Cover Story
NPR Illinois celebrates 50 years
Its two-word mission is simple: Explain Illinois. It’s something that Springfield-based National Public Radio Illinois has been doing for 50 years, and accomplishing that mission is a multifaceted, innovative and fiscally capricious effort fueled by public and private support. NPR Illinois delivers a combination of locally produced programs and syndicated National Public Radio shows such…
Budzinski hosts Springfield forum on postal service problems
Local mail service is in crisis, and it will likely get worse if the federal government follows through with a proposal to move a Springfield letter distribution center to St. Louis, contended a group that gathered Monday in a public forum at Lincoln Land Community College. The meeting, led by U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski, D-Springfield,…
Improving relations between police and the public
Springfield officials pledged to work harder to diversify the police department, inform the public about existing channels for holding law-enforcement officers accountable and “promote transparency for the community.” Those were among steps outlined in an “action plan” released by members of Mayor Misty Buscher’s administration, local nonprofits and religious leaders after more than 20 private…
Citizens Club of Springfield discusses city’s future
This month’s Citizens Club of Springfield meeting centered on how to bring people downtown and what role the Springfield-Sangamon County Regional Planning Commission plays with developers and officials who seek to build commercial or residential real estate in Springfield. Molly Berns, former executive director of the Springfield-Sangamon County Regional Planning Commission, said convincing people to…
Together a disturbing look at co-dependency, Gilmore 2 under par
Together a graphic look at love and dependency Curiously paced and at times a bit overt, Michael Shanks’ Together ultimately overcomes these faults to deliver an entertaining, albeit disturbing examination of co-dependency. Intimate in setting and scope, the couple at the center of this ever-devolving relationship enact a relatable situation for married viewers who find…
John “Jack” Madura
John “Jack” Madura, 84, of Springfield, died at 7:08 p.m. on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, at Springfield Memorial Hospital. Jack was born Feb. 6, 1941, in Chicago, Illinois, the son of John and Esther (Songhurst) Madura. He married Judy Thomas on Dec. 28, 1965. He was a proud graduate of Fenger High School on the…
Candidates vying for statewide offices
According to the 2020 Census, Cook County is 40% white, 26% Latino, 22% Black and 8% Asian. Chicago is 21% of the state’s population. But the statewide ticket recently endorsed by the Cook County Democratic Party is overwhelmingly made up of white Chicagoans (JB Pritzker, Alexi Giannoulias, Mike Frerichs and Margaret Croke), with two Black…
Durbin warns of federal cuts impacting medical pipeline, research
Sen. Dick Durbin, joined by members of the Southern Illinois University medical network on Friday, warned of the federal administration’s decisions that will impact aspiring doctors, rural hospitals and scientific research. Discussing provisions within the new federal tax law and the decision to cap federal education loans, Durbin said medical students – who will be…
Facing your ewe lamb moment?
Something about the actions of man will always come before the judgment of God. And the decision-making leadership actions of men/women over the lives and destinies of others must also pass the judgment of God. The war-mongering actions of the Syrians, and the simultaneous battles with their Jordanian cousins, left Israel battling on at least…
City, county and Capital Township support fuels homeless system successes
In 2004, a community strategic planning effort resulted in the development of the 10-Year Strategic Plan to End Chronic Homelessness, 2004-2014. The plan placed a strong emphasis on coordination efforts but little infrastructure was built following the plan’s completion to ensure its goals could be met. Sixteen years later, in 2020, a full-time coordinator for…
The Fantastic Four movie we’ve wanted, The Home an effective thriller, Oh, Hi, a rom-com gone wrong
Shakman and cast finally do Four justice One of the more vexing things for fans of Marvel Comics is the inability to successfully translate the initial property of the four-color universe to the big screen. Hitting newsstands during the fall of 1961, The Fantastic Four was the first superhero-based comic created by Stan Lee and Jack…
Sean Grayson’s attorneys withdraw cease-and-desist request against Massey Commission
The citizen commission working on racial justice and reconciliation in the wake of the 2024 death of Sonya Massey won’t be restricted in its activities by the judge presiding in the murder case against Massey’s alleged killer. That’s because Mark Wykoff, one of the attorneys for former Sangamon County sheriff’s deputy…
Federal housing credit expansion could increase affordable rental units in Illinois
Expansion of the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit could allow construction of tens of thousands more affordable housing units in Illinois. The latest domestic policy plan signed by President Donald Trump on July 4 will increase available funding by 12% for a key tax credit used by developers to offset a portion of construction costs. It…
Last call is earlier than ever
Police say they are receiving fewer calls to break up fights and keep the peace at bars in Springfield and elsewhere in Sangamon County since last year’s elimination of liquor licenses that allowed patrons to be served until 3 a.m. But bar owners say they have suffered economically, and they believe the decisions of the…
Baseball stadium may get new owner
Robin Roberts Stadium, the century-old baseball stadium on the city’s north end, has been a political hot potato for the last several years but appears to be on the cusp of new ownership. The ownership of the Springfield Lucky Horseshoes contends the facility has been poorly maintained and has become an embarrassment to the community.…
Protect families from lead contamination
Illinois is home to more than one million lead service lines, the highest state total in the nation. While efforts to replace these aging and harmful pipes are underway, completing such a massive undertaking will take years. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has set a national deadline of 2037 for full lead pipe replacement, though…
Editors note 7/24/25
For my high school newspaper, I wrote a column titled “What in the World?” in which I earnestly parroted what I’d read about global affairs in The New Republic. Later in my career, though still young, I became an editorial writer, from which post I regularly weighed in on how Nixon and Kissinger ought to…
Hadestown: Teens tackle the underworld
Hadestown: Teen Edition is an impressive Active and Creative Teen Theatre production that brings to life a musical retelling of the mythic young lovers, Orpheus and Eurydice, who go to “hell and back” for King Hades and his wife, Persephone. The show parallels current world issues and humanity’s repeated historical struggles – weaving in grand…
Goodbye to July
As we enter into our last weekend of July, let’s set our sights on more fun in the sun (baby, it’s hot outside) while being cool about it. With the Illinois State Fair just two weeks away, you can just feel summer slip sliding away into the fall. In the meantime, let’s see what’s happening…
Letter On Expenses
The following is in a brief letter from my grandfather when his son (my uncle) was a college freshman: “My dear boy Trever, I have received your letter listing your accounts for the next semester I notice you do not plan on eating for a month so I will include some extra in case you…
Christmastime comedy classic returns to big screen
Christmas is only five months away. Why not take in a comedy classic set during Chrismastime? Watch as Kevin McAllister (played by MacCauley Culkin), battles a pair of burglars after accidentally being left behind by his Paris-bound family. Directed by John Hughes, this 1990 film also stars Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern as the burglars…
Letters to the editor 7/24/25
We welcome letters. Please include your full name, address and telephone number. We edit all letters. Send them to editor@illinoistimes.com. — NOTHING NEW How many variations of this article is Illinois Times going to write (“City’s Black Caucus addresses disparities,” July 10)? It starts with broad pronouncements that everyone knows and has heard a million…
NPR is “not just nice; it’s essential”
The NPR Illinois Community Advisory Board is a 20-member group that meets regularly to offer perspective to the station’s management team. The board reviews NPR Illinois’ programming goals, services and significant policy decisions, and helps to facilitate sustainability through fundraising, memberships, underwriting, grants and contracts. Community Advisory Board members also serve as ambassadors on behalf…
Easier to make than it sounds
Panna cotta, meaning “cooked cream” in Italian, is a wobbly, silky, eggless custard-like dessert made with sweetened cream bound with gelatin. It’s one of my favorite make-ahead desserts, especially when I need to use up leftover dairy products in the refrigerator. A panna cotta is pretty easy to make, and it lends itself to improvisation.…
Solar project fast-tracked, landmark housing plans advance
Springfield’s latest council meeting was packed with big decisions and even bigger debates. The council heard a pitch for a 1,200-acre solar project racing to meet a rare fast-track approval window — only 10 projects in the region will make the cut. Questions flew about funding, land use and how this could reshape the city’s…
