News | Thursday, September 20,2012

Downtown prepares for life without TIF

Promoters of downtown Springfield are looking toward the day when the area’s tax-increment financing district is scheduled to dissolve, leaving the city’s core without a dedicated funding

News | Thursday, September 20,2012

DiCenso tries to unseat battle-scarred Libri

By Bruce Rushton

After two decades in elective office, it’s safe to call Tony Libri a survivor.The Sangamon County circuit clerk has won more than a few and lost a couple, notably the 2003 race for Springfield m

News | Thursday, September 13,2012

Payday loan law doesn’t apply to TitleMax

By Bruce Rushton

Debate over short-term loan businesses on MacArthur Boulevard has erupted anew three years after the Springfield City Council restricted the proliferation of businesses that profit from making install

News | Thursday, September 13,2012

Judging the judge

Appointed judge John Schmidt faces challenge at polls

By Bruce Rushton

The race for a Sangamon County Circuit Court judgeship is not, the participants readily acknowledge, a particularly sexy one.“I don’t think the judicial race is a big draw,” says Tim

News | Tuesday, September 11,2012

Parsons declares bankruptcy

Filing comes under pressure from judge

By Bruce Rushton

Jeffrey Parsons, apparently failed entrepreneur, has declared bankruptcy under pressure from the judge in his pending divorce case.

News | Thursday, September 6,2012

Garbage time

Trash talk in Springfield

By Bruce Rushton

In between debates about the merits of tanning beds and switcheroo votes on residency requirements for city employees, the Springfield city council has managed to avoid talking about garbage collectio

News | Thursday, September 6,2012

A Rolex shows up at Goodwill

By Bruce Rushton

Want a bargain on a Rolex?Check out Land of Lincoln Goodwill Industries, where a gold Rolex watch showed up as just another donation left at the Wabash Avenue store in mid-July.“The production m

News | Thursday, September 6,2012

Do not pass go, do not collect $200 – no, wait

By Bruce Rushton

Jeffrey Parsons, owner of a failed business empire built on buying and reselling gold and silver, has dodged a stint in jail for defying a court order to declare bankruptcy and disclose, under oath, h

Fall Guide | Thursday, August 30,2012

Eight fun things to do

By Bruce Rushton

It barely snowed last winter. It barely rained this summer. And who knows what fall will bring?Flexibility is key when it comes to autumn in central Illinois. The perfect picnic plan could be scuttled

News | Thursday, August 30,2012

Norma Rae comes to Springfield

Union gains foothold at SJ-R

By Bruce Rushton

Newsroom employees at the State Journal-Register are asking for union representation.The United Media Guild last week submitted petitions signed by employees to the National Labor Relations Board, whi