Cover Story
Growing old gay
I started living openly gay in 1987. I lived in a house in Laketown and I moved my lover in with me and my sons. Many in the gay community seemed unimpressed by my story. I don’t understand that. Maybe it’s because they were accustomed to such things, and I was in my late 30s…
Repair harm to families who were separated at border
The Sangamon County Republican Party recently invited Tom Homan to speak at the May 9 Lincoln Day dinner. Homan was President Donald Trump’s acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement secretary when Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the start of the “zero-tolerance” policy allowing for the separation of children, including those from families lawfully seeking asylum. It…
A backlog of licensing applications
Back in April, the executive director of the American Nurses Association Illinois, Susan Swart, told my associate Isabel Miller that advanced practice registered nurses are losing their jobs because of ongoing and severe state licensing delays. Swart said some of those nurses are waiting “a year to 18 months” to get their licenses from the…
If an incomplete narrative, Turtles All the Way Down looks at teens’ mental health
Krasinski’s If an over-calculated misfire Scattered and confused, John Krasinski’s If is a misfire from start to finish, a film that promotes itself as a heart-warming fable yet comes off as overcalculated and obvious. Confusing and incomplete, the movie is nothing more than a collection of disjointed ideas that never coalesce into anything fully formed…
Bridges of Madison County stirs the soul
I didn’t know what to expect when I attended a tech rehearsal of Springfield Theatre Centre’s The Bridges of Madison County last week. I had seen the movie and remember finding it heartbreaking while loving the direction and the acting (it’s Meryl Streep and Clint Eastwood, so…). And knowing how the first night of tech…
More music in May
As we continue on this wild ride in our live music scene, hang on for dear life while the music-making hits its stride this weekend, as merrily we roll along through the merry month of May toward full-scale summer happenings. Walk this way and let’s see what’s out there. Thursdays keep coming on strong with…
Regulating massage parlors
Springfield officials are crafting an ordinance to crack down on sites of suspected prostitution promoted as Asian massage parlors or spas. Springfield Police Chief Kenneth Scarlette told Illinois Times that the ordinance would require establishments offering broadly defined massage services to register with the city. And only state-certified massage therapists or other state-licensed professionals would…
Editor’s note 05-16-24
The May 10 teacher walkout at Grant Middle School over student discipline issues, and the May 11 prayer walk at Southeast High School in the aftermath of a student killed by gun violence, raise big issues for next school year. Clearly the school administration and the teachers union need to double down on planning for…
From Pride to produce: Downtown Springfield’s weekend of festivities
If you’re looking to find the end of the rainbow this weekend, head to downtown Springfield where four vibrant community events converge into a kaleidoscope of family-friendly fun. There’s a little something for everyone with live music, shows, art, books, vendors, and of course, delicious food. So, pack a bag (an empty one so you…
City launches program to rehab east-side homes
The city of Springfield is launching a pilot program geared toward helping first-time homebuyers by rehabilitating dilapidated properties on the city’s east side. “On the east side of Springfield, we own properties as a city, and we’re not doing enough to revitalize the neighborhoods,” said Ethan Posey, Springfield’s director of community relations. “We own a…
Letters to the editor 05-16-24
NO FAVORS So a guy buys a house for $1 and somehow racks up more than $40,000 in fines – do you expect that debt to ever be paid? That’s why $42,000 was waived by the city’s administrative court (“Twelve years later, vacant house comes full circle,” May 2). Can Illinois Times explain to readers…
Nellie Kedzie Jones
Nellie Kedzie Jones My dad occasionally used to sing five notes with the words “Nellie Kedzie Jones” I never asked about it but in recent years I’ve remembered those notes and wondered what was the name, and why. Just now I’ve found a condolence letter to Grandma on the death of Grandpa from – guess…
Dips for dinner
Whether you’re worn out from yard work or looking for a breezy meal to welcome in the warm weather, these dinner-worthy dips are as nutritious as they are tasty. They all keep well in the fridge for three to five days, making them perfect for meal prep. They’re economical as well. Homemade hummus costs half…
Doris Kearns Goodwin returns to Springfield June 11
Doris Kearns Goodwin, the renowned presidential historian and Pulitzer Prize-winning author, is returning to Springfield June 11 to share insights about her recent book, An Unfinished Love Story: A Personal History of the 1960s. The Lincoln Presidential Foundation is hosting the event at 7 p.m. at the Hoogland Center for the Arts. The format will…
