Opinion

Charlie Kirk’s “Prove Me Wrong American Comeback Tour” came to Illinois State University in Bloomington on April 8. Kirk cofounded Turning Point USA in 2012 and the organization advocates for conservative politics on high school, college and university campuses. ISU is one of 850 campus chapters nationwide. My 19-year-old daughter attends ISU and was eager […]

You’ve probably read about the Republican Party implosion last week in suburban municipal and township campaigns, particularly in DuPage County. It’s important to remember that these consolidated elections are not always a reliable indication of the future. They’re very low turnout, and in years like this – when the election was held during a hugely […]

I met Donny Treadwell in August of 2024 while looking for people to interview about living on the streets in Springfield. We spoke several times, and on four of those occasions I was able to interview him at length. After trying to connect with him again, I learned he froze to death while living outside […]

Feb. 23 was the first really mild Sunday afternoon in weeks. As is my routine, after completing a workout at the YMCA in downtown Springfield on such a glorious day, I made my way on foot to the nearby Amtrak station with a good book in hand to read before heading home. While at the […]

As president of the Sangamon County Medical Society, I feel compelled to address a tragic and entirely preventable loss in our country: the recent death of a child from measles in Texas. Our medical society, which is composed of physicians across all specialties, is dedicated to the health and well-being of the individuals not only […]

Attention across the nation is rightly focused on potential massive and drastic Medicaid cuts under consideration by Congress that would imperil health care for nearly 80 million of our most vulnerable neighbors – low-income families, expectant moms, children and senior citizens, as well as individuals with disabilities. Rural hospitals caring for communities in America’s heartland […]

Born and raised in Springfield, I am a proud graduate of Sacred Heart Academy and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Unfulfilled by my first job at Ernst & Whinney in Chicago, I searched for work that would contribute to a greater good and improve people’s lives. I joined the Peace Corps, and spent two […]

It is hard to watch someone or something that you love die. The U.S. Postal Service has been a lifelong friend. The thrill of getting one’s first card. The joys of exchanging letters and cards with friends and loved ones across the country at low cost. (I remember when first class postage was 3 or […]

The term “woke” has been a rallying cry for the political right for years. Things reached a fever pitch during the 2024 presidential campaigns with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis calling it “a form of cultural Marxism” and “a war on the truth” and Nikki Haley labeling it “a virus worse than any pandemic.” Yikes, that’s […]

I recently learned that several counties are hoping to leave our state. While this seems legally dubious, the sentiment behind this move concerns me as an Illinoisian and I take it seriously.  I am a relatively new resident of Illinois and Springfield, but I have a lot of love for this place. I love the […]