“With child care closed, how are people supposed to go to work?” “Will we receive COVID-19 protection pay increases?” “If a teacher dies, will the district be held responsible?” “Will my family receive death benefits if I die from COVID-19?” These are just some examples of the several hundred questions collected by the Springfield Education […]
Rachel Otwell
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Black Lives Matter maintains momentum
Black Lives Matter Springfield has been cautious about planning demonstrations as of late, given public health concerns. The rally it held this year in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd was organized as a car procession. That way folks could participate without running the risk of interacting with an infected person. To […]
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BLM and AAHM host census and vote drive
Black Lives Matter Springfield is inviting the public to register to vote, learn about the census and drop off school supplies this weekend. The event is Saturday from 12 to 4 p.m. at the Springfield and Central Illinois African American History Museum: 1440 Monument Ave. BLM Springfield leaders say this year has brought renewed energy to […]
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Traveling Route 66 while Black
The Route History museum and souvenir shop in Springfield is currently closed due to coronavirus, but owners made a recent exception. On July 16, Stacy Grundy gave a tour to Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton. The museum and souvenir shop tells the story of Black Route 66 travelers, as well as history surrounding Black entrepreneurship and […]
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Food for all
Teresa Haley of Springfield heads not only the NAACP’s Springfield branch but also the state chapter. This past Saturday, July 18, she joined more than a dozen others to hand out boxes of produce, hand sanitizer and masks. “We are blessing our community,” Haley said under the hot sun from behind a mask adorned with […]
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Registration for District 186 open July 21-31
The Springfield Public Schools board met last night to review a plan created by Supt. Jennifer Gill and some 100 or so staff. The board did not vote on a calendar for the coming school year or what model it might choose, instead voting to open the registration period from July 21-31. Registration is available […]
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Defund police?
Calls to reallocate police funding have become more pronounced in recent weeks. But what activists are proposing when they say “defund the police” is not always clear. Planned Parenthood Illinois Action (PPIA) – the political advocacy-oriented arm of the state’s reproductive health organization – hosted a discussion July 9 that addressed the idea to defund […]
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Restaurants navigate a pandemic
The line outside The Feed Store on its last day stretched around the block. The Springfield mainstay has been around for 43 years. Its green sign faces the Old State Capitol plaza. It was a perfect place to pick up a sandwich, salad or some soup while downtown and eat outside or in the restaurant’s […]
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217 Burlesque, making Springfield weird
This July 4, a scene in downtown Springfield may as well have been out of New Orleans. As Frank Parker and his band played jazz for an outdoor Mardi Gras-themed party for a crowd of a few dozen people, a woman in a top hat, rainbow-colored sequined leotard and combat boots danced with fans made […]
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Putting their money where the planet is
Public health problems, racism and climate change. Springfield sisters say these issues are interconnected and it is the work of the faithful to intervene. “Sustainability is critical for life,” said Rebecca Ann Gemma, prioress general for the Springfield Dominican Sisters. “Just as we need earth, earth needs us.” The sisters are taking the fight for […]
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Questioning Statehouse statues
The Martin Luther King Jr. statue in Springfield is no stranger to controversy. “The placement is a complete insult to his legacy. The way it’s maintained has been completely demeaning,” said Dominic Watson, head of the Springfield Black Chamber of Commerce. The statue sits across the street from the Capitol, shaded under a tree. As Confederate […]
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The chef has left the building
Augie Mrozowski was at an awards ceremony when the announcer described a chef who was the son of immigrant parents and who began his storied career as a 14-year-old. Huh, he thought. Sounds familiar. To his surprise, within moments, hundreds stood to applaud him. Winning a Downtown Springfield, Inc. lifetime achievement award earlier this year […]
