Opinion

All too often technology and distance desensitizes us from overseas crises and conflicts, and the people suffering and dying in their midst. In unfortunate circumstances such as these, some individuals understand only the language of violence. Ukrainian-American Lena Beneke knows this all too well. Beneke, a married mother of two boys, has lived in Chatham, […]

Rudy Rudolph is best known as one of the most famous female athletes ever t o come out of Springfield. I would like you to know something about the person behind that fame – a simple, sweet, honest lady who was my friend. Born Elenore Rodolfi, “Rudy” lived a humble life growing up in Devereux […]

In October, I wrote about a zoning case involving a property that was to be annexed into the city of Springfield from Woodside Township and developed into multifamily housing units. As a member of the Springfield Planning and Zoning Commission, I had reservations about the zoning change. The street, South Park Avenue, lacks sidewalks, curbs […]

This past month, a Cook County judge held the director of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services in contempt of court, an unprecedented action. In this latest instance, two DCFS youngsters languished in mental health facilities months after they were ready to be discharged. What’s new? DCFS has been under a federal court […]

The new Illinois 2022-2030 congressional map has the dubious distinction of being one of the most gerrymandered congressional maps in the nation. Princeton University’s Gerrymandering Project presented the newly drawn Illinois congressional map with an “F” grade. Downstate’s new 13th Congressional District may be the most gerrymandered district in Illinois. Upon passing the final map […]

In spring of 2021, I made a commitment. In my postage stamp yard, I planted rhubarb, asparagus, raspberries and lily of the valley. Any gardener knows that these are plants which take time to establish and that bring reward for years to come. It was a way to renew my commitment to Springfield and Lincoln […]

Hats off to Lisa Moffett and Theresa O’Hare who went into action to save the summer kitchen at the famed Leland Farmhouse even though the main house was demolished. And hats off to the Springfield Park Board for seeing the significance of preserving a piece of history and entering into a letter of intent to […]

With a $1 trillion infrastructure package on the books and the Biden administration’s $1.8 trillion “Build Back Better” measure preoccupying the Senate after passing the House, government spending is very much on Americans’ minds. In public meetings, I frequently hear people say that government’s share of the economy is too big, and it’s likely that […]

The renewable energy boom is either a boon to some or a boondoggle to others. The billions of dollars being spent on renewable energy today is causing disruptions throughout the ag economy that we are still trying to understand. I’m a trustee for the Sangamon Conservancy Trust, which is a land trust established in 2000 […]