Cover Story
The making of a respectable lobbyist
Randy Witter has learned a thing or two during his 48 years of lobbying work at the Illinois State Capitol. “I learned early on that if you treat everyone the same way, whether it’s the governor or the janitor, with the same respect, you’re going to get further ahead,” said the 72-year-old Witter. “You don’t…
Former Benedictine campus slated for redevelopment
Tony and Ann Libri are in the process of purchasing the entire property which is home to the former Benedictine University. The 25-acre campus located at 1500 N. Fifth St. is comprised of 11 buildings that include the King’s Daughters Home and both the original and new buildings that housed Ursuline Academy, the college prep…
Serious allegations
Days after a man was arrested by Illinois State Police on charges of sexually abusing their 14-year-old daughter, her parents allege Springfield officers shielded the man because his mother is a detective with the police department. Illinois State Police arrested Zane Merreighn, the 22-year-old son of Detective Jennifer Oglesby, on three counts of aggravated sexual…
In surprising twist, Republicans support employer lawsuits
The current topsy-turvy political landscape was on full display in the Illinois House and the Senate last week as the chamber debated and passed a bill to slightly narrow the scope of the Illinois Health Care Right of Conscience Act. A bedrock Republican Party principle over the years has been to help shield employers from…
Letters to the editor 11-94-21
THANK A NURSE This is a beautiful article (“A nurse’s please: Help us fight this war,” Oct. 21). Thanks to Carly Hinkle for sharing her story, and more importantly, thanks for all she has done to fight COVID. The body bag comments brought me to tears. I hope by baring her soul, she inspires more…
An arts trifecta for Springfield
For those committed to the cultural life of the capital city, there’s a rare opportunity Friday, Nov. 5. It’s a big win: a trifecta for the arts. It’s the trial run of a gorgeous new performance venue in Springfield and a sneak preview of a unique Illinois Symphony concert. And it’s a chance to celebrate…
Pork, Len and jazz
Well, here we are rolling our way into November of 2021 heading toward the upcoming holiday season. Yeah, I said it. The last of the outdoor shows are likely done for the year, barring a ridiculous heat wave which could happen, so we’re now settling into our indoor music accommodations. Just in time for an…
With cooler days, it’s time to braise
When you live in a school bus, without the amenities of central heat or AC, you become closely aligned with the changes of the seasons. When days are long and the weather is hot, I try to keep the heat out of the bus kitchen and plan my meals around what I can cook outdoors.…
Open for the winter
As of Nov. 1, an overflow center for the homeless is once again open at 221 N. 11th St. throughout the winter. The facility is part of a broader plan by the Heartland Continuum of Care to address homelessness in Springfield, and has become emblematic of the city’s struggles with the issue as a tent…
High schoolers go global
Global issues affect people in Sangamon County, but there is not enough awareness, says Barbara Lestikow of the World Affairs Council of Central Illinois (WACCI). This organization hosts nationally recognized experts to help educate local residents about U.S. foreign policy, global economic and environmental issues and international politics. Lestikow, a retired educator, is the driving…
Building an ice rink, forging community
Ice skating on the lawn of the Old State Capitol sounds like a lot of fun. As much as we would like to think the concept is new, there is a historical note that gives us a glimpse of a cold day more than 155 years ago, when a group of local children first hatched…
217 Italian Food Week
#outlook a { padding:0; } .ReadMsgBody { width:100%; } .ExternalClass { width:100%; } .ExternalClass * { line-height:100%; } body { margin:0;padding:0;-webkit-text-size-adjust:100%;-ms-text-size-adjust:100%; } table, td { border-collapse:collapse;mso-table-lspace:0pt;mso-table-rspace:0pt; } img { border:0;height:auto;line-height:100%; outline:none;text-decoration:none;-ms-interpolation-mode:bicubic; } p { display:block;margin:13px 0; } .preheaderHidden p { mso-hide:all; } a { color: #a16b64; } u + .body a { color: #a16b64; }…
Marvel misses the mark with Eternals, Hanks has charm in Finch, Fall falls short
Bloated, meandering Eternals a major misfire The first genuinely bad film from Marvel Films, Chloe Zhao’s Eternals is a colossal bore, a bloated, meandering super-hero odyssey that’s intended to serve as the foundation for the studio’s next extended epic. Based on the Jack Kirby comic book, the title characters are 10 god-like creatures charged with…
Puppy love
“He’s half Labrador retriever and half German shepherd,” the volunteer said as she handed me the wiggling puppy. I looked into the mutt’s shiny eyes and just shrugged. A few months ago, my wife, a veterinarian, went into work on her day off to spay and neuter dogs from a local animal rescue. Since I…
Springfield’s Route 66 Film Festival rolls on
When the Route 66 International Mother Road Festival began back in 2002, some local folks surmised that perhaps a film festival connected to the street festival celebrating the famous highway would be a good idea. Now some 20 years later, the Route 66 Film Festival continues on after forging a path completely separate from the…
