Local mail service is in crisis, and it will likely get worse if the federal government follows through with a proposal to move a Springfield letter distribution center to St. Louis, contended a group that gathered Monday in a public forum at Lincoln Land Community College. The meeting, led by U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski, D-Springfield, […]
Newsletter – Main
Posted inNews
Improving relations between police and the public
Springfield officials pledged to work harder to diversify the police department, inform the public about existing channels for holding law-enforcement officers accountable and “promote transparency for the community.” Those were among steps outlined in an “action plan” released by members of Mayor Misty Buscher’s administration, local nonprofits and religious leaders after more than 20 private […]
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Citizens Club of Springfield discusses city’s future
This month’s Citizens Club of Springfield meeting centered on how to bring people downtown and what role the Springfield-Sangamon County Regional Planning Commission plays with developers and officials who seek to build commercial or residential real estate in Springfield. Molly Berns, former executive director of the Springfield-Sangamon County Regional Planning Commission, said convincing people to […]
Posted inOpinion
Candidates vying for statewide offices
According to the 2020 Census, Cook County is 40% white, 26% Latino, 22% Black and 8% Asian. Chicago is 21% of the state’s population. But the statewide ticket recently endorsed by the Cook County Democratic Party is overwhelmingly made up of white Chicagoans (JB Pritzker, Alexi Giannoulias, Mike Frerichs and Margaret Croke), with two Black […]
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Durbin warns of federal cuts impacting medical pipeline, research
Sen. Dick Durbin, joined by members of the Southern Illinois University medical network on Friday, warned of the federal administration’s decisions that will impact aspiring doctors, rural hospitals and scientific research. Discussing provisions within the new federal tax law and the decision to cap federal education loans, Durbin said medical students – who will be […]
Posted inArts & Culture
City, county and Capital Township support fuels homeless system successes
In 2004, a community strategic planning effort resulted in the development of the 10-Year Strategic Plan to End Chronic Homelessness, 2004-2014. The plan placed a strong emphasis on coordination efforts but little infrastructure was built following the plan’s completion to ensure its goals could be met. Sixteen years later, in 2020, a full-time coordinator for […]
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Sean Grayson’s attorneys withdraw cease-and-desist request against Massey Commission
The citizen commission working on racial justice and reconciliation in the wake of the 2024 death of Sonya Massey won’t be restricted in its activities by the judge presiding in the murder case against Massey’s alleged killer. That’s because Mark Wykoff, one of the attorneys for former Sangamon County sheriff’s deputy […]
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Federal housing credit expansion could increase affordable rental units in Illinois
Expansion of the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit could allow construction of tens of thousands more affordable housing units in Illinois. The latest domestic policy plan signed by President Donald Trump on July 4 will increase available funding by 12% for a key tax credit used by developers to offset a portion of construction costs. It […]
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Last call is earlier than ever
Police say they are receiving fewer calls to break up fights and keep the peace at bars in Springfield and elsewhere in Sangamon County since last year’s elimination of liquor licenses that allowed patrons to be served until 3 a.m. But bar owners say they have suffered economically, and they believe the decisions of the […]
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Baseball stadium may get new owner
Robin Roberts Stadium, the century-old baseball stadium on the city’s north end, has been a political hot potato for the last several years but appears to be on the cusp of new ownership. The ownership of the Springfield Lucky Horseshoes contends the facility has been poorly maintained and has become an embarrassment to the community. […]
Posted inOpinion
Protect families from lead contamination
Illinois is home to more than one million lead service lines, the highest state total in the nation. While efforts to replace these aging and harmful pipes are underway, completing such a massive undertaking will take years. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has set a national deadline of 2037 for full lead pipe replacement, though […]
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NPR Illinois celebrates 50 years
Its two-word mission is simple: Explain Illinois. It’s something that Springfield-based National Public Radio Illinois has been doing for 50 years, and accomplishing that mission is a multifaceted, innovative and fiscally capricious effort fueled by public and private support. NPR Illinois delivers a combination of locally produced programs and syndicated National Public Radio shows such […]
