Cover Story
Juneteenth
This year’s Juneteenth celebrations in Springfield include six days of events that highlight African American cultural contributions with live music events, art exhibitions, presentations, kids’ activities and more. Our annual Juneteenth issue looks at the origins of the holiday and how area organizations are expanding their outreach to share Black culture and history. Related Related…
More than 5,000 in Springfield for Illinois State FFA convention
More than 5,000 FFA members, advisers and guests attended the 95th annual Illinois State FFA Convention June 13-15 at the BOS Center in Springfield. The three-day event annually recognizes achievements of Illinois FFA members, elects the major state officer team and celebrates agriculture and adjacent areas of study. According to Rod Stoll, media sponsor for…
Ways to celebrate Juneteenth citywide
Illinois’ newest state holiday is a 158-year-old celebration of freedom. Although Juneteenth has been celebrated in Springfield for over 20 years, it did not become an official state holiday until 2021 when Gov. JB Pritzker signed a bill to commemorate June 19, 1865, the date when the last enslaved Black people in the U.S. learned…
City to pay $70K to settle civil rights lawsuit
Attempts by two Springfield police detectives to find who stole a wallet and used a debit card inside it to buy about $1,000 in retail items in 2019 would end with a proposed $70,000 payment to two people allegedly illegally detained and questioned but never charged in the theft. Alfred Clayborne, 37, and Andrea Erley,…
Springfield needs an energy resource plan
Since my return to Springfield last year, the city has become vibrant with unique local businesses that appeal to young residents like me. Working at one of these downtown establishments allows me to engage with fellow young folks daily. One remarkable location I keep hearing about: the Enos Park Neighborhood Gardens. It fosters neighborhood autonomy…
Celebration focuses on progress
Education and community development are longstanding priorities for organizers of this year’s expanded Juneteenth Day celebration. “Galveston is the home of Juneteenth, but Springfield is the home of Lincoln. This is why we want to make (this year’s) celebration big,” said Shymeka Kerr-Gregory, who serves as co-director of Juneteenth, Inc., which organizes Springfield’s Juneteenth Day…
History is their story and ours
Route History, a Springfield museum that opened in 2019 to share stories about the tragedy, resilience and excellence of Black people along historic Route 66, is the brainchild of Dr. Gina Lathan. “I’m a researcher by trade, and when I became a grandma, I wanted to make sure my grandson, Blake, knew he came from…
Tackling crime-reduction in Chicago
As I told you last week, the staid and conservative Civic Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago’s latest and more liberal ideas on taxes and crime reduction have caused some folks to sit up and take notice, including Illinois Senate President Don Harmon. “I think that the Civic Committee is approaching major problems with…
Blacks in Springfield theater
You have been in theater for nearly 20 years. What is it about the stage that keeps you coming back for more? Reggie Guyton: Theater has saved my life. It gave me purpose and understanding. There’s something about sinking into roles or a script that gives you a sense of distraction. During some of my…
African American History Museum expands outreach
Nalo Mitchell’s “aha moment,” after serving two months as the inaugural executive director of the Springfield and Central Illinois African American History Museum, is the willingness of individuals to share their personal and familial histories, even if they are difficult or emotional, and how it has shaped them as individuals. These stories continually improve and…
Memories of shoe-box picnics
Springfield’s official Juneteenth festivities will feature an expanded six-day schedule of events this year, including a talent showcase and display of Juneteenth artifacts, Juneteenth Levitt AMP concert and Noir Art show at the Illinois State Museum – culminating with a parade and festival in Comer Cox Park June 17 and 18, and closing out with…
Mid-June music
Welcome one and all to our live music roundup in the Springfield area. We’ve got happy times, sad news and plenty of stuff in between, so let’s take a look at what’s happening. First off, we’ve got a singer-songwriter coming into his last days of a Kickstarter campaign as Stuart Smith is in the crowdfunding…
Extraction 2 is thrilling, Elemental lacks spark, Hot is compelling
Inventive staging makes for exceptional Extraction 2 Sporting a $70 million budget and a leaner script than its predecessor, Sam Hargrave’s Extraction 2 delivers its fair share of thrills, including an extended action sequence for the ages. After inexplicably surviving his previous mission, covert ops specialist Tyler Rake (Chris Hemsworth) accepts an uneasy retirement. Of…
Capital Area Realtors opposes registration for landlords
Seven of Illinois’ 10 largest cities require landlord registration, but thus far the Springfield City Council has refused to allow such an ordinance to pass out of committee for a vote. The Springfield City Council meeting held June 6 began with a continuation of the discussion from the prior week’s Committee of the Whole regarding…
Race riot site eligible for National Park Service
An archaeological site near Madison Street and the 10th Street rail corridor meets all four criteria necessary to be eligible for inclusion in the National Park Service to commemorate the 1908 Springfield Race Riot, federal officials said June 13. The announcement was an important next step in the effort to persuade Congress to pass a…
Editor’s note 06-15-23
If the charges in the indictment of Donald Trump are true, said presidential candidate Nikki Haley, the former president has been “incredibly reckless with our national security and has put all of our military men and women in danger.” The next day she added that if Trump is found guilty, she would be “inclined in…
Ron Dougan on Starlings 03/25/1960
Ron Dougan on Starlings 03/25/1960 Starlings, I rather like them. They have such a wonderful gregarious time together. I’ve watched great flocks along the roadside sweep out into the alfalfa stubble and pick the whole area insect clean. I even like the way they walk, throwing themselves from side to side a…
Letters to the editor 06-15-23
THE REAL PREDATORS I think people are making a huge deal out of something that has so far remained a hypothetical (“Spreading fear about transgender people,” June 8). I wish people would get so passionate about removing people who actually abuse kids from positions of power, especially youth pastors, pastors and priests – patterns of…
Illinois tackles tax reforms
Back in February, the Civic Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago proposed some sweeping revenue changes designed to significantly boost the state’s credit rating to “AA” over time and help accelerate the state’s pension payments to bring down its huge unfunded liabilities. The group’s proposals were striking because their members are some of the…
A new Lincoln musical arrives in Springfield
Terrence and Rebecca Powers Cranert recently relocated to Springfield from California, where they had raised a family and enjoyed successful careers. Terrence Cranert was chief trial attorney for Zurich Insurance in Los Angeles. And Rebecca Cranert held leadership positions in theater, education and business. Their shared dream was to create and produce their own musical…
