Cover Story
Will state workers come back to offices?
It happened in Chicago. Could it happen in Springfield? Governor JB Pritzker has taken the first steps to restructure the state’s real estate portfolio with an eye toward reducing the workplace cost for state employees. The governor announced in January that the state of Illinois will sell the James R. Thompson Center and place many…
Sangamon County releases mask statement
On July 27, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) announced it would align with new federal recommendations that people wear masks in public places, regardless of vaccination status. “CDC (U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) recommends that everyone, including fully vaccinated individuals, wear a mask in public indoor settings in areas with substantial…
specialness poem #2
my friend relates, “My uncle was coming to take me to the circus. For days I was sick with anticipation. On the afternoon I wandered into the yard to wait. It was still, nothing to do. I began to notice things around me with more clarity than I ever had before: the serrated edge of…
Letters to the editor 7/29/21
We welcome letters. Please include your full name, address and telephone number. We edit all letters. Send them to editor@illinoistimes.com. —- BAIT AND SWITCH On July 1, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers published a notice seeking public comments about the city’s request to add aquatic recreation as a “need” to justify spending $150 million…
Organized labor blocks paid leave and climate bills
This past May, Illinois House Deputy Majority Leader Jehan Gordon Booth (D-Peoria) and Gov. JB Pritzker worked out a deal with some key state business groups to mandate seven days of paid leave per year for every employee in Illinois. Workers wouldn’t have to give any reasons for the guaranteed paid leave. But organized labor,…
Asian American history is U.S. history
On July 20, at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum (ALPLM) in Springfield, Simon Tam shared his story of growing up as a Chinese American, starting the first all-Asian American dance rock band and then going to the Supreme Court over a fight about his band’s name, The Slants. “What an incredible honor to…
Tour Susan’s neighborhood on foot
Walk from the Dana-Thomas House at the corner of Fourth and Lawrence in Springfield, down to the Governor’s Mansion and around to Fifth Street. In just that short stretch, you can see four buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The education committee of the Dana-Thomas House Foundation (DTHF) has published a free…
Leekapalooza
I’m currently reading Daniel Boulud’s Letters To A Young Chef, a manual written to help neophyte chefs understand what it takes to succeed in this tough profession. Daniel Boulud is one of the world’s most celebrated chefs and restaurateurs. The book was recommended to me by Boulud’s protégé, Gavin Kaysen, who is currently my boss.…
Downhome and more
Welcome to our little neck of the woods, or should we say piece of the prairie, to include another prominent ecosystem formerly found in central Illinois. This week we continue to march forward with more and more live music available for your listening pleasure. So sit back and read, then get up and go, to…
Over 50 participating employers
The Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce’s biannual job fair offers a great opportunity for job seekers to market themselves and be recognized by some of the area’s best employers. Over 50 businesses and organizations have signed up to participate at Tuesday’s fair and the industries represented include retail, agriculture, education, media, manufacturing and health care.…
M. Night Shyamalan delivers, Damon soars in Stillwater, take a Jungle Cruise
Clever Old delivers The curse of M. Night Shyamalan’s career is that his second film was an instant classic. Fair or not, all the filmmaker’s subsequent movies have been compared to The Sixth Sense, a highwater mark he’ll likely never top. Still, that’s not to say his other films don’t have merit, and his latest,…
Stoneman Sprint Triathlon, Abe’s Olympic and Route 66 Half Tri
If you have been training and are up for a triathlon, Tri Harder Promotions has several challenging opportunities taking place on Saturday. With staggered start times, they have been able to fit three races into the day. The day will begin with the mother of all the races, the Route 66 Half Tri, a 1.2-mile…
Live Music 07-29-21
Thursday Jul 29 Brandon Santini, Curve Inn, 6-9pm Karaoke with Debbie Cakes, Curve Inn, 7-11pm Jeff Young and the Bad Grandpas, Koo Koo’s Nest, 8:30-11:30pm J.C.B. Entertainment Karaoke, La Fiesta Chatham, 7-11pm Open mic with Jim Ackerman, Wings Etc, 6-9pm Friday Jul 30 Dave Lumsden, Anchors Away, 8-10pm For the Love of Lennon, The Blue…
Editor’s note 7/29/21
For once the city of Springfield and Sangamon County have plenty of new money. The city will have $33.8 million and the county $37.8 million in federal pandemic-relief funds with few restrictions on spending. As Sangamon County administrator Brian McFadden and Springfield budget director Bill McCarty told the Citizens Club July 23, spending guidelines for…
Constructive learning
In 2020, Black people made up 13.4% of the overall U.S. population, but only accounted for 8% of those considered construction laborers, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Only 3% of construction managers were Black, according to the same data. A program in Springfield aims to diversify the field and the city is…
Springfield’s DAR chapter celebrates 126th anniversary
On Saturday, July 17, over 100 women attended an afternoon tea to celebrate an important milestone for the Springfield chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) – its 126th anniversary. COVID delayed the plans for the 125th anniversary. The Springfield chapter has 119 members, continues to grow and supports many worthy causes. It…
Stay Sexy & Don’t Get Murdered
Looking for a good book to read? Something other than a best seller? Springfield’s Lincoln Library is here to help. A group of reference librarians contribute to writing a book review blog with 200-word reviews. Their goal is to share the joy of reading and help people find new things to read that they might…
City surveys residents to determine internet needs
“We have a pretty big digital divide between the Black and white population,” says Tom Chi, chief innovation officer for the city of Springfield. This is one of the drivers behind the city’s recent internet survey. Partnering with University of Illinois Springfield, the survey gathers input from Springfield residents about the current speed, quality and…
