Exclusive video: Illinois Symphony Orchestra rehearses for tomorrow’s concert
Tomorrow’s Illinois Symphony Orchestra concert at Sangamon Auditorium promises to be a thoroughly singular event. True to the evening’s title, “Shimmering Shakespeare,” the second half of the program will combine dramatic performances by members of the Illinois Shakespeare Festival with the ISO’s interpretation of Prokofiev’s “Romeo and Juliet.” The first half of the evening will find the…
Mine safety regulator took campaign cash from coal magnate
Chris Cline, billinaire owner of Foresight Energy, contributes liberally to Illinois politicians. PHOTO COURTESY HAVAGUT A political committee controlled by one of the state’s top mining regulators has accepted thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from a major coal mine owner. Anthony “Tony” Mayville, supervisor of mine safety enforcement for the Illinois Department of Natural…
State rep pushes for welfare drug tests
Illinois lawmakers have made several attempts to require drug testing for public assistance recipients over recent years. Rep. Dwight Kay, R-Glen Carbon, says his latest proposal is different. This one, he says, is aimed at helping welfare recipients who abuse drugs. Kay introduced legislation in the past that proposed requiring drug screenings of the federal…
Pamper-resistant
After six years with a lazy and ambitionless boyfriend, I found a funny, loyal, caring boyfriend I love, with a solid career and a good work ethic. He pays his share of our bills and even does our laundry! The problem is, at 28, he is SO incredibly spoiled by his parents. They are well-off…
Group pushing for school funding vote
A group of parents, teachers and volunteers is pushing the Springfield Public Schools board to place a school funding referendum on the Nov. 4 ballot. The group, Invest in 186, has proposed a plan that would raise between $8 million and $10 million. The money would begin to replace millions of dollars which were cut…
Mistaken identity
Curses, foiled again• British authorities said habitual burglar Daniel Severn, 27, got his foot caught while climbing through a bathroom window of a house in Howden and wound up hanging upside down over the toilet for an hour and a half. He was found by homeowner Richard Wilson, whose wife took a photograph of Severn…
Lawsuit jolts race
A former inmate who says he was wrongly tasered has sparked debate in the upcoming election for sheriff. PHOTO BY RED HUBER /MCT A lawsuit filed by a man who says that he was tasered by Sangamon County jail guards while helpless from a seizure has catapulted Tasers into the Republican primary race for sheriff.…
Carrying the torch
PHOTO BY PATRICK YEAGLE Every Tuesday night Bar None (corner of Fifth Street and Monroe) plays host to Torch Tuesday, the area’s most reliable showcase for hip-hop music and culture. Presided over by Howard “Torch” Tomas, Torch Tuesday has been going strong for years. January was particularly exciting for the little Springfield rap show that…
WARRIORS WANTED
A group that provides peer support to veterans is looking for Springfield-area volunteers. Organizers from Illinois’ Warrior to Warrior program, a nonprofit operated by Health and Disability Advocates and the Illinois National Guard, are looking for volunteers across the state to join in on the new program’s goal of providing every Illinois National Guard unit…
Rough road for Rutherford
Treasurer Dan Rutherford delivered a forceful, even believable defense of himself last week during a suburban press conference hours after he was hit with a federal lawsuit alleging sexual harassment and coerced campaign work. Rutherford made a strong case that at least some of the accusations are untrue. There were some holes in his argument,…
Letters to the Editor 2/20/14
An innocent Tim Robbins (pictured) plays a character accused of killing his wife in the 1994 film The Shawshank Redemption. He is in prison with Morgan Freeman’s character who is less than innocent. Another innocent in this movie, a bird, heard in the background during the film. BIRD PHOTO BY PAUK VIA WIKIPEDIA.ORG BIRD’S-EYE VIEWIn…
Eric ‘Guitar’ Davis
Eric “Guitar” Davis was murdered in December 2013 in his hometown of Chicago. PHOTO COURTESY kate gardiner via Flickr.com As our country continues somehow to confuse the constitutional right to bear arms against a tyrannical enemy with an individual right to use weapons when the mood arises for pleasing personal passions, we mourn another loss…
Giving and gifting
Local artist Stan Squires offers limited edition prints of three Springfield landmarks through March 31 as a fundraiser for the Salvation Army. Half of the proceeds go to the nonprofit. The illustrations include Lincoln Park’s stone bridge (pictured), Illinois Watch Company and Pillsbury Mills Flour Plant. Only 100 of the 11-inch by 14-inch prints on…
Editor’s Note 2/20/14
In the best tradition of grass-roots activism, a citizens group is leading the way where public officials fear to tread. A group called Invest in 186, calling for a referendum to increase property taxes to support Springfield public schools, makes its case in an op-ed on this page, and in a news story on page…
Judging time
ILLUSTRATION BY RICK NEASE/MCT A lawyer could do worse than land a seat on the Sangamon County circuit court bench. A judge makes nearly $181,500 a year and doesn’t need malpractice insurance. There is always work but never any clients. Everyone stands when you show up for work. No wonder, then, that a half-dozen or…
Betting with other players’ chips
The downtown block on which stands the old YWCA and little else could become another TIF district. Would that rob Springfield schools, or support them in the long run? Photo BY DAVID HINE This caught my attention while reading the paper the other day – caught my attention in the same way that swallowing something…
opera poem #4
just viewed a magnificent aida fromthe met cast of thousands egyptiansets animals no elephants thoughpleated skirts familiar music but Ihave to confess in that final scenewith the lovers radames and aidaentombed beneath the altar amnerisprostrate up top snuffling (the splitset sort of resembles a dollhouse)the pathos is somewhat lost on meI keep hearing mr rosewater…
HEARTS FOR THE HOMELESS
It’s probably pretty easy to feel like no one cares about you when you’re living on the street, especially around Valentine’s Day. “Often times, these people are isolated from family and friends and suffer depression and loneliness on holidays such as this,” says Linda Gessaman, executive director of Homeless United for Change in Springfield. That’s…
Embracing differences
Illinois State Museum is planning a fun and educational Saturday for families and individuals on Feb. 22. Learn about the heritage and traditions of various world cultures through hands-on crafts, international displays, live performances and more at Celebrate Cultural Diversity. Countries and groups represented include India, China, Philippines, Japan, China, the Middle East, Lithuanian-American Club,…
Not your father’s RoboCop
Joel Kinnaman as Alex Murphy in RoboCop. When Paul Verhoeven’s Robocop burst onto screens in 1987 it caused a sensation, primarily because of its excessive violence but also because of its cutting edge special effects. It also played out as a right-wing fantasy in which law and order was dispensed with impunity, with the title…
The mobsters of Wall Street
Assume that you ran a business that was found guilty of bribery, forgery, perjury, defrauding homeowners, fleecing investors, swindling consumers, cheating credit card holders, violating U.S. trade laws and bilking American soldiers. Can you even imagine the kind of punishment you’d get? How about zero? Nada. Nothing. Zilch. No jail time. Not even a fine.…
Sally Barris
Recognized as one of the finest of the many singer-songwriters in the folky, Americana genre today, Sally Barris holds her own as both an evocative singer and striking songwriter. Ever since she moved to Nashville from her Minnesota home to dedicate her life to songwriting, Sally has led a storied career. She’s had songs recorded…
Cold days, warm desserts
Apple rolls or dumplings are a delicious variation on traditional apple dumplings. PHOTO BYJOSEPH COPLEY These are homey desserts, comforting sweets best served warm and perfect ways to counter end-of-winter blues. Two are cherished family recipes; the other a recent find. I stumbled upon this Armenian Orange Cake when I wrote about Microplane graters…
Shakespeare and percussion
Illinois Symphony Orchestra has a spectacular concert planned for Saturday, Feb. 22, at Sangamon Auditorium UIS that includes a special guest percussionist and a dramatic performance. ISO is joined by Illinois Shakespeare Festival players who will bring Prokofiev’s “Romeo and Juliet” to life. Multi-percussionist Joseph Gramley joins the concert playing different percussion instruments in Chen…
