Debts and donations
A politically connected Springfield lawyer, George Petrilli, who was fined more than $46,000 by the city for failing to maintain a dilapidated property, had almost all of his debt forgiven and later donated $2,500 to Mayor Jim Langfelder’s reelection campaign. The city has waived fines and forgiven utility bills in hundreds of cases during 2022,…
An attempted rescue
Deteriorating buildings in the 600 block of East Washington Street in Springfield’s historic district could be stabilized for $761,000 and marketed to potential developers rather than be torn down to create a parking lot, members of Downtown Springfield Heritage Foundation said March 6. The foundation unveiled its proposal at a meeting of the Springfield Historic…
Three similar deaths, different outcomes
When Richard Burns learned in January that two ambulance workers were charged with first-degree murder after the suffocation death of Springfield resident Earl Moore Jr., he was “a bit frustrated, to say the least.” That’s because he said no one at the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Department was criminally charged, fired or otherwise disciplined after the…
Original March music
Git along, little dogies, we are moving into March of 20 & 23 with the wind in our sails and the earth beneath our feet, or say some other mixed-up metaphor for getting along a-OK. Soon enough, the outdoor stages will come alive with the sound of music and all that jazz. For now, we’ve…
Creed III settles the score, Cocaine Bear has one joke, Jesus Revolution is sincere
Jordan steers Creed III to success For his first feature as a director, Michael B. Jordan handed himself a double-edged sword by helming Creed III. I would think a certain degree of comfort was found working in a familiar genre with a character he’s defined. Yet, he also faced the daunting task of finding a…
Too big to fail
We heard those words repeatedly when Wall Street banks were going broke and the federal government swooped in to bail them out – with our money. The arrangement was a deal with the devil. But both George W. Bush and Barack Obama said we should just hold our noses because so much of the country’s…
When downtown defeated demolitions
When I heard about the “beautification project” to demolish two historic buildings on East Washington to make a “green space” surface parking lot, it reminded me of something. Had I heard this story before? Oh yes, I finally remembered, the 2001-2002 “Vista Block” proposal. That project seemed to come out of the blue, but really…
Five honored during Black History Month
In celebration of Black History Month, Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza honored five downstate individuals for their outstanding contributions to the state of Illinois and their communities. She hosted a recognition ceremony Feb. 23 in her Springfield office. Dr. Shelia Boozer had a long and distinguished career in Springfield public schools as a teacher and administrator…
Irish Poem #4
Irish Poem #4 When I went all the way to Ireland we spent a Dublin Sunday morning at a Unitarian Congregation – how crazy can that be! The sermon was called “Cowboys and Indians” and we sang a hymn about rootworms In the afternoon we saw The Book of Kells and had carrot soup with…
Letters to the editor 03-02-23
DON’T DEMOLISH HISTORY I just read Fletcher Farrar’s editor’s note and sadly must agree with him (Feb. 23). Why does this city continue to tear down our history? Somehow, leaders in this city for decades have deemed our wonderfully built, historical structures not worth saving. They tear down these gems in the name of “progress”…
A push to diversify
White men from small towns. That’s the primary recruiting pool for the Springfield Police Department, which is struggling to have a more diverse workforce that better reflects the community. Although Springfield is 20% Black, only 10% of officers in the department are African American. Worse yet, not a single Black person holds a supervisory rank…
Editor’s note 03-02-23
Susan Phillips, pastor of Springfield’s First Presbyterian Church, once heard Illinois Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton deliver an impassioned speech and noted to herself, “She can preach!” After the event she told Stratton, “You should come back sometime and preach at our Sunday morning service,” “Invite me,” said the lieutenant governor. She was invited and took…
Demolition delay
The Springfield City Council may reconsider its Feb. 21 vote granting Horace Mann Educators Corp. $600,000 in tax-increment financing revenues to demolish two downtown buildings and create a parking lot and green space in the 600 block of East Washington Street. Ward 8 Ald. Erin Conley said she will ask the council at its March…
Legislators under attack from vocal minority
Last month, I wrote a tongue-in-cheek headline for my blog: “Poll conducted for IEA finds about 10% of Illinoisans are wackos.” The Normington-Petts and Next Generation Strategies poll of 1,000 Illinoisans conducted in January found that 11% strongly favor, “the fighting, yelling, or other contention at school board meetings that has been happening around the…
Bill would stop bad credit from increasing auto insurance cost
State Rep. Will Guzzardi, D-Chicago, has introduced a bill that would prohibit auto insurers in the state from considering consumer credit information in setting rates. After a Feb. 28 hearing, the bill was sent to a subcommittee, a signal that it may not be considered by the full House this term. If the measure were…
Magic marinade
I’ve really gotten deep into LSK recently. It’s been helping me unlock potentials that have always been there but I’ve never before noticed. I’m discovering flavors and aromas and colors that I’ve never experienced. It’s really been transformative! I’m not talking about micro-dosing with a new psychedelic drug, but rather an ages-old marinade from Asia.…
