Remembering | Thursday, December 27,2012

A generous man who enjoyed the art of the deal

CHARLES E. ROBBINS Sept. 18, 1934 – April 30, 2012

When a powerful tornado clawed its way through Springfield in 2006, Charles Robbins could have made a fortune selling real estate to homeowners and business owners whose buildings were destroyed. Inst

Remembering | Thursday, December 27,2012

A quiet voice that rang with the power of justice

ETHEL S. GINGOLD Nov. 23, 1918 – July 28, 2012

By Patrick Yeagle

Few people go out of their way to fight someone else’s fight. Even fewer people devote their entire lives to that pursuit. Ethel Gingold of Springfield was one of those people. She died July 28,

News | Thursday, December 20,2012

Firearms, medical pot and gay marriage, oh my!

Illinois could soon change drastically

By Patrick Yeagle

When Illinois lawmakers return to Springfield early next year, they’ll face three issues more divisive than even the ongoing pension battle. But like the pension issue, these battles have

News | Thursday, December 13,2012

Kids at the margins

Springfield steps up to help homeless children

By Patrick Yeagle

They live in hotels, cars or even at campgrounds. When the winter wind blows, they’re the children who don’t have coats. When it’s time to take a quiz, they’re the children who

News | Thursday, December 6,2012

Tax transparency or competition killer?

Senate passes corporate tax disclosure bill

By Patrick Yeagle

Illinois would make public the tax data of publicly traded companies under a bill passed by the state Senate last week, but business interests say the move would put some companies at a competitive di

News | Thursday, December 6,2012

Illinois laying off 18 medical regulators

Agency asking for cash infusion and fee increase

By Patrick Yeagle

Seven state workers in Springfield could lose their jobs at the end of the year as regulators scramble to cover the increasing cost of overseeing doctors in Illinois. That’s because the fund tha

News | Thursday, November 29,2012

Phone a friend

United Way’s 2-1-1 telephone service offers help in crisis

By Patrick Yeagle

Karen Zangerle dials the number and waits expectantly as a young man answers with a gentle tone. Zangerle explains that her husband has lost his job and the family won’t be able to pay an upcomi

News | Thursday, November 29,2012

Education in Illinois not getting any better

Illinois students not prepared for college

By Patrick Yeagle

More than two thirds of Illinois students won’t earn a college degree. In the modern economy, that’s not good enough to compete, says education advocacy group Advance Illinois in a recent

News | Thursday, November 29,2012

No raises for unions under House resolution

Madigan sponsors measure restricting pay increases

By Patrick Yeagle

Kevin Holmes of Springfield devotes his life to caring for a young man with severe disabilities. For that full-time work – seven hours a day, seven days a week – Holmes makes just more tha

Visual Art | Wednesday, November 21,2012

Skin City

Tattoos come of age in Springfield

By Patrick Yeagle

Why would someone voluntarily undergo several hours of a needle stabbing them several thousand times per minute? The simple answer is for the sake of art, but the long answer is a bit more complicated