Putting the squeeze on bicentennial
What with everything else going on in the world, getting worked up about Illinois’ bicentennial can be a challenge. For one thing, there’s no mascot, and convincing folks to take Gov. Bruce Rauner seriously as a cheerleader will be a tough sell, especially since he already has said that he’s not in charge of anything.…
A plutocratic coup
Many Americans are reluctant to accept that coup conspiracies are part of our country’s history. We tend to believe that plots to overthrow the government are totally foreign to our national character. But we do do coups. In fact, the country itself was founded on an armed coup to replace the legal ruler, King George…
When will the TV ads reappear?
Believe it or not, one of the questions I’m asked the most these days is: “When will Gov. Rauner and J.B. Pritzker start airing their general election TV ads?” A few weeks ago, Chicago pundit Dick Simpson predicted to Crain’s Chicago Business that the new campaign TV ads would start “any minute.” He went on…
Letters to the Editor 5/03/18
FLOODS AND FARMSUnless you enjoy watching your home flood and losing everything you own from water funneled by levees upstream, it is difficult to understand how levee subsidies benefit you. Rivers have a natural flood plain adjoining them, but although farmers are subsidized to set aside acres, they insist on building levees, most of them…
Janus case could backfire, helping unions
Prof. Bruno spoke recently with University of Illinois News Bureau business and law editor Phil Ciciora about a potentially crippling case for labor unions at the Supreme Court. Most Supreme Court watchers are predicting that a majority of justices will side with the petitioner – Mark Janus, a child support specialist for the Illinois Department…
Food with friends
Do you enjoy reading cookbooks and sharing new recipes with others? If so, individuals age 14 and older are invited to join Taste Buds: The Cookbook Club, a new club which will meet quarterly at the Chatham Area Public Library. Every quarter, members will select a different theme, author or cookbook for discussion, choosing one…
Red Dirt meets Illinois soil
On Friday, May 4, Danenberger Family Vineyards kicks off its new “First Friday Concert Series” with Austin Meade, an Americana group based out of Texas Hill Country that blends bluesy guitars with thoughtful vocals, along with an opening act with local musician Jimmy Reimer. The new concert series will run on the first Friday of…
Make a difference
On Saturday, May 5, connect with progressive community organizations during the Second Annual Community Involvement Fair, hosted by SpringfieldCall2Action at Laurel United Methodist Church. The fair will feature more than two dozen local activist and advocacy organizations as well as two workshop sessions geared towards those who wish to take a more active role in…
Putting the removes on someone
I recently had my addiction recovery memoir published. I’m very honest and vulnerable in it, and readers feel super-connected to me because of it. Most just briefly thank me for how it changed their life, etc. However, a few have really latched on to me via social media. I respond to their first message, and…
NPR Illinois is on a roll
“NPR is one of the top news sources in the country today,” said Randy Eccles, general manager and publisher for NPR Illinois, the radio station housed at the University of Illinois Springfield and previously branded as WUIS. “It is rated highly and seen as very credible. All the member stations are a part of that,…
State puts pressure on Schaller
State allegations against a Springfield mortgage broker mirror accusations contained in a lawsuit filed by a Petersburg man who says that he was cheated out of his home. The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation on April 19 suspended Chris Schaller’s mortgage loan orginator’s license on an emergency basis, saying that the department has…
Finally
The first installment of documents put online by the Papers of Abraham Lincoln project is but a sliver of things to come. But what a sliver it is. It is easy to spend more time than planned browsing through what Lincoln wrote and what he read between his birth in 1809 and 1842, his final…
Teaching kids about money
Area students are getting a free education in how to manage their money, thanks to Taylorville Community Credit Union, which is bringing Banzai, a national online financial literacy program, to 12 schools in and around Taylorville, Edinburg, Hillsboro, Litchfield, Morrisonville, Nokomis, Pana and Raymond. “Kids have their own bank accounts, and they work through assignments…
DOLLARS FOR ELKHART’S DOUGHBOY
The Village of Elkhart Veterans’ Park renovation project has been awarded a preservation grant for World War I monumentS in need of conservation, repair, stabilization or other restoration treatment. The park is home to a WWI Doughboy statue that was presented to the village by the returning veterans of World War I in honor of…
Tully takes a mixed look at motherhood
Marlo (Charlize Theron) isn’t overwhelmed by motherhood; she’s consumed by it. With a nine year-old girl, a five year-old boy with special needs and a newborn, whatever part of her individuality she’s been holding on to has been ground to dust. She does her best to meet her kids’ needs and maintain a semblance of…
May music arrives
With the sudden arrival of summerlike weather we rather skipped over spring, but that’ll happen some years. Now our outdoor venues are in full swing, and we’re watching for clouds from both sides now. Venues that start around 6 and host live music outside on Friday and Saturday nights include Weebles (on Peoria Road), Long…
Live Wire
There’s a good chance you’ll recognize this band name, as this group has been around town for some 25 years now, with Denny Lucas (guitars, keys, vocals) being the beating heart and caring soul of the group. Denny, a longtime area musician (Denny was in Sky High back in the early 80s, with other local…
Mother’s Day brunch at home
If you forgot to make a reservation or simply don’t want to face the Mother’s Day brunch crowds, here’s an elegant, make-ahead menu that is fully customizable and easy enough to make with the kids. Phyllo dough stands in for traditional piecrust as the base for a hearty, seasonal quiche. If you’re not familiar with…
Thoughts and Prayers Poem #1
thoughts and prayers poem #1 the topic this week was thoughts andprayers our gun-toting (civil war musket)pastor did not let us down he gave stats on shots-per-second of assault weaponsplus so much more it was pure gun control he included lincoln’s letter to the mother who’d lost five sons he gave the obamas’words to parkland students:…
