Cap City

The city is allowing free downtown parking for shoppers during the holidays. Until Dec. 22, shoppers who obtain permits labeled “Shopper” from one of 10 downtown retail businesses – and what a pity it is that there are not three times that amount – can park for free between Fourth and Seventh streets east-west and […]

We’re doomed. Well, maybe not doomed, but nonetheless in a heap of trouble, thanks to a heap of coal ash from the city’s power plant that’s built up next to Lake Springfield. That’s the takeaway from a report released this week by the Sierra Club, Prairie Rivers Network and other usual environmentalist suspects who have […]

You gotta love Ward 7 Ald. Joe McMenamin, a man who knows his seasons. Take winter, for instance. In August, when sunshine was cheap and the city council, alarmed that an out-of-town outfit had underbid local contractors by more than $80,000, delayed a vote on a $364,000 crack-sealing contract for Chatham Road. At the time, […]

Illinois became the 16th state to legalize same-sex marriage five years ago, when marriage equality legislation was signed into law on Nov. 20, 2013. The U.S. Supreme Court did not issue its historic ruling requiring all states to issue same-sex marriage licenses until June 26, 2015. Sen. Heather Steans, D-Chicago, a sponsor of the legislation, […]

Final signatures aren’t yet on paper, but a contract between State Journal-Register newsroom employees and GateHouse Media, corporate owner of the Springfield daily, has been ratified by workers and is all but a done deal. According to a union publication, workers get a 1 percent raise this year and a 1.75 percent raise next year. […]

Those on the front lines of caring for the hungry and homeless have been talking about working together ever since Ossie Langfelder was mayor in the 1980s. The efforts to coordinate and cooperate usually get bogged down for one reason or another, but the good people keep trying again, as they announced they will do […]

Springfield is competing against 40 other communities across the nation to win a $25,000 matching grant to host 10 free concerts in downtown next summer. There are two key aspects of the Levitt AMP [Your City] Music Series grant. One is to activate an underutilized space – so if Springfield should win, Downtown Springfield, Inc., […]

The Jewish Federation of Springfield and the Jewish Community Relations Council have made plans to “bring together the Springfield community” to mourn the loss of life at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh. The gathering is 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 1, at the Lincoln statue in front of the Capitol. “This will be an […]

When last we heard of Springfield police officer Paul Carpenter, the city was paying $24,000 to neighbors who sued after the officer, while on duty, pulled over a woman who lived down the street whom he suspected of flipping off his son, or being related to someone who did. He dropped a flurry of f-bombs, […]

Spooky, Halloween-themed acts, pop-up performances and a haunted maze backstage are just the beginning of the fun at “Muni Mayhem,” happening Oct. 11-13 at the Muni Opera. An official announcement promises everything from “ballet zombies to Jack Skellington and the Addams family” will be present for the fundraising event. “You can spend the entire evening […]

The Monticello Railway Museum, the Illinois State Military Museum and Monticello Main Street will team up to honor Monticello, Illinois’ first casualty in World War I on Saturday, Oct. 20. Pvt. Roy W. Hamm was just 20 years old when he boarded a steamship for France in May 1918 – and he was killed Sept. […]

Gov. Bruce Rauner and Illinois State Police (ISP) director Leo P. Schmitz were among those in attendance Tuesday, Oct. 2, when the Illinois State Police Heritage Foundation held the official dedication of the Illinois State Police Memorial Park, honoring 67 ISP officers killed in the line of duty. Formerly known as Becker Park, it is […]