Witness
His bronze sculptures, monuments, and paintings tell of deep sorrow: the scars of slavery, the sacrifice of immigration, the quiet suffering of women. His art also speaks of hope: the eloquent words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the restless spirit of pioneer Jean Baptiste Point du Sable, the creative rebirth of the Harlem Renaissance.…
Holding steady
Springfield’s homeless problem has been brought to the forefront in recent weeks by an unlikely source, and the issue appears to have regained some momentum. This week, the City Council resoundingly rejected three ordinances proposed by Ward 5 Ald. Joe Bartolomucci, a Republican, ostensibly to alleviate homelessness but really to keep homeless people from hanging…
Capitol police unionize
Members of the new Capitol police force have voted to join the Policeman’s Benevolent Labor Committee in an effort to improve their pay and benefits. The PBLC beat out the Fraternal Order of Police, the nation’s biggest police union, by a one-vote margin on Friday, Aug. 25. The force of about 40 law-enforcement officers was…
Home on the range
It’s quiet and peaceful down here on the farm — no traffic noise or blasting stereos. The stillness heightens the senses: a bee buzzing past, the rustle of leaves in a sudden slight breeze, the grassy smell of a hayfield ripe for mowing, and a distant dog barking all make a stronger impact because there…
Fire Detroit’s auto bosses
Guess who’s rising like a rocket toward the No. 1 spot in U.S. auto sales? Toyota! The Japanese carmaker has surpassed Ford for second place, and Honda replaced DaimlerChrysler in fourth. America’s Big Three is no more, with Detroit’s auto line-up claiming barely half of our own market. Japan’s surge is the direct result of…
Letters to the Editor
We welcome letters, but please include your full name, address, and daytime telephone number. We edit all letters for libel, length, and clarity. Send letters to Letters, Illinois Times, P.O. Box 5256, Springfield, IL 62705; fax 217-753-3958; e-mail editor@illinoistimes.com. CURRENT SYSTEM IS DYSFUNCTIONAL After reading Lawrence Hunter’s letter [Aug. 24], I had to write. It…
Incumbent disadvantage
As President George W. Bush’s job approval ratings continue to slump, Republican incumbents almost everywhere are running away from him as fast as they can. It’s gotten so bad that even U.S. Rep. Tom Reynolds, the chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, doesn’t have the word “Republican” on his campaign Web site’s front page.…
Odd man out
Not many “different” people out-and-about anymore. By alternating acts of charity and intolerance, we herd odd folks into more palatable definitions. I’m not sure where they put the odd people who decide not to go along. Rehab centers? Jail? Asylums hidden behind names such as Meadow Brook and Garden Terrace? Doesn’t matter I suppose, as…
To tell the truth
A woman listed as a witness who identified a suspect last year in a drive-by shooting says she didn’t see the crime and never told police officers that she had, according to court documents filed last week. The woman’s affidavit raises more questions about the work of Paul Carpenter, a former detective in Springfield Police…
Unfriendly persuasion
What I’m about to tell you doesn’t matter. I mean, if it were important, the Illinois State Police would have punished the guy who did it, right? Instead, ISP director Larry Trent allowed this guy to retire with the maximum pension, plus paperwork showing that he resigned in good standing. You might want to keep…
