I was teaching at Southeast High School on Sept. 11, 2001. My American literature class of juniors had just read The Crucible. I was showing the class a clip from the movie when a colleague came to my door, motioned me into the hall and told me what had happened in New York. Two weeks […]
Opinion
Posted inOpinion
An uplifting season
I’ll be the first to admit, I’m not much of a sports fan. The idea of the Women’s Professional Baseball League playing its inaugural season in Springfield was interesting as a historical happening. But it was not until Lucky Horseshoes Chief Storyteller Jamie Toole spoke at our neighborhood association meeting that I committed to going […]
Posted inLetters to the Editor
Letters to the editor 9/10/26
We welcome letters. Please include your full name, address and telephone number. We edit all letters. Send them to editor@illinoistimes.com. NEED A PLAN Nine days. That’s how long it’s been since a city-owned water main put five feet of water in the basements on Monroe Street — and the businesses hit hardest still don’t have […]
Posted inRich Miller
Legislature needs to question its inspector general
In the past week or so, three women have told stories about their dissatisfaction with the way they were treated by the state’s legislative inspector general. And it’s clear that at least three of the four legislative leaders are quickly becoming fed up with the LIG and that another leader may have trouble sustaining his […]
Posted inLetters to the Editor
Letters to the editor
PERSONAL CONNECTION As was mentioned, no one’s history is pretty (“Our history is not pretty,” Aug. 15). I am proud that Springfield is making an effort to take a hard look at this horrible moment. In some ways, it is woven into my family history. My grandparents helped hide some of the people who were […]
Posted inRich Miller
Groups eye Meta settlement money
Hours after the social media giant Meta agreed last Wednesday to settle a case brought by 47 state attorneys general and implement reforms to protect children from social media harms, the Illinois Federation of Teachers issued a demand that all of Illinois’ portion of the $17.1 billion settlement – $768 million – be designated “to […]
Posted inLetters to the Editor
Letters to the editor 8/27/26
We welcome letters. Please include your full name, address and telephone number. We edit all letters. Send them to editor@illinoistimes.com. LIVED TO SEE IT Professional women’s baseball has been a long time coming (“Another league of their own,” July 30). I’m glad I can see it in my lifetime. It was a dream since I […]
Posted inRich Miller
Another harassment allegation
Yet another sexual harassment allegation has been made against an Illinois House Democrat. But this time, the House speaker’s operation is fully supporting its incumbent. Rep. Murri Briel’s former deputy chief of staff Laura Jackson claims that, among other things, Briel (D-Ottawa) sexually harassed her, supplied “unlimited” amounts of Adderall to her and the campaign […]
Posted inLetters to the Editor
Letters to the editor
POORLY MANAGED I have been a certified arborist since the first year the certification law was passed decades ago. I have been actively volunteering since 1970 identifying and evaluating unique and old trees in Oak Ridge Cemetery and elsewhere in Illinois, starting with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. I have put plaques and QR […]
Posted inOpinion
Grandparents: The greatest influencers
I work hard at limiting the amount of time I spend watching reels and videos online. But I can’t control myself when I see videos of grandkids reaching and sobbing for their grandparents. You know the ones. It’s hard to know who is having the hardest time with the separation – the grandchildren or the […]
Posted inJames Krohe Jr.
Unamended consequences
With luck, the $350 million renovation of the Illinois State Capitol north wing will open by the time the snow flies and Springfield will get a glimpse of the new main entrance to the Statehouse. Visitor screening, conference rooms and parking are now bunkered beneath the lawn on the Monroe Street side. Readers old enough to recall when the […]
Posted inRich Miller
10 years at the top not guaranteed
After Michael J. Madigan’s 36 years as Illinois House speaker, a 10-year term limit on current and future speakers doesn’t seem like a lot of time in the big chair. Except it is. Nobody prior to Madigan had ever served 10 years as speaker in this state going back to when Illinois became a state […]
