Cover Story
George Ryan looks back
George H. Ryan has faced some harsh critics during his 87 years of life, much of it spent in the public eye. But there was no tougher crowd than the roomful of murder victims’ families that he invited to the Illinois Executive Mansion in 2002. “They were bitter. They were terribly angry,” Ryan said. “I…
The Sioux Chef
I know quite a bit about the cuisines of Western Europe, the Mediterranean and Southeast Asia. I’ve studied the celebrated food culture of the American South (which was predominately the culinary influence of enslaved Africans). But I realize that I know next to nothing about the food culture of the Indigenous people who inhabited North…
Music moves along
Good day, to anyone and everyone, anywhere and everywhere. Here I offer to you some meanderings, musings, ponderings and wonderings about our local music scene. First, condolences go to the family of Pat Tavine, as we commemorate a local bar owner, music booker, story-teller and all-around larger-than-life guy. We lost Pat on Aug. 19, and…
Juried fine art and craft show
Art Spectacular is a multi-experience festival of art, music and children’s programs. Founded by Rees Carillon Society board member, Barb Walker, the art show is a professionally juried fine art and craft show featuring museum-quality works. The participating artists are among the region’s and nation’s most recognized for their original work in a variety of…
Men’s health summit
Males age 15 and older are welcome to attend a free event focused on physical and mental wellness. The event includes lunch and health screenings. COVID-19 testing and vaccinations will also be available. Speakers to discuss nutrition, prevention and wellness include internal medicine specialist, Dr. Winston Townsend, medical director of Memorial Weight Loss and Wellness…
Candyman reboot works, Murders keeps viewers guessing
Schrader all in with Counter I always look forward to writer/director Paul Schrader’s films. In an era of overblown cookie cutter entertainment, it’s refreshing to see the work of an artist who refuses to compromise as he continues to explore deeply personal concerns. When he’s firing on all pistons, classics (First Reformed, Affliction) emerge; and…
State Journal-Register building up for auction
The State Journal-Register building will be auctioned this month, raising questions about the future of Springfield’s daily newspaper. “I remember moving into that building in the 1980s – it had so much room,” said retired columnist Toby McDaniel. “I can’t blame them for wanting to sell it now. Their staff is so small that they…
Editor’s Note 9/9/21
We have two new staff writers reporting for Illinois Times. Scott Reeder and Kenneth Lowe have been contributing articles occasionally; now their work will appear weekly in these pages. Reeder, a resident of Sherman, is a veteran Statehouse reporter, having worked for several news organizations, including the Small Newspaper Group and Illinois News Network. His…
The imaginary, languishing lake
The more than 40-year saga of the proposed “Hunter Lake” continues, with the city of Springfield now arguing for the lake to be used not just as a supplemental water source, but as a means of more lakeside recreation. As it has since the project began long ago, the proposal also faces criticism from detractors.…
See the world. Change your life.
Students who study abroad have life-changing experiences. So do those who host a student from another country. Area high school students can apply to study abroad during the 2022-2023 school year through the Rotary Youth Exchange Program. More than 40 countries participate. Students must be between 16 and 18 ½ years of age when they…
Back to business
Drive downtown in Springfield and you will see the impact of the pandemic. Shuttered restaurants and stores, unkempt sidewalks and scant foot traffic all point to a city struggling to bounce back from years of a struggling economy as well as COVID-19. A new statewide pandemic relief program seeks to reach small businesses that were…
roe vs wade poem # 1
it’s no new idea aristophanes wrote lysistrata in far-ancient greece here is my clever plan: crank up my chastity belt factory hasn’t had much biz in recent times women’d hold the keys of course no lovey stuff = no pregnancies so no need for abortions I bet judges in power would cave pretty quick haven’t…
Letters to the editor 9/9/21
We welcome letters. Please include your full name, address and telephone number. We edit all letters. Send them to editor@illinoistimes.com. —- INDUCT DICK ALLEN As a congenital Philadelphian, I recognized immediately the pictured-from-behind subject of this week’s cover story as that of the late Dick Allen, wearing his #15 Phillies jejune road uniform of the…
Still no deal on an energy bill
While a huge cloud of coal ash exploded around Springfield’s coal-fired electric power plant late in the afternoon, the state’s top three Democrats were huddled in a Statehouse conference room trying to find a way to slash electric power plant carbon emissions to zero by 2045. The irony was both unmistakable and irresistible. The giant…
CRT: Critical of race teaching
Willie Moore was a Black man who endured segregation and saw the school where he taught integrated after a long fight for racial equality. He loved teaching history but there was one topic he avoided: The civil rights movement. “It was just too controversial to talk about. The students came from families that had different…
State Democrats trying to make their Big Tent much bigger
Rich Miller’s article in IT’s Sept. 1 edition (Problems abound for Dems’ new BLUE Committee) basically concludes that current efforts to build a strong and inclusive Democratic State Party won’t matter much. This might be true if Democrats across the state were interested in maintaining the status quo of centralized, insular leadership and control. But…
