Cover Story
New $33 million YMCA opens Nov. 30
The new downtown YMCA opens Nov. 30 in the heart of the medical district. It will be an inviting place to work out, whether you exercise individually, participate in fitness classes or enjoy group sports. The new Y is not only a state-of-the-art fitness center, but a community asset serving youth, adults and community organizations.…
Appearances count
I’ve been accused of overdressing, and I suppose I might be guilty. After all, no one, these days, wears ties. Sneakers are considered haute cuisine or somesuch. Twenty years back, I learned the value of dressing up during an appearance in traffic court. I was charged with many things – broken rearview mirror, no seatbelt,…
Mask up
The Springfield City Council on Wednesday approved a measure allowing police to ticket people who aren’t wearing masks in retail establishments. The measure allows for $50 fines and comes as the city and Sangamon County have defied Gov. JB Pritzker, who has ordered an end to indoor dining and drinking in bars and restaurants. Under…
How did voters decide?
Like any American who cares about this country, I have a deep interest in the results of this election. But as a politician (I think one never really retires from that job), I take a professional interest, as well. Not only for policy or partisan concerns, but because I’m always interested in how people make…
Costner, Lane nearly salvage Go
I was about halfway through Thomas Bezucha’s Let Him Go when in my notes I wrote, “Let’s see how this ends…” At that point, I had many mixed feelings about the film – many things I liked, yet there were almost as many that I didn’t – and I knew that how I would ultimately…
Chicago wants to play by its own rules again
For generations now, Chicago has had its own separate set of state laws for just about every topic under the sun. The city’s mayor is allowed to appoint the school board, Chicago has its own “working cash fund” law, the state’s mayoral veto law does not apply to the city and the city has a…
curse words poem # 1
on the farm when grampa hit his thumb with a hammer he didn’t yelp, yammer he cried ouchy ouchy ouchy! it got so all on the place including us children be it splinter or worse cried ouchy ouchy ouchy this ditty will hit print after our election I cast my vote for dr fauci I…
Letters to the editor 11/5/20
We welcome letters. Please include your full name, address and telephone number. We edit all letters. Send them to letters@illinoistimes.com. —- FIRST-TIME VOTER I’m 57 and I have never voted. This year, I voted for the first time in honor of the women who 100 years ago fought to give women this right (“Century of…
Teaching emotional intelligence
Illinois was the first state to create standards for “social and emotional learning” – also called SEL – per the Children’s Mental Health Act of 2003. But in a year like 2020, its importance is crystallizing. According to the Illinois State Board of Education, SEL is the process children and adults use to gain skills…
DURBIN AT HOME FOR VICTORY
While it was less of a nail-biter race than, say, the 13th district, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin sealed a re-election victory. He defeated Republican Mark Curran and other challengers, including Chicago businessman Willie Wilson. Durbin, one the state’s most recognizable politicians, will continue with a fifth consecutive term. Durbin’s win was one the national party…
DAVIS BEATS LONDRIGAN AGAIN
Margins were much wider this time around than when Democratic challenger Betsy Dirksen Londrigan narrowly lost to incumbent U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis in the 2016 election. Londrigan, of Springfield, said in a concession statement, “Elections come and go. Representatives come and go. The job of the American citizen is constant.” Davis, of Taylorville, told supporters…
Some state and local races could be undecided for days
Although nearly 3.6 million Illinoisans had already voted by Monday, Nov. 2, according to the Illinois State Board of Elections, nearly 2.3 million ballots were still to be cast if the state is to match the 70.56 percent turnout of 2016. As of Monday, there were 586,709 mail-in ballots that Illinois voters had requested but…
When COVID is the boss
On Halloween, Sangamon County hit a record high of 123 newly confirmed COVID-19 cases in a single day. At least 67 county residents infected have died. According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, for the week of Oct. 18-24, there was a positivity rate of 8.2% for Sangamon County. If the positivity rate is…
In Illinois, Biden prevails, Democrats clobbered
Gov. JB Pritzker has fiscal gaps to fill after voters Tuesday rejected his signature graduated income tax proposal, which would have raised an estimated $3 billion or more by increasing income taxes on the wealthy while reducing or maintaining taxes on low and middle class incomes. Pritzker, who contributed $56 million to the graduated income…
Prison health care still bad
A court-appointed monitor retained to figure out what’s wrong with prison health care and how to fix it is calling for an overhaul and has asked to meet with Gov. JB Pritzker and state prison director Rob Jeffreys. The request from Dr. John Raba is in a report by the doctor recently filed in federal…
Homemade bread bowls
Frugal and full of comfort, homemade bread bowls are an ideal baking project for a blustery autumn weekend. They can be made in one day but, like many yeasted breads, these bread bowls will have the best flavor if allowed to rise slowly overnight. This recipe makes five softball-sized bowls, but can also be used…
Music in fall flux
Welcome to the first full weekend in November, and what a weekend it might or might not be. By the time this makes it into print, our tumultuous and touchy national Election Day will be passed with the results possibly in turmoil. The State of Illinois COVID-19 mitigation rules for bars and restaurants, the main…
SAA Collective moving to new location downtown
With the Hoogland Center for the Arts still closed for the foreseeable future, the SAA Collective is relocating its gallery to 105 N. Fifth St. in the historic Broadwell Pharmacy building. The Prairie Art Alliance, the precursor to the SAA Collective, was one of the first organizations to join the Hoogland Center for the Arts…
Taylor June
Originally from Galveston, Texas, before moving with her family to central Illinois at age 13, this youthful singer, songwriter and entertainer has already had a bustling career in music. Taylor began writing songs in high school and soon joined the Illinois Country Music Association, winning Songwriter of the Year for 2010, 2011 and 2012. At…
Editor’s note 11/5/20
In Sangamon County, and across the country, most woke Wednesday to the realization that about half the people voted opposite the way they themselves did. First thoughts were along the lines of, “What could they have been thinking?” Then came second thoughts that we hope they are satisfied, win or lose, that the process was…
Engaged citizenship
While the University of Illinois Springfield’s (UIS) Engaged Citizenship Common Experience (ECCE) speaker series program is part of a distinctive curriculum for undergraduate students, it is also a venue for the UIS community to engage with the larger community. The series strives to introduce the public and students to diverse perspectives and encourages open discussion…
