Funding plan ‘harmless,’ but expensive

School formula reform faces uphill battle despite passing House and Senate

The sounds of a rehearsing gospel choir, complete with organ accompaniment, bled through the walls of Union Baptist Church during a sparsely attended town hall meeting there July 13. The meeting...

Thursday, July 20, 2017 12:08 am

Officer explains fight that cost him job

“I think that day was the boiling point”

By Bruce Rushton

A former Springfield police officer charged with beating a man in February may have allowed rough times off the clock to spill over to patrol duties, according to internal affairs records.Termin...

Thursday, July 20, 2017 12:07 am

Dying for better health care

Protest aims to put pressure on Rauner

By Scott Faingold

On July 18 grassroots group Organizing for Action (OFA) staged a demonstration in front of the Illinois Policy Institute office on Second Street. The “Die-In” saw volunteers, community leade...

Thursday, July 13, 2017 12:06 am

AG dings Rauner for FOIA violation

Not the first time

By Bruce Rushton

One year after signing a law aimed at forcing government to turn over public records, Gov. Bruce Rauner has been cited by Attorney General Lisa Madigan for failing to respond to a request for re...

Thursday, July 13, 2017 12:05 am

Illinois to Trump: “No”

Voter data request is a non-starter

By Scott Faingold

It all began with a June 28 letter sent to the secretary of state of each state and signed by commission vice chair Kris W. Kobach. The letter requested that states share “publicly available v...

Thursday, July 6, 2017 12:10 am

Repairing the world

Rosenwald film tells story of Springfield-born philanthropist

By Scott Faingold

Julius Rosenwald (1862-1932) helped turn Sears, Roebuck and Co. from a middling mail order firm into a retail megalith. According to Wikipedia, between 1895 and 1907, annual sales of the company...

Thursday, July 6, 2017 12:09 am

AP enrollment skyrockets

District 186’s push pays off

By Bruce Rushton

Enrollment in advanced placement courses has surged in Springfield high schools.Last year, 745 students in Springfield School District 186’s three high schools enrolled in AP courses that can...

Thursday, July 6, 2017 12:08 am

Jail suicide case settled

Family of deceased inmate collects six figures

By Bruce Rushton

Christian County has settled a lawsuit for more than a half-million dollars in a case filed by the family of a man who committed suicide in the county jail.The $550,000 settlement reached last m...

Thursday, July 6, 2017 12:07 am

A walk on the artistic side

Visiting artist takes a pedestrian view of Enos Park

By Scott Faingold

“I’m not interested in what I think.”So proclaimed multidisciplinary artist Astrid Kaemmerling when queried about her personal opinions regarding the Enos Park neighborhood and her experi...

Thursday, June 29, 2017 12:08 am

Other unions dealt with Rauner. Why not AFSCME?

A closer look at the governor’s claim his contracts with smaller unions show he’s labor’s friend

By Matt Dietrich, Better Government Association,

The Better Government Association is a 94-year-old full-service, nonpartisan Chicago-based watchdog organization that shines a light on government, holds public officials accountable and engages...