Deputy who killed Sonya Massey was discharged from Army for serious misconduct
This story was originally published by IPM Newsroom Sean Grayson, the former Sangamon County sheriff’s deputy now charged with murder in the fatal shooting of Sonya Massey, was previously discharged from the U.S. Army for serious misconduct, military records show. Grayson, a Riverton resident who is white, was indicted by a grand jury in the…
Sonya Massey’s father calls for Jack Campbell to resign
It all happens in a few seconds – the interaction between a Sangamon County sheriff’s deputy and Sonya Massey that leads to her being shot in the face in her home. The 36 minutes of police-worn camera video showing the July 6 death of Massey inside her Woodside Township home in the “Cabbage Patch” neighborhood…
Bodycam video of Sonya Massey death released
Here is video from the body-worn cameras of two Sangamon County sheriff’s deputies who entered Sonya Massey’s Woodside Township home on July 6. Massey, 36, received a fatal head wound, allegedly from a 9mm handgun fired by Deputy Sean Grayson. Grayson, 30, has been charged with first-degree murder in the incident, and authorities have said…
Peace march planned after bodycam footage release
A “peace march” has been scheduled for 3 p.m. July 22 in Springfield after the 2 p.m. release of body-worn camera video of the police-involved shooting of Sonya Massey. The march, organized by nonprofit Intricate Minds on behalf of the Massey family, will begin outside Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, 904 S. Martin Luther King Drive,…
Learning opportunities at West Lake Nature Grove
Nestled along Springfield’s West Lake Shore Drive, shaded by large trees, hosting a new orchard and buzzing with the daily activities of honeybees is Lincoln Land Community College’s newest outdoor learning lab — West Lake Nature Grove. Dedicated in June 2023, West Lake Nature Grove is a 2.1-acre plot of land the college uses for…
Coming and going
Jesus said to them, “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.” For many were coming and going.” – Mark 6:31 Anne Morrow Lindbergh, in her book Gift from the Sea, echoes the call of Jesus to his disciples to come away and rest a while. In our coming and…
‘Red flags’ surrounded hiring of alleged killer
On a day when a nationally known civil rights attorney said the scheduled July 22 release of body-worn camera footage of the death of Sonya Massey will shock the country, her father questioned whether the Sangamon County sheriff’s deputy who allegedly shot her should have been hired in the first place. “They were all these…
Argument about pot of water leads to murder charges
A Sangamon County deputy sheriff fired his gun three times at Sonya Massey in her home after the unarmed 36-year-old woman held her hands in the air, told him “I’m sorry” and ducked for cover behind a counter. That information was part of the successful argument a Sangamon County assistant state’s attorney used July 18…
Adequately funding public schools
An oft-repeated $1.1 billion demand from Chicago’s mayor would actually wind up costing state taxpayers $5.5 billion. And Gov. JB Pritzker is turning a big thumbs down. Chicago Public Schools made the huge mistake of putting a ton of temporary federal pandemic aid into its permanent spending base for years and that money is just…
An empowering, true-life story and a pleasant rom-com
Woman a rousing tale of empowerment It was referred to as “The hardest test in all of sport.” Only five men had succeeded in accomplishing the feat and 12 others had perished in their attempts. To describe the conditions surrounding this challenge as “brutal” would be a vast understatement, the weather everchanging and the temperatures…
SMTD tries to reduce pollution
The federal government is cutting Springfield Mass Transit District a check to the tune of $17.8 million to provide the city with buses that pollute less and are more efficient to drive. The transit district will be adding 12 hybrid buses that are powered by a combination of diesel fuel and batteries, along with seven…
A divisive time
The two members of Congress who live in Springfield are calling for toning down the political rhetoric in the wake of the assassination attempt on GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump. “It is a miracle that Donald Trump is alive today,” U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Springfield, said. “If you saw that scene, and many of us…
Rabbi Rob returns to Jacksonville
He tools around town in a pickup truck with the license plate “Rabbi R.” He has bought several downtown buildings and is transforming them into retail, entertainment and living spaces. He’s going to bring actual World War II tanks to town and have them fire off a few rounds. He’ll even officiate at a wedding…
Editors note 7/18/24
There was good news as Camp Compass ended this week. The free five-week summer learning program, a joint effort of District 186 public schools and the nonprofit Compass for Kids, served a record 940 low-income elementary school children to prevent summer learning loss. Assessment data show that with morning instruction the children are improving in…
Chatham Jaycees host 49th annual event
Chatham’s big summer event celebrating that delicious, golden food staple is almost here. It’s none other than the long-running, annual Sweet Corn Festival by the Chatham Jaycees. This is the 49th year for the event. Things start at 4:30 p.m. Friday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, Little Miss Sweet Corn pageant, games for children, more than…
Protests continue following death of Sonya Massey
Less than a month ago, Sonya Massey was acting “extremely paranoid” and had voiced concerns for months “about being killed by the police,” her cousin, Sontae Massey, told Illinois Times. Sontae Massey said July 11 that he is not sure why his 36-year-old cousin was exhibiting such anxiety. But Sontae Massey, 53, a manager for…
Letters to the editor 7/18/24
We welcome letters. Please include your full name, address and telephone number. We edit all letters. Send them to editor@illinoistimes.com. — SHE’S STILL GUILTY Katherine Smith set the entire thing up (“Not present at crime, still charged with murder,” June 27). She is guilty. Even if she didn’t stab him, Charles Manson didn’t kill anyone…
Tango, Toddle and Shimmy
I saved this from an old newspaper so I can’t tell the date but here is what the editor of a Chicago newspaper wrote: J. Louis Guyon, proprietor of the largest public dance hall in the Midwest, said today “he would urge dance hall operators in the country to place a ban on the Shimmy,…
A unique and special place
I’m back on my bus this summer, living on a farm in rural Champaign and working at Prairie Fruits Farm and Creamery. Prairie Fruits Farm and Creamery is about 5 miles northeast of the campus of the University of Illinois, my alma mater. My bus is parked next to a goat barn surrounded by a…
Baseball art double-header
Summer means baseball. Whether you are a baseball fan or prefer art over baseball, there is a not-to-be-missed opportunity this summer to experience baseball at the Springfield Art Association (SAA). Springfield artist Rod Buffington has teamed up with nationally renowned sports illustrator James Fiorentino to take you out to the ballpark while also seeing some…
Three Springfield artists win 2024 City Arts Grants
The Springfield Area Arts Council has announced its three recipients of the 2024 City Arts Grants: Reggie Guyton for performing arts, Devin Larson for visual arts and Jaliyah Ross for literary arts. Each of these artists will receive $3,000 to develop their craft and enhance the vibrancy of Springfield’s art community and culture. The selection…
Hello Dolly! – It’s nice to have you back
When it debuted in 1964, Hello, Dolly! set a record for the most Tony Awards, which it held for the next 37 years. (The Producers moved into the top spot when it won 12 awards in 2001). The cast recording of the original Broadway production reached No. 1 on the Billboard album chart in 1964…
Fairs and festivals music fun
Well, folks, ’tis the season in central Illinois when the fairs abound and the festivals abide. We’re going to jump over all the other incredible choices going on at all the terrific venues hosting live music this weekend to focus on those said fairs and festivals. Let’s take a look at what’s cooking out there,…
