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The entire State Journal-Register newsroom walked out today in support of now former editor Angie Muhs, who was walked out of the building this afternoon by the paper’s general manager after submitting her resignation on Friday. In an impromptu show of solidarity, the staff accompanied Muhs as she left the building for the final time. […]

A retired lobbyist for a teacher’s union deserves a state pension, earned by virtue of one day’s work as a substitute teacher, under an Illinois State Supreme Court ruling issued today. David Piccioli, a lobbyist for the Illinois Federation of Teachers from 1997 until 2012, when he retired, obtained a substitute teaching certificate in December, […]

In what seemed a foregone conclusion, Jim Langfelder was easily re-elected Tuesday to a second term as Springfield’s mayor. Meanwhile, political newcomer Shawn Gregory led by just one vote over Gail Simpson in the Ward 2 aldermanic race, with incumbent Herman Senor finishing a distant third. Gregory noted that there are provisional ballots yet to […]

 Financial records from a high school basketball tournament that once bore the name of Springfield School District 186 board member Adam Lopez are such a mess that auditors can’t determine whether money is missing. Among myriad financial issues, money from ticket sales wasn’t properly accounted for, auditors hired by the district found in a report […]

Frank Edwards today reported receiving $23,000 in contributions in Springfield’s mayoral campaign. The donations reported today put Edwards, who is challenging incumbent Jim Langfelder, far ahead in the money race, according to the latest disclosure reports filed with the Illinois State Board of Elections. This week alone, Edwards has received more than $56,500 as the […]

Inner City Older Neighborhoods, a consortium of neighborhood associations and groups in the city’s core, today endorsed candidates in municipal races, choosing incumbent Mayor Jim Langfelder over challenger Frank Edwards Other endorsements include: Treasurer: Misty Buscher City Clerk: Rianne Hawkins Ward 1 Alderman: T. Ray McJunkins Ward 2 Alderman: Gail Simpson Ward 3 Alderman: Doris […]

Get ready for commercials: Springfield mayoral hopeful Frank Edwards has received a big financial boost from organized labor and Republicans. Edwards on Saturday reported receiving more than $31,000 in three donations, including $25,380 from the Sangamon County Republican Foundation, $5,000 from the South Central Illinois Laborers Political League and $1,000 from the Sangamon County Republican […]

Joe Viola resigned last month as principal of Rochester Intermediate School after the school district substantiated allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct against him, according to district records. According to records released in response to a state Freedom of Information Act request, the Rochester School District substantiated allegations that Viola engaged in sexual harassment and […]

 Springfield Mayor Jim Langfelder has reported receiving $10,000 in contributions for his reelection campaign, with $7,500 coming from Carol Zerkle, wife of corporation counsel Jim Zerkle, and businesses owned by the city’s lawyer. Four contributions, all in $2,500 increments, were received Monday, according to records at the Illinois State Board of Elections. Besides Carol Zerkle, […]

State Journal-Register sports editor Todd Adams was laid off last Friday in what one source says was an economic move. Adams’ departure came two days after SJ-R newsroom employees, plus editorial employees at the Peoria Journal Register and Rockford Register Star, were offered buyouts. Workers have until today to sign up for buyouts. Adams joined […]

 Newsroom employees at the State Journal-Register are being offered buyouts, with the prospect of layoffs on the horizon. The buyout offer from GateHouse Media, the paper’s corporate owner, was made Wednesday, with employees told they have until Monday to volunteer to be let go. Under a newsroom collective bargaining agreement, employees who accept a buyout […]

The City of Springfield is promoting a plan to bring a 95-room hotel to Washington Street. “It is exciting,” said Mayor Jim Langfelder. “They actually had to scale back the project. They wanted to do a bigger one.” Plans include 95 hotel rooms, an indoor swimming pool, 17 apartments, retail space, a rooftop bar and […]