Cover Story
Fighting for the innocent
The Illinois Innocence Project at University of Illinois Springfield has freed 34 innocent people who were convicted and imprisoned in Illinois for crimes they did not commit. Collectively, they lost 797 years of freedom. There are innocence organizations in 10 other countries and more than 60 in the U.S., but IIP is the only one…
The Super Bowl of motorcycle racing
As it is to the fifth-generation farmer on the homestead, the dirt at the oval track of the Springfield Mile is sacred ground to 40-year-old Jared Mees. He’s won the annual motorcycle race in the capital city 10 times, and with it a lot of prize money. He also was married on the soil of…
Turtle Creek
Ron Dougan writes of a tripdown Turtle Creek; “Perhapsthe high point of my grandkids’visit was a canoe trip down TurtleCreek from the Shopiere Dam to Colley Road. The banks enclosedus, we were in another world. Turtles,Carp, Little Green Heron, Great BlueHeron, Kingfishers, Cedar Wax Wings,and Ducks galore – a wilderness areaat our door!” 2026 Jacqueline Jackson
Letters to the editor 8/27/26
We welcome letters. Please include your full name, address and telephone number. We edit all letters. Send them to editor@illinoistimes.com. LIVED TO SEE IT Professional women’s baseball has been a long time coming (“Another league of their own,” July 30). I’m glad I can see it in my lifetime. It was a dream since I…
Founding of the Illinois Innocence Project
Dr. Larry Golden, the founding director of IIP, was the youngest faculty member when he came to Sangamon State University when it opened in 1970. He became involved in social justice issues in the 1960s while in graduate school at the University of Minnesota and said he was attracted to SSU because of its focus…
Budget dinners
August is undoubtedly our household’s most expensive month of the year, and the busiest. In addition to both of my kiddos having August birthdays, there’s back to school supplies, clothes and registration, the Illinois State Fair and if we’re lucky, maybe a little road trip. Add in the impulse to squeeze as much sunshine and…
August ending music rambles
As we roll on through the end of August, next weekend brings Labor Day and the unofficial finish to summer along for the ride. We will be falling into autumn soon enough, so let’s take a gander at what’s out there now as we wander through the aftermath of the State Fair looking for things…
Balloons return to light up Lincoln sky
Nineteen balloons will return to Lincoln this weekend for the popular two-day Balloons Over 66 Weekend. The balloons will be a welcome sight, especially after event organizers canceled the event earlier this year. Never fear, though, the event is back with all the events participants love, especially the balloon launches and “glows.” Friday’s events include…
