Springfield school board member Adam Lopez is under criminal investigation. “We have a report concerning Mr. Lopez, but we are not able to comment on it at this time,” said Lt. Brian Oakes of the Springfield Police Department. “It’s an open investigation.” Oakes declined to state the nature of the investigation into Lopez, who has […]
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Schmidt interested in state’s attorney post
Sangamon County state’s attorney John Milhiser has been nominated to become U.S. attorney in Springfield. Meanwhile, Robin Schmidt, widow of the late John Schmidt, who had just been appointed a state appellate court judge when he died unexpectedly in December, confirms that she’s interested in becoming the county’s top prosecutor. The county Republican Party would […]
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A waiting game
Earl Eugene Little, 33, was found dead on July 6. Nearly two weeks after her younger brother was found dead in his cell at Pinckneyville Correctional Center, Dana Caley wants answers. So far, Caley says, the only information she and other relatives have been given by the Illinois Department of Corrections is that Earl Eugene […]
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Marshalls coming to Springfield
Marshalls, the nationwide chain of discount department stores, is coming to Springfield. The store will be built at Sherwood Plaza near the intersection of Wabash Avenue and Veterans Parkway, said Ward 7 Joe McMenamin, whose ward includes the site. The store will be next to Burlington, which moved from the Town and Country shopping center […]
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City plan calls for $6 million in TIF money for new YMCA
Nearly $6 million in public money would be used to build a new downtown YMCA under an ordinance scheduled to be introduced tomorrow at the Springfield City Council. The money would come from two tax increment financing funds, one set up to benefit downtown, the other for Enos Park. Val Yazell, city economic development director, […]
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Report: Guards abusing mentally ill in state prisons
There is credible evidence of guards physically abusing mentally ill inmates at Pontiac Correctional Center, according to a psychiatrist appointed by a federal court to monitor treatment of mentally ill prisoners by the Illinois Department of Corrections. Dr. Pablo Stewart found “persistent evidence of physical abuse” at Pontiac, according to a report by the psychiatrist filed […]
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Springfield fire battalion chief arrested
Sherman police on Monday arrested a battalion chief with the Springfield Fire Department after he reportedly hurled obscenities at officers. Chad Bates, 44, spent the night at the Sangamon County jail after he was arrested at his home in Sherman and booked on a felony charge of intimidation and a misdemeanor count of obstructing […]
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Springfield fire battalion chief arrested
Sherman police on Monday arrested a battalion chief employed by the Springfield Fire Department after he reportedly hurled obscenities at officers. Chad Bates, 44, spent the night at the Sangamon County jail after he was arrested at his home in Sherman and booked on a felony charge of intimidation and a misdemeanor count of obstructing […]
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Guilty as charged
It was a senseless murder, committed not for money or love or drugs or even because of bad driving. And Johnny Ray Priester, convicted of first-degree murder, may spend the rest of his life in prison. After 34 continuances, eight days of trial and more than seven hours of deliberations, a Sangamon County jury late […]
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Robin Schmidt hired as prosecutor
Robin Schmidt, a member of the Springfield Park Board and widow of the late John Schmidt, will start work next Monday as a prosecutor in the Sangamon County state’s attorney’s office. Robin Schmidt Schmidt will be an assistant state’s attorney and will be handling felony cases, said state’s attorney John Milhiser. Schmidt previously worked for […]
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Springfield fire chief set to retire
Springfield fire chief Barry Helmerichs will retire effective next month. Helmerichs declined comment, but Mayor Jim Langfelder confirmed that the chief, who joined the fire department in 1991 as a firefighter, will retire in April. “He just felt the time was right,” Langfelder said. “He left the department in a better spot than he found […]
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YMCA,Memorial plan new gym
This story has been updated to include comments from YMCA. The Springfield YMCA is in discussions with Memorial Medical Center to build a new downtown facility that would be closer to the hospital than the current location on the 700 block of South Fourth Street. Negotiations are preliminary. Under the plan, Memorial would supply land […]
