Cover Story
Downtown fire sparks calls for action
“A revitalized and resilient downtown” was the No. 1 initiative in The Next 10, A Community Visioning Plan for Greater Springfield released by the Community Foundation for the Land of Lincoln in spring 2021. The report described downtown as “the heart of the community and region, the seat of state and local government, our cultural…
State to give free ID cards to citizens leaving correctional facilities
Gov. JB Pritzker signed a bill Aug. 6 that’s aimed at providing free identification cards to more people exiting correctional facilities in Illinois. The state already provides identification cards to people leaving the Department of Corrections or the Department of Juvenile Justice, but the new law expands the program to every county jail and federal…
Capitol Briefs: Governor has signed more than 50 bills since Friday
Illinois’ first-in-the-nation law that allows residents to sue companies over the improper collection of their biometric information will be slightly less punitive after Gov. JB Pritzker signed a new law late last week. Lawmakers this spring amended the Biometric Information Privacy Act in response to an Illinois Supreme Court ruling last year that suggested lawmakers…
Miniature Butter Cow contest back again
It’s August – that means the Illinois State Fair and its must-see, iconic butter cow sculpture is back again. And so is the annual miniature butter cow contest sponsored by Illinois Times and Prairie Farms Dairy. The contest, which started in 2020 when the fair was canceled because of the COIVD-19 pandemic, invites people to…
You are not free to stand aside
One of the most beloved of Jewish texts is Pirkei Avot, (The Ethics of the Fathers), a collection of wise sayings attributed to the Jewish sages who lived during the last several centuries before the Common Era and the two centuries following. Avot (as it is called for the sake of brevity) is a tractate…
Democratic senator falls for false outrage
A Facebook post last week by state Sen. Willie Preston, D-Chicago, created a stir, caused one of his fellow Democratic Senators to bow out of a planned joint fundraiser and, ultimately, the entire fundraiser was canceled. It’s all a good illustration of the ill-informed, rapid-fire insanity of our social media-fueled era. Sen. Preston posted an…
Sheriff defends hiring process
Sangamon County Sheriff Jack Campbell on Aug. 1 defended his agency’s vetting of former deputy and accused murder Sean Grayson. Campbell, 60, has said he won’t resign amid public criticism in the wake of the shooting death of Sonya Massey, a Black woman, at the hand of Grayson, who is white. And Campbell disagreed with…
Study: Illinois students still struggle with post-pandemic learning loss
As the flow of billions of dollars in federal pandemic-related aid is about to end, many students in Illinois are still struggling to catch up academically from the learning loss that occurred when schools were forced to close. A new study from the University of Illinois System says only about one-fourth of all public-school students…
Kneecap an energetic biopic, Fabulous Four woefully predictable
Music is the message in rollicking Kneecap While Curtis Hansons’ 8 Mile and Danny Boyle’s Trainspotting are obvious influences on Rich Peppiatt’s Kneecap, there’s something far more important at play in this pseudo-biopic of the Irish rap group. The history of oppression at the hands of the English and the heritage of the country becomes central…
Deputy charged with murder had previous employment issues
Sean Grayson, the former Sangamon County sheriff’s deputy now facing murder charges in the death of Sonya Massey, left a previous agency following allegations of inappropriate conduct with a female detainee. Grayson, 30, was also accused of retaliating against the detainee’s boyfriend after she filed a complaint. Invisible Institute, Illinois Public Media and the Investigative…
Silent screams
The traumatic events that affect the Black community are never-ending. Breonna Taylor and George Floyd weighed heavy on the hearts of many, but moreso on Black Americans. After each event there is outrage and disgust by all, yet, after emotions subside, the status quo remains. The one solace I have had as a Black woman…
Editors note 8/1/24
It’s not a bad idea to have an experienced hand in the White House managing the store while his party’s candidate runs around the country campaigning. And a campaign of 100 days, rather than 500 or more, seems about right. Political parties may want to consider the advantages of switching their presidential candidate after one…
Cello
It is inanimate, a piece of wood Fashioned, glued, with strings Tightly strung from scroll To tail-gut. It is taut, stable In tension, vibrant, nervous But still, until I take it in my hands And give it life. It takes My soul and is more truly me Than voice, or laugh, or kiss, Or even…
Letters to the editor 8/1/24
We welcome letters. Please include your full name, address and telephone number. We edit all letters. Send them to editor@illinoistimes.com. — STARTS AT THE TOP Many do not, or choose not to, understand the domino effect of a leadership that incites contempt and indifference for women and people of color in Springfield who are seen…
Potato pavé
The origin story of the potato goes back 7,000-10,000 years to the Andes mountain region of southern Peru and northwestern Bolivia. Spanish conquistadors encountered potatoes in Peru in 1536 and brought them back to Europe. Leave it to the gastronomic creativity of the French to transform this humble tuber into a decadent and delicious dish…
Breaking boundaries through laughter
I showed up to a recent Capital City Improv workshop at the Hoogland Center for the Arts without realizing I would be a participant. I’ve never done improv before and hadn’t planned on it. As a writer, I like to meticulously edit my work, then edit again, then stare at it with existential dread and…
Into August music
Moving into August, we wrap up the main summer events, survive another Illinois State Fair and look forward to fun fall festivals and early Oktoberfests while observing the holiday season in the cold distance. But let’s not get in a hurry, and take the time to enjoy what’s before us now. And that would be……
Contemporary retelling of classic fairy tale sure to entertain
The Dance Arts Youth Company and Dance Arts Studio combine memorable music and dancing in this retelling of the famous German fairy tale first recorded by the Brothers Grimm. This version of the famous tale follows “the enchanting adventure of a lost princess as she discovers who she really is – all while standing up…
Answers sought after death of Sonya Massey
“All too often, when we see injustices, both great and small, we think, ‘That’s terrible,’ but we do nothing. We say nothing. We let other people fight their own battles. We remain silent because silence is easier… When we say nothing, when we do nothing, we are consenting to these trespasses against us.” — Roxane…
