Cap City

Let’s see. What has happened on Feb. 12? The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People was formed. That was in 1909. President Bill Clinton was acquitted by the Senate after being impeached by the House. That was in 1999. Soul On Ice, Eldridge Cleaver’s seminal book on racism, politics and crime was published. […]

A Republican lawmaker has introduced a unique bill that he perceives to be a good way to reduce challenges to Illinoisans’ Second Amendment rights. Neil Anderson, R-Moline, introduced a piece of legislation that, if passed, would prohibit other lawmakers from introducing bills to further regulate firearms and ammunition unless the person has received firearms training […]

After more than three years, Illinois Times is on the verge of prying loose information on settlements to resolve medical malpractice claims involving state inmates. We first requested settlements back in 2015. The state Department of Corrections, however, didn’t have them. Rather, the settlements were made and held by Wexford Health Sources, the company that […]

The recent arrest of Kassie M. Benton, 24, of Mount Zion, a secretary at Eisenhower High School in Decatur, has been an emotional roller coaster for parents with children. Benton told police she made sexual contact with a 17-year-old student who attended the school in February or March of 2018. The now 18-year-old victim confirmed […]

The conservative Illinois Policy Institute has released its own “State of the State” analysis of Illinois’ economic ills, with some proposed solutions. “Since the decade began, Illinois has experienced the greatest population loss of any state in the nation,” writes the organization’s chief economist, Orphe Divounguy. “This period of decline has had detrimental effects on […]

Grover Johnson died in prison in 1996, 25 years into a 40-year sentence for the rape and attempted murder of an elderly woman, Ida White. More than two decades later, Johnson became the first case in Illinois of an individual posthumously exonerated, an action former governor Bruce Rauner took just before leaving office. Paul Echols, […]

City changes courseThe City of Springfield invites the public to attend an informational session for something called a Downtown Traffic Signal Modernization and Operational Modifications project, according to a Jan. 2 press release. That’s fancy lingo for: we want to talk about turning one-way streets back into two-way.  The city announcement states there will be […]

The Illinois State Museum is chock full of interesting stuff to see, ponder and sometimes hear. Next week likely will prove a delight for all the senses as Bryan Bowers is scheduled to perform at 7 p.m. on Jan. 10 as part of the Music At The Museum concert series, which brings oft-overlooked acts to […]

No one was happier than us when Mayor Jim “Jelly” Langfelder pulled the trigger on buying the iconic Sonrise Donut sign for the low, low price of $22,000 during a recent auction that made us, frankly, wonder who else was bidding on a broken neon sign that will cost a mint to move and perhaps […]

Sam Cahnman, who’s looking to move from erstwhile Ward 5 alderman to newly elected Ward 5 alderman in upcoming city elections, is vowing to reject a pay raise approved last month by the city council and Mayor Jim Langfelder, who broke a 5-5 tie (surprise) to up aldermanic salaries by the same rate as inflation, […]

Newly minted U.S. attorney John Milhiser is making moves in an office rocked by revelations that prosecutors and other employees have exchanged improper emails with U.S. District Court Judge Colin Bruce, a former federal prosecutor himself, that last summer prompted the judge’s removal from all criminal proceedings, including the corruption case against former U.S. Rep. […]

“Wishes really do come true,” says Jim Leach, in a press release, “and the 2019 Springfield Muni Opera season proves it.” Leach is president of the Muni board of managers. “But it’s not just the wishes of the characters in our four shows. It might be the wish to let your talent shine on stage, […]