New lawsuit filed against city over panhandling restrictions
Three Springfield panhandlers filed a lawsuit against the City of Springfield today, following the approval of new panhandling restrictions last night. The panhandlers claim the city’s new restrictions violate their right to free speech in the same way that a previous restriction did before it was struck down as unconstitutional. The Springfield City Council approved…
AG rules against Rauner, in favor of Illinois Times
Gov. Bruce Rauner has refused to release his appointment calendar to Illinois Times, so the paper sued him today, following a favorable decision from the Illinois Attorney General. Photo by Patrick Yeagle. Illinois Times today sued Gov. Bruce Rauner after Attorney General Lisa Madigan ruled that the governor must turn over his appointment calendar in…
Springfield adopts new panhandling restrictions
The Springfield City Council approved new panhandling restrictions Tuesday, prompting a likely lawsuit from the panhandlers who got part of the city’s existing ordinance ruled unconstitutional. The ordinance, which passed unanimously on Tuesday evening, prohibits panhandlers from touching people or approaching them within five feet while asking for money. It was introduced on Sept. 8…
State layoffs deferred…for now
State employees targeted for layoff got a temporary reprieve Friday, pending the results of an ongoing lawsuit. Anders Lindall, spokesman for AFSCME Council 31, said the union was notified Friday by the administration of Gov. Bruce Rauner that layoffs scheduled for Sept. 30 would be delayed until litigation over state cuts is resolved. The lawsuit…
Down on the border
Illinois’ newest Congressman, Darin LaHood, has argued that the U.S. must put more resources into securing the borders to stop the flow of immigrants coming in illegally. Really? More? Between 2000 and 2010, U.S. taxpayers spent something like $90 billion trying to secure the U.S.-Mexico border — National Guard troops , border agents, X-ray machines,…
The history of the history
The State Journal-Register today offers a useful retrospective on the evolution of the Lincoln Home National Historic Site by Tara McClellan McAndrew. (“Protecting Lincoln’s legacy in his neighborhood has evolved with the times.”) More might be said on that subject – indeed more has been said. In “A new old street” which appeared in…
A house divided and crumbling
Steven Beckett The Papers of Abraham Lincoln Project, which aims to digitize every document written by or read by the Great Emancipator, is in an existential crisis, the project’s director Thursday told an advisory board to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, where the project is headquartered. On orders from the governor’s office, the…
Settlement approved for estate of man Tasered 20 times
The estate of a man who died in 2010 during an encounter with Sangamon County sheriff’s deputies will receive $40,000 in a settlement by a committee of the Sangamon County Board today. The committee’s unanimous vote brings an end to a contentious case that has already cost the county more than $273,000. Patrick Burns, formerly…
“Perfect Guy” Laid Low by Predictable Script
I suppose it’s a bit lazy to say that there’s nothing original where the plot of a movie or novel is concerned. I’ve heard it said that there are only seven basic stories that can be told and they’ve obviously been done to death. So, the trick is to bring a bit of enthusiasm and…
Depp Mesmerizing in “Black Mass”
“If no one sees it, it didn’t happen.” These were the words Boston mobster James “Whitey” Bulger lived and thrived by, a philosophy of denial and evasion upon which he built a criminal empire all the while justifying his criminal activity with a survival of the fittest mentality. Scott Cooper’s Black Mass, a gripping, entertaining…
A “D” for damnation
ILLUSTRATION BY RICK NEASE/TNS Ordinarily I would not trouble the Roman Catholic church with my opinions. Its sacred books are divinely inspired; my columns, alas, are not. I would happily take my nose out of the church’s business if it would stop sticking its into mine. Same-sex marriage is a civil matter, and it is…
Buying a president for $30 and change
Jim Hightower PHOTO BY LARRY D. MOORE For today’s report, I have a bunch of statistics for you. Wait – don’t run away! Where are you going? Come back here and sit still while I drill these stats into your head. It’ll be fun, and you’ll learn something. I realize that numbers can numb the…
What to say about an $8.5-billion backlog?
PHOTO BY ALAN SOLOMON/TNS As you probably know already, Illinois Comptroller Leslie Munger said last week that the state government’s backlog of unpaid bills will hit $8.5 billion by the end of December, up from about $6 billion right now. That’s a headline grabbing number, since the end of December is not exactly the greatest…
Letters to the Editor 9/17/15
BALANCING ACTDistrict 186 once had a very healthy balance. (“Balancing school books,” Patrick Yeagle, Sept. 3). Then a group was voted into office that spent the district into bankruptcy. Now the present board is trying to repair the damage. If the district is spending $93,508 on administrators, which is still 2 percent more than other…
Editor’s note 9/17/15
It seems almost surreal for Springfield to go on with business as usual when there is so much going wrong. The Illinois State Museum is about to shut down for no good reason, homeless shelters throughout the state are being denied state funding (see “Chopping off the hands that help,” by Patrick Yeagle, p. 9)…
Trump has nothing on Know-Nothings
Hostility towards immigrants had been building for years. By the middle of the decade, xenophobia reached its peak, leading to a widespread belief that immigrants were threatening to destroy American values and democracy. In response, a new political movement sought to curb immigration, toughen naturalization laws and limit the rights of foreign-born citizens. The decade…
End the weekend with Wopat
PHOTO COURTESY http://tomwopat.com/ This Sunday, enjoy a “swanky, sophisticated evening of beautiful music” with Tony Award-nominated Broadway performer and former “Duke of Hazzard” Tom Wopat. The versatile actor turned singer is widely recognized for his role as Luke Duke in the 1979-1985 TV series “The Dukes of Hazzard.” After the show ended, Tom launched a…
The high court and Constitution
PHOTO BY Win McNamee/TNS Celebrate Constitution Day by attending an ECCE Speaker Series presentation that offers a close look at the Supreme Court of the United States under the direction of Chief Justice John Roberts, who has led the court for the past decade. Speaker Jason Mazzone, professor of Law and Lynn H. Murray Faculty…
Sky-high family fun
PHOTO BY METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION Gather the family for a day of fun during Chatham’s second annual family kite festival. The festival, hosted by Chatham Friends of the Parks and genH Kids Coalition, features kites of all sizes for all levels of experience, plus food and drink for purchase. Bring your own kites or purchase…
Nappily ever after
PHOTO COURTESY AMY ALKON I just moved in with my fiancé whose 5-year-old daughter stays with us part of the week. On the evenings she’s at the house, my fiance just goes to sleep, leaving me to entertain her. (She likes to play endless games like “Guess how many fingers I’m holding up!”) Well, I…
Home and garden events calendar
Prairie GardenSep 17, 5:30pm Thu. Learn which prairie plants will make great additions to your garden. Hosted by University of Illinois Sangamon-Menard Extension. Free. 782-4617. University of Illinois Extension Sangamon-Menard Unit, 2501 N. Eighth St., Illinois State Fairgrounds, Bldg #30, Springfield. Bird Feeder WashSep 19, 10am-1pm Sat. Springfield Audubon Society members make your feeders clean…
What’s new in the kitchen?
Island with marble countertop. ALL PHOTOS COURTESY BURASKI BUILDERS Frank Buraski of Buraski Builders, who has been in the business of renovations and construction for 34 years, finds that kitchen trends are cyclical. He notes with interest that people are becoming more concerned with function than in past years. The trend toward commercial-looking kitchens exemplifies…
Home-sharing
PHOTO BY METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION People all over the world who have a surplus of space, an adventurous spirit and the desire for extra income have opened up their homes to guests via Airbnb. For those who haven’t experienced it yet, Airbnb (short for airbed and breakfast) is a website where travelers can find lodging…
Make the most of your yard with a patio
While many people can build their own patios with simple designs, complex designs such as this call for professional help. PHOTO BY METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION Whether your yard is the size of a football field or a putting green, a well-planned brick or stone patio can make your space into a sanctuary and add value…
Easy and budget-friendly ways to add curb appeal
Curb appeal can set your home apart from others, and improving curb appeal doesn’t have to be expensive. PHOTO BY METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION Curb appeal can help a home get noticed in a bustling real estate market. Curb appeal also can contribute to the aesthetics of a neighborhood for residents who plan to stay put,…
Converting garages into livable spaces
PHOTO BY METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION Many people decide to upgrade from their apartments or condominiums out of a need for more space. But even after moving into a new home, homeowners may soon begin to outgrow the room they have. Rather than looking for a new home, some homeowners consider expansion. Expanding a living space…
Time to plant garlic
PHOTO BY ERIK CAMPOS/TNS With the change of seasons, there are many different activities that take place in the garden during this time of year, according to University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator. “In addition to planting spring-flowering bulbs, it’s also time to plant garlic,” said Ken Johnson. “Because garlic requires a cold period to…
Fall gardening tips
PHOTO BY METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION Taking a walk in cool, crisp weather, attending football games, picking apples and choosing the perfect pumpkin are some quintessential activities for the fall, said University of Illinois horticulture educator Ron Wolford. “Planting bulbs is probably the number one garden activity that takes place in the fall, but there are…
A beautiful spring begins this fall
Have you ever admired the vibrant colors of spring flowers and wondered how to create this beauty in your own landscape? “The time to plant for spring bloomers is now,” said University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator Jennifer Nelson. “Every spring at least one person asks me where they can purchase spring flowers for…
Confessions of a reformed composter
Do your eyes glaze over as you read home composting recipes? Do you wonder if an advanced degree in chemistry is necessary to make respectable home compost? “Home composting is no more complicated than baking a cake,” said University of Illinois Extension educator Sandy Mason. “Once a gardener understands the basic principles of home composting,…
Mature Mob is good for what ails you
Ed Norris and the Tappers in a rendition of “You’re Not Sick, You’re Just in Love.” PHOTO BY GINNY LEE I’ve learned some basic truths in recent months. Among them: pains and little cares, dear, come in little pairs, dear; the rich get rich and the poor get poorer; and, perhaps most important, not to…
Chopping off the hands that help
Rod Lane, executive director of Helping Hands, says the lack of a state budget threatens the homeless shelter’s existence. PHOTO BY PATRICK YEAGLE At least one homeless shelter in Springfield is facing cuts as the state budget impasse drags on. Helping Hands of Springfield is one of more than 100 anti-homelessness groups across the state…
Six-figure settlement in prison lawsuit
Alfonso Franco, shown here in better days, died after suffering from cancer that went undiagnosed. PHOTO COURTESY OF SHAY AND ASSOCIATES Wexford Health Sources, a Pennsylvania company that holds the contract to provide health care to Illinois inmates, has agreed to pay $800,000 to the family of a prisoner who died in 2012 after doctors…
Sweetening the deal?
Call it a case of a rogue advertiser: An Illinois business group is bewildered after an unknown someone paid Internet users to sign their petition against a proposed tax on sugary drinks. The Illinois Coalition Against Beverage Taxes says it didn’t have anything to do with paid petition signatures solicited through a popular rewards website…
The Visit – A Modern Fairy Tale of the Grimm-est Sort
If anyone is in need of and deserving of a comeback, it’s writer/director M. Night Shyamalan. Having made a splash with The Sixth Sense in 1999, the filmmaker proceeded to make a series of thrillers, each less effective than the last, painting himself into a corner by steadfastly adhering to the formula that made him…
September music sizzles
Cannonball, a hard-driving, roots music, Americana band from Chicago featuring Springfield native, Andon Davis, Jr., plays the Curve Inn on Friday with Cats on Holiday. Our happening little scene in Springfield continues to burn up the music atmosphere at an incredible rate. Here we go on a trip through marvelous music-making mayhem. Congratulations to the…
Governor Street
With a carefree and can-do motto of “music frees your mind and boogies your soul” this spirited, six-piece combo makes a debut performance at the Hut on Friday. Nate Cozadd (guitar, vocals) and Casey Cantrall (guitar, vocals), the songwriting, driving force behind the band, have played together as friends and pickers for over ten years.…
Summer melting into autumn desserts
Plum torte. PHOTO BY PETER GLATZ Seasonal desserts have always been warm weather milestones. In spring, there’s rhubarb pie – so delicious that rhubarb itself was called “pie plant” in earlier times. And, of course, strawberry shortcake and various other rhubarb and strawberry concoctions, singly or in combination. Summer brings peaches, apricots, melons, Lodi apples…
Doctor Rauner
CARTOON BY CHRIS BRITT
in praise of labor poem #1
on labor day marched with over sixty folkwearing save the illinois state museum T’sthe viewers were sparse saw no city officialsstate either marching or cheering from thecurb no guv of course scant media coveragethe real sight was ranks of union membersgroup after group each contingent wearingits bright T shirt red gold green yellow-greenpurple black-and-white –…
