ILLUSTRATION BY HECTOR CASANOVA Illinois lawmakers are considering legislation that would reverse a 30-year-old ban on public money being used to pay for abortions. The bill raises one of the most controversial issues in American society, with religious groups objecting on moral grounds and women’s rights groups saying it’s a matter of fairness. House Bill […]
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
State employees could get back pay after four years
ILLUSTRATION BY HECTOR CASANOVA State employees may receive back pay for raises they should have received almost four years ago, thanks to legislation which passed the Illinois House last week. The bill stems from a 2010 dispute between unions and former governor Pat Quinn over contractual pay raises. Despite a court opinion ordering the state […]
Posted inNews
Cahnman faces ethics inquiry
It’s been a tough month for Sam Cahnman. The Ward 5 alderman and attorney lost his re-election bid on April 7, and on April 16, he faced an extended hearing by the state panel that disciplines lawyers. The allegations against Cahnman stem in part from his representation of Springfield blogger Calvin Christian in a handful […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Save your basement with an overhead sewer line
An overhead sewer system raises the lowest opening in a home’s plumbing to be well above the level of an overflowing sewer, which prevents water and sewage from escaping the system and causing a mess. April showers bring May flowers, and they can also bring nasty basement flooding. Springfield’s older neighborhoods face an increased risk […]
Posted inNews
Rauner’s playbook
Gov. Bruce Rauner PHOTO BY PATRICK YEAGLE The acronym ALEC sends waves of disgust down the average liberal’s spine, but for a Republican governor in a Democratic-leaning state, it can mean a recipe for fixing a busted system. While Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner doesn’t namedrop the controversial conservative think tank known as the American Legislative […]
Posted inNews
Edwards Place comes alive
In photo, from left to right, are Ted and Dawn Henry in character as Elizabeth and Ninian Edwards, Pam Brown and Fritz Klein in character as Mary and Abraham Lincoln, Drs. Sandra Yeh and Greg Kane in character as Julia and Senator Lyman Trumbull, Laura an COVER PHOTO IS BY BILL STOKES, PUBLISHER OF SPRINGFIELD […]
Posted inNews
Return of the mighty mustang
Two young mustangs take a break from frolicking in the mud at a federal wild horse facility recently reopened in southern Illinois. PHOTO BY PATRICK YEAGLE In a muddy corral on a hill in southern Illinois, dozens of horses chomp on hay and cautiously eye the cowboy-boot-clad visitors who walk past their pen. When a […]
Posted inNews
Straight shooters
Frank Edwards and Misty Buscher The job of Springfield city treasurer isn’t exactly glamorous. It’s basically a glorified accounting position, with no real authority over public policy and the added stress of being in the public eye. So why would anyone want this job? “I just want to keep it stable, to protect the people’s […]
Posted inNews
Familiar names battle in Ward 8
Ernie Slottag and Kris Theilen Kris Theilen is a self-described “computer guy.” The Ward 8 alderman is seeking a third term on the Springfield City Council, and he’s using his computer skills to bolster his campaign. From a list of about 11,500 people registered to vote in his ward, he eliminated those people who have […]
Posted inNews
Cahnman faces challenger in Ward 5
Andrew Proctor and Sam Cahnman Ward 5 Ald. Sam Cahnman is seeking a third term on the Springfield City Council, but to get there, he must take on a well-funded and well-connected opponent. Andrew Proctor of Springfield is challenging the sitting alderman in the April 7 election, saying he’ll fight to improve neighborhoods in Ward […]
Posted inNews
Shuffle board
The April 7 general election is still more than a week away, but one thing is for sure: the Springfield City Council is in for some turnover. Springfield’s 10 ward seats are up for re-election on April 7, and two of the races are already decided; Ward 3 Ald. Doris Turner and Ward 6 Ald. […]
Posted inNews
The wrong guy
Angel Gonzalez was in the wrong place at the wrong time, and he was driving the wrong vehicle. Were it not for his 1979 Cadillac sedan, Gonzalez probably would have never become a suspect in a 1994 rape at an apartment complex in Waukegan. Gonzalez spent nearly 21 years in prison for the crime, until […]
