Police investigating glitch in FOID system
Illinois State Police say they’re trying to determine whether an apparent crack in a system to catch felons before they obtain licenses to buy and possess guns was an isolated case or a bigger issue. State police in 2014 issued Gary Martin a Firearms Owner and Identification Card, which is required to purchase and own…
Springfield Clinic plans parking expansion
Springfield Clinic is close to making a deal for expanded parking near its building on South Sixth Street. The clinic plans to purchase property where the Londrigan, Potter, Randle law office now sits at the intersection of South Seventh and Vine streets. If the deal goes through as expected, the clinic would own all but…
State police miss convictions
The failure of Illinois State Police to catch a felony conviction of a man who obtained a Firearms Owner and Identification card, then allegedly killed five people in Aurora with a legally purchased gun, isn’t the first time a conviction has slipped past state police. Gary Martin, 45, is dead after getting in a shootout…
The King and I Ticket Giveaway
The King and I Ticket Giveaway Enter to win a pair of tickets to see The King and Iat UIS Sangamon Auditorium on April 15, 2019. Deadline to enter is April 8, 2019
The Sound of Music Ticket Giveaway
The Sound of Music Ticket Giveaway Enter to win a pair of tickets to see The Sound of Music atUIS Sangamon Auditorium on March 27, 2019. Deadline to enter is March 20, 2019
A few things worth discussing
Champ with his new owner. Photo courtesy of Clay County Animal Rescue and Shelter Last week’s forums for aldermanic candidates sponsored by Inner City Older Neighborhoods were equally bemusing, informative and maddening. Ward 1 Ald. Chuck “MIA” Redpath was the only incumbent who didn’t show up. He may not have needed to, given that he…
Dark money influences
Two “dark money” groups are stepping up to separately promote and attack the new governor’s agenda. Think Big Illinois, a brand new 501(c)(4) organization which doesn’t have to disclose its donors, will be supporting Gov. J.B. Pritzker, whose 2018 campaign slogans included “Think big.” The organization will be headed by Quentin Fulks, who served as…
Letters to the Editor 2/14/19
HELP FOR PETS I am writing in response to your Feb. 7 article, “Frigid response to pet law.” I am a humane investigator and was involved with drafting recent amendments. This was necessary to give police officers relief from some of the impediments they experienced with enforcement of the law, as it stood in 2018. …
Editor’s note 2/14/19
By now IT readers have noticed her byline, frequent in the past several issues. Lindsey Salvatelli is our editorial intern for this semester through the Public Affairs Reporting master’s degree program at University of Illinois Springfield. She brings with her a 2018 bachelor’s degree in journalism from Northern Illinois University and, as important, life experience…
Oprah Winfrey and her mom’s strong finish
Oprah Winfrey’s mother, Vernita Lee, died on Thanksgiving Day, and Oprah recently shared with People Magazine the tender story of their last conversation. As usual, when Oprah shares a personal experience, her generous and insightful telling contains important lessons for us all in 2019. These lessons are about mustering the courage to admit the life…
Connecting job seekers and employers
The University of Illinois Springfield and Lincoln Land Community College will co-host the 2019 Career Connections Expo. The Expo takes place each February on the UIS campus. The event is free for attendees and it is a great way to connect students, alumni and community job seekers with employers who are looking for candidates for…
Illinois State Museum Brown Bag Lectures
The Illinois State Museum hosts the weekly Brown Bag Lectures on the third Wednesday of each month. Bring your lunch and join them for a different speaker and topic at every lecture. This month, archaeologist and author Miranda Yancey-Bailey will give a presentation on Brooklyn, Illinois, a village two miles north of East St. Louis.…
No Girls Aloud
No Girls Aloud I’m a female comic, so being smart and funny and having a strong personality is basically my job, as well as who I am. A friend had me stop by his business meeting at a cafe so he could introduce me to his client he was hoping to set me up…
The road to Prohibition 100 years ago
On Jan. 16, 1919, the United States had ratified the 18th Amendment to the Constitution, making it illegal to make, transport or sell alcoholic beverages in America as of 1920. The following Sunday, celebrations were held in churches throughout Springfield. Reverend E. F. Collier spoke in support of the Anti-Saloon League at the First United…
Michelle O’s inspiring journey
Looking for a good book to read? One that is so well-written that the words make you believe you are there? A page-turner that is hard to put down? One that is both inspiring and reflective? Provides insights to politics and world events? And, one that makes you feel the author is telling part of…
Punk rock pastor
Rev. Paul Hemenway is all about authenticity, and his career even before devoting his life to God and his ministry was about throwing out labels and being yourself. Hemenway isn’t just the senior pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Springfield, he’s a musician whose influences range from the pioneers of metal music, Black Sabbath, to…
Sewers, sidewalks and leaves
Ward 6 Alderwoman Kristin DiCenso is facing a challenge from a political newcomer who said her motivation to run for city council struck her while raking leaves. Candidate Elizabeth Jones, who operates Bright Beginnings Home Daycare, is challenging the incumbent in a race that has already provoked controversy. Jones said her motivation to run…
Lincoln: boss or compromiser?
Abraham Lincoln was notoriously silent on his career in Illinois state politics. In an 1859 autobiographical statement sent to a Republican friend in Pennsylvania, the future president devoted exactly one sentence to his career as a state legislator, noting only that he’d been elected to the House four times and did not run for re-election…
Surprising Prodigy hits all the right notes
There are very few surprises in Nicholas McCarthy’s The Prodigy, other than the fact that it’s an effective little B-movie shocker that had me giggling with delight over just how much fun it is. Hitting all of the expected horror film beats – this is really nothing more than a remake of The Omen –…
Songs for the heart
We open up this week on St. Valentine’s Day and you can cross your heart that live music will be a good part of many plans for a happy sweetheart’s day. I know I said live music will play a role in some valentine’s dream dates, but I think karaoke could work for you happy…
Josh Morningstar
This Maryland native has done well in Nashville as a songwriter’s songwriter and burns up the road playing all over the U.S., especially in the Midwest. You may not know his name, but you likely know his song, “Must Be the Whiskey,” recently recorded by Cody Jinks on his Lifers album. A few years back,…
n fifth street poem #32
n fifth street poem #32 when we moved into this big empty house in 1970 the kids put up their homemade but genuine tepee in the spacious back yard a few of the poles were promptly stolen so they moved the tepee inside into the main room the one with the big bay window…
Stop the car!
We were two hours from Disney World, but I only had one thing on my mind: sweet, luscious oranges. Originally we’d planned to fly, but I managed to talk my family into driving so we could load up the car with fresh citrus to bring home (not to mention I wasn’t terribly excited about flying…
