Cover Story
The 1842 Condell House
Sitting back from Fourth Street in Springfield, tucked next to the Mansion View Inn, sits a house with a long history. The home of John S. Condell for 55 years, it had several owners since his death, then sat empty for over 30 years, came close to demolition, was listed as one of Illinois’ most…
Hospitals and law enforcement
The Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights held a Statehouse lobby day last week to push its far-reaching veto session agenda. Included in the ICIRR agenda are things such as putting strict limits on executing civil immigration warrants in state courthouses. That would likely be challenged in court, but there is some common law…
Message of Good Fortune muted, The Perfect Neighbor a gripping cautionary tale
Near perfect Fortune hindered by conclusion There’s a tempered optimism in Aziz Ansari’s Good Fortune, and for good reason. When his film Being Mortal was canceled in mid-production due to accusations of impropriety leveled towards its star, Bill Murray, the writer/director needed a fresh start. Turning lemons into lemonade, he was able to pivot and…
Apples
There was an orchard on the dairy farm. My uncle told me, “One year in my teens there were so many apples that the farm couldn’t use them all, in spite of apple pies, apple crisps, and apple brown betties coming out of our ears. I had visions of hard cider but Gramp had me pitch…
Illinois, don’t be nuclear bamboozled
Since 2020, nuclear advocates have incessantly touted nuclear power’s benefits the way adolescents choose a first car: if it’s red, fast, and a convertible – that’s it! Cost? Don’t worry, “someone” will pay for it. Insurance? What could possibly go wrong? Maintenance? What could break? Alternatives? But, it’s red! And I NEED it! This pro-nuclear…
Letters to the editor
BE KIND Congratulations on your longevity and success (“50th anniversary special section,” Sept. 25). While Fletcher Farrar and I have political views that couldn’t be farther apart, I must say I appreciate so much his professionalism. When I see Fletcher in public, he is friendly and cordial. As we wade through trying times in political discourse, I am…
Overcome the fear of making pie dough
My late wife, Julianne, and I were undergraduates at the University of Illinois in Champaign when we married. During our first year of marriage, while living in a mobile home on the outskirts of Champaign, we engaged in a fundraising pie-making marathon. This event supported the U of I Concert Choir’s concert tour of Puerto…
October music rolls on
Merrily we roll along through the autumnal time of October, experiencing the full effect of unseasonably warm temps with some possibility of much needed rain by Saturday. Hopefully the precipitation will hold off until the outdoor activities are completed but we know how that can end up. Let’s find out what’s on tap. Our first…
Jack-O-Lantern spectacular
FESTIVALS | Fall favorite will draw thousands to carillon Fri., Oct. 17, 6:30-9:30pm and Sat., Oct. 18, 6:30-9:30pm.Thomas Rees Memorial Carillon, Washington Park | 217-546-3853 This annual favorite is truly a sight to see. Hundreds of hand-carved, glowing jack-o-lanterns will light up the night. The carillon will be playing with special lighting and sound effects…
Sean Grayson trial to begin Oct. 20
Yes, it may all come down to the video. But how the 12 members of Sean Grayson’s upcoming jury interpret police body-worn footage from that fateful day, and how they weigh the views of experts on proper police conduct, will determine Grayson’s fate 15 months after the death of Sonya Massey in her Woodside Township…
Peoria rally planned for first day of trial
A Justice for Sonya Massey Rally is planned outside the Peoria County Courthouse in Peoria on Oct. 20, the first day of Sean Grayson’s murder trial. The rally, which organizer Chama St. Louis-Boone said will be peaceful and is designed to “support the Massey family” and call for “accountability of police,” will take place from…
City and state to build more Springfield EV chargers
More electric vehicle charging stations are coming to Springfield in the near future. City, Water, Light and Power presented a grant-funded plan to the Springfield City Council’s Committee of the Whole Oct. 14 detailing the proposal for 40 charging ports across nine locations, mostly downtown. The Community Charging infrastructure grant provides funding from the U.S.…
