There is no shortage of things to do in central Illinois this fall. Many of the fall festivals and regular events are returning, and we’ve included a roundup of theater and live music happenings. Traditional activities such as apple orchards and enjoying the outdoors are more popular than ever, but we’ve also highlighted some new […]
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Back to school
It’s the first school year since the pandemic began that all students are to be in classrooms full time. Schools have planned ways to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 and its potentially more contagious variants, as the delta version is proving to be. As of Aug. 18 the community transmission level was high in nearly […]
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Fair fanfare
The Illinois State Fair is back this year with the theme of One Illinois, designed to emphasize a need for unity during the pandemic’s challenges. Krista Lisser, Illinois Department of Agriculture’s public information officer, said that the fair’s organizers expect a similar attendance to previous years, despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. An estimated 509,000 people […]
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Running against racism
The age of 33 is widely known as the Jesus year. It’s the age Jesus is considered to have ascended from his earthly body after crucifixion. As many have noted since, it’s also the age in which some adults start to get serious about their life’s purpose. Nattalyee Randall, who turned 33 in November of […]
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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 […]
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Sky’s the limit
After a six-year term as the executive director for Downtown Springfield Inc. (DSI) Lisa Clemmons Stott is setting her sights on new ways to help Springfield grow. “I was always interested in relationships and therefore politics,” Clemmons Stott told Illinois Times. She graduated from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1994 with a journalism degree. […]
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The Legacy Theatre’s The Music Man
Unabashedly nostalgic to the point of corniness yet at the same time emotionally complex, Meredith Willson‘s The Music Man is a masterpiece. This wonderful new production at The Legacy Theatre (through Aug. 1) will sweep you away. It is exactly what we need right now, a rebirth of community through theater. Director Scott Richardson and […]
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Reducing harm, saving lives
This year marks the 50th anniversary since President Richard Nixon declared the War on Drugs. The U.S. continues to reckon with the failed “tough-on-crime” policies that have led to harsh treatment, over-sentencing and the disproportionate incarceration of people of color. Meanwhile, service providers in central Illinois say the best way to keep people struggling with […]
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Grillin’ and Chillin’
There wasn’t much happening last summer, although many people took advantage of the extra time at home to improve their living space, in some cases expanding it to the outdoors. If you’re ready to host a backyard barbecue or spend a day at Lake Springfield with family and friends, we have plenty of suggestions for […]
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House divided
Hear the name “Lincoln” and you see the man splitting rails, say, or on a debate platform towering over Stephen A. Douglas. Few recall the soon-to-be president being shooed out the front door of his house in a hail of potatoes. But that image of Lincoln was as valid as the others, as we learn […]
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Crisis care beyond cops
During a pandemic that led many to grapple with grief, distress and isolation – and civil rights uprising against police brutality and systemic racism – a lack of support for those suffering from mental health distress became increasingly evident. There is a growing movement to create a mental health crisis response that doesn’t solely rely […]
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A guide to Juneteenth
As Juneteenth becomes more widely recognized beyond the Black community, there are an increasing number of activities and events happening in Springfield. For the first time, we’ve put together a guide to Juneteenth, and explained some of the history and culture behind the holiday, so all may join in the celebration of emancipation. We invited […]
