Karen Conn was recently interviewed on Tony Stang’s podcast, The Mosiac Project. Stang is the pastor of Central Baptist Church, located at 501 S. Fourth St. in downtown Springfield, and created the podcast as a means of “archiving moments of humanity.” The conversation with Conn reflects the wider vision of The Mosaic Project, which seeks […]
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A call for police reforms
Residents packed the Springfield City Council chambers on March 31 to demand an independent investigation, and even reforms, of the Springfield Police Department following its response to a contentious arrest last Friday of a Black female teenager. Bodycam footage and bystander video show Officer Jacob Walter, in an attempt to execute a warrant for arrest, […]
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A collaborative effort for downtown
City, county and state elected officials are offering bipartisan support for a bill in the Statehouse that would help facilitate an expansion of the BOS Center in downtown Springfield, along with construction of a new hotel. The bill would also create a new governing board to promote business development and tourism in Springfield and Sangamon […]
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Lawmakers seek measure to make small-scale plug-in solar panels available to renters
A bill to make solar power more accessible to renters and others who face barriers to the alternative energy source is moving through the Illinois Senate. The plug-in solar bill allows people to install small solar panel systems that can be plugged into normal wall outlets for personal use. Instead of a rooftop, the panels could be […]
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WICS slated to be sold again
Springfield’s main television station, NewsChannel 20 WICS, will soon be under new ownership for the second time in a little more than a year if the Federal Communications Commission approves a sale from Rincon Broadcasting to Community News Media LLC. In March of last year, Rincon Broadcasting bought WICS as part of a $29.5 million […]
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Social service concerns mount as federal changes take effect
The federal budget’s sweeping changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, including additional work requirements and shifting age bracket qualifications, could lead to nearly 20% of Illinois SNAP recipients – as many as 340,000 people – losing benefits in the coming months, according to state estimates and local agencies. Adults from the ages of 18 […]
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No Kings rally held in Springfield
Peaceful No Kings rallies took place March 28 in cities all over the U.S., including Springfield, to protest policies of the Trump Administration. This was the third No Kings rally in front of the Lincoln statue on the State House grounds. This time Second Street and Capitol Street were closed to vehicles. People filled the […]
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DSI names executive director, presents annual awards
The Downtown Springfield, Inc. (DSI) board of directors has appointed Jay Shanle as the nonprofit’s new executive director. “I’m incredibly grateful for the trust the DSI board and our community have placed in me, and I’m honored to step into the role of executive director,” said Shanle. “Downtown Springfield has shaped so much of my […]
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Ancient roots, modern future
The air inside the sanctuary was thick with incense. A priest in embroidered vestments chanted ancient prayers as parishioners stood shoulder to shoulder. Some bowed deeply before painted icons of Jesus of Nazareth and the saints. Others crossed themselves repeatedly as voices rose together in ancient hymns sung a cappella. It’s a scene one might […]
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New police chief for Leland Grove
The Leland Grove City Council unanimously approved hiring Kenton Oliver as the new Leland Grove chief of police at a March 24 meeting. The six members of the City Council unanimously voted to terminate the previous police chief, Dan Ryan, retroactively effective Feb. 24. Ryan, whose license was suspended on March 23, is awaiting trial […]
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Illinois Times names CEO
As Illinois Times completes its transition to a nonprofit, Kate McKenzie has been chosen as the organization’s first CEO. McKenzie holds a master’s degree in Public Affairs Reporting from University of Illinois Springfield. She worked for Shaw Media publications, where she was editor of the Joliet Herald-News and Morris Herald-News, before taking a job with […]
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County Board votes to table data center proposal
After almost three hours of constituents mostly deriding the idea of a data center in Sangamon County, the County Board voted 15 to 13 to table the CyrusOne project that would occupy more than 280 acres of farmland. More than 700 residents of Sangamon County, and other counties, attended the Sangamon County Board meeting on […]
