Cover Story
Project Censored
The biggest news you never heard about Every year since 1976, Project Censored has performed an invaluable service – shedding light on the most significant news that’s somehow not fit to print. Censorship in an authoritarian society is obvious, from a distance, at least. There is a central agent or agency responsible for it and…
Mayor offers raise to keep Winslow
Mayor Jim Langfelder says he’s offered a 5% raise to keep police chief Kenny Winslow, who has accepted an offer to become a deputy chief in Franklin, Tennessee. Langfelder said that it would amount to a $7,000 raise, the maximum allowable without city council approval. Winslow, who wasn’t available for comment, earned $145,433 last year.…
Winslow quits Springfield police
Springfield police chief Kenny Winslow is departing for Tennessee, where he will be a deputy police chief in Franklin beginning next month. The Williamson Herald in Tennessee broke the story last Thursday. According to the Herald, Winslow was one of 78 applicants and will start work on Jan. 19 overseeing field operations and special operations…
Restaurants, the courthouse and other stuff
Don’t look now, but the Springfield restaurant scene may not appear as dire as it seems, fingers crossed a vaccine is afoot. American Harvest Eatery closed last spring on the west side but, at last report, was moving to perceived greener pastures. Vele has left downtown to go west for perceived greener pastures in space…
Celebrate statesmanship in Illinois
As a protracted and divisive political campaign season draws to a close, America is a nation in which partisan cleavages appear sharper than at any time in recent memory. Political analysts write of the United States as now consisting of two distinct nations, Red America and Blue America, and question if common ground will be…
Editor’s note 12-03-20
Some things to think about while we wait in worldwide lines for immunizations: Reducing those “underlying health conditions” that make everything worse. Changing medical care to health care. Drinking more water. Following Michael Pollan’s diet – “Eat good food. Not too much. Mostly plants.” Health is the best vaccine. –Fletcher Farrar, editor and CEO
Tepid approach undercuts Ammonite
Mary Anning was a woman who was born during the wrong era. Brilliant and determined, she taught herself to be one of the most groundbreaking paleontologists of her time. Living in the small village of Lyme Regis along the English Channel during the mid-19th century, she uncovered some of the most significant and complete fossils…
Moving to the mall
White Oaks Mall has a new anchor tenant: the state of Illinois. After purchasing space formerly occupied by Sears for $3.5 million last August, the state now plans to move Illinois Environmental Protection Agency headquarters from North Grand Avenue to the mall. The complex now occupied by IEPA is slated for demolition to make room…
Letters to the Editor 12-03-20
ASSIST THE BUSINESSES Where is the federal relief for businesses? As COVID-19 sweeps across the country, tens of thousands of businesses may close permanently. Millions of Americans are unemployed and many may not get their jobs back. It is a disaster that may haunt America for years. Much of this disaster could have been avoided…
SPRINGFIELD EMMY
A short film starring Springfield’s Dr. Wesley Robinson McNeese won a regional Emmy award. In the video, McNeese reads a piece of original poetry titled “Face to Face” from a site of ruins from the 1908 Race Riot. The massacre consisted of white mobs attacking innocent Black people by burning their businesses and homes and…
RECYCLE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS
Don’t throw your burned out Christmas lights in the garbage – recycle them. BLH Computers is partnering with local communities to collect Christsmas lights that will be recycled. Collection boxes are located at the Leland Grove police department, 2000 Chatham Road; City of Springfield Municipal Center West, City of Springfield Lincoln Public Library; Rochester Community…
A book of birds teaching words
Cinda Ackerman Klickna has seen a lot of bad grammar. She saw it as an English teacher. She sees it on social media. Hearing bad grammar is especially bothersome to Klickna – like fingernails on a chalkboard for those old enough to understand what that means. Klickna, of Rochester, writes for Illinois Times, wrote a…
Surprise a hungry neighbor
Once a naughty childhood prank, “ding-dong-ditch” has taken on new meaning in the era of social distancing. Normally the game involves ringing someone’s doorbell and trying to get away before they answer, perhaps leaving something vile on the doorstep. Now, instead of little kids leaving toads on the doormat, it’s grown to adults dropping off…
Onto online again
As we waltz into arguably (try to argue that it isn’t!) the most peculiar holiday season of our lifetimes, let’s be sure to stay aware of those in need and make needed changes to regular routines to help us all stay safe and sound. Even though many of the familiar events we all look forward…
Here comes Santa Claus
Get geared up for the holidays with a virtual visit with Santa, hosted by the Springfield Muni Opera. The Muni has been hard at work with Santa Claus to make sure that children throughout the Springfield area will have the opportunity to speak with the jolly fella prior to Christmas. “Santa Claus brings hope and…
Police review under review
Mayor Jim Langfelder is pushing for appointments to the city’s Police Community Review Commission absent a promised overhaul to improve the effectiveness of a board that rarely has met since its establishment 15 years ago. Langfelder is asking the council to approve the appointments of Sunshine Clemons, founder of the Springfield chapter of Black Lives…
