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The mental effects of abortion
I remember well a night many years ago when a dear friend who was adamantly pro-choice came to me, sobbing uncontrollably. With defenses down, she unloaded a heavy burden she had long carried – a few years before she had chosen to abort her developing baby.

College credit
In January, the University of Illinois announced it was raising its tuition on new undergraduates at its three campuses yet again. Lamentation was general throughout the land.

Stealing the people’s property
“Sorry, we’re closed.” In one of the saddest signs of the times, this message is popping up all across the country, as governors and legislators are cutting off funds (and shutting off access) to one of the finest, most popular assets owned by the people of our country: state parks.

LETTERS
APOLOGIZE, CWLP After CWLP’s recent admission that utility service is at risk without continued rate hikes, I believe some apologies are owed to CWLP retail ratepayers. In particular, from those who sold and supported the city’s half-billion dollar power marketing scheme under the guise of energy security for Springfield.

The mental effects of abortion
adamantly oppose these laws. See Guttmacher’s article to read more about that. To these people, I have to wonder: whatever happened to “safe, legal and rare?” As a person steeped in public policy related to the dignity of the human person, I am...

Madigan: Let school districts pay for teacher pensions
Needless to say, if all three Democratic leaders are talking about it, you can probably expect some action this year. However, there will be strong pushback from suburban and downstate legislators who’ll undoubtedly fear a voter backlash over potentially massive local tax increases to pay for the idea.

That’s all, folks
“Never.” The ride that ended in Springfield began more than two decades ago, when newspapers were big and rich and proud and seemingly incapable of anything less than 30 percent profit margins, no matter what they printed, or didn’t print. For Britt, it started out with a gig laying out legal notices at the Arizona Business Gazette,.

Tase me, bro
Meanwhile, Burns’ family is suing the sheriff’s office, which says deputies did nothing wrong during the struggle with an irrational man who had cocaine in his system and had attacked a woman after breaking into her home.

Ting sent packing
Senators demanded Ting’s resignation in response to revelations that she had been leaking emails since last fall to Lisa Troyer, former chief of staff to University of Illinois president Michael Hogan [see “Email-gate, Jan. 26]. Troyer resigned on Jan.

Ponzi victims seeking restitution and donations
He may be no Bernie Madoff, but James U. Dodge of Springfield still managed to scam dozens of people across central Illinois out of almost $1.8 million. And even though Dodge was convicted of two counts of mail fraud in connection with his Ponzi scheme and sentenced to 63 months in prison, some of his victims say the story isn’t over yet.

What happened to horseshoes?
Horseshoes? Elegant? Springfield’s iconic dish that almost inevitably appears on our pubs’ and casual eating establishments’ menus? The gargantuan pig-out preparation beloved of Springfield area residents that’s often viewed with disbelief by visitors? “Do you folks actually eat.

What happened to horseshoes?
Over the years several chefs have claimed credit for inventing the horseshoe, most notably Steve Tomko, who worked at in the Leland’s kitchen in the 1920s and eventually became chef at Wayne’s Red Coach. But multiple corroborating documents in Leone’s file all point to one man: Joe Schweska.

What happened to horseshoes?
“What knowledge I have of the Horseshoe Sandwich, I have from my deceased brother-in-law, Joseph E. Schweska, Jr., and to a lesser degree from personally knowing Chef Joe Schweska. My brother-in-law often helped his father after school or when special events or parties were being held at the Leland Hotel.

The Grey stands apart from the pack
At the age of 59, Liam Neeson has become a bona fide action star, a go-to guy who audiences have willingly embraced in the well-worn genre. There’s a lived-in quality to his characters; these men live with regret over compromises made or the fickleness of fate.

Actor James Cromwell on The Artist and success
Character actors are made, not born. Often circumstances steer performers towards a career consisting mostly of supporting roles. James Cromwell would agree with this sentiment as he’s fashioned a body of work much in the tradition of Thomas Mitchell, Frank Morgan, Ned Beatty, Danny Glover and John Malkovich.

PUB CRAWL
Peter Jennings and the Evening News w/ Telegraph 3am.

BAND SPOTLIGHT | Bleu Edmondson
Here’s a music business story with a happy twist and one that continues an upward spiral. Rather than the usual tale of playing music from the cradle, Bleu Edmondson first picked up a guitar and “started writing songs because he didn’t know what else to do” during his college years.

From Springfield to Memphis
In the last few columns I’ve mentioned the amazing and wonderful fact that three area blues organizations selected three Springfieldbased blues bands as representatives to the International Blues Challenge contest held annually in Memphis. This is no small feat and each deserves hearty congratulations.

HISTORY | Vital visions
Many local institutions are celebrating African-American History Month with activities in February. The Vachel Lindsay Home offers viewings of two films, Hallelujah!,.

THE CALENDAR
Behind the Hits: Songwriters for St. Jude.

THE CALENDAR
Friday of every month for individuals with disabilities. Semiformal dress attire. Erin’s Pavilion, Southwind Park, 4965 S. Second St. Kuumba Dance Troupe.

PRESENTATIONS | Fast facts
Springfield PechaKucha returns for another enlightening evening at Capital City Bar and Grill on Thursday, Feb. 9.

MUSIC | Sweet strings
The Springfield Classical Guitar Society welcomes Michael Hull, performing classical guitar melodies, in an evening concert Saturday, Feb. 4. Hull currently serves on the faculty at Bradley University and the Conservatory of Central Illinois.

PUBLICNOTICES
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT SANGAMON COUNTY, ILLINOIS In the Matter of the Estate of Darlene D. Walker, Deceased. No.: 2012-P-10 NOTICE TO HEIRS AND NOTICE BY PUBLICATION OF CLAIM DATE Notice is given of the death of DARLENE D. WALKER, of Springfield, Illinois.

MUSIC | Medieval minstrels
Istanpitta, a United States medieval music ensemble, performs Saturday, Feb. 4, in Rammelkamp Chapel at Illinois College. Their concert, “Exiled,” explores the expulsion of the Jewish race from Medieval Spain and their travels to the Middle East. Songs, instrumentals and stories highlight the cultural fusion of Western and Eastern influences in Spain.