Just when it looked like things couldn’t get any worse for Democrats in rural areas, Virginia voters proved them wrong. This month, the Republican gubernatorial candidate captured more than 70% of the vote in 45 rural Virginia counties, compared to just four counties any of the GOP’s candidates carried by at least that margin in […]
Scott Reeder
Scott Reeder is a staff writer at Illinois Times.
Posted inNews
Rod Blagojevich is not a changed man
They defied the odds and stayed married. When a married man enters prison, he almost always leaves it alone, particularly when he serves a lengthy sentence. But Rod and Patti Blagojevich held it together, not just through his almost eight years in prison but through two federal trials, seven elections, a years-long feud between Rod […]
Posted inNews
Literacy at the laundromat
Family Pride Laundry in Springfield has a new spin for its customers: a children’s library. The idea of turning a corner of the laundromat into a place where youngsters can read originated with Amanda Brown, a 20-year-old student at University of Illinois Springfield. “I was just really attracted to it because I love working with […]
Posted inOpinion
Holding police accountable
The No. 1 reason innocent people go to prison is because of government misconduct. That’s not just my opinion. It’s the view of the National Registry of Exonerations, which catalogs wrongful conviction cases and their underlying causes. The group concluded recently that in 54% of cases in which someone was wrongly convicted, it was through […]
Posted inOpinion
Puppy love
“He’s half Labrador retriever and half German shepherd,” the volunteer said as she handed me the wiggling puppy. I looked into the mutt’s shiny eyes and just shrugged. A few months ago, my wife, a veterinarian, went into work on her day off to spay and neuter dogs from a local animal rescue. Since I […]
Posted inNews
Caught in a tiff
Both men say they weren’t motivated by politics. But does anyone believe them? The latest manifestation of the conflict between Springfield Mayor Jim Langfelder and Capital Township Supervisor Joe Aiello came to a head in the final moments of the legislative veto session last week. Lawmakers approved a measure, which now goes to Gov. JB […]
Posted inNews
Serious allegations
Days after a man was arrested by Illinois State Police on charges of sexually abusing their 14-year-old daughter, her parents allege Springfield officers shielded the man because his mother is a detective with the police department. Illinois State Police arrested Zane Merreighn, the 22-year-old son of Detective Jennifer Oglesby, on three counts of aggravated sexual […]
Posted inNews
Serious allegations
Days after a man was arrested by Illinois State Police on charges of sexually abusing their 14-year-old daughter, her parents allege Springfield officers shielded the man because his mother is a detective with the police department. Illinois State Police arrested Zane Merreighn, the 22-year-old son of Detective Jennifer Oglesby, on three counts of aggravated sexual […]
Posted inOpinion
Living for two
Always assume the gun is loaded. Those words were bored into my brain by my father and older brother when I was only 8 or 9 years old and learning how to handle firearms on the farm. One time, we were leaving the field and my brother ordered me to unload my rifle. I popped […]
Posted inOpinion
Forgiveness or enforcement?
I’m not sure if I really understand forgiveness, but I can acknowledge its value. I’m sure at a loss as to how it works, though. By one count, the Bible has 62 passages with the word “forgive” and 27 with “forgiveness,” but nowhere does it say exactly how to do it. I remember sitting in […]
Posted inNews
Advocating for animals
As a virus has swept through kennels and allegations of incompetence and wrongdoing have pulsated across the internet and within the halls of local government, at least 17 cats have died that were once housed at the Sangamon County Animal Shelter. The deaths have sparked talk by Springfield Mayor Jim Langfelder of outsourcing the service […]
Posted inOpinion
Parole offers hope for offenders, while victims relive trauma
“Ma’am, I’ve got some good news for you. Your grandson is being released from prison.” I made that phone call about 20 years ago after covering a session of the Illinois Prisoner Review Board and seeing the board members vote to parole a long-serving inmate. The elated grandmother dropped the phone receiver and screamed, “Thank […]
