Cover Story
Citizens want a voice in CWLP
Springfield’s City Water, Light and Power (CWLP) is the largest municipally owned utility in Illinois. Local citizen activists with Sustainable Springfield, the Sierra Club and the Faith Coalition for the Common Good are seeking an approach that would, among other measures, include citizen involvement in decision-making for CWLP. This could take the form of a…
Follow the money
Illinois Senate President Don Harmon continues piling up campaign money. His latest quarterly report for his personal campaign committee showed Harmon had $13.4 million in the bank, up almost $2 million from the previous quarter. His caucus committee ended with $2.6 million in the bank, up about $800,000 from the previous quarter. And his two…
Questions remain over whether Sangamon County followed policy in deadly pursuit
As the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office led a multi-county pursuit last month that ended in the death of a 43-year-old Kansas man, Illinois State Police directed troopers not to participate. A Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office news release issued a week after Kirtis Shane Davenport’s death stated “various other law enforcement agencies” assisted, but ISP confirmed…
Keaton a standout in Goodrich, Rumours a sharp political satire, Saturday Night looks at start of SNL
Keaton, cast excel in moving Goodrich In Goodrich, Michael Keaton gives a standout performance as a man finding hope, when reason tells him there is none. A California gallery owner, Goodrich’s wake-up call comes when he gets a phone call from his wife (Laura Benanti), telling him she’s checked into a 90-day rehab center, and…
Big plans for Clear Lake Avenue
A 38-acre lot the city of Springfield owns along Clear Lake Avenue may become a $38 million complex of municipal warehouses and offices. The city is contemplating erecting a $24 million water distribution facility and a $14 million Public Works building in the 2100 block of Clear Lake Avenue. The matter was slated for consideration…
Banking on change
Security Bank of Springfield is seeking approval from the federal government to change its ownership structure so that it is owned by investors rather than by the financial institution’s depositors. A recent bank filing with federal regulators also indicated the financial institution is deeply involved with state-licensed cannabis businesses. Bank president and CEO Stephan Paul…
Vote yes for property tax relief
Ben Franklin once said death and taxes are inevitable, but he never said it’s inevitable to be taxed to death – especially by Illinois’ complicated and unfair property tax system with its bewildering array of terms, rules and deadlines designed to be confusing and intimidating to the average property taxpayer. Illinois has the second-highest property…
Three advisory questions on November ballot
Lawmakers in Illinois are asking voters to weigh in on three hot-button issues on their ballots this year: election interference, income taxes and reproductive health care. Voters in Illinois are being posed three “advisory” questions that ask voters whether they support a specific policy but aren’t legally binding. Lawmakers may take the results into account…
Surprisingly welcoming
When a jobless migrant – a “hobo” or “tramp” – wandered into Springfield during the Great Depression, he might have been in for a surprise: a well-stocked shelter offering meals, a bed, work opportunities and even recreation. Springfield’s transient-aid program was part of the Federal Transient Service, set up in 1933 to help communities deal with the hordes…
A winning touchdown in writing
Many book readers are familiar with a question often asked during an interview of an author. “You are organizing a dinner party, who would you invite to attend?” I am not an author at all, but if asked that question, author Joe Posnanski would be at the very top of my invitation list. Posnanski is…
Rockin’ in October
Come on in, my fellow travelers and let’s take a peek at some goings on within the wide and wonderful (mostly) world of the Springfield (Illinois) music scene for this week. We’ve been plugging the Thursdays pretty hard lately, and I hope you’ve made it out to see some of these available, pre-weekend shows. This…
You shall rejoice in your festival
The Jewish lunar month of Tishri, which falls in September and October on the civil calendar, is the busiest time of the Jewish year, filled with holidays and observances both solemn and joyous. Within the past two weeks we have celebrated Rosh Hashanah (the New Year) and Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement), the start…
Learn about future plans for downtown and the medical district
Coming up next week are two opportunities to learn all about a master plan being developed for downtown Springfield and the city’s Mid-Illinois Medical District. The meetings, both free and open to the public, are set for 5:30 p.m. Thursday at the Memorial Learning Center and 8 a.m. Friday at the Hoogland Center for the…
In-demand and rewarding careers in health care
Would you like a career where you could help people while earning a sweet income with full benefits? How about the ability to find a job in your field no matter how your life changes or where you choose to move? Do you enjoy a flexible schedule, being part of a team, learning the latest…
Editors note 10/17/24
In the presidential election, Americans have a choice between calm and chaos. The outcome is too close to call. A choice between old and young, likewise too close. Reproductive freedom or restriction, close. Weird or wise? Racism or antiracism? A pro-immigrant or anti-immigrant stance on immigration reform? Jobs or modest inflation? Tariffs on imports or…
Making Springfield a distribution hub
A second large warehouse project to receive city approval in the past three months underscores Springfield’s growing footprint in the logistics and distribution industry, local economic development officials say. “It’s a nice diversification of our employment base,” Ryan McCrady, president and chief executive officer of the Springfield Sangamon Growth Alliance, told Illinois Times. “We have…
Pilgrimage
When we were kids we spent some time on pleasant lake Wisconsin, later, my parents gathered up grandkids and took them to pleasant lake. My father would march up the hill behind the cottages a line of grandchildren behind him banging on pots and pans and signing, “we’re marching to Zion, beautiful beautiful Zion!” on…
Letters to the editor 10/17/24
We welcome letters. Please include your full name, address and telephone number. We edit all letters. Send them to editor@illinoistimes.com. — FIX CURRENT PARKS Springfield has 36 parks already (“Governor’s Mansion block slated to become a park,” Oct. 3). Even though I am all for parks, we do not need an additional park at that…
Applejack, a drink as old as the country
Brandy is essentially a spirit distilled from wine or fermented fruit juice. Grape-based brandy such as Cognac, which hails from a specific area in southwestern France, or Chilean Pisco are the most common. However, specialty varieties made from other fruits such as apples, pears and even raspberries have existed in Europe for centuries. There is…
Pie, hope and the pursuit of happiness
“Sugar, butter, flour” is the sweet lyrical start to Waitress; a soulful, folksy musical written by pop icon Sara Bareilles. With its roots in nostalgic Americana, Waitress transports the audience to a small-town pie shop and into the hard-working hands of protagonist Jenna, played flawlessly by Elizabeth Eckert. Jenna is a gifted baker who uses…
How to be a better news consumer during this election season
Have you heard anyone say recently “I can’t wait for this election to be over?” Have you said it? The feeling is understandable. The nonstop, mean-spirited social media posts, advertisements and political commentary can be exhausting. Aside from the vitriol, there are at least two reasons for the exhaustion. First, it is increasingly challenging to…
Hope in the face of the coming storm
On Sept. 30, American Baha’is received a letter from our National Assembly, the elected body which oversees the affairs of the Baha’i Faith in this country. The letter addresses current conditions in our country and, indeed, the whole world. Much of the letter addresses what is expected of the American Baha’i Community at this time,…
