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Editor’s note
Most cities have “single-payer universal coverage” when it comes to garbage service, but Springfield is stuck with an old “individual mandate, fee-for-service” model that doesn’t work very well. The Houston administration and aldermen say they are working on ways to make the bad system a little bit better by putting garbage fees on utility bills.

Fiscalizing land use policy
A diligent reader attended a Springfield Park Board meeting at which the Griffin Woods decision was discussed.

Create a different model for housing
Except for one thing: RealtyTrac.com, a marketer of information on foreclosed real estate, noted in April that the number of short sales (where a bank allows an owner to sell for less than is owed on the mortgage) were up by 33 percent from last year..

Let’s consider the GOP’s health care plan
The same advice goes for anyone who thinks they can teach even a bit of common sense to the preening political ideologues who’ve taken over the Republican Party and the U.S. House of Representatives.

LETTERS
OPEN DOORS The article in your July 19 issue, “Show Me Your Papers,” by Bruce Rushton, rekindles discussions regarding immigration and immigration reform. Since prior to the inception of this country waves of immigrants have come to these shores looking to participate in “the American dream.

When the feds can’t nail their suspect
Conveniently, that very same month, the feds busted a Chicago police officer during a probe of gun trafficking and public corruption. The cop quickly offered to cooperate in order to reduce his sentence. It doesn’t take too much reading between the lines to see that the corrupt cop may have been given the task of helping the feds nab Rickey Hendon.

Springfield father cleared of shaking infant daughter
A jury last week found Britts not guilty on two counts of aggravated battery to a child, two years after he was arrested on suspicion of shaking his daughter. Britts found Saniya, now two years old, unresponsive and limp in her crib in 2010, and brain scans showed bleeding on Saniya’s brain, prompting charges against Britts.

BROWN OUT
You can bruise it, you can slice it, you can dice it, you can put it on a tanning bed and still the Arctic Apple will not turn brown, according Okanagan Specialty Fruits, the apple’s creator that is based in Canada, eh, where 84 percent of the population is white.

SUMMER SUSTENANCE
For kids, summer usually means lazy days filled with swimming, riding bikes, and staying up late. But for too many kids, summer can also mean hunger. When kids aren’t in school, they aren’t eating breakfast or lunch at school, so kids who qualify for free or reduced-price school lunches are even more likely to miss meals during summer.

Olympian and world record holder visits Springfield
Though she wore long sleeves, Jean Driscoll’s muscular arms were evident as she confidently gripped the handrims of her wheelchair. She hasn’t competed professionally in years, but Driscoll clearly maintains her athletic physique, as well as her drive for success.

The Roadshow is over
J. Parsons, the west side store that sells everything from socks to shoes to hats to watches to pants to historic documents to gourmet cheese, opened the day after Thanksgiving.

The wedding that almost wasn’t
As I write this, the sun mercilessly beats down. Our wonderful yard and woods that were lush with ferns, fragrant blooming trees and shrubs, and beautiful flowers for our daughter’s wedding three months ago are dolefully withered and drooping. Even fully shaded perennials, such as phlox and hostas, are giving up the ghost.

When Vladimir Nabokov came to Springfield
The day after his arrival, the man escorted Nabokov on a tour of the Lincoln home and tomb, where it became clear that the passion of the man’s life was flagpoles. “He livened up and flashed his eyes one single time – got awfully nervous, having noticed that the flagpole by the Lincoln mausoleum had been replaced by a new, taller one,” Nabokov wrote.

Rises a satisfying conclusion to Dark Knight
The citizens of Gotham City have lived in relative peace over the last eight years since Batman (Christian Bale) went into hiding, having taken the fall for the crimes of district attorney Harvey Dent, so that the city might have a symbol to look up to.

Illinois Times radio arrives
And now all that is left is for each of you original bands out there to go to blog.deliradio.com/consent and sign up with the program. You can have your own profile page that’s more useful than Facebook and more inclusive than Reverbnation or at the least, make a strong addition to your regular online promotion pages, including IT’s.

BAND SPOTLIGHT | Harmony Deep
With a combined musical experience of more than 75 years, Harmony Deep truly brings a deep and lasting sense of melody and harmony to all performances.

PUB CRAWL
The Luzhin Defense, Flamingo, Counterfeit I, Like...With Jetpacks.

THE CALENDAR
The Lighter Side of Springfield History.

MUSIC | Rockin’ lineup
Step right up and witness five incredible rock bands permeating the Prairie Capital Convention Center stage on a Carnival of Madness tour.

FESTIVAL | Finger-licking good
Taylorville Main Street, Inc. presents another great day packed with activities, music, cars and food at its BBQ, Blues and Cruise Festival on Saturday, July 28. The day kicks off with a 5k Run/Walk, after which festival gates open at 11 a.m. “Bumble Bee” Bob Kamoske, Debbie Ross Band and the Screamin’ Vatos bring on the blues.

THE CALENDAR
Aug 03, dusk, Free big screen film, The Adventures of TinTin. Bring a lawn chair or blanket. 544-1751. Rotary Park, Iles Ave. and Archer Elevator Rd..

PRESENTATIONS | Interesting insights
Nine locals will each make a six-minute and 40-second presentation on topics including the Lincolns, Richard Hugo’s theory of creative obsession, a bareboat vacation in the British Virgin Islands, alpacas and more. Visit the international website at www.

THEATER | Super characters
The Less Is More Independent Theatre Company (The LIMIT) presents seven performances of the play, Insane with Power,.

THE CALENDAR
event for all ages. RSVP 877- 926-8300. Conservation World, Illinois State Fairgrounds, One Natural Resources Way, 217- 331-8465..