Cover Story
The Wedding Issue
More than 40% of engagements in the U.S. occur between Thanksgiving and Valentine’s Day, so this is the time of year many couples are starting to plan their weddings. We talked to area business owners involved in the wedding industry to find out the latest trends. An increasing number of people are looking beyond traditional…
Eliminating immigrant spending, boosting education funding top Senate Republican budget priorities
A day ahead of Gov. JB Pritzker’s annual budget address Wednesday, Senate Republicans said they want budget negotiations to include cuts to noncitizen spending while bringing in “transparent accounting.” The Governor’s Office of Management and Budget predicts the state would face a $3.2 billion deficit in fiscal year 2026 if no changes were made to revenue…
Council appoints new alderman, advances low-income housing project
The Springfield City Council meeting was short, but there was significant action: – Jeffrey G. Cox was appointed as the new alderman for Ward 1 after a swift vote. – The council approved $1.5 million in funding for the Nehemiah Expansion project, paving the way for 50 new affordable homes. – Rev. Silas Johnson and…
Second ‘50501’ protest held outside Illinois Capitol
A second protest against the Trump administration took place in front of the Illinois Capitol Monday, less than two weeks after the first such protest was held. The protest was part of the “50501 movement,” which calls for 50 protests in 50 states on one day. This is the same entity that put together a…
Madigan convicted on 10 of 23 charges
Mike Madigan knew for a very long time that the U.S. Attorney’s office and the FBI badly wanted to put his head on a spike. It was no secret. Everybody knew it. Madigan was investigated over and over again, but nothing ever came of it. “This was a guy they wanted to go after, and…
U of I soybean lab’s pending closure due to USAID cuts hinders global disease research
The impending closure of a University of Illinois soybean research lab due to federal funding cuts could impede the study of a fungal disease that experts say would decimate the crop if it makes its way into the country. The federal government has designated 63 biological agents and toxins, including Ebola virus and anthrax, as having…
Student MAP grants lower than expected
College students who receive Monetary Awards Program grants are seeing an 8% cut in their spring semester assistance after a higher-than-expected number of eligible students enrolled in classes this school year. The cuts represent a $12 to $336, or 8%, reduction compared to students’ previously estimated MAP grants, according to the Illinois Student Assistance Commission,…
Next phase of east-side housing development in jeopardy
A proposal to construct 50 more single-family homes for low-income renters may hinge on whether Springfield City Council members grant an exception to a 2023 ordinance that guarantees union involvement in the hiring and pay of workers on large projects. The proposed fifth phase of home development in the Nehemiah Expansion project would provide desperately…
Massey family to receive $10 million settlement
Sangamon County government will be spared from a lawsuit and a potentially embarrassing trial under a $10 million settlement with the family of Sonya Massey. The settlement, the largest of its kind in Sangamon County history, was reached last week, County Board member Craig Hall told Illinois Times on Feb. 6. As part of the…
No substance to Captain America, Paddington preaches kindness, the origins of Led Zeppelin
Brave: All action, little substance Narratively, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, is a paradox doomed from the start, as it simultaneously has too much story, and yet, not enough. Those who haven’t been with the MCU from the start or done a deep dive into its history are likely to be at sea with its…
Valentine’s week music
Hey, there, won’t you “be my valentine” for the time being or at least until this column is over? Now, let’s take a peek at the goings on that are going on, the happenings happening and all the whatevers we can find wherever they are and make plans to go experience them. Thursdays are at…
No eggs, no problem
Waking up to realize you forgot to close up the chicken coop is rough. I got distracted on my way out to the coop one night back in early November and inadvertently left the door open to a gang of marauding raccoons. We lost about a quarter of our flock in a flurry of feathers…
Building trades unions push for project labor agreement at packed council meeting
The Springfield City Council meeting was packed with building trades union members trying to insure that the next phase of the Nehemiah Homes Redevelopment Project is built using a project labor agreement, per a city ordinance that was put in place after Mayor Misty Buscher took office. The city is being asked to contribute $1.5…
Flowers for every season and budget
As far back as ancient civilizations, wedding flowers have been used to ward off evil spirits, symbolize fertility and encourage new beginnings. During the Victorian era, “floriography” became a popular practice in weddings, with specific flowers carrying specific meanings – for example, orange blossoms representing purity and roses symbolizing love. Nowadays, many engaged couples want…
Not just traditional diamonds
Diamonds had a monopoly on engagement rings for decades. Now, couples are considering other stones and three trends have emerged as a result. Today’s couples are prioritizing color, conscience and cost-effectiveness. Couples have a rainbow of options for stones. According to brides.com, some are choosing sapphires, opals, aquamarines or emeralds. Vogue.com cites other choices as…
Wedding cake trends
Planning a wedding is all about details. From choosing the perfect dress to deciding on a venue, dialing in details both large and small is key to creating the day of your dreams. The cake itself serves a dual function both as a visually stunning focal point of the reception and as a sweet finish…
Wedding venues
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum The ALPLM offers venues for wedding ceremonies and wedding receptions, including the three-story atrium in the library. The museum plaza, the building’s magnificent rotunda, makes a spectacular backdrop for receptions, with a replica White House and a log cabin. Couples can even be introduced from the White House. Couples…
Wedding caterers
Arena Food Service, Inc. Since 1985, Arena Food Service has provided chef-driven catering services for events of more than 25 guests. Arena catering offers a wide range of menu options and styles to fulfill the needs of your unique event. With a wide range of ancillary services such as linen and china rental, table, chair…
A high-octane night for the ISO
“His hands look like they’re possessed,” whispered a man sitting near me during the performance by piano virtuoso Aristo Sham at the Illinois Symphony Orchestra’s concert at the UIS Auditorium last Friday, Feb. 7. There was indeed something preternatural about Sham’s playing, with rapturous glissandos and indelible melodies emanating from fingers that seemed to dance…
Letter to Grandparents
Dear Grandparents D, Thank you for the beautiful music box that plays “Jeanie with the light brown hair” on it. It is pleasant to listen to it and I also enjoy looking at how it works. I also like that you give me something when it is not even my Birthday or Christmas. It is very…
Aida explores love, sacrifice and consequences of war
Aida, a musical by Elton John and Tim Rice, revolves around a Nubian princess who is captured and enslaved after her kingdom is overrun by the Egyptian army. She is brought back to Egypt, where she is “gifted” to Amneris, Pharaoh’s daughter, to serve as another one of her many handmaids. Amneris’ betrothed and Aida’s…
Lincoln’s Birthday Bash
Celebrate the 216th birthday of Abraham Lincoln, Springfield’s favorite son, with several events this weekend at the Lincoln Home National Historic Site. The fun starts at noon Saturday as rangers host a trivia game at the visitor center with questions all about the 16th president, who was born on Feb. 12, 1809. Later, at 2…
Editor’s Note
Visitors to Palestinian towns often return with a souvenir, a large iron skeleton key that resembles a ceremonial “key to the city,” except this one looks old and rusted. For Palestinians the key symbolizes the key to the homes they were forced to leave in 1948, when war created the modern state of Israel. That…
