Cover Story
Supremes: Changing of the guard
On July 7, Justice Rita Garman retired from the Illinois Supreme Court and Justice Lisa Holder White was sworn in to replace her. Garman, 78, was the longest serving judge in Illinois, having served 48 years, including 21 on the Illinois Supreme Court. Garman says she has “had an amazing career and lived the impossible…
Wyndham’s future up in the air
It is uncertain whether or how long the downtown Wyndham City Centre will remain a hotel after the Springfield City Council rejected a proposed zoning variance July 19 to convert most of the 30-story building’s 400-plus hotel rooms into market-rate apartments. The building’s current owner, Al Rajabi of San Antonio, Texas, and David Mitchell, spokesman…
Misty Buscher to run for mayor
City Treasurer Misty Buscher plans to challenge Springfield Mayor Jim Langfelder in his quest for a third four-year term. Buscher, 51, who is completing her second term as elected treasurer for city government, made her mayoral campaign public Friday night in front of her supporters at Boondocks Pub. “My leadership skills, I think, are needed…
Autograph book
came on a reprint of old autographs from booklets kids used to write in before the electronic age, many are sappy “yours ’til the kitchen sinks,” “yours ’til the bed spreads,” one is sort of funny, “yours ’til they feed the corn on your toes to the calves of your legs,” one speaks to me…
Letters to the editor 7/14/22
We welcome letters. Please include your full name, address and telephone number. We edit all letters. Send them to editor@illinoistimes.com. —- A DIFFERENT APPROACH Most of the conversations about helping people get off Springfield’s streets over the past two decades have revolved around emergency shelter and day services. While these are necessary resources for unhoused…
Some races benefitted from a Trump bump
Ogden and Fry conducted a poll in the days leading up to former President Donald Trump’s visit to the Quincy area for a US Rep. Mary Miller endorsement in late June. The poll of Republicans in the Downstate 15th Congressional District taken June 22-24 (Trump’s visit was the 25th) found Miller leading fellow US Rep.…
Putin is not the chess master we thought he was
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s penchant for military adventurism abroad has gained him celebrity status, thanks in part to his asymmetrical methods. His geopolitical resumé contains a number of marginal successes, including the 2008 invasion and de facto annexation of portions of Georgia, the propping up of fellow strongman Bashar al-Assad in the Syrian civil war…
How the Illinois Supreme Court works
The judiciary is the third branch of government, but in the capital city citizens typically hear more about the actions of the executive and legislative branches of state government. The judicial branch has significant responsibilities which extend far beyond hearing cases and writing opinions. The Illinois Supreme Court licenses and oversees attorneys, handles disciplinary cases…
Editors note 7/14/22
In the wake of the Highland Park mass shooting, Illinois, with a reputation for having tough gun laws, has joined the rest of the nation in looking for answers. Darren Bailey, Republican candidate for governor, quickly called a press conference to say Illinois already has a red flag law, but in the case of the…
Supportive housing project to break ground
Construction is expected to begin in August on 22 west-side apartment units for previously homeless people after the Springfield City Council voted to support the project with $800,000 in federal grant funds. Advocates for the homeless said they were grateful that the council voted in favor of the federal funding for Park Avenue Residences at…
The magnificent building
Illinois has a magnificent Supreme Court building, which was dedicated in 1908. Architect W. Carbys Zimmerman modeled the building after the U.S. Treasury Building in Washington, D.C., and the Pantheon in Rome. Two large sculptures by Charles J. Mulligan flank the front entrance to the building. One is titled Justice and Power and the other…
Mrs. Harris is charming, but Marcel the Shell tries too hard; Black Bird a slow-burn drama
Mrs. Harris exudes charm Based on his novel Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris, author Paul Gallico must have believed in the power of karma. It’s certainly at play in this charming adaptation that tells the story of the titular English widow, a cleaning woman in the 1950s who longs to own a dress from the…
Crisis intervention expands
A 59-year-old Springfield woman described her life as “pure hell” before a community outreach worker from Memorial Behavioral Health helped her 40-year-old son get medication and counseling for his bipolar and schizoaffective disorders. “Ever since then, everything has been much better,” said the woman, who operates a nail salon and asked to be identified only…
Set a family goal this summer
As we approach the halfway mark for the calendar year, some of us may be thinking back to the resolutions that we committed to in January and feeling, well… disappointed. If this sounds like you, you aren’t alone. A study conducted by researchers at the University of Scranton revealed that 23% of New Year’s resolution-makers…
Stop the presses!
Continuing the theme of fighting for what’s right and dipping into our nation’s history for lessons learned, the Springfield Muni Opera presents its the third show of the season, Disney’s Newsies, a story based on the 1899 newsboys’ strike which forced a change in the way newspaper hawkers (many of them orphaned children) were compensated.…
Summer boredom busters
I cannot believe I am saying this, but the lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer are almost upon us. And for those of us home with children of all ages, “hazy” seems an apt descriptor for these long, strange, busy-but-not-always-productive summer days. Despite our best attempts at keeping our families busy with camps, vacations, sports…
Fritter away
Fritters are what you call a back-pocket recipe. The same technique can be employed to turn small amounts of practically anything into a satisfying and delectable treat. It’s a wonderful way to take advantage of the overwhelming variety of produce that is locally available and is a handy way to use up leftovers and minimize…
Sweet summer treats
If the ice cream truck never seems to come down your street, look no further. These lighthearted frozen sweets require no cooking or special equipment, making them perfect for whipping up with your littles on a hot summer day. No-churn ice cream relies on light whipped cream to keep the texture light. Make it your…
Mid-July music muster
Here we come a-wandering into the 2022 full-fledged summertime with an assortment of music happenings from an assortment of venues and artists. From music theater to open mics, sweet corn tunes to canine rescue singing, beer garden blasts to family fun concerts, we are in the glory days of live music in mid-July. Let’s see…
Books to help recognize Asian American history month
May is Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) month, which means it is a time to celebrate the achievements, contributions and influence of Asian Americans to American culture. To that end, one way to help increase awareness of and celebrate this month in your own household is to share books with your children that feature Asian…
Active Alex is turning 4 years old
This weekend, Kidzeum of Health and Science is celebrating its fourth anniversary with free admission and lots of special activities and crafts all day on Saturday, July 16. Check out the live science experiments being performed by the Kidzeum staff. Also, artists from Garvey Tubman Cultural Arts and Research Center will help you create your…
Kidzeum kids plant milkweed
Kids in 2nd-5th grades had fun planting 100 milkweed plants at Southwind Park and learning about monarch butterflies through games and hands-on activities during the Kidzeum’s pollinator summer camp. Kidzeum is partnering with District 186 to present summer day camps that focus on STEM/STEAM literacy and social-emotional learning through exploration and play. Kidzeum executive director…
FOID, red flags and restraining orders: How state laws regulate firearm purchases
A mass shooting in Highland Park at a Fourth of July parade prompted questions about how the suspect was able to obtain a gun in a state with some of the strictest gun laws in the nation. Law enforcement officials have said that the Highland Park shooting suspect, Robert Crimo III, 21, legally purchased and…
