Editor’s Note

 The state budget crisis is about to come to a head, with Chicago State University about to close for lack of funding, other small universities hurting, piles of fiscal pain everywhere and the possibility that courts could put a stop to state employee paychecks. Gov. Bruce Rauner’s continual blaming of House Speaker Michael Madigan for […]

Several states require politicians to shut down their campaign funds after they leave office. Susan Garrett, board chair of the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform, says “in a perfect world” Illinois should have a similar requirement. But even Garrett has kept her campaign fund open three years after leaving her state Senate seat. As this […]

Inside this week’s edition is our Capital City JOBS supplement, dedicated to all the Springfield-area unemployed and under-employed residents who still believe in the American dream, and to the businesses who have the courage to hire some of them. Job hunters will find useful articles like “Networking for people who hate networking,” and “Getting into […]

 For this week observed by Christians as Holy Week, the Episcopal Church House of Bishops issued “A Word to the Church” about today’s political rhetoric. It is worth broad circulation. Here is the text in part. The full text is at episcopalchurch.org. –Fletcher Farrar, editor and publisher “In a country still living under the shadow […]

In this week’s cover story on the outrageous ways Illinois lawmakers spend their campaign funds, our Bruce Rushton quotes one state senator saying the public isn’t interested in this subject. “What is the concern?” asks Sen. Kimberly Lightford. “The public isn’t making any contributions to our campaigns.” Indeed, most political contributions come from corporations, special […]

 It looks like next week’s primary election will see Illinois still in play for the presidential race on both sides. Usually everything has been decided by the time our state gets to vote, but not this time. Will our middle-class, middle-road, middle-of-the-nation Prairie State impose its traditional values on the contest, avoiding the fringes to […]

 “Intensive” is the word to describe the “Analyzing and Understanding Systemic Racism Workshop” that is drawing some 50 Springfieldians this weekend. The 2 ½-day training, sponsored by the Springfield Coalition on Dismantling Racism and held at Sacred Heart Convent March 3-5, will offer participants a deeper look at the historical development of racism in the […]

It was called a historic occasion Monday evening, because nobody could remember this  happening before in Springfield, but the event seemed ordinary, like something that should happen all the time.  Four churches – two black congregations and two white congregations – got together on Springfield’s east side to begin a program called “Sacred Conversations on […]

 The bright spot in Gov. Bruce Rauner’s no-budget budget address is his support for increased state funding for K-12 education. In addition, support is growing for a change in the formula for distributing that state aid, which could greatly benefit Springfield schools. But education is not the only thing Illinois is supposed to do. If […]

Watching Bernie Sanders’ victory speech in New Hampshire, when he went on and on obsessively about income inequality, the need for single payer health care and anger against Wall Street – important but lifelong battles – made me think he can’t win the general election in November. It took me back to 1968, when we […]

 Often overlooked in the concern over Gov. Bruce Rauner’s obstructionism is the damage he is doing to his own agenda. Not the Turnaround Agenda, but the governor’s alleged support of ideas like more equitable education funding and streamlining local government through consolidation. Hopes are high that Rauner will follow through on his promise to reform […]

The state of the state? Confused. Illinois can’t understand how its new, inexperienced governor can continue to keep a straight face while pretending that his anti-union agenda is more important than funded universities and social services. Bruce Rauner rules by chaos and by intimidation from big wads of political cash. He seems to have some […]