Cover Story
Grillin’ and Chillin’
Our Grillin’ and Chillin’ issue has plenty of ideas for fun for the rest of the summer. Learn where to see wildlife, including exotic animals, just a short drive from Springfield (no, not a zoo). Find out about all the upgrades – and a splash pad – in the works for Springfield parks. We also…
Sam McCann sentenced to 42 months
Former Illinois state senator and gubernatorial candidate Sam McCann’s criminal misuse of more than $630,000 in campaign funds justified a 3½-year prison sentence and contradicted his stated dedication to serving the public, a federal judge said July 9. “You knew exactly what you were doing, all the while holding yourself out as a God-fearing man…
Pritzker ‘all in’ for Biden following visit to White House last week
Gov. JB Pritzker said Tuesday he is “all in” for President Joe Biden after visiting the White House last week with other Democratic governors. He headed to Washington, D.C., to meet with the president and members of the Democratic Governors Association last Wednesday on the heels of Biden’s performance during the first of two scheduled…
The destiny of America
Some years ago, a well-known comedian (Johnny Carson, perhaps), had a routine which began with the question, “Would you believe?” This was followed with an absurdly improbable proposition, and the routine took off from there. Lately, my own “would you believe” inquiry has been increasingly on my mind: Would you believe America is destined to…
Stepping up: My next steps as board chair of United Way of Central Illinois
As I prepare to step into the role of board chair for the United Way of Central Illinois, I’m filled with a mix of excitement, gratitude and a deep sense of responsibility. This organization has been a part of my life since 2013, and I’ve watched it grow, evolve and make a profound impact on…
Beverly Hills Cop sequel familiar but fun, The Moor a mess of a thriller
Familiar ground covered in fun Axel F I’m pretty sure we didn’t need another Beverly Hills Cop movie, but that being said, Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F is about as good as we should expect under the circumstances. Taking a page from the Top Gun: Maverick playbook, director Mark Molloy and the three (?) writers…
SCOTUS ruling could upend federal corruption cases for Madigan, allies
The U.S. Supreme Court on June 26 narrowed the scope of a federal bribery law prosecutors have relied on in their cases against former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and several of his allies convicted of bribing him. A jury last spring found those allies – former lobbyists and executives for electric utility Commonwealth Edison…
Pritzker keeps economic development at forefront in exclusive interview with “Illinois Lawmakers”
With fiscal year 2025 beginning July 1, Gov. JB Pritzker continues to tout available state tax incentives and promote Illinois as a site for business development. On the season finale of “Illinois Lawmakers,” Pritzker pointed to a pair of developments in East Alton and Normal as proof of his administration’s effectiveness in luring businesses to…
Practice responsible gun ownership
The U.S. Surgeon General has recently identified gun violence in America as a public health crisis. The American Medical Association has long considered the uncontrolled ownership and use of firearms a threat to public health. And yet all political attempts to curb gun injuries and deaths have been met with fierce resistance. What is missing…
Letters to the editor 7/4/24
We welcome letters. Please include your full name, address and telephone number. We edit all letters. Send them to editor@illinoistimes.com. — MAKE REPORT PUBLIC The Muni board of trustees was, deservedly, excoriated by members of the theater community last year when they chose to nominate and install Bill Bauser to their board of directors. Bauser,…
World champions from Springfield
The Sharp Shooters, a six-man Springfield team, took home the coveted first place Charlie the Cougar trophy and $11,000 prize money at the 44th annual VNEA World Pool Championships in Las Vegas earlier this month. The 2024 VNEA open division is a tournament for non-professional players, and it hosted 383 teams from 20 different countries.…
Fourth and more music
This week’s issue of IT is out a day early because the Fourth of July lands on Thursday, our usual out and about day. That change reminded me of the weekend before last when we were out for a gig and a friend who knew I wrote for IT suggested we should put out the…
Have a blast at your choice of area pyrotechnic shows
Happy Fourth of July! From local neighborhoods to area towns, the fireworks have been going up for days now in our traditional celebration of the nation’s birthday. Haven’t seen any organized shows yet? No worries. Several shows will occur today (Wednesday, July 3) through Friday in Springfield, Chatham, Dawson, Franklin, Jacksonville, Petersburg, Lincoln, Sherman and…
Editors note 7/4/24
Abraham Lincoln is famous for saying you don’t swap horses in the middle of a stream. Lincoln knew horses, but history shows he would have been smart to switch out some of his generals sooner than he did. It’s clear the Republicans aren’t going to change their lame entry in this year’s race. Polls will…
Poop Poem
They drained and cleaned the Y pool because a little kid pooped in it. Well, OK. But I think of our sweet little Vermont lake filled with fish that poop, turtles, ducks, geese, loons, frogs, clams, snails, beavers, and all manner of other critters including little kids at the public beach. Should we drain our…
Park upgrades planned
Summer is peak time for fun in Springfield parks, and there’s plenty of work going on behind the scenes that the public doesn’t see but is necessary to keep our parks in good working order. The Springfield Park District is tasked with maintaining 36 parks, 23 miles of bike trails, more than 20 recreation facilities…
Wildlife adventures
Oh, give me a home, where the buffalo roam and the deer and the antelope play – along with wolves, elk, bears, cougars, camels, water buffalo and plenty of other animals. Seldom is heard a discouraging word if you are looking for a day trip to see some wildlife this summer. Plenty of options exist…
The sauce is the boss
Think of these five sauces as your passport to delicious summer meals. Transform plain Jane grilled chicken thighs or pork loin into a vibrant, flavor-packed meal with a simple drizzle. They keep well in the fridge or freezer, making it easy to jazz up any meal at a moment’s notice. Chimichurri Known in my house…
Cut back on cooking this summer
Ah, the lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer. … And the last thing I want to do at the end of them is cook dinner. Lucky for me (and my hungry family), there are loads of wonderful things to whip up for dinner that require no or very little cooking at all. Market veggie sandwiches…
Delicious and nutritious Swiss chard
Of all the plants in my vegetable garden, I have a special fondness for Swiss chard. Unlike asparagus, which makes an early spring appearance and then quietly goes to seed, or Brussels sprouts, whose tasty orbs do not come to maturity until the fall, Swiss chard graces my garden from late spring through the long,…
