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Summerguide 2025
Our annual Summerguide has something for everyone. Whether you’re looking for local theater, musical performances, outdoor activities or family-friendly events – many of them free of charge – we’ve got all the details. Plus, there’s an expanded three-month calendar of activities to help you keep track of everything. The International Carillon Festival is being held…
Future of Wyndham is uncertain
It may be many months before the Wyndham Springfield City Centre Hotel can reopen. The 370-room, 30-story hotel at 700 E. Adams St. in downtown Springfield was damaged by internal flooding on March 27 and has been closed since then. An initial estimate from the Wyndham’s owner that the hotel would be closed for up…
State prepares for reduction in federal dollars
The U.S. House’s Energy and Commerce Committee released its recommendations for budget reconciliation early last week. A preliminary review by the Congressional Budget Office projected that, if implemented, at least 8.6 million Americans would lose their Medicaid coverage during the coming decade. That translates to well over 300,000 Illinoisans. In addition, the CBO projected that…
A crisis of conscience
How can he say that? Why can they say that? Why do they do that? What happened to their consciences? Conscience! Conscience? What is conscience? What is so important about conscience? What role does it really play in everyday life? What happens when conscience is applied? What happens when conscience is abandoned? What happens when…
Illinois Times is now a Report for America Newsroom
Illinois Times has been selected as a Report for America newsroom, allowing us to hire an additional full-time reporter starting in July. This position is partially funded by a grant of $25,000 for the first year – we are expected to raise $35,000 from community support to cover our share of the reporter’s salary. Before…
Mission Impossible cast saves final installment, Last Rodeo heavy on moral messages
Final Mission Impossible stays aloft thanks to cast Throughout Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning, Ethan Hunt is reminded that the result of every decision he has made has led him to the dire situation he finds himself in. Sitting through the eighth installment of the franchise, one can’t help but draw the same correlation regarding…
General Assembly passes Sonya Massey Bill
Both chambers of the Illinois General Assembly have endorsed legislation introduced in the wake of the killing of Sonya Massey that would make it easier to learn more about problem cops before they are hired. Proponents of the measure heading to Governor JB Pritzker’s desk, named in honor of Sonya Massey, say it may prevent…
UIS faculty union seeks new round of bargaining
The UIS United Faculty union (UIS-UF) officially filed a demand on April 14 to bargain with University of Illinois Springfield administration for a new contract. There are 152 faculty members represented by the union, which is part of University Professionals of Illinois (UPI) Local 4100. A press release from UIS-UF calls the latest demand “a…
Jacksonville biomedical company has worldwide reach
Tucked away on the north edge of Jacksonville, surrounded by farm fields, sits a large facility where a small team assembles the Sensory Sentinel, a game changer in the field of biomedical research. “It’s the only instrument like it in the world,” said Dr. Jeremy Turner, founder and CEO of Turner Scientific and former faculty…
Charting her course as a “Big Tent” Republican
A little-known candidate seeking the Republican nomination for Richard Durbin’s U.S. Senate seat says the GOP needs to adopt a “big tent” mentality that encourages bipartisan cooperation and prioritizes substantive solutions over partisan rhetoric. Pamela “Denise” Long, 52, a longtime contributor to Newsweek and Real Clear Politics, is leveraging her experience as a journalist, political…
Keeping Medicaid healthy
For 60 years, Medicaid has provided essential health coverage for millions of Americans, ensuring that low-income families, seniors, people with disabilities and children receive the care they need. Yet, policymakers in Washington are considering hundreds of billions of dollars in cuts to this essential program. Such a deeply flawed proposal must be rejected – not…
Letters to the editor 5/22/25
We welcome letters. Please include your full name, address and telephone number. We edit all letters. Send them to editor@illinoistimes.com. — KEEP PROTESTING I want to applaud Illinois Times for using good journalism to set the record straight about what U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem did when she visited Springfield (“An insult…
Summerguide calendar 2025
MAY Pawnee Prairie Days May 29-31. Three days of fun including a carnival rides and games, pageants, barbecue contest, tractor pull, car show, live music and much more. See the Facebook page for more info. Pawnee Square, Pawnee, 617 Seventh St., 622-4661. Janet Evra Thu., May 29, 6-9:30pm. The first show of the 10-week 2025…
Editors note 5/22/25
Not even I could have given the Senate committee a good definition of habeas corpus that day, and I had two years of Latin in high school. So it’s a little unfair to ask the cabinet secretary, who was hired just to blindly carry out the president’s wishes, to answer such a difficult question. She…
Springfield Park District hosts free family activities
The Springfield Park District has been bringing the community outside for 125 years, and it’s celebrating this summer with a packed calendar of events for the whole family. Founded in 1900, the Springfield Park District is one of the largest in the state and encompasses more than 2,800 acres, from quaint neighborhood playgrounds and quiet…
Pay a visit to Lake Geneva
You have already been wowed by the tricks of magician Tristan Crist and as you sit in the darkened theater, you eagerly await the finale. As the music crescendos, the theater lights reveal Crist’s assistant in a small metal cage. He flourishes a curtain for only a few seconds, dropping it to reveal the assistant…
Summer Shakespeare
“To be or not to be… that is the question.” Hear this famous line from Hamlet at three Shakespeare events in three separate venues this summer. Travel to the Illinois Shakespeare Festival in Bloomington, Shakespeare in the Park in St. Louis, or stay right here in Springfield for Shakespeare in Enos Park. Maybe hit all…
The Muni celebrates 75 years
People arrive early with their picnics and bottles of wine, setting everything out on blankets or at picnic tables, enjoying a summer evening before the opening of a play at the Springfield Municipal Opera near Lake Springfield. This summer marks the 75th year that the Muni has been wowing audiences with tremendous performances. Casts have…
Hymnody of Earth
A hammered dulcimer, a cappella ensembles, percussion, a 72-member choir, bird songs, nature walks – all will come together May 30-June 1 in a three-day, three-venue festival of music called Hymnody of Earth, a series of musical numbers composed by Malcolm Dalglish. Sponsored by the Springfield Choral Society, in partnership with Lincoln Memorial Garden and…
Keep kids reading this summer
With summer just around the corner, many parents are probably wondering how to keep kids busy, as well as engaged with all of the learning they’ve accomplished over the last school year. Look no further than your local library for great options that are both entertaining and educational. Summer reading has been proven to help…
Free family fun
Summertime is the perfect opportunity to spend time with your friends and family, and there are tons of opportunities to do so right here in Springfield and the surrounding communities. But enjoying summer doesn’t have to mean spending money. Read on for some free opportunities to soak up the fun and sun with your family.…
Rhubarb beyond pie
There are many things that I grow well on my rambling little homestead but sadly, rhubarb just isn’t one of them. Even my green-thumbed great-grandfather who lived here before me had trouble getting a rhubarb plant to take hold. It’s not that rhubarb is a particularly difficult plant to cultivate – I know many people…
Memorial Day weekend music
Here we go blasting our way through a memorable (hopefully) Memorial Day weekend, full of all sorts of entertainment excitement guaranteed to blow your mind, if you know what I mean. Let’s see what we can find within the friendly confines of our music community schedule. Start your MDW on Thursday with a visit to…
New dates for musical gem
Now in its 63rd year, this popular festival has earned an unsurpassed tradition of presenting the world’s finest carillonneurs on the 67-bell instrument in a tower. While it typically takes place in June, this year it has been moved up to coincide with Memorial Day weekend. This year’s carillonneurs are Jeremy Chesmann of Springfield, Missouri.;…
