For years, Illinois was known as a state that chronically underfunded services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) – the essential workers who provide daily care, skill building, medication assistance and community access – were paid wages that made retention nearly impossible. People with disabilities faced years-long waiting lists, […]
Opinion
Posted inOpinion
Illinois’ George Washington
Every December, Illinoisans celebrate the commonwealth’s admission to the Union as the 21st state in 1818. Well, some do. Actually, hardly any do. Most Illinoisans seem reconciled to their membership in the commonwealth but seldom proud of it; a not insignificant number of downstaters hereabouts daydream about secession that might free them of that yoke […]
Posted inOpinion
America facing the “banality of evil”
I was at lunch in Springfield when a close friend called from one of the suburbs of Chicago. He said, “This area has been invaded; I cannot go outside my house for fear of being taken away. They (ICE) are waiting outside construction and other offices. As soon as workers come out who look Latino […]
Posted inOpinion
Adults to blame for children’s mental health crisis
I read with interest Dilpreet Raju’s cover story on children’s mental health. Like numerous other sources, it cites an increase in screen time as one of the primary reasons for increased anxiety, depression and other mental health conditions among youth, especially girls. With the wealth of information about the impact of screens on children, we […]
Posted inOpinion
Cracks in the earth
“Lutheran high school as hellmouth?” is a headline that I’d hoped to read when I heard that the ground at 3500 W. Washington beneath Springfield’s new Lutheran High School opened up beneath it in 2022. Disappointingly, no bloody hand had thrust up out of its grave to pull innocents down into the bowels of the […]
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Protect families from lead contamination
Illinois is home to more than one million lead service lines, the highest state total in the nation. While efforts to replace these aging and harmful pipes are underway, completing such a massive undertaking will take years. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has set a national deadline of 2037 for full lead pipe replacement, though […]
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Higher hotel taxes won’t bring more visitors
From Route 66 nostalgia and Abraham Lincoln sites to a vibrant dining scene and a new sports park that is poised to make our city a regional destination, Springfield has a lot to offer visitors. Yet, what should be our crown jewel – our beautiful and historic downtown – has become stagnant in recent years […]
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Stop undervaluing conservation
For the second year in a row, the state of Illinois has chosen to underfund the backbone of its conservation infrastructure. This year’s state budget once again provides only $4.5 million in operational funding for the state’s 97 soil and water conservation districts – comparable to levels from the 1990s. It represents a 48% cut […]
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Revitalize Robin Roberts Stadium
On June 26, I sent the following letter to the Springfield Park District board of directors. I am writing to you with a profound sense of urgency and concern regarding the current state of Robin Roberts Stadium – a facility that should be a source of pride for the city of Springfield, especially as we […]
Posted inOpinion
Congress must act to pull USPS back from the brink
The United States Postal Service is on the brink of a self-induced collapse. The failed policies of the Delivering for America Plan have driven away customers through a combination of sky-high rate increases and degraded service. David Steiner, who will take over as Postmaster General on July 14, has a tough job to do and […]
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The rule of law is king
The hundreds of thousands of Americans who took part in the “No Kings” protests across the country on Saturday, June 14, were asserting a demand that the current president and his minions comply with the rule of law. Elections do have consequences. It is the American way to oppose policies and programs of a president […]
Posted inOpinion
A screen-based childhood harms kids
Ten years ago, while teaching fourth grade at Glenwood Elementary School in Chatham, I embarked on a novel website: Mystery Location. Through Mystery Location, my class joined a class in California via Skype. Each class gave geographic clues to the other as to our locations. It was so exciting! The activity embodied the true wonder […]
