Criminal charges have been dropped against Nicolas Paz, a Springfield restauranter who had been accused of defrauding the state of more than $100,000 in sales tax revenue. But his wife, Amanda Paz, has pleaded guilty to sales tax evasion. According to court records, Amanda Paz has already paid the state the money it was owed […]
Scott Reeder
Scott Reeder is a staff writer at Illinois Times.
Posted inNews
New manufacturer for Springfield
An international crane manufacturing firm is opening a plant in Springfield that will likely employ more than 100 people on the city’s west side. In addition to the blue-collar jobs assembling cranes, the firm will employ a host of professional positions as it plans to make Springfield its first manufacturing site in the U.S., Dominic […]
Posted inRemembering
FRANK COBLE
A legacy of care for animals Frank Coble was a second-generation Springfield veterinarian who radically changed how animals are cared for in the community by instituting advanced treatment techniques, establishing an emergency clinic and training a new generation of animal doctors. Coble died Sept. 8 at the age of 80 after battling dementia for several […]
Posted inRemembering
GEORGE HOMER RYAN
He cleared Illinois’ death row George Ryan was a cigar-chomping, salty-tongued Illinois pol whose political career pinnacled in the governor’s mansion and ended in a prison cell. The state’s 39th governor died May 2 at the age of 91 in his hometown of Kankakee. Ryan was a product of the Kankakee political machine, which was […]
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Town & Country Shopping Center staying the course
The future of the Town & Country Shopping Center on MacArthur Boulevard is unclear after the aging strip mall failed to sell at auction this month, but the owner of the property says he remains hopeful it will be redeveloped. “I’m always optimistic because as a real estate developer, you have to be optimistic,” David […]
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Springfield gets a city planner, again
The city of Springfield has hired Suraksha Bhandari as its new professional planner, bringing a blend of international experience, architectural training and research-driven urban planning to city hall. Bhandari comes to Springfield from Salt Lake City, where she completed a master’s degree in city and metropolitan planning at the University of Utah and worked in […]
Posted inNews
Families struggle with hunger
On good days, Shay McGhiey eats one meal a day. On bad days, the 57-year-old Springfield man eats nothing. Like thousands of others in the capital city, hunger is no stranger to McGhiey, who works a minimum-wage job in a smoke shop. “I make too much money – according to the public aid people – […]
Posted inNews
SPD to stick with Flock Safety
In the wake of a state audit showing Illinois license plate reader data being shared with federal immigration authorities – in violation of state law – the city of Springfield plans to stay the course with the technology and the company involved. The audit’s findings resulted in Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias demanding that Flock […]
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Stay tuned
Beni Harmony, an anchor at WICS Newschannel 20, posted on social media Sept. 16 that she resigned after being suspended for what she called an on air “non-partisan tribute” to Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk following his assassination. But WICS news director Heather Voudrie Nodine told Illinois Times no one at the station has been suspended […]
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Former city director addresses his departure
In the wake of the assassination of conservative pundit Charlie Kirk, a city of Springfield department head posted something on Facebook critical of the influencer and now he no longer has a job. “I had never heard of this guy before he got shot,” James ‘Jayme’ Sullivan told Illinois Times. “I was on vacation when […]
Posted inNews
Banning printed materials
An emergency rule being implemented by Illinois prisons may soon deny prisoners access to letters, cards and books sent to them by family members. Department of Corrections officials are concerned that drugs such as fentanyl are being smuggled into prisons through inmate mail. But critics say the measure is overtly cruel and will do little […]
Posted inNews
Learning trades and theology
A new college began classes Sept. 2 in Springfield with 24 students from across the nation learning building trades – and theology. The motto of San Damiano College for the Trades is “Rebuild my church,” which can be interpreted in a variety of ways, from the physical rebuilding of religious edifices to the spiritual rebuilding […]
