Cover Story
Repurposing MacMurray Hall
Two subjects that are as old as civilization are being taught in a building on the former MacMurray College campus in Jacksonville by neighbors who are injecting local enthusiasm into their lifelong passions. Michael Woods and Tim Smith have purchased the old MacMurray Hall building, a large 1920s-era brick-and-stone science classroom structure on East College…
Both sides cite constitution in cash bail arguments
Both the majority and minority opinions in the Illinois Supreme Court’s landmark ruling on the SAFE-T Act last week claimed the other side was ignoring the “plain language” of the Illinois Constitution. Each focused on a single, but different word. As the all-Democrat majority noted, the judiciary must look at the “plain language used in…
Cataloging complaints
Former Springfield mayor Jim Langfelder and current Mayor Misty Buscher disregarded more than 100 years of precedent when they bypassed Lincoln Library’s board of trustees for advice in the hiring and firing of the past two library directors. That’s according to a statement from the board, an unpaid, advisory panel appointed by the mayor. A…
Board reverses solar vote
The Sangamon County Board’s July 11 reversal of a May vote gave the go-ahead to a proposed $10 million solar farm near the rural Westview Park Subdivision, despite ongoing resentment by board members toward state legislators. Several board members said they don’t like the fact that a new state law, effective in January, made project…
A matter of faith
The Catholic Diocese of Springfield has produced a one-hour motion picture exploring matters of faith and possible miracles in central Illinois. Former WICS journalist Andrew Hansen, who now works as a spokesperson for the diocese, explores five stories in different cities that he believes show God is real and helping people to put their faith…
A changed man
The congressman was a former crack addict. When I heard those words, I was flummoxed. It’s not that I found it difficult to believe that someone in public life had a substance abuse problem. During my 35 years covering politics, I’ve seen politicians drunk while debating legislation. And I’ve seen them holed up in their…
A life of service
Paul Palazzolo, a stalwart of Sangamon County Republican politics, told Illinois Times Friday he is stepping down as circuit clerk to become executive director of Kiwanis International. The 57-year-old Springfield native has held public office since 2001, when he was elected to the Springfield Park Board. He has also served as county auditor, treasurer of…
Firestorm of fear
The leader of the Springfield YMCA says the longtime nonprofit won’t exclude transgender people from gender-specific locker rooms despite a nationally publicized and conservative-fueled firestorm over a 16-year-old swimmer’s protest and her family’s decision to leave the Y. “We are not planning to make any noticeable changes,” YMCA Chief Executive Officer Angie Sowle told Illinois…
Be their guest at Muni’s Beauty and the Beast
I recently listened to an interview about post-pandemic struggles within regional theaters stemming from low ticket sales and flagging membership renewals. This, unfortunately, has led to things like staffing cuts and other programmatic revisions in what would otherwise be thriving seasons. Listening to this I was disheartened. Especially as they went on to say the…
Restoring faith in medical science
The Masters of Medicine: Our Greatest Triumphs in the Race to Cure Humanity’s Deadliest Diseases, by Andrew Lam, M.D. 368 pages, BenBella Books, 2023. The COVID pandemic of 2019 was exacerbated by an increasing loss of trust in science and medicine. Many factors led to undermining the public view of confronting the disease, including political…
Good old yogurt
Look what they done to my song ma Look what they done to my song Well it’s the only thing That I could do half right And it’s turning out all wrong ma Look what they done to my song The words to this song by the singer-songwriter Melanie popped into my head as I…
Music tribute mania and more
Come on in and make yourself comfortable while we take a look at some musical happenings in the area during this waning part of July. Off we go to visit two big music festivals just outside Springfield this weekend, one tried-and-true and the other fairly new. First, the Chatham Jaycees present another Sweet Corn Festival…
Chatham Jaycees host 48th annual event
Chatham’s big summer event featuring that delicious, golden food staple is almost here. Yes, we’re talking about none other than the long-running, annual Sweet Corn Festival by the Chatham Jaycees. Things start at 5 p.m. Friday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, Little Miss Sweet Corn pageant, games for children, more than 70 vendors and, of course,…
Twin passions, for theater and social justice
Emma Marie Shafer, 24, community organizer, died July 11, 2023. A Springfield native born on April 13, 1999, she graduated from Springfield High School, received an associate degree in political science at Lincoln Land Community College, and earned a bachelor’s degree in urban studies from the New School in New York City. She was the…
Editors note 7/20/23
The Illinois Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the constitutionality of the SAFE-T Act, ending cash bail when the law goes into effect Sept. 18, will put pressure on prosecutors, judges, courts, victims and neighborhoods. Good pressure. No longer will Illinois be able to rely on the bail system to incarcerate for months those who have…
Tribute to John Knoepfle
from our adjacent doors the long concrete sill good for leaning on, looking out the two of us not saying much gazing down at the loading dock the dumpsters, drain, empty boxes the postal van in its postal slot the $40,000 Ferrari in its handicapped slot, the pile of long cream-colored plastic pipes stacked along…
Letters to the editor 7/20/23
We welcome letters. Please include your full name, address and telephone number. We edit all letters. Send them to editor@illinoistimes.com. —- A CRITIQUE OF THE CRITIQUE It is the job of a reviewer to “call ’em like they see ’em.” We cannot, however, let this article, which uses its brief eight paragraphs to seemingly accuse…
The human brain is democracy’s infrastructure
As we consider infrastructure spending, we should look beyond bridges and roads. We might think of the human brain as democracy’s infrastructure. To protect American democracy, we should create an education system that helps all students transcend ignorance and gullibility. We must protect America from the fraudulent claims of charismatic charlatans, paranoid conspiracy theorists, science…
