Editor’s Note

At last week’s meeting of the Citizens Club of Springfield, Illinois Supreme Court Justice Lisa Holder White was asked: Does the absence of ethical standards for the U.S. Supreme Court lead to a decline in public trust for the court? “The justices of the U.S. Supreme Court have a lifetime appointment,” she answered. “That probably […]

Sometimes it’s good to thank oldsters for staying in the fight. They don’t always do so for ego or pride, but sometimes for compassion or duty. Pope Francis must know that, despite frailties and pain, nobody else would use the power of his office to voice the love of God in quite the way that […]

The violence that broke out in Sudan this week dashed the hopes of millions there who had hoped for peace since 2019, when a popular revolution ousted the African nation’s longtime dictator. News reports say British and American negotiators thought they were close, even last week, to a deal that would lead to democracy. Then […]

Life changed this week for me and many northenders when Noonan’s True Value Hardware announced it is closing its retail operations. For the past 30 years or so I’ve relied on the North Grand Noonan’s when I needed a set screw for a doorknob, or a washer for a garden hose, lightbulbs, a bale of […]

Misty Buscher knows what it takes to be a fine mayor. She has pledged an administration of openness, transparency and communication, and we’re eager to watch that unfold. As a newcomer to most of the issues facing city government, Buscher’s performance will be key, while Springfield welcomes new energy and a fresh face. We’re intrigued […]

If you’re one of those who have been losing sleep worrying about all those people who have more than $250,000 in their bank accounts, more than the insured-deposit limit, you may now rest assured. It turns out that the median net worth of U.S households is $140,500, and half of those have bank deposits of […]

Springfield yearns for a bold leader with a strong vision for downtown, a proposal for a cool Central Park and a preservation ethic that won’t allow historic buildings to be torn down for parking lots. A plan for a city planner would win a lot of support, as well as a vision for developing older […]

With this wedding issue we note that the marriage rate in the United States has hit an all-time low in recent years, falling to 6 new marriages per 1,000 people in 2020, down from 9.8 per 1,000 in 1990, according to the U.S. Census. Among the reasons given is that Americans are getting married later […]

Maybe now we’ll get some reform in the classified document system. Of the millions of documents now classified, insiders say some are as banal as how to make a ham sandwich. If the nation had fewer secrets, it wouldn’t be so easy to carelessly take some home to Indiana or the Delaware garage. Of the […]

This year’s health and wellness issue comes with plenty of friendly advice, on topics including mental health, beginning yoga and how to motivate yourself to meet your goals. Here’s another tip: Don’t try this alone. The social aspects of exercising with a partner or a group provides motivation you won’t find anywhere else. Friends celebrating […]

Gov. JB Pritzker is right, as he said in his second inaugural address, that he and the legislature got “big things done” during his first term – things like improving state finances, protecting reproductive rights, instituting nursing home reforms and criminal justice reforms, plus responsibly steering the state through the pandemic. There have been more […]