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Democracy requires tough love
Any improvement in democracy in the U.S. since 1750 is largely the result of various kicks in the pants that “we the people” have delivered to our leaders. It began with George Washington and his cohorts who, as we’d say today, kicked some British butt to get us going.

‘Things’ll be great when you’re downtown’
City hall reacted to the R/UDAT recommendation as if they had never imagined such things were possible. (They reminded me of 11-year-olds hearing about sex for the first time.) But living downtown in unused upper floors of Springfield commercial buildings was a new idea in 2002 only to people who really were behind in their reading.

It’s official: Money now governs America
Take Sheldon Adelson, the moneybags who’s pumped $11 million so far into Newt Gingrich’s right-wing run. He has single-handedly kept Gingrich’s White House ambitions alive. Without this one guy’s money, The Newt would’ve been long gone. Thanks a lot, Sheldon.

LETTERS
State officials are proposing a $2 billion cut to Illinois’ Medicaid program. We agree with Illinois Hospital Association president Maryjane Wurth that a cut of this magnitude will have a profound negative impact on health care services for the poor and disabled.

Democracy requires tough love
Why don’t earnings reflect this tremendous growth of productivity? Wages depend on the bargaining power of the employee versus that of the employer. Unless an employee is a member of a union, has skills that enable him or her to easily find another job or has valuable personal connections, the power to negotiate over wages is limited.

Pro-choice group sues to end contributions limit
Personal PAC’s lawsuit wants those contribution caps wiped out, arguing that the controversial “Citizens United” U.S. Supreme Court case and the “Wisconsin Right to Life” 7th U.S. Circuit case mean that the caps are unconstitutional.

WHO WOULD JESUS SUE?
CAP With the courthouse being closed, CITY more than 60 local lawyers gathered in the atrium of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in downtown Springfield on President’s Day for a legal conference headed by Bishop Thomas John Paprocki, himself a licensed attorney.

DRUMMING OUT DISEASE?
Can drumming help fight cancer? It may sound like a silly question, but research shows that making music relieves stress, improves self-esteem and enhances the immune system. And regardless of whether drumming can fight cancer, it’s still pretty fun.

Judge sides with Illinois Times on lawsuit
Sangamon County Associate Judge Brian Otwell issued a preliminary ruling Feb. 15 declaring the committee a public body and ordering the committee to follow the Open Meetings Act instead of a related law governing collective bargaining.

The second time around
Michael Vujovich, an attorney with the State’s Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor’s office, told the state police sergeant who stopped him on Jan. 6 that he had consumed as many as six beers. But Vujovich during a Feb. 16 hearing before Sangamon County Associate Judge Chris Perrin testified that he was fit to drive.

Could redistricting lead to same-sex marriage?
“We want lawmakers to understand that if they oppose civil rights for all people or deny civil rights based on sexual identity, they are going to have a fight ahead of them,” says Lowell Jaffe, policy director for The Civil Rights Agenda, a Chicago-based group advocating for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer rights.

Cooking up a Bike Kitchen
Neighborhoods in transition are often fertile grounds for new ideas. In the near future, the Enos Park neighborhood will become home to Springfield’s only community bike shop.

Trains, buses and stores
This type of proposed facility was unveiled by the Springfield-Sangamon County Regional Planning Commission on Feb. 8 to show what a “multi-modal” hub could look like and how it could improve transportation and economic opportunities in downtown Springfield.

Trains, buses and stores
Place project. The Genesis Place project began in 2011 and provides affordable single-family housing in a neighborhood setting. Part of the Genesis Place project replaced the Major Bird Hi-Rise at 125 N. 13th St., while the rest of the 41 units are located on Carpenter, Reynolds and Mason streets.

UIS stages a classic, True West
Eric Thibodeaux-Thompson, the head of the UIS theatre department these last 10 years, is taking a sabbatical this semester, but he is staying home in Springfield. As head of an academic program, he does not normally have the time to act in productions.

African-American history museum opens with photo exhibit
The Springfield Illinois African-American History Foundation’s museum opens its first exhibition tonight, Feb. 23, capping 14 years of work. The exhibition will feature photographs by Eddie Winfred “Doc” Helms, a well-known Springfield African-American who was a photographer for Illinois secretaries of state for 58 years.

Smothered to succulence
I’ve cooked thousands of dishes for countless people in my life; some professionally, some as a home cook. Almost all were well received. When catering dinner parties or when my cooking class students sat down to eat, I learned to anticipate a silent moment, a pause when everyone was so enjoying the food that conversation stopped.

Ghost Rider is mindless fun
Some films are made with nothing but noble purposes. Their directors hope to comment on the human condition in such a way that viewers may leave the theater with keen insights about themselves or others.

End-of-February fun
First up is my quick report on recent adventures that took me through Kansas, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and Colorado. Highlights include being heckled by an elderly fellow at a senior center in Coffeyville, Kan.

BAND SPOTLIGHT | The Aspect: Beatle Band
Originally conceived as a way to bring several styles of popular music under one umbrella, Bill McKenzie’s concept group, The Aspect, continues the tradition by again taking on the Beatles as subject matter.

PUB CRAWL
The Homegrown Folk Show with Pete Sander, Micah Walk, Ben Bedford and Dan Tedesco.

MUSIC | Queen of minor key
Singer/songwriter Eilen Jewell is Boston-based, but don’t let that fool you. This country and blues-infused contemporary folk or alt-country singer, blessed with a hint of Billie Holiday, was born in Idaho, schooled in Santa Fe, lived in LA, and has performed all around the world.

THE CALENDAR
Audiences. $10. The Legacy Theatre, 101 E. Lawrence..

THE CALENDAR
characters, Charles Larimer shares experiences writing the book and making film. $5, $3. Springfield Art Association, 700 N. Fourth St, 217-523-2631..

THEATER | Sons of anarchy
Friday, Feb. 24 is opening night of UIS Theatre’s facultyshowcase production of Sam Shepard’s True West..

MUSIC | Harping on
Concertgoers are in for a treat as critically-acclaimed harpist Bridget Kibbey plays with the Illinois Symphony Orchestra on Saturday, Feb. 25, at Sangamon Auditorium, UIS. “Ecstatic & Exotic Music” showcases the exotic sounds of Spanish serenades and ethereal bliss.

HISTORY | Local lore
Featured is the photography exhibit “African-American Life and Contributions to Springfield in 1930s, 1940s and 1950s,” by Winfred “Doc” Helm, state photographer from 1930-1950. Dr. Matthew Holden, Jr., UIS Wepner professor, provides an address, and there will be music and refreshments.

THE CALENDAR
Business: Clean Coal and the Battle for our Energy Future.” Carnegie Room. Lincoln Library, 326 S. Seventh St..

PUBLIC NOTICES
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SEV- ENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT SANGAMON COUNTY, ILLINOIS In the Matter of the Estate of Mary Gladys Goldstein, Deceased. No.: 2012-P-37 NOTICE TO HEIRS AND NOTICE BY PUBLICATION OF CLAIM DATE Notice is given of the death of MARY GLADYS GOLDSTEIN, of Springfield, Illinois.