Cover Story
Sunshine
Last summer, a group of people attempted to disrupt a popular Levitt AMP concert on the Y Block in downtown Springfield. They were angry about the recent murder of Sonya Massey, and the scene grew tense, with Springfield police moving in. Someone called Sunshine Clemons, co-president of Black Lives Matter SPI, who was leaving a…
Surplus to success
It’s said one person’s junk is another’s treasure. In that vein, a budget proposal before Illinois lawmakers would use $500 million to turn some of Illinois’ biggest state-owned eyesores into economic development opportunities. Abandoned, dilapidated facilities in Lincoln and Jacksonville are among five across Illinois that are targeted in the “Surplus to Success” program being…
Trump administration blocks more than $400M in funding for Illinois health programs
President Donald Trump’s administration is pulling back $477 million from Illinois that was to be used to prevent infectious disease and treat mental health and substance abuse issues. The Illinois Department of Public Health announced this week the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is taking back $125 million allocated to IDPH and 97…
Heartland Housed seeks to improve services in county
People who are currently experiencing homelessness or have in the past were invited to share their thoughts about the services provided in Sangamon County at a March 22 focus group. It was organized by Jamie Riedle, system coordinator with the Heartland Continuum of Care, which oversees a Lived Experience Advisory Board. While Heartland Housed has…
Protecting low-income access to medications
Health care advocates in Springfield are working to pass legislation to secure low-income Illinoisans access to medications through a federal drug discount program. The aim is to protect against growing restrictions placed by drug companies. Cyrus Winnett, chief public affairs officer for the Illinois Primary Healthcare Association, a trade association representing the state’s community health…
Lincoln Presidential Foundation to auction some of its Lincoln artifacts
The Lincoln Presidential Foundation plans to auction a portion of the Taper Collection – including manuscripts, photographs, books, personal effects and sculptural items connected to Abraham Lincoln and Mary Lincoln – to retire the outstanding loan balance from the Foundation’s purchase of the collection. The Foundation’s board of directors has authorized selling 144 items from…
Parents, teachers protest proposed cuts to District 186 SCOPE program
Some Springfield School District 186 parents and teachers are in an uproar over the school board’s now-tabled proposal to cut the long-standing Project SCOPE program that provides before and after-school care, potentially affecting over 850 students across the district. On Friday, March 21, the District 186 school board added an item to the March 24…
Comments by Jackie’s kids
Elspeth, 10: “Oh mother I love kissing kittens under the arms!” Elspeth, 10: “Aargh! I hate finishing a good book!” Jill, 17, peeling a potato: “Here is its stem. Potatoes always seem so self-sufficient. You don’t think of them as having stems.” Jill, 17: “I have to write a Canterbury tale tonight. How long did…
Two setbacks for Gov. JB Pritzker
Two major proposals backed by Gov. JB Pritzker did not advance out of legislative committees before last week’s passage deadline. Sen. Suzy Glowiak Hilton confirmed that she won’t be advancing her legislation supported by the governor that would dissolve townships with populations below 5,000 (SB2217), and eventually abolish townships with populations below 50,000 and lower…
CWLP presents upgrades in electric and water meters, solar ordinance
Springfield City Council dives into the city’s energy future with updates on solar ordinances and carbon capture projects. – CWLP outlines a 25-megawatt solar ordinance and carbon capture pilot project. – Discover the transformative potential of AMI meters for real-time data and improved billing accuracy. – Council members probe into meter lifecycle, ward priorities and…
A bridge builder and waymaker
This is the citation for the Dr. Kenniebrew Award, presented to Sunshine Clemons Feb. 13 at the annual Dr. Alonzo Kenniebrew Lecture, sponsored by HSHS St. John’s Hospital, Memorial Health System and the SIU Foundation. Dr. Kenniebrew was the first African American physician in the United States to build and operate a surgical hospital, the…
Tinned fish making waves
To most Midwesterners, the idea of canned fish doesn’t exactly give off a luxe, cosmopolitan vibe. Beyond tuna salad and salmon cakes, the segment doesn’t get much attention. That’s beginning to change, however, as more folks discover the Iberian delicacy known as conservas. This category of tinned or canned seafood is wildly popular throughout Spain…
Historic Bunn Farm gifted to Refuge Ranch
Introducing horse care and riding to traumatized children has been proven to be effective therapy. The Refuge Ranch in Rochester utilizes that strategy and will now be able to expand its work due to a generous donation from Glennon and Jan Paul of a seven-acre historic farm in Springfield. Refuge Ranch, started by Stephan and…
March music moves
Here’s a happy “howdy” to all, as we move on through the last weekend of March in 2025, headed headlong toward April. And that means our version of “plein air” live music performances are in the foreseeable future, on the horizon and within our grasp as the warmer weather approaches on a consistent basis. Let’s…
“Bit by Bit” opening reception
Here’s something a little different. On Friday, an art exhibit will open with a free public reception at the Kidzeum, the downtown museum for children. According to the Kidzeum, the exhibit features works by professional artists in “fiber, handmade paper, animation, sculpture, painting and installation to examine healing in its many forms – physical, emotional…
A modest proposal
In 1729, Jonathan Swift wrote the satiric essay A Modest Proposal, published in pamphlet form to influence compassion for the starving Irish. The satire ridiculed the British politicians, elites and landowners who did not see the poor Irish as a problem of human misery and suffering but rather as an inconvenience. The ridiculous proposal that…
Springfield schools face budget cuts and SCOPE challenges
The Springfield District 186 Board of Education meeting was packed with critical discussions: – The agenda was amended to focus on the SCOPE program. – Superintendent Gill celebrated achievements like the Scholastic Bowl’s state success and the Owen Marsh Elementary groundbreaking. – A three-year deficit reduction plan was unveiled, aiming to save costs without impacting…
