News | Thursday, June 28,2012

Illinois falls apart

State agencies scramble to avert crises as funding vanishes

Marc Miller has been an outdoorsman for as long as he can remember.Miller says he grew up in a family of hunters, anglers and camping enthusiasts, but also learned the value of protecting the land. He

News | Friday, June 22,2012

Quinn reinstates early prison release

Program touted to save state money, increase public safety

By Patrick Yeagle

Gov. Pat Quinn today signed a law allowing Illinois prison inmates to receive credits toward their sentences in a move meant to reduce overcrowding and save the state money. Quinn signed SB262

News | Thursday, June 21,2012

Quinn still plans to close Tamms supermax

National attention focuses on solitary confinement

By Patrick Yeagle

Gov. Pat Quinn is moving ahead with plans to close the state’s controversial “C-Max” prison at Tamms, Ill., despite a plan by state lawmakers to keep it open and convert it to a lowe

News | Thursday, June 21,2012

Hollywood, Illinois

Group brings major film productions to central Illinois

By Patrick Yeagle

Springfield may not be the first place people think about when imagining locations to shoot movies or TV shows. But thanks to the efforts of one local group, this city and the central Illinois region

News | Thursday, June 14,2012

Early release worries understaffed parole agents

Caseload of ex-offenders already high, due to rise

By Patrick Yeagle

As Gov. Pat Quinn mulls a bill to allow early release for inmates in state prisons, parole agents who monitor ex-offenders say the program would add to their already burdensome caseload.In late March,

News | Thursday, June 7,2012

Two Springfield couples fight for same-sex marriage

Lawsuit seeks to overturn state definition of marriage on constitutional grounds

By Patrick Yeagle

Randy Walden did everything right, but it wasn’t enough.When Walden’s partner of nine years, Curt Sills, was diagnosed with cancer in 2002, Walden and Sills drew up documents giving Walden

News | Thursday, June 7,2012

Lawmakers vote to reinstate early prisoner release

Would require annual reports, include inmate evaluations

By Patrick Yeagle

Illinois prison inmates may soon qualify for early release once more under a bill passed by state lawmakers last week. If approved by Gov. Pat Quinn, the move would address state prison overcrowding t

News | Thursday, May 31,2012

Park district mulling Griffin Woods purchase

Part of land eyed for supermarket could become park

By Patrick Yeagle

The warm summer breeze rushes through the dense underbrush of the second-growth forest known colloquially as Griffin Woods, filling the close space with the rustle and shimmer of thousands of leaves.

News | Thursday, May 31,2012

More money, more problems

Lifting campaign contribution limits if SuperPACs spend big

By Patrick Yeagle

Illinois lawmakers are reacting to a controversial ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court with a bill that could take Illinois back to the days of unlimited campaign contributions. The bill’s sponso

Summerguide | Thursday, May 24,2012

Release the beast

Biking, running, swimming and obstacle courses in the capital city

By Patrick Yeagle

With such mild and beautiful weather so far this year, it’s a great time to go outside and get some exercise. And while you’re at it, why not play in the mud?Springfield and the surroundin