Death penalty fight not over
Though a bill to end the death penalty in Illinois awaits only the governor’s signature, proponents of capital punishment are calling instead for a public referendum on repeal. Saying the death penalty repeal bill was “rushed through” the General Assembly, state Sen. Kirk Dillard of Hinsdale and state Rep. Dennis Reboletti of Elmhurst, both Republicans,…
Sacred documents
At my age, “constitutional issues” usually involve medicine, not the law, if only because the other kind are so complex that thinking about them makes my head hurt. A boyhood reading of The Great Rehearsal: The Story of Making and Ratifying the Constitution of the United States first suggested why. Author Carl Van Doren took…
Hard rock
Rock band Hinder comes to the Prairie Capital Convention Center on Monday, Feb. 21. You probably heard these guys on the radio with their hit single, “Lips of an Angel.” The band proclaims their new album, “All American Nightmare,” is harder rock and comes from a more personal place. Members of the band include: Austin…
personalpoem # 5
I have to keepforgiving myself forthings I haven’t done:promises unkeptpromises I don’t recallever having madepromises to myselffor what I’ve wantedto do but haven’t yetand probably neverwill it’s a full-timejob just tryingto stay faithful
Girl talk
An off-Broadway and international hit sensation, Menopause the Musical makes its way onto the stage of Sangamon Auditorium, UIS, for two shows, Feb. 22-23. Funnier than funny, the musical takes place at a lingerie sale in New York City’s Bloomingdale’s. Four strangers come together over a black lace bra and some mature girl talk. You’ll…
MacArthur may be considered for TIF district
The MacArthur Boulevard Business Association may start to see the fruits of its labor as soon as Feb. 23, when the final master plan is unveiled for development along the corridor from South Grand Avenue on the north end to the new interchange at Interstate 72 on the south end. Former Ward 9 alderman and…
Outspoken Topinka isn’t shy about budget cuts
“Is it weird that I’m kind of glad to have Judy Baar Topinka back?” a Democratic friend of mine asked me the other day. No, I replied. It’s not weird. I’m glad she’s back as well. She’s crazy, I said, but in a very sane way. Topinka was elected state comptroller last November by a…
Obama walks in the wrong direction
As part of his odd and demeaning determination to hug up America’s avaricious corporate powers, President Obama walked across Lafayette Square on Feb. 7 to enter the imperial gates of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and show deference to the business establishment. Apparently, his ongoing obsequiousness is an effort to woo corporate donors and show…
Will the next mayor please step forward?
Every candidate has ideas for what they will do when they are elected mayor. Spend more wisely, they say. Encourage business growth, develop the medical district and bring in more tourists. Get rid of unneeded political hires and look for inefficiencies in city government. These are positive ideas, but they are hardly visionary, and every…
Zydeco welcomes Mardi Gras
Back in August of 2010 Dwayne Dopsie & the Zydeco Hellraisers dropped into town for a concert and fundraiser hosted by Tim Kodyra of Meatsmack to benefit Jimmy “the Meatman” Weinheoft. The fun in the sun show out at the lake was such a rousing success Tim signed them up for a return visit, this…
Make your own pizza sleepovers
Even if you’re not involved or interested in child-rearing, chances are you’ve heard about Yale law professor Amy Chua’s book, Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother, and the firestorm of controversy it’s ignited. Although I haven’t read the book, I’ve seen reviews and articles, and heard Chua interviewed. She espouses exceptionally strict parenting that seems…
Road hazard
A Springfield woman who allegedly hit and killed a man and who has numerous traffic violations was still driving legally until recently. Her license was revoked after Mothers Against Drunk Driving notified State’s Attorney John Milhiser of the young woman’s pending charge of “aggravated DUI.” Ursula L. Jones, 22, has one documented traffic offense already…
Founders of new east-side youth center split
An east-side community center still in its infancy has lost the support of one of its founders. She filed a police report alleging battery 10 days before dissolving the organization, apparently without the consent of remaining board members. Leannette Black, Charles “Muhammad” Strickland, Elmer Perkins and Matt Blakey officially founded the Progressive Youth Foundation and…
ACCESS 4 UPDATE
Springfield has been without a fully-functioning public TV channel for more than a year now, but the channel’s producers aren’t giving up. In December 2009, Comcast shut down the production facility where the producers once created their shows, and the City of Springfield eventually took over broadcasting. However, the station still features mostly reruns because…
The Legendary Clampetts
They hail from the Springfield area, they’ve been around for ages and stake the claim of being “just the best damn unknown rock-n-roll band in the land.” These last-name-lacking bandmates Mike, (bass, vocals), Mark (guitars, keys, vocals), Wes (lead and slide guitars, vocals) and Jeff (percussion, vocals) are a fun-loving, music-making, take-no-prisoners bunch. According to…
Moving drama
Matthew T. Dearing (Mitch Albom) and Barry Weiss (Morrie Schwartz) play the leads in the moving drama Tuesdays with Morrie. Tuesdays with Morrie centers on Mitch, an accomplished journalist driven solely by his career, and Morrie, his former college professor. Sixteen years after graduation, Mitch catches Morrie’s appearance on a television news program and learns…
Just Go without Sandler’s latest
I think everyone hits a wall at their workplace. While many are happy to be employed and give their all at their jobs, there are times when a bit of malaise sets in and instead of giving 100 percent, we phone it in for a while. I have a feeling Adam Sandler’s going through a…
Letters to the Editor 2/17/11
CRITICAL ELECTION This is perhaps the most important Springfield mayoral election in generations. Central issues this time are bean counting and professional management. None of the other ideas that you and I might like to talk about will matter unless we can get a competent mayor to manage the city. This primary is critical. The…
Make your own pizzas
These instructions are written for children, but are meant to be used with age-appropriate adult supervision. For the dough: 1 package dry yeast (2 1/4 teaspoons), NOT fast-acting 1 T. sugar 1/4 c. very warm (but not hot) water 3 c. all-purpose unbleached flour 1 tsp. salt 2 T. olive oil 3/4 c. cool water…
AWARDS FOR ALL
Instead of choosing one person to receive its first annual community service award, the Harriet Tubman Susan B. Anthony Center selected each and every one of its eight nominees to honor at a dinner and awards ceremony held earlier this week. With live jazz, dancing and comedy to round out the evening, community members thanked…
Poetic playing
Classical guitarist Francois Fowler performs Feb. 19 at Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church for the Springfield Classical Guitar Society. He has impressed numerous audiences in Canada, the United States and Mexico with his technically impressive and poetic playing and with his unique and interesting repertoire that combines new and original music, traditional classical guitar music and…
Stop wrongful convictions
After reading David Barnett’s op/ed [see Guestwork, “More important than repealing the death penalty,” Jan. 27] I would have to agree. Abolishing the death penalty does not cure the problem of innocent people being convicted by the state. Case in point: In Oct. 1997, Julie Rea Harper was indicted in Lawrence County for the murder…
Valentine, a poignant look at lost love
We flock to romantic movies because they provide us with an idealized look at what we all want love to be. All obstacles are overcome, characters reveal their true natures to one another and are accepted and the couple in question lives happily ever after. Derek Cianfrance’s Blue Valentine runs counter to all of these…
