Cover Story
Young offenders in Illinois still serving life sentences
Cleodious “J.R.” Schoffner Jr. sits in a visitor’s room at Lawrence Correctional Center, a small, cinderblock box with a guard posted outside the heavy metal door. His lanky, 6-foot frame is swallowed by baggy prison blues, and a faded lotus flower tattoo – inked by a fellow inmate – peeks from his shirt. Schoffner entered…
Reinvesting in downtown Springfield
“It’s in transition.” That description of the city’s central business district was often repeated during the first of a series of public meetings held by Downtown Springfield, Inc. The downtown’s current challenges are well-known: the departure of state office jobs, a devastating fire last June, vacant business fronts and the recent closure of the Wyndham…
Illinois nursing homes seek Medicaid rate hike
Nursing home industry officials are urging Illinois lawmakers to increase the rates they receive from the state’s Medicaid system, arguing the current rates are outdated and are forcing many facilities around the state out of business. “We’ve expressed our concerns that closures will happen. We’ve been saying that for years, and it’s actually happening now,…
Sean Grayson’s trial moved to Peoria
The trial of the former Sangamon County sheriff’s deputy accused of murdering Sonya Massey in July 2024 will take place in Peoria County with jurors who live there, Circuit Court Judge Ryan Cadagin decided April 8. The judge ruled in favor of a motion filed by attorneys for Riverton resident Sean Grayson, 30, to move…
The Amateur a stimulating spy thriller, Warfare an immersive experience, Drop ill-conceived
The Amateur: A spy in nerd’s clothing For the most part, James Hawes’ The Amateur eschews action set pieces, taking a more cerebral approach in this globe-trotting adventure that sees a tech analyst best the James Bond-types again and again. Combining the fish-out-of-water trope with a standard revenge thriller, the result is a film that…
Celebrating educators and health insurance changes
Springfield District 186 Board of Education meeting was packed with updates and heartfelt community moments. – Students, don’t miss the chance to apply for next year’s student board representative role. The deadline is extended. – Superintendent Gill celebrated school plays and recognized outstanding educators, including teachers and administrators of the year. – Exciting events are…
The power of memory and healing
Due to its inherent nature, there’s always a bit of a remove between the viewer and what they see on the screen. Since the invention of cinema, filmmakers have been attempting to bridge the gap between fiction and reality, trying to make the movie-going experience as immersive as possible. Gimmicks such as 3-D and Sensurround,…
Celebrating student excellence at the UIS STARS Symposium
The 2025 Student Technology, Arts and Research Symposium (STARS) at the University of Illinois Springfield will take place April 10 and 11. This annual event will showcase the exceptional talents and scholarly achievements of our undergraduate and graduate students. It provides a dynamic platform for students from all academic disciplines to present their research and…
Telling the story of the deliverance from Egypt
This coming Saturday evening, Jews around the world will gather in their homes or at synagogues and other communal venues along with family members, guests and fellow congregants to celebrate the seder, the ceremony that inaugurates the weeklong Passover holiday commemorating the Israelites’ Exodus from Egypt and their liberation from bondage. The seder is at…
Democrats see success in local elections
You’ve probably read about the Republican Party implosion last week in suburban municipal and township campaigns, particularly in DuPage County. It’s important to remember that these consolidated elections are not always a reliable indication of the future. They’re very low turnout, and in years like this – when the election was held during a hugely…
Juvenile Detention Center reopens
The Sangamon County Board in 2024 spent more than $362,000 on security upgrades for the county’s Juvenile Detention Center, including $132,500 for an X-ray body scanner similar to what is used in airports. The improvements are hoped to make the center, in the 2200 block of South Dirksen Parkway in Springfield, safer for staff and…
Catholics want a choice
A new Illinois law prohibits discrimination against individuals based on their position on abortion, but Catholic Bishop Thomas Paprocki of Springfield is challenging its constitutionality. “States can’t force religious groups to violate their faith by affirming and accepting employees who violate their religious beliefs,” said Paprocki, who has made a name for himself as one…
Springfield airport waiting on payment from state
Imagine being owed $1 million and going years without collecting. Emails are sent, with no response. Phone calls aren’t returned. Knocking on the door doesn’t do any good because no one seems to ever be in the office. As a last resort, a note demanding payment is slipped under the deadbeat’s door. But still, no…
American lynching
Exploring the history of American lynching from Chicago to New Orleans, the Citizens Club of Springfield recently presented an account of racism and murder spanning the country, including the 1908 Race Riot in Springfield. In the United States, racism has evolved and changed with time, yet the same actions, attitudes and views are still present…
Illinois governor moves to slash cover crop funds despite rising demand
When Steve Stierwalt studied agriculture at the University of Illinois in the 1970s, soil health wasn’t commonly taught or discussed. Faculty often told their young farming students to put all their faith in commercial fertilizers. But over his 40 years as a corn and soybean farmer in Champaign County, Stierwalt said soil erosion, which can…
More than a statistic
I met Donny Treadwell in August of 2024 while looking for people to interview about living on the streets in Springfield. We spoke several times, and on four of those occasions I was able to interview him at length. After trying to connect with him again, I learned he froze to death while living outside…
Editors note 4/3/25
Interesting to hear President Donald Trump scheming for a third term, despite the Constitution. One of the ideas is for whoever is elected in 2028 to voluntarily step aside and turn the reins over to him. Sort of like the arrangement he has with Elon Musk. The problem with that scenario is that even unelected…
Skylark
In England “ert” is pronounced “art” so I lived in “Barkshire” I lay on my back on a sunny hill listening to a skylark. Our eighth-grade teacher had us memorize Shelley’s Skylark poem, the first verse, not because she knew about “art” but because the last line contains a six syllable word, “unpremeditated,” remarkable by…
Letters to the editor 4/3/25
We welcome letters. Please include your full name, address and telephone number. We edit all letters. Send them to editor@illinoistimes.com. — SAME TREATMENT I read with interest the Guestwork article written by attorney John Banks-Brooks (“Reading while Black,” March 20). I immediately understood Mr. Banks-Brooks’ position because as a lifetime resident of Springfield and local…
Springfield council faces citizen complaints; requests Wyndham hotel damage update
Public comments grabbed most of the Springfield City Council meeting this week. – The council celebrated the Lincoln Magnet Ball Charter 7th grade boys basketball team for their historic 4A state championship win. – Updates on the Wyndham Hotel damages that temporarily halted overnight stays, but the city is working hard to relocate conventions and…
Shrimp and grits
In the American South, there’s an old saying: “We go together like shrimp and grits.” Shrimp and grits is a classic Southern dish now found on many menus across the U.S. Its origins are rooted in the Gullah Geechee culture of the coastal Carolinas. The Gullah are descendants of enslaved Africans. Shrimp and grits was…
April music awaits
Yeppers, it is officially April of 2025 and we’re right in the thick of the first weekend with plenty of live music to muster us up and out into the wonderful world of the Springfield music community. Let’s take a gander at what’s a-going on. Thursday is where we like to start our week and…
Arthur Miller’s classic 1949 play hits the stage for one weekend only
In 1949, Death of a Salesman won the Pulitzer Prize for drama and a Tony Award for best play. This weekend, the Spencer Theatre Company brings the classic tale to Springfield. Directed by John Sivak, Death of a Salesman stars Jim Leach as traveling salesman William “Willy” Loman. The play is set in the last…
