurdles. Mayor Jim Langfelder and eight aldermen on the 10-member Springfield City Council support a proposal to build the lake in partnership with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources as a nature […]
Posted inOpinion
The Amish and the “English”
The more things change, the more they stay the same. That’s the feeling I get every time I pick up an old copy of Illinois Times. The fourth issue of IT came out on Oct. 9, 1975, and featured coverage of the Amish in the modern world, school desegregation, rural doctors, school dropouts and more. Check […]
Posted inOpinion
Wayback Wednesday: Dick Durbin’s first race
When the third issue of Illinois Times came out on Oct. 2, 1975, Dick Durbin was a 30-year-old Democratic campaign manager with big hopes. He was running for the Illinois Senate against a Republican incumbent, and Illinois Times caught up with him on the campaign trail. Although Durbin lost that first race, he would go […]
Posted inOpinion
A Springfield railroad watch comes home
One of the most fascinating pieces of Springfield’s history is, at least to me, the Illinois Watch Company. Renowned in its day for accurate and beautiful watches, the company operated in Springfield under a succession of different monikers from 1869 (or 1870, depending on the source) until 1932. I’m lucky enough to own a piece […]
Posted inOpinion
Blind bowling and an education insurrection at SSU
It didn’t take long for Illinois Times to find controversy back in 1975. The second issue of the fledgling paper featured an exposé on Sangamon State University’s internal struggle for power and self-determination, along with an angry letter against the ERA. The cover story for this issue documents how Sangamon State University began in 1969 as a new […]
Posted inNews
No going back
The Illinois State Museum, which attracts more than 200,000 visitors a year, is targeted for closure by the Rauner administration. Also targeted is the museum’s Research and Collections Center at 11th and Ash, which houses the largest collection of PHOTO BY DAVID HINE The Illinois State Museum is on the chopping block as lawmakers struggle […]
Posted inNews
For-profit school under fire for business practices
A for-profit college with a branch in Springfield is taking criticism for alleged deceptive practices. U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin is calling for stronger oversight of ITT Technical Institute and other for-profit schools by the federal government, citing the collapse of a school system that left students with no diplomas and a mountain of debt. Durbin […]
Posted inNews
Major oil pipeline planned near Springfield
Jeff Wheeler/Minneapolis Star Tribune/MCT Construction could start soon on a major pipeline passing through Illinois, but the project faces negotiations with landowners and opposition from environmentalists. The pipeline, which would connect the Bakken oil fields of North Dakota to the Gulf of Mexico, would run southwest of Springfield, passing Jacksonville, Litchfield and other nearby cities. […]
Posted inOpinion
A day at the races
As a child, I always wanted to go see the monster trucks. As an adult, I still wanted to. Who cares about high culture when there’s raw, roaring power destroying stuff? I got my wish this weekend. Next time, I’ll stay for the whole thing.
Posted inOpinion
Wayback Wednesday: 40 years of Illinois Times
On Sept. 18, 1975, the first issue of Illinois Times went out to subscribers across Springfield and the surrounding communities. That first issue cost 25¢ per copy, but IT has since become a free paper. We’re celebrating our 40th anniversary later this year. Here’s the front cover of that first issue. (For a closer look, […]
