“And God heard the voice of the boy …” Genesis 21:17a Call me Ishmael. With these three words, Herman Melville begins his 19th century novel Moby Dick and introduces the man who will be telling his story of the adventures at sea. For Melville, naming his narrator after the biblical character Ishmael who was sent […]
Community & Lifestyle
Posted inCommunity & Lifestyle
What we meant when we wrote the Calls to Action
Palestinian poet Mourid Barghouti once wrote that if you want to dispossess a people, the simplest way is to tell their story and start with “secondly.” I have been thinking about that idea often because history is full of stories that begin too late. Many Americans were introduced to Juneteenth only after it became a […]
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Fletcher Farrar receives Freedom of the Press Award
Fletcher Farrar has received the James C. Craven Freedom of the Press Award. Don Craven, Illinois Press Association attorney, presented Farrar with the award at the Illinois Press Convention held June 4 in East Peoria. Michelle Ownbey, executive editor of Illinois Times, sent in a nomination earlier this year: “Fletcher Farrar is the owner of Central Illinois […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Visit ISM to get free State Fair admission
To celebrate the 100th anniversary of historic U.S. Route 66, visitors to the Illinois State Museum’s new Route 66 exhibit in Springfield this summer can earn free weekday admission to the 2026 Illinois State Fair, happening Aug. 13-23. The promotion began June 8 and runs for the next 66 days. Each visitor to the Illinois […]
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Restoration – not just reparations
The Gospel of Luke relates an incident where a tax collector encountered Jesus and vowed to “restore” up to fourfold and unjust “taxes” that he may have taken from anyone. That proposal would require (1) the offended person to confirm the “unjust tax,” and (2) that person being “restored” four times that amount. In 1450, […]
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Reflecting on a year of progress and what’s ahead for UIS
A few weeks ago, I stood on the stage of the Bank of Springfield Center, shaking the hands of more than 1,000 University of Illinois Springfield students who earned their degrees this year. Each graduate represents a story of perseverance, growth and achievement. It is a privilege to celebrate those journeys and to see the […]
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A common endeavor
As the 250th anniversary of our country’s founding approaches, rather than celebratory peals, millions of Americans will be hearing alarm bells ringing as they witness the daily erosion of traditional American ideals such as freedom, justice and equality. Of course, this country has never fully lived up to these ideals; even so, they have served […]
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Illinois College to host Camp College
Local middle and high school students are invited to the Illinois College campus this summer for Camp College, a two-day immersive experience designed to introduce students to STEAM projects, college life and career exploration. The camp will take place June 15 – 16 and is open to rising sixth graders through eight graders and rising […]
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From commencement to summer opportunities at LLCC
There are few moments in the life of a college as meaningful as commencement, and Friday, May 15, was a powerful reminder of why our mission at Lincoln Land Community College matters. As I looked out over our graduates – surrounded by proud families, friends and faculty – I was filled with deep pride and […]
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Shavuot celebrates the giving of the Torah
The Memorial Day weekend is a time when we remember and honor the dedication and sacrifice of those who gave their lives in the service of our country. Coincidentally, this past weekend observant Christians and Jews both marked special occasions on their respective religious calendars. Jews, this past Friday and Saturday, observed the festival of […]
Posted inArts & Culture
More than tea: A culture of whimsy
There’s something quite transformative happening inside Whimsy Tea Company; and it has very little to do with the inventory on the shelves. It’s a warmth you can feel the moment you walk in. The walls are lined with local art, each one telling its own unique story. Exotic aromatic teas line the shelves for guests […]
Posted inCommunity & Lifestyle
Have jokes, will travel
Cassandra Simpson has been performing as a stand-up comedian in Springfield for three years. For two of those years, she was the host for The Wakery’s open mic, but that gig came to an end when the venue closed its doors in August of 2025. The end of the downtown venue left aspiring local comics […]
