Wayback Wednesday: Dick Durbin’s first race
When the third issue of Illinois Times came out on Oct. 2, 1975, Dick Durbin was a 30-year-old Democratic campaign manager with big hopes. He was running for the Illinois Senate against a Republican incumbent, and Illinois Times caught up with him on the campaign trail. Although Durbin lost that first race, he would go…
No Shortage of New Ideas in “Terminator Genisys”
Never before has the phrase “Everything old, is new again,” been more prevalent at the movies than it is right now. This year alone has seen the return of Mad Max and the latest installment of the Jurassic Park franchise, while the Fantastic Four will be given another go and a new Vacation movie is in…
A Springfield railroad watch comes home
One of the most fascinating pieces of Springfield’s history is, at least to me, the Illinois Watch Company. Renowned in its day for accurate and beautiful watches, the company operated in Springfield under a succession of different monikers from 1869 (or 1870, depending on the source) until 1932. I’m lucky enough to own a piece…
Pointed Social Agenda Elevates “Dope”
Director Rick Famuyiwa has made no bones about the fact that his latest feature, Dope, is based on the Tom Cruise coming-of-age classic Risky Business. Like Joel Goodsen in that film, his hero is also at the crossroads of his life, finds himself immersed in illegal activities and falls for a girl who is out of…
All Bark, No Bite in “Max”
Patriotism is a hard thing to convey on the screen. One degree too much in either direction, and your film can come off as overtly political or insincere. Boaz Yakin’s Max makes no bones about its intent — it’s an enthusiastic flag-waver from the very first frame, a shameless tribute to our boys serving on foreign…
Church Intent on Telling Dog Soldiers’ Tale in “Max”
To say that Thomas Haden Church is enthusiastic about his new film Max is an understatement akin to saying the dogs in the movie worked kinda hard. A familiar face on TV and in movies for nearly three decades, the actor has gone out of his way to play a wide variety of roles, from the befuddled…
Complications of burning coal
Approximately 90 power plants in Illinois use coal-burning energy. CWLP’s Dallman 4 is one of them. Coal ash, an unfortunate side effect of coal-burning power plants, is a toxic chemical that has been linked to polluting ground water, drinking water and air; destroying habitats for fish and other wildlife; and quickly evaporating lake levels. On…
Springfield cop acquitted of DUI
Springfield police officer James Stewart has been acquitted of charges that he was driving under the influence of alcohol when he crashed his car in 2014. Sangamon County Circuit Court Judge Rudolph Braud acquitted Stewart today after a bench trial held last week. Braud, however, decided that Stewart was guilty of illegal transportation of alcohol…
Bluegrass and beyond
On Sunday, June 28, the Springfield Park District continues their annual Music in the Park summer concert series with Americana and bluegrass music by three talented local groups in Iles Park. Blue Ribbon Revival, The Deep Hollow and The Blue G’s will provide live musical entertainment from 4 to 7 p.m. The musical styling of…
Woman brings gun to courthouse
A Springfield woman got a loaded gun into the Sangamon County courthouse on Monday in an incident that sheriff’s officials say is best described as a fluke. Lakeshia Ann Stapleton, due for a 9 a.m. court appearance on a misdemeanor charge of damaging property, went through the front-entrance security line at 9:10 a.m., according to…
Doing development right
One of Bluffstone’s numerous apartment properties. They could just put trailers on it, I suppose. An Iowa firm, Bluffstone LLC, hoped to build a five-story, 70-unit apartment complex on a downtown Springfield parking lot. Because the apartments would be marketed to older local college students, the town’s two public universities wanted it. Downtown interests wanted…
How the grassroots derailed the TPP train
White House spokesperson Josh Earnest dismissed it as a procedural snafu, and it was – but not in the way he meant. The “it” was the stunning June 12 vote last week in the House of Representatives that wrecked that high-balling freight train called the Trans-Pacific Partnership. TPP is the global trade scam that was…
Rauner’s TV ad is all bark, no bite
Gov. Bruce Rauner’s much-anticipated TV ad isn’t as over-the-top negative as we might have thought it would be. “Exactly,” was the response from a Rauner official I spoke with after watching the ad and making that above observation about its somewhat muted tone. “There’s plenty of time for that if it’s necessary,” the official added.…
Letters to the Editor 6/25/15
The Illinois State Museum has provided educational exhibitions, programming and other events, many which are free to the public, since it was founded in 1877. The museum is now facing shutdown in the wake of the state budget crisis. Photo BY DOUG CARR/ILLINOIS STATE MUSEUM ENFORCE CURRENT LAWS Close the Illinois State Museum to save…
Editor’s note 6/25/15
PHOTO BY GINNY LEE Amid all the other calamities threatened from the Statehouse, the governor’s proposed closure of the Illinois State Museum may seem like just one more thing that probably won’t happen. Maybe that’s why there has been no public outcry from Springfield’s mayor or the city council or anybody else. But this thing…
Close the Illinois State Museum, cut our collective hearts out
My little son loves the Illinois State Museum. For him, it’s a place of exploration and discovery. He routinely clamors to be taken to the Mary Ann MacLean Play Museum, located on the lower floor of the museum’s main building on Spring Street. In the span of a morning he can dig for bones, drive…
Pageants, pet shows, a parade and more
Assumption Fest Assumption Fest is a three-day, family-fun festival that has been going and growing for more than 80 years, and is proud to offer big-city entertainment in a small-town setting. Two new attractions for 2015 are the look-alike contest ($5 entry fee) and Woody’s Menagerie, a traveling wildlife exhibit. Other festival highlights include live…
Play it safe
Operation Kidsafe Child Safety Event This Saturday, Freedom Chevrolet-Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram in Virden joins with Operation Kidsafe to offer the number one child safety event in America. Operation Kidsafe will fingerprint both hands and take a digital head and shoulder photograph of each child. That data will then be turned into a hard copy of identification that parents…
Talented teens perform Peach
James and the Giant Peach This weekend, join the Hoogland Teens for a brand-new musical version of the classic children’s book by Roald Dahl, James and the Giant Peach. The Hoogland Teens are a talented group of area high school students who band together to sing, act, dance and perform year-round throughout central Illinois. The…
Beyond thunderdomes
I have a great circle of female friends, but one of “the group” has a way of making backhanded comments about my appearance that make me feel bad about myself. Her latest topic is my breasts and how much smaller they are than hers. Incredibly, she manages to work this into any conversation – exercising,…
Problem solved
Curses, foiled againA shoplifter made off with $150 worth of produce from a supermarket in Belfast, Northern Ireland, but surveillance video showed the thief wearing a Manchester United shirt with “Benson 22” printed on the back. That evidence led police to Paul Robert Benson, 24, who pleaded guilty after District Judge Mervyn Bates told him…
Horrific health care
When Rubin Watts arrived at the Dixon Correctional Center infirmary in 2007, his legs and feet were red and swollen, with stinking open wounds that were oozing pus and a bloody discharge. He had a skin infection called cellulitis and a history of mental illness. Shortly before Watts’ arrival in the infirmary, he’d been seen…
Visit Oak Park, home of Wright and Hemingway
Wright was just 21 when he designed the house he would use as a living laboratory for 20 years. COURTESY OF THE FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT TRUST. Oak Park attracts thousands of visitors every year to view the largest collection of Frank Lloyd Wright-designed houses in the world and to tour the birthplace of writer Ernest…
The many benefits of buying locally
The average adult must shop for gifts for friends or family members several times over the course of a typical year. Birthdays, holidays and anniversaries are often the driving force behind such excursions, but some people will buy a gift for a loved one even if there is no special occasion attached. When buying gifts…
Buying local benefits the environment, too
Buying local has many benefits. But while consumers may know that buying local helps grow the local economy by supporting local business owners and creating jobs, they may not realize the positive impact that buying local can have on the environment as well. Eco-conscious consumers often go to great lengths to ensure their money is…
Staying local when gift buying has its benefits
The average adult must shop for gifts for friends or family members several times over the course of a typical year. Birthdays, holidays and anniversaries are often the driving force behind such excursions, but some people will buy a gift for a loved one even if there is no special occasion attached. When buying gifts…
How shopping locally can help you and your community
Today’s consumers have more shopping options at their disposal than they did in years past. Though the Internet may put the world at one’s fingertips, more and more shoppers are discovering that buying locally makes for a superior shopping experience. The benefits associated with shopping locally are many, and the following are just a few…
Cop stands trial for DUI
A Springfield police officer who crashed his car in 2014 with an open bottle of whiskey inside stood trial last week for driving under the influence. James Stewart was initially placed on administrative leave, then put on desk duty after crashing his car into a concrete median on the 1600 block of Stevenson Drive on…
The high cost of higher education
The Illinois Senate met June 16 to discuss the cost of college in Illinois in anticipation of sending the higher education funding bill to Gov. Bruce Rauner, who included a 30 percent cut to colleges and universities in his proposed budget – a larger cut than any other department received. Senators heard testimony from students,…
STATE FARM HELPS COMPASS KIDS
First there were 4,000 causes from across the nation submitted to the State Farm Insurance Neighborhood Assist program, then a youth advisory board narrowed the list to 200 community causes. Among the 200 was Camp Compass, a program of Springfield’s Family Service Center, which provides an opportunity for about 80 homeless and low-income children to…
SPRINGFIELD HOUSING: BUY!
Does renting or buying a home make more financial sense in the Land of Lincoln? Nerdwallet, a consumer advocacy website based in San Francisco, recently published a study entitled “Should you rent vs. buy in Illinois?” The company crunched the numbers in 327 Illinois cities with populations over 5,000. In Springfield, the verdict was clear.…
Inside the mind universal
Anger, Disgust, Joy, Fear and Sadness from Inside Out. PHOTO COURTESY WALT DISNEY PICTURES The trouble with Pixar Animation Studios is that it set the bar too high with its first ten films. From Toy Story to Up, each of their features were not only imaginatively rendered but featured heartwarming tales that managed to move…
June in
Wayne “the Train” Hancock swings the country at Dr. Ugs, in Virginia, Ill. on Sunday, June 28, with Brother Hiram opening at 1:30 p.m. Welcome to the wonderful world of live music and related things in the Springfield area at the end of June. Let’s get to it, shall we? Check out the Indiegogo crowdfunding…
New City Road
Named after a well-traveled country blacktop south of Springfield, New City Road likes to mix it up with the audience, combining showmanship and comradeship of the band to reach listeners and bring the music home. They stay current on the scene, constantly learning new top 40 country songs to mix in with the modern classics.…
Brothers and coconut candy
My mind was on Jamaica when writing last week’s column for reasons that had nothing to do with its most famous dish: my new grandson, Peter. Although Peter was born in the United States, his birth mother is Jamaican. Like his four-year-old brother Robbie, he is adopted and African-American. My daughter/his mother, Anne, and I…
genesispoem #1
genesispoem #1 I think our great maker had it okay maybe a little confusion about light and dark but on target until that sixth day I think things would be a lot better now and back through much of the last six hundred thousandyears had the female been createdfirst or better yet if there’d been…
