When Michael Pittman first began publishing the Capital City Courier newspaper in Springfield in 2006, he wanted to address issues facing an African-American audience – issues he says often aren’t important to mainstream media. “It was something I always wanted to do,” Pittman says. “The emphasis for me was being an alternative source of news […]
Patrick Yeagle
Posted inNews
Access 4 could return soon
After seven months of silence, Springfield’s public access television channel may soon return to the airwaves, but the group trying to secure the channel’s future has no means to produce new content. When Comcast cable company closed its Access 4 studio on Dec. 4, 2009, the 70-plus locally-produced shows on Springfield’s public access television channel […]
Posted inNews
Green for governor
If you knew where to look you might have seen him – bearded, bespectacled and biking through Springfield. Looking more like a college professor than a politician, the Green Party candidate for governor, Rich Whitney, spent May 20 through 28 riding his bike and various trains on a 650-mile tour across the state to promote […]
Posted inNews
Third-party profile: Lex Green, Libertarian for governor
“I want to make it clear,” Lex Green says with wry inflection, “that Libertarians are not just another type of Republican. Democrats tell you they’re going to raise taxes and spend more; Republicans don’t even tell you.” Green is running for governor of Illinois on the Libertarian ticket, a fiscally conservative but socially liberal platform […]
Posted inNews
Springfield minorities stopped more often
Minority drivers in Springfield had more than double the chances of being pulled over by police during 2009 compared with white drivers, according to data on traffic stops released July 1 by the Illinois Department of Transportation. The data come from the Illinois Traffic Stop Statistics Study, which directs police agencies to collect information about […]
Posted inNews
Cashing in on wind energy
As a cool summer breeze blows over the vast farmland outside Hopedale, about 50 miles north of Springfield, the whisper of rustling corn leaves almost drowns out the soft, intermittent whooshing sound of three gargantuan fan blades slowly slicing through the air. Four hundred feet above the cornstalks, the fiberglass blades turn a generator capable […]
Posted inNews
Plan calls for 100 new affordable homes
The City of Springfield plans to build and rehabilitate hundreds of homes as part of a strategy to end homelessness within two years. The city’s 2010-2014 Consolidated Plan, created by the city’s Department of Opportunity, Planning and Economic Development (OPED), lays out plans to improve affordable housing, economic development, infrastructure and public services using millions […]
Posted inNews
Car guys go for the X Prize
In a garage-turned-workshop south of Divernon sits what could be the future of personal transportation. Surrounded by spare parts and power tools is a made-from-scratch car that looks like something a science fiction writer in the 1930s would have dreamed about. The outside of this deceptively-classic “teardrop” car looks like a cross between a Volkswagen […]
Posted inNews
Big changes at the SJ-R
Tough economic conditions and a new approach to news distribution have prompted changes at Springfield’s daily newspaper. The State Journal-Register newspaper, owned by Fairport, N.Y.-based Gatehouse Media, last month underwent a change in strategy and leadership possibly tied to Gatehouse’s troubled financial position. On May 25, SJ-R announced the resignation of Scott Bowers as publisher […]
Posted inNews
Raw Deal
Music director Karen Lynne Deal will be saying goodbye to the Illinois Symphony Orchestra at the end of the coming season, but the controversial maestra would prefer to stay if she could. “I wish this wasn’t the way this was ending, because I feel like we’ve finally gotten the pieces of the puzzle together so […]
Posted inNews
Bike to the future
It’s a good time to be in the bike business, says Rich Moscardelli, manager of Ace Bike Shop on MacArthur Boulevard in Springfield. Among the hip trends this season are saving money, getting in shape and green living – all factors that push people to ride bikes. “It’s getting to be more popular, and especially […]
Posted inNews
Auditor uncovers millions in misspent state funds
A series of audits released last week reveal a rash of problems among state agencies and programs. Performed by the office of Illinois Auditor General William Holland, the audits expose millions of dollars of undocumented spending, lax enforcement of inventory and spending controls and poor staff training that resulted in inaccurate financial records. An audit […]
