No more nooses, says the Springfield-based Coalition to Promote Human Dignity and Diversity. No more swastikas, KKK marches or hate-inspired arson. It’s time to stamp out hate expressions in Springfield. That was the message at the coalition’s Nov. 15 public forum on hate activities and hate crimes at Union Baptist Church, 1405 East Monroe St. […]
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 Ambassador of Salsa
Pulsing Latin rhythms echo through the cavernous gymnasium at Springfield College, as a handful of college students take their first few steps into the world of salsa dancing. Some glide gracefully across the floor, while others seem to move with leaden feet, but each of them is smiling. That’s thanks to the magnetic charisma of […]
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IEPA vows to step up factory farm enforcement
The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency vows to step up enforcement of anti-pollution rules on factory farms after criticism from the federal government and environmental advocates. In a letter dated Nov. 1, IEPA responded to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and several Illinois-based environmental groups that claimed IEPA was not effectively regulating confined animal feeding operations […]
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Serving those who served
As the cold November rain spits against the Springfield Overflow Shelter windows, Mark Weldon, 54, sips from a Styrofoam cup of hot chocolate mixed with coffee, the milky brown concoction dripping from his scraggly blonde mustache. His pale skin is wrinkled like used aluminum foil, and his grey eyes move deliberately around the room, observing […]
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Hockey players help out at Hazel Dell
They come from all over the nation – Arizona, Minnesota, New Jersey, Wisconsin and more – but Springfield’s Jr. Blues hockey players are giving back to this city as if it were their own. About once a week, the Jr. Blues head to Hazel Dell Elementary School to be role models and friends to the […]
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Report: Early prisoner release not a scandal
Illinois’ early prisoner release controversy was no scandal, according to a recently-released report from Northwestern University School of Law, which claims stopping early release may have actually made the state less safe. The report dated Oct. 28 claims that most news stories on early prisoner release have been false and the issue has wrongly turned […]
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Record-breaking year for campaign spending
This election cycle is turning out to be the most expensive in Illinois’ history, and campaign finance reform advocates are troubled by what that means. The Chicago-based Illinois Campaign for Political Reform says the race for governor will likely end up costing $33 million in the general election alone, which will likely shatter the previous […]
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Syrian official says resolving Arab-Israeli conflict key to peace
The Syrian ambassador to the United States visited Springfield last week, urging better relations between the two countries and an end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Speaking at the University of Illinois Springfield, Syrian Ambassador Imad Moustapha discussed Syrian-U.S. relations and answered questions from the audience of about 130 people. Syria is on the eastern shore […]
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Burglary ring busted, but some escape punishment
A local burglary ring responsible for numerous break-ins during the past several months has been busted, but several people implicated in the crimes remain free. On July 23, the Springfield Police Department announced the arrest of five young men who were allegedly responsible for around 100 instances of theft from homes and cars in Springfield […]
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Conflicting stories in fight with county board member
A recent fight involving a county board member at Grand Valley Village in Springfield left one young man hospitalized and in police custody, but the youth’s parents say the police got the story wrong. On Oct. 10, Sangamon County Board member William “Bill” Moss, a Republican, got into a fight with a 16-year-old Grand Valley […]
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Administration claims no more early release
Republicans are hammering Gov. Pat Quinn on early prisoner release programs, but their claims are raising eyebrows at the Illinois Department of Corrections. According to a press release from the Illinois Senate Republicans, Quinn continues to secretly release thousands of inmates from prison before they’ve served their time, despite Quinn’s claims that he suspended all […]
Posted inArts & Culture
The cost of Bill Brady’s plan
Of the estimated 400 to 500 people who showed up to a Columbus Day rally in Charleston for state senator and Republican governor hopeful Bill Brady of Bloomington, most were Republican voters angry with the state of the state. They cheered loudly as Brady criticized the policies of current Democrat governor Pat Quinn, comparing him […]
