Moving on up
Sen. Dick Durbin, speaking at an event in Springfield. Photo by Patrick Yeagle We don’t mean to criticize, but Chicago magazine’s just-published list of the 50 most-influential Chicagoans has us a bit baffled. Ranked Number 25 is U.S. Sen. Richard Durbin, who we always thought lived in Springfield, given the number of times he has…
Midwest revisited
In 2014, in “Where is Illinois?” I stuck my big nose into the issue of regional identity. You would think that the one inarguable fact about Illinois is that it is a Midwestern place. Walt Hickey, a writer for Nate Silver’s FiveThirtyEight, commissioned a web poll of self-identified Midwesterners that asked them which states they…
All aboard
In “Back on the roads again,” I noted that Mr Rauner’s proposed budget would cut funding for public transit in the Chicago area (in spite of increased demand). I asked, is it wise to continue to spend so much of Illinois’ transportation money where its people ain’t? For Illinois to work, Chicago must work. And for Chicago…
Words matter
U.S. Rep. John Shimkus (R.-Paranoia) is a sponsor of the SAFE Act, recently passed in the House by representatives fretting that members of ISIS might gain entry into the U.S. disguised as refugees. Shimkus was quoted about that in a recent Illinois Issues article about the refugee situation. (There is no reason to call it a “problem.”)…
Obama calls for civility in politics during statehouse speech
President Barack Obama shakes hands with state legislators after speaking to the Illinois General Assembly at the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield, Ill., Feb. 10, 2016. Official White House Photo by Pete Souza President Barack Obama addressed the Illinois General Assembly on Feb. 10, sharing memories, words of encouragement and advice for politics in America,…
“With 772 you get eggroll,” the writer’s cut
In “With 772 you get eggroll,” we re-ran excerpts from a 1981 column that examined the immigration issue as it appeared in the Springfield of that day. I promised to post the original, much longer essay, so here it is, as it appeared in our paper of Sept. 3, 1981. Which come first? The…
The new model museum
Illinois State Museum Bruce Rauner the other day took action that, he explained in a press release, would “develop a sustainable fiscal model for the continued operation of the Illinois State Museum.” I’m a little behind on my reading – Highway Thru Hell reruns – so I thought we had a fiscal model that had…
What really poisoned the water in Flint?
Jim Hightower PHOTO BY LARRY D. MOORE The mantra of every Koch-headed, right-wing politico is that government should be run like a business, always focused on cutting costs. Welcome to Flint, Mich. This impoverished, mostly African-American city has indeed been run like a private corporation since Republican Gov. Rick Snyder appointed his “emergency manager” to…
Continued chaos
PHOTO BY ALAN SOLOMON/TNS Last week a reporter said to Gov. Bruce Rauner that Secretary of State Jesse White had suggested that Rauner bring in former governors, including George Ryan, to help break the long governmental impasse which has prevented the state from having a budget for over seven months. Rauner laughed and said, “Uh,…
Letters to the Editor 02/11/16
Springfield’s YWCA building by Springfield artist William Crook. SLOW DOWN Y DEMOMayor Langfelder should reconsider his quickly decided plans to demolish the old YWCA building downtown, and he should allow access to the building to all contractors interested in assessing its rehabilitation potential. The YWCA building, located in the north mansion block which the…
Editor’s note 02/11/16
Watching Bernie Sanders’ victory speech in New Hampshire, when he went on and on obsessively about income inequality, the need for single payer health care and anger against Wall Street – important but lifelong battles – made me think he can’t win the general election in November. It took me back to 1968, when we…
Why I’m supporting Dr. Ben Carson
In the recent Republican caucus in Iowa, Ted Cruz won a close race over Donald Trump, Marco Rubio, Dr. Ben Carson and other candidates. These results were not predicted. It seems that the Cruz campaign had sent out an email just after the caucusing started indicating that Dr. Carson was withdrawing, which was not true.…
A children’s reggae musical
Three Little Birds is a modern-day fairytale for children ages four and up about the zany adventures of shy, 11-year-old Ziggy. The production is based on a children’s story of the same name penned by Cedella Marley, the first-born daughter of reggae artists Bob and Rita Marley. According to Cedella, “‘Three Little Birds’ is one…
Abraham Lincoln and the Todd women
The public is invited to commemorate the birth of Abraham Lincoln by attending the Eighth Annual Lincoln Lecture on Friday, Feb. 12, at 9 a.m. in the Trutter Center at Lincoln Land Community College. This year’s lecture, entitled “Abraham Lincoln and the Todd Women of Aristocracy Hill” will be presented by historian Erika Holst. Erika…
Hilarious hypnosis
Try something different for your next date night or group outing, such as an evening with professional stage hypnotist Jeff Harpring. Jeff’s unforgettable stage show is based on hilarity and involves audience participation. His set is fun for all ages. Undergoing 20-30 minutes of hypnosis is a great way to experience mental and physical benefits…
Inaction figure
PHOTO COURTESY AMY ALKON Amy Alkon My girlfriend got laid off four months ago, along with many of her co-workers. She is not making a serious attempt to find a job and is just living off unemployment benefits. She stays up until morning watching TV and sleeps until the late afternoon. I figured that she…
The kitchen is closed: IT’s food writer remembered
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE GLATZ FAMILY Julianne Glatz was many things. Food writer extraordinaire for Illinois Times. A mother of three. A singer talented enough that she performed in Carnegie Hall. She was even the French connection. “She smuggled in non-pasteurized cheese from France,” recalls David Radwine, chef at the governor’s mansion who was close…
Visit Clear Lake, Iowa, where ‘the music died’
Tables and booths surround the dance floor at the legendary Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa. Countless well-known musicians make a point of performing at the venue, which hosted the last concert of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper before t PHOTO BY Brent Bohlen Readers of a certain (ahem) age know the…
Sounds good
Bill Dudleston has turned a passion into a career as his company makes some of the world’s finest loudspeakers. PHOTO BY PATRICK YEAGLE They come from everywhere to these metal warehouse-like buildings with a gravel parking lot, hidden behind a plain-looking fourplex on Sangamon Avenue. Bill Dudleston, owner and founder of Springfield’s least-known famous place,…
Rauner halted HIV/AIDS drug program before it started
Truvada, a newly FDA-approved drug to help prevent HIV infection. PHOTO BY ASTRID RIECKEN/TNS It was supposed to save lives. Now, it’s part of the rubble of a crumbling state. A state program which would have helped prevent HIV and AIDS was trashed last year before it started, another casualty of Illinois’ budget impasse. Now,…
UIS opens training center for DCFS
Residential Simulation Lab participants can remotely watch the activities that take place in the lab. PHOTO BY BLAKE WOOD CAMPUS RELATIONS AT UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD In Illinois, advocates for child safety and welfare have been working to find innovative approaches to lower the rate of child abuse. The University of Illinois Springfield has found…
Uh-Oh
James Oh PHOTO COURTESY SANGAMON COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE James Oh, a restaurateur who once ran one of Barack Obama’s favorite eateries, has been indicted on five counts of filing false state sales and use tax returns, two counts of failure to file a state income tax return and one count of theft of government property.…
Legal marijuana can still get you in trouble
As medical marijuana dispensaries begin to take root in Illinois, parents and workers who have a license to use the medicinal drug may still face sanctions. Illinois’ legalization policies may leave families with children vulnerable to scrutiny by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. Likewise, employees who use medical marijuana may still be…
Illinois State Museum could reopen to public
Illinois State Museum After more than four months closed to the public, the Illinois State Museum appears poised to reopen, although things wouldn’t be quite the same. The state agency which controls the museum system announced tentative plans on Monday to reopen the flagship facility in Springfield and three of its five satellites, pending legislative…
Coens’ Caesar gently skewers Hollywood
Josh Brolin as Eddie Mannix in Hail, Caesar. PHOTO COURTESY UNIVERSAL PICTURES The great thing about the Coen brothers’ films is that they not only entertain but challenge their audience, something wholly unique and altogether welcome where today’s American movies are concerned. Their latest, Hail, Caesar, is a case in point. On the surface it…
Americana attack
Hot Club of Cowtown performs for the Bedrock 66 Live! concert series on Sat., Feb. 13 at Casey’s Pub with Burr Oak String Band opening at 8 p.m. As we thaw through a snowy and cold week of February, live music keeps coming on hot and heavy to warm your bones and melt your mind.…
Old Smoke Band with Trina Madonia
Coming from nearby Bloomington to celebrate Old Abe’s birthday, Old Smoke Band invited Springfield’s own Trina Madonia to sing some lead and background vocals for the occasion. Starting out in 2013 as a duo called The Armadillo Brothers, the two soon grew into the Americana fivesome of Adam Humphreys (guitar, vocals), Jeremy Myers (guitar, vocals),…
Cooking in heaven
CARTOON BY CHRIS BRITT
valentines day poem #6
this starts happy ends badthe spirit club in the wisconsinhigh school where my daughterteaches decided to do somethingnice to celebrate valentines dayon post-its they wrote encouragingor complimentary words stuckone on each locker you’re coolkeep up the good work we likeyour smile when my daughterarrived early on february 14 thecorridors were riots of color, joythen the kids came…
