From the silly to the political, Pete Lazare’s folk-artsy banners outside of Grab-a-Java were always sure to stoke a conversation. His wife officially owned the local caffeinated treasure before they handed it off to new ownership, though Pete would often work there himself, having invented a stool-based espresso press and regularly telling customers to, “Have […]
Rachel Otwell
Posted inNews
Dim Art House breaks ground
From the outside, Dim Art House looks like any other bungalow along MacArthur Avenue, save for the signpost on the lawn, which has already been creating a buzz, as artist Joey Wallace can attest. “The minute we threw up the sign, you could practically hear people saying, ‘What’s going on over there?’” Wallace is a […]
Posted inNews
Rainbow connections
Gay members of the central Illinois community are working to better include other LGBTQ people in events and organizing. As the acronym to represent gender nonconforming and nonheterosexual members of society stretches to include the myriad of queer identities – many now prefer LGBTQIA to include intersex and asexual people – some in the Springfield […]
Posted inNews
U of I law professor violated sexual harassment policy
A University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign law professor has been found in violation of the university’s sexual misconduct policy. That’s according to internal investigative reports from late last year, obtained by Illinois Times through a public records request. The law firm hired by the university to investigate new claims against Jay Kesan from 15 women suggests […]
Posted inNews
MAP is back
The annual budget address presented by the Illinois governor is not the hottest event of the year for most college students. “I’m actually not at all invested in politics,” said Lauren Hernandez, one of the two Lincoln Land Community College students invited by Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker to attend his speech last week. As part […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Springfield’s living black history
“In order to be a mentor, and an effective one, one must care. You must care. You don’t have to know how many square miles are in Idaho, you don’t need to know what is the chemical makeup of chemistry, or of blood or water. Know what you know and care about the person, care […]
Posted inNews
New reports find U of I law professor violated sexual harassment policy
A University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign law professor facing a new investigation into claims he sexually harassed students and fellow faculty has been found in violation of the university’s sexual misconduct policy. That’s according to internal investigative reports from late last year that Illinois Times obtained through a public records request. The law firm hired by […]
Posted inNews
What’s wrong with roses?
Roses are an enduring Valentine’s gift. Aphrodite was the goddess of love in Greek mythology. According to some stories, the falling of her blood led to the first red rose. The modern story of rose production also comes with a dark side. In Kenya, conditions for workers, the majority of them women, have long been […]
Posted inNews
Group pushes for gender parity at SIU School of Medicine
Last week three doctors presented to a crowded room at the Hoogland Center for the Arts in Springfield about measles. What was subtly remarkable was the makeup of the panel. All three doctors also happened to be women of color. “It’s refreshing to be able to serve on a panel of women on a topic […]
