Cap City

Springfield’s LGBTQ community is pleased that, as of June 1, same-sex civil unions will be available to Illinoisans, but Springfield’s first Gay Pride Festival planned to take place downtown just 10 days earlier is merely a coincidence, says Jonna Cooley. Cooley is executive director of the Phoenix Center, Springfield’s 10-year-old LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered, […]

Military veterans in Sangamon County will soon have something to smile about. Qualified veterans are eligible for vouchers that would cover a teeth cleaning, examination and assessment by a dentist of their choice. To pay for the program, the Sangamon County Veteran’s Assistance Commission received a $35,000 grant from the Illinois Department of Veteran’s Affairs […]

Get ready, ‘cause as of June 1 everything changes, says Buff Carmichael, local LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer) advocate who is helping to organize a legal information session for same-sex couples. On June 1, Illinois’ new law allowing civil unions for same- and opposite-sex couples becomes effective. The legal workshop, to be held Tuesday, […]

As Springfield’s arts community grows, so must the amount work space available. Betsy Dollar, executive director of the Springfield Art Association, says Springfield currently lacks adequate studio space for artists working in ceramics, metals, glass and more. Most of the local ceramics studios, for example, are connected to colleges, Dollar says, so only students have […]

Dr. Paul Kinsinger, a family doctor in Washington, near Peoria, knew that he needed to find another income stream to be able to continue his independent medical practice without affiliating with a hospital. That’s important because Kinsinger and his partner-brother regard their practice as a ministry, and refer some patients to Christian counselors. He also […]

The West Branch Lincoln Library is about to lose its books, but, for a small fee, the public can take them home this weekend. As the city prepares to use the space at 1251 W. Washington for other agencies, the shuttered building is about to shed its quintessential elements. Books, music and videos are being […]

On an overcast March day in Washington Park, a gaggle of excited children in winter coats crowd around a black bucket filled with writhing, slippery rainbow trout trucked in from Ava, Mo. Minutes later, about 300 of the green and purple fish slide from the truck’s holding tank through a long metal chute and into […]

Learn about race, class and ethics in 21st century health care in a free presentation by Congresswoman Donna M. Christensen, a U.S. Delegate for the Virgin Islands. The event will be Monday, March 28, in partnership with the University of Illinois Springfield at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine on 801 Rutledge St. A reception […]

Start stretching: Fitness in the Park is back for a second season. Beginning next week on Tuesday, March 22, Andy Dickerson will lead outdoor exercise classes every Tuesday and Thursday from 6 p.m. until 7 p.m. at Washington Park. Starting at the Botanical Gardens’ front fountain, participants will walk through the park, pausing along the […]

Standing atop a mountain in Afghanistan last year, Springfield resident Thomas Vermeersch looked down and saw the potential of a country now embroiled in war. Despite the rocky, mountainous terrain of the arid region, the people long ago had built terraced fields and designed irrigation systems. “All of it built by hands over many, many […]

Despite being eliminated from the Progressive Automotive XPrize competition on what amounts to a technicality, the Illuminati Motorworks crew is still working on their fully-electric four-seat vehicle, Seven, which gets the equivalent of between 119 and 230 miles per gallon. The next step is testing the car’s power and efficiency at the Chrysler Proving Grounds […]

The Illinois Symphony Orchestra is nearing the end of its search for a new conductor to replace long-time maestra Karen Lynne Deal, who led the orchestra for more than a decade. Five finalists from around the country have been chosen as possibilities to replace Deal, and each will get a chance to guest conduct the […]