Cover Story
A ‘rogue’ scientist’s legacy
New Jersey resident Richard Mancuso considers the late William Halford a medical pioneer. Carolyn Goatley, a 55-year-old software engineer who lives in Louisville, Kentucky, said Halford, a Springfield resident and faculty member at Springfield’s Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, “did a wonderful thing” and “changed my life.” Mancuso, 54, a part-time truck driver and…
Census estimates have poor track record
If you’re getting a strong and unpleasant sense of déjà vu about the new US Census Bureau’s population estimates for counties, including Cook County, you’re not alone. US Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-8, is feeling it as well. Krishnamoorthi, who sits on the House Oversight and Accountability Committee, has been trying to force the Census Bureau…
A new normal
The Springfield City Council in recent months has issued permits for three marijuana dispensaries, including one for Maribis, which is moving its Grandview dispensary to a former phone store at 2451 Denver Drive, near North Dirksen Parkway. “It’s a more high-traffic location than what you’ve got now, with what I’d say is better accessibility for…
Strange bedfellows
A political action committee headed by a longtime Republican is backing both Colleen Redpath Feger and Lisa Badger in the Springfield treasurer’s race. Citizens For New Leadership, a PAC set up by Leland Grove resident Frank Vala, sent out mailers this week urging voters to support Badger. The mailer, which includes a photo of Badger…
United Airlines departing Springfield
In the wake of United Airlines’ decision to no longer serve Springfield, travelers flying to Chicago will likely pay more for their airfare, an economist specializing in air travel told Illinois Times. When United leaves June 1, the only major commercial carrier serving Springfield will be American Airlines. “American will be the monopolist at your…
The Christians delivers thought-provoking theater
The Christians, the 2015 play by Lucas Hnath, opened at the Hoogland Center for the Arts March 24 and will be presented again this weekend. The play is suitable for all audiences and runs about 90 minutes with no intermission. Performances are in the Peggy Ryder Theatre on the third floor of the Hoogland. It…
Butter makes things better
My early childhood religious upbringing was predominately guilt-driven, and over the years, many of the things that have given me pleasure – such as butter – have been enshrouded in a veil of guilt. I was born in the 1950s and grew up on margarine. When I went away to college in the 70s and…
March into April music
Here we go, finishing up with March and finding ourselves in April without a hitch. I might need schooling and you might need cooling, but we ain’t fooling nobody with these references, so let’s take a look at what’s on tap for our scene this week. Friday gets us into a large range of music…
Deadly withdrawal
Brian Downs wasn’t just a person with an addiction; he was a loving son, a hard worker, a devoted brother, a good friend. His mother, Julie Downs, wants people to know this about her son, who died April 25, 2022, in the Morgan County Jail of complications related to heroin withdrawal. “Too often people are…
A green burial
“They’ll make fun of me and give me a goofy name.” That was my mother’s reaction to the notion of her body being donated to a medical school for students to dissect. I was a bit surprised by the vehemence she expressed against the idea. After all, she was a registered nurse married to a…
Honor Among Thieves brings D&D to the big screen, Mystery 2 is charming, Wick 4 pushes limits
Honor Among Thieves brings D&D to the big screen, Mystery 2 is charming, Wick 4 pushes limits Now Streaming |Chuck Koplinski Thieves a surprising, fun adventure You could write all I know about Dungeons and Dragons on a grain of rice and still have room to inscribe the Bill of Rights. Be that as it…
Progress at Pillsbury site
Moving Pillsbury Forward, the local nonprofit spearheading efforts to clean up the site of the old Pillsbury flour mill in northeast Springfield, has raised about $4 million towards the estimated $10-12 million cost of demolition and hazardous waste removal. The facility opened in 1929, and at its peak, employed about 1,500 people. It shut down…
Irish Poem #8
Irish Poem #8 her grandfather built the cottage a hundred years ago one roomed, thick walled the kind you see in coffee table books I sit in the inglenook (there must be a celtic name for that recessed spot seats on two sides fire in the middle you can look right up the chimney) she…
Letters to the editor 03-30-23
BE FAIR I see on the neighborhood social media sites where young mothers are getting their utilities shut off because they can’t afford the skyrocketing bills (“Debt forgiveness becomes a campaign issue,” March 23). They are asking for help in paying them. My granddaughter is one of them. She has a two-bedroom house and her…
Finally, teacher shortage gets some attention
Gov. JB Pritzker has announced he wants to provide $70 million per year for the next three years to address the teacher shortage. Hats off to him, as there is no denying that hundreds of classrooms are lacking qualified, certified teachers. The issues of lack of teachers and low pay are real. These issues have…
