“Fire science in the’80s and ’90s was more of an art form than a science,” said Lauren Kaeseberg, legal director of the Illinois Innocence Project’s Chicago office. “Today it is much more scientific.” Illinois Innocence Project is a program of University of Illinois Springfield. Kaeseberg is discussing the recent release on bond of William “Bill” […]
Scott Faingold
Scott Faingold is a journalist, educator and musician. He has been director of student media at University of Illinois Springfield, founding editor of Activator magazine, a staff reporter for Illinois Times and co-host of Old School Bleep, a music-centered podcast.
Posted inNews
Smart talk on the radio
“I believe that Illinois is a lot more connected than people portray it to be,” said Niala Boodhoo, host of the daily Illinois Public Media-produced talk show “The 21st” which airs live Monday through Friday at 11 a.m. on Springfield’s NPR Illinois as well as in DeKalb, Peoria, Bloomington and Urbana. The show’s motto, “21st-century […]
Posted inMusic
Art music from the heartland
“I’m mostly interested in expanding the palette of sound,” said Chatham-based musician Mark Schwartz, who records under the name Forest Saints. “I don’t really see a distinction between music, noise and sound – it’s all fair game.”Recently, Schwartz has developed into a veritable one-man art-rock cottage industry. Over the past 12 months, he has self-released […]
Posted inArts & Culture
This new season is all over the place
The far-reaching 2017-2018 Sangamon Auditorium season will take audiences from Motown to mariachi and from murder mystery to Mummenschanz. It is the final season to be programmed by Bob Vaughn, who will retire in September after serving 11 years as auditorium director. Vaughn graduated with the first class of the Community Arts Management Program back […]
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New maestro
After a season-long search, Ken Lam has been announced as the new music director for the Illinois Symphony Orchestra, replacing Alastair Willis, who left the position vacant when he ended his contract early back in 2015. Lam was chosen unanimously by a combination of ISO’s board of directors, search committee and musicians and received high […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Sounds of summer
There are too many exciting concerts scheduled to hit central Illinois stages in the coming months to fit in this humble space. From big festivals to tiny venues and from classic rock to boot-scootin’ country to snotty punk stalwarts and hip-hop heroes (not to mention at least one apparently immortal jazz crooner) here’s an overview […]
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Health care in crisis
Despite attempts at an overall cheery tone, the views presented during “Obamacare after Obama: The future of U.S. health care at a crossroads,” a conference held at the Memorial Center for Learning and Innovation last Friday, could not help but paint a disturbing picture of the potential short and long-term future of health care in […]
Posted inNews
The gayest day in central Illinois
“I figured if Peoria was ready, Springfield was ready,” said Springfield PrideFest founder Jonna Cooley, offhandedly describing her rationale for starting up the festival celebrating the central Illinois LGBT community, being held for the seventh year on Saturday, May 20. Back in 2010 Springfield resident Cooley was running a booth at a Peoria Pride event […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Home is where the art is
This past Friday saw two concurrent opening receptions featuring eight artists spread across two galleries on the Springfield Art Association campus in the Enos Park neighborhood. Between the two exhibits, Springfield art appreciators were exposed to innovative work from artists based in Illinois, Iowa, Ohio and California. Camille Silverman credits the sense of hectic movement […]
Posted inMusic
Movie magic plus a minor in music
A special concert by the UIS Orchestra this Sunday at 3 p.m. at Sangamon Auditorium will also act as a sort of coming-out party for exciting changes to the university’s music program. “We are starting an annual tradition,” said Yona Stamatis, director of the UIS Orchestra. “The plan is to have an orchestra concert every […]
Posted inNews
You’re a free man! Now what?
The Illinois Innocence Project based at University of Illinois Springfield, is part of a nationwide network of groups working toward overturning wrongful convictions. Since it began in 2001, the IIP has helped win freedom for 10 innocent people, the most recent of which was Charles Palmer, set free on the day before Thanksgiving 2016, after […]
Posted inNews
The end of the landline
Legislation sponsored by AT&T could threaten access to services such as 911 and medical monitoring for low-income and rural residents in parts of Illinois served by the telecommunication giant, according to AARP Illinois, Illinois PIRG and the Citizens Utility Board (CUB). Senate Bill 1381 and House Bill 2691 would abolish the state requirement that AT&T […]
