Cover Story
Sweeping crime law in the spotlight
Derrick Davis would like to thank the state lawmakers who passed a comprehensive crime bill in 2021 – and tweaked the law three times since then, most recently this month – that on Jan. 1 will make Illinois the first state to completely eliminate cash bail. “Thank you for giving us a chance to get…
Law enforcement officials push for ban on high-power, high-capacity weapons
Some of the state’s leading law enforcement officials on Tuesday, Dec. 20, urged lawmakers to pass a statewide ban on high-power, high-capacity weapons, which they say are growing in prevalence in Illinois. “What the public asks members of the law enforcement community to do each and every day is stunning, knowing full well that the…
The best bubbly
There are few things I enjoy more than a good glass of bubbly. Champagne, while not the birthplace of sparkling wine, is considered to be the benchmark for top-quality bubbles. The region of France itself is quite small, measuring just under 135 square miles, and only wines grown and produced within its borders are allowed…
Editors note 12/22/22
“On earth, peace” was the hope of the angels, but practical peacemakers must get the snowball started. Two efforts are noteworthy. Dr. Robert W. Smith, dean of the College of Public Affairs and Education at University of Illinois Springfield, has called for a National Conference on Restoring Civility in American Politics. He suggests the home…
Christmas weekend music
Well, with the upcoming frightful weather and how this year Christmas falls on Sunday, therefore putting the naturally occurring Eve on Saturday night, our music forecast for this holiday weekend is slow to middling. Then again, if the pickings are slim, those events that are happening will likely be bustling, since it seems that nothing…
Predatory lending or practical solution?
For decades, Edwin Pierce’s Springfield business has flourished by helping cash-strapped people borrow money, but he fears he will soon be shutting down if legislation before the Illinois General Assembly passes. The legislation would cap interest rates that pawn shops can charge at a 36% annual percentage rate. “Pawnbrokers are not shy about exploiting a…
A celebration of the arts
First Night Springfield is on again this year and the Springfield Area Arts Council has planned a celebratory evening with some great partners that have been working to make this night memorable. Hoogland Center for the Arts will start the party by hosting free children’s activities and crafts, such as designing bead bracelets and creating…
Pandemic took a big toll on education
This article references the report, The State We’re In 2022: A Look at the Impact of COVID-19 on Education in Illinois, produced by Advance Illinois, a bipartisan education policy and advocacy organization. For more on the report, go to advanceillinois.org. ———————————————— “The Covid-19 pandemic, unprecedented in scale and impact, has disrupted every possible facet of education in Illinois,”…
Making Springfield a research hub
“A lot of my background for this is very personal,” says Dr. Daniel Fox of his interest in clinical research. “I lost my daughter to a rare disease, and I’m a scientist. I know how things should be happening. I work to develop drugs, write patents, manufacture and ship to clinical research sites. I did…
“A Hanukkah miracle”
Rabbi Mendy Turen is calling it a Hanukkah miracle. Chabad Jewish Center of Springfield has purchased a building at 1045 Outer Park Dr. to be its new home. The edifice commonly known as the Red Cross building, since the main floor used to house the Springfield chapter of the American Red Cross, is undergoing renovations…
Christmas Poem
Christmas is coming, The goose is getting fat Please put a penny in The old man’s hat If you haven’t got a penny A ha’penny will do If you haven’t got a ha’penny Then, God bless you! (nursery rhyme) And, “God bless you, every one!” – Tiny Tim 2022 Jacqueline Jackson
Letters to the editor 12/22/22
We welcome letters. Please include your full name, address and telephone number. We edit all letters. Send them to editor@illinoistimes.com. —- GET IT TOGETHER I wish this city could get its act together. Of course, when only 1% of Springfield residents actually support the downtown area, this is what happens (“Work resumes on historic Ferguson…
Reflecting on changes to the SAFE-T Act
Illinois House Deputy Majority Leader Jehan Gordon-Booth, D-Peoria, headed up her chamber’s efforts to amend the controversial SAFE-T Act this year. The day before the bill came up for a vote, I asked her what were, in her opinion, the largest misconceptions about the 2021 social justice reform law. Gordon-Booth pointed to the trespassing issue.…
A collective problem
When I read the Christmas story, I always wonder: How was it that Mary came to give birth in a barn? The Gospels say simply: “There was no room in the inn.” But could it be that the real reason was there wasn’t enough room in people’s hearts? Ever since I was a boy participating…
Do better sidewalks make a better downtown?
Gov. JB Pritzker recently announced the recipients of grants for the Rebuild Illinois Downtowns and Main Street Capital Program. More than $106 million in grants will fund 45 projects across the state. The original program announcement in 2021 allocated $50 million. The subsequent allocation of $106 million shows the generous spending available to states because…
Puss in Boots has mass appeal, Glass Onion great satire, but new Avatar disappoints
Charm and humor make for a delightful Wish Anchored by a joyous voice performance from Antonio Banderas, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish proves to be the rare, animated feature that will appeal to anyone ages 5-95. Brimming with imagination and wit, its premise is a bit of genius, played to optimum effect. The swashbuckling…
The pandemic brought a new era of emergency housing. Now it faces a fiscal cliff.
For Illinois’ homeless populations and those that serve them, the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated a crisis – the volunteer, mostly faith-based shelters that had long been the backbone of the state’s emergency housing system were closing their doors. But with the crisis – and a sudden influx of temporary federal, state and philanthropic funding – came…
A first novel with ties to Springfield
Ralls Melotte is known for his work in art glass and architecture. A registered architect for over 50 years, he was a partner in the Springfield architectural firm Melotte, Morse, Leonatti, Parker, Ltd. In 2019 he retired, moved to Wisconsin, and has now added to his repertoire by writing his first novel, Cat’s Café, the…
