Cover Story
Transgender turmoil
The two transgender women at the center of a nationwide controversy involving the Springfield YMCA say they would never act inappropriately in locker rooms. And they don’t want to be forced to use changing areas separate from other women – a practice that YMCA officials said would violate state law. “I am a woman,” Candice…
Show me the money
Illinois Republicans have been saying ever since a state budget deal was announced by the majority Democrats that not enough money was appropriated for Fiscal Year 2024 to pay for the new AFSCME Council 31 employee union contract. Some have even predicted that the contract plus other spending pressures, including health care for undocumented immigrants,…
Letters to the editor 07-27-23
CALM DOWN Concerning the recent contretemps at the local YMCA: the Wheelers first need to calm down and stop exploiting this situation for the instant celebrity status it brings them (“Firestorm of fear,” July 20). I can imagine how shocking it was for Abbigail to see what seemed to be a man in a safe…
Oppenheimer is compelling, Barbie has an identify problem, Beanie Bubble is engaging
Nolan goes for broke in compelling Oppenheimer It should come as no surprise that when faced with telling the complex story of J. Robert Oppenheimer, that writer/director Christopher Nolan would take a radical approach. Using dueling flashbacks from the memories of Oppenheimer (Cillian Murphy) as well as those of Lewis Strauss (Robert Downey Jr.), two…
UIS makes it easier for transfer students to complete their bachelor’s degrees
Transfer students are an important part of the University of Illinois Springfield, making up 60% of our undergraduate population. UIS is making it easier for community college transfer students to complete their bachelor’s degree and become a member of a learning community at UIS through a variety of new initiatives, including participating in a national…
How to curb teen vaping
How to curb teen vaping GUESTWORK | David Palmer The pervasiveness of teen vaping is bringing together policymakers at both the state and federal levels to address a growing problem. On the national level, flavored vaping products are illegal, and Illinois lawmakers are considering a ban on using e-cigarettes and vapes inside public places “in…
Too many greens
“Greens! Greens, and nothing but greens!” This line from the Witch’s entrance in the first act of Sondheim’s Into the Woods often runs through my mind on repeat as I attempt to wrangle my unruly midsummer garden. I truly love my botanical refuge and the nourishment it provides, but, honestly, keeping up with the deluge…
Downhome music makers
The next fella who asks, “Is it hot enough for you?” should get sent straight to Arizona or Texas. That mythical place referenced in certain religions could also be a suitable destination. But seriously, folks, it is supposed to be scorching by the time this comes out, so be careful, stay “hello-drated” and get out…
Cataloging complaints
Former Springfield mayor Jim Langfelder and current Mayor Misty Buscher disregarded more than 100 years of precedent when they bypassed Lincoln Library’s board of trustees for advice in the hiring and firing of the past two library directors. That’s according to a statement from the board, an unpaid, advisory panel appointed by the mayor. A board…
Cash bail will end in September
A landmark criminal justice reform that eliminates cash bail in Illinois is constitutional, the state’s Supreme Court ruled July 18, paving the way for the change to take effect Sept. 18. The 5-2 decision – handed down on partisan lines – means that an individual’s wealth will no longer play a role in whether they…
ALPLM unveils new outdoor sculpture
The “Beacon of Endurance” is a new 25-foot-tall outdoor sculpture at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum (ALPLM), located on the northwest corner of Jefferson and Seventh streets. The obelisk, which is lit for several hours at night, features words and quotations that embody the legacy of Abraham Lincoln. Equality, courage, freedom, emancipation, vigilance,…
Summer Weather
Summer Weather We left a town having just had its worst weather in 50 years, power out all over Then we shortly headed to our Vermont cottage to find that more rain had fallen in the last 24 hours than the average of an entire year – we had to weigh down our underwater dock…
