Editor’s Note

This week’s cover story by Dusty Rhodes emphasizes one solution to the teacher shortage, but clearly many solutions are needed. The statewide report, “Strong Teachers, Strong Classrooms,” by the Illinois State Board of Education, discusses a decline in prestige for the teaching profession. “My grandmother said she was proud to say her daughter was a […]

 Some of us are trying to build a constituency for historic preservation while working to assemble a coalition that will come together to save historic buildings. Too often preservationists don’t get together except to circle the rubble. This year’s gathering of the history-minded hopeful is a reception at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 19, at the […]

A praying mantis is doing his praying on my office window just now, a reminder that fresh opportunity comes around with each back-to-school season, with each election campaign, with each guilty verdict, with each Fall Guide to concerts, theater performances and daytrips. Enjoy the issue, embrace the season, keep hope alive. –Fletcher Farrar, editor and […]

Sharp-eyed readers will note that this week’s print edition of lllinois Times is slightly smaller than previous issues. The page is an inch shorter, our concession to the Trump administration’s tariff on Canadian newsprint that went into effect earlier this year. Our printer, P&P Press of Peoria, held out for months before raising prices to […]

 Now, before the silly season starts, is the time to get acquainted with political candidates and their stands on the issues of their campaigns. In this week’s cover story on the 13th District congressional race between incumbent Rodney Davis and challenger Betsy Dirksen Londrigan, writer David Blanchette asked each candidate to outline their campaign without […]

While the current president was flummoxing over pushback from his lovefest with Vladimir Putin, former president Barack Obama was in South Africa lecturing about how truth is now up for debate and how politicians stand by baseless claims after they’re proved wrong. “We see the utter loss of shame among political leaders, where they’re caught […]

 The restored Governor’s Mansion opens to the public Saturday, along with the new Jackson Street Trail and its Bicentennial Plaza. The mansion renovation is a fine gift to Springfield from Gov. Bruce Rauner. Illinois Realtors and their executive, Gary Clayton, joined the magnanimity by adding Bicentennial Plaza. Mayor Jim Langfelder and city government did its […]

Illinois continues its longstanding practice of giving shabby treatment to nursing homes. This week the Associated Press reported that for-profit nursing homes are having to front $300 million in Medicaid costs while the state blames its computers for a huge backlog in determining eligibility. Now comes news that a 113-year-old church-supported nonprofit, the 98-bed Pleasant […]

AFSCME Council 31 called the U. S. Supreme Court ruling against the union a “blatant political attack,” while the Illinois Policy Institute, crowing over its victory, called the unions “inherently political,” as though IPI is not. In fact, one of the groups supporting the suit said its purpose was to “defund” the labor movement nationwide. […]

“Don’t call my business small,” was the common sentiment given voice at the Chamber of Commerce Small Business Awards program this week. As 37 businesses were recognized and five of those were chosen as “owner of the year” in different categories, those in the Crowne Plaza dining room identified with how all these businesses loom […]

It is tempting to applaud President Trump for ignoring diplomatic niceties in order to engage the North Korean leader in an effort at peacemaking. Just go talk to the guy, what can it hurt? We can hope that it not only won’t hurt but will help. At least as long as they’re talking they’re not […]

One good thing about the political divide in Springfield is that it keeps a lot of bad things from happening, bad things like casino gambling expansion. The proposal died in committee in the closing days of the General Assembly, but not before local officials got to think about having a casino in Springfield, proposed by […]