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Editor’s note
For those who want a bold leader who doesn’t just go along with the crowd there is Gov. Pat Quinn, whose veto of the gaming expansion bill displayed courage and independence in the face of huge political pressure.

How radical is Paul Ryan’s Medicare plan?
Vice-presidential hopeful Paul Ryan’s controversial “Roadmap for America’s Future” included plans to transform Medicare from a program that directly paid the medical bills of seniors into a voucher-based system by the year 2022. In an interview with University of Illinois News Bureau business and law reporter Phil Ciciora, Richard L.

It’s Springfield’s fault
A few weeks ago the nation was briefly distracted from the work of buying, stealing and subverting this year’s elections by the release of a report from researchers at the Kennedy School of Government. “Isolated Capital Cities, Accountability and Corruption: Evidence From U.

The Ryan-Romney flim-flam ticket
No. Most people would prefer a root canal to a budget discussion (indeed, I’ve heard that some dentists use a recording of budget numbers to anesthetize their root-canal patients – everything from the neck up quickly goes numb). But Paul Ryan is different.

LETTERS
The American Heart Association applauds Gov. Pat Quinn’s plan to sign Senate Bill 3374 into law on Saturday, Aug. 25. This legislation establishes a P.E. Task Force which may play an important role in defining our children’s physical education opportunities for years to come.

Is Preckwinkle preparing to run against Quinn?
“We’ve got to activate the taxpayers of Illinois,” Gov. Pat Quinn told reporters after his legislative special session failed to move any sort of pension reform forward, promising to lead a “grassroots” effort to push legislators to pass a reform bill.

Canoe dig it
On Sept. 1, the 78-year-old former teacher will launch a 1,200-pound dugout canoe that he fashioned out of a single gigantic log. The canoe will start on the Illinois River at Beardstown and travel 125 miles down the Illinois and Mississippi rivers to St.

Norma Rae comes to Springfield
The United Media Guild last week submitted petitions signed by employees to the National Labor Relations Board, which has the power to authorize a workplace election to determine whether the State Journal-Register.

Neighbors must pay damages for delaying hog shed
The case started in 2007, when a group of Young’s neighbors sued to prevent him from building a hog finishing facility on his property.

Parents behaving badly
After more than a year of pushing state lawmakers, the family of Steven Watkins and their supporters have a law that allows judges to revoke driver’s licenses of custodial parents who refuse to allow court-ordered visitation between children and non-custodial parents.

2012 FALL CALENDAR
This is our annual Fall Guide – chock full of stuff to do between Labor Day and early November. The guide’s first 18 pages showcase our comprehensive Fall Calendar, organized chronologically so it’s easy to see which fairs, festivals, concerts,...

Quad Cities, a great place to go
Before opening the museum that highlights horses and their place in agriculture, the Weibels opened up their 100-acre farm and offered living history demonstrations. Today they have moved their horse and buggy collection into a museum and offer a chance for you to learn all about horse farming and horse power.

Apples, pumpkins and more fall produce
Fall sings with color. Besides the glorious riot of the leaves there are the deep reds of the apples, the golden orange of the pumpkins and the muted shades of squash. Fall is all about texture, taste and glorious food.

Eight fun things to do
Flexibility is key when it comes to autumn in central Illinois. The perfect picnic plan could be scuttled by a surprise storm, a nice sit-down dinner party might benefit from a move to the backyard to take advantage of sunshine that will all-too-soon be gone.

Fun at fall festivals
ENTERTAINMENT/ Jolonda young As the hot, hazy days of summer are replaced by crisp breezes and bursts of color, area residents can enjoy all that fall has to offer at area festivals..

Autumn means music in central Illinois
Summer may be drawing to a close, but the music scene in central Illinois is as vibrant as ever. From cutting-edge electronica to oldtime a capella, Springfield and other central Illinois cities offer a variety of sounds within a short drive..

Let’s go to a show
Nov. 23 and 24 at 7 p.m. Sing along with Julie Andrews as you encounter this classic movie on the wonder of the big screen. For tickets or more information to any of these events, call 217-523-2787 or visit www.hcfta.org.

Oddball Illinois
Entries are condensed and brief for the most part, but intriguing and amusing. Each includes the address, direction, phone number, website, admission price and operating hours, if the information is available or if the venues are not free and open to the public.

Oddball central Illinois
Here’s a list of a few area sites taken from the book. Descriptions are not word for word, but recounted and abbreviated, with none of the humor and wit found in the book. We think Quincy merits mentioning. A mere two-hour drive away, it makes an interesting day trip.

Lawless a cinematic crime
Since the advent of the DVD format, one of the more revealing features that many contain is that of the “director’s cut.” Studios have their reasons for trimming the films they produce and there are only a very few filmmaker’s who have the final say on how their movies ultimately appear on the big screen.

Check the heat in your jalapeños
“They’re breeding the heat out of jalapeños, and it’s all because of poppers,” says Rick Bayless, addressing a group of us attending his seminar on the foods of the Yucatan.

PUB CRAWL
Brooke Thomas and The Blue Suns - Toys for Tots.

BAND SPOTLIGHT | David Berchtold
When done well, fingerpicking a guitar looks so easy anybody could do it. But the task of convincing several digits to make music while moving simultaneously in different, yet coordinated directions appear effortless, takes a good deal of effort, concentration and practice.

Rockhouse: Twenty years of rocking the house
One of the most difficult things in the music industry is not so much playing the music (as hard as that can be), but keeping everything together, from booking, bandmates and business, to supporting and developing loyalty and respect among bars, venues, bands, musicians and fans.

THEATER | Period play
Bring a blanket or lawn chair and be transported back in time during two matinees and an evening performance of the play Prairie Dreams: The Story of Clayville and Its People,.

THE CALENDAR
South Jacksonville Celebration.

FESTIVAL | Hail to the historic
South Town celebrates its historic existence as Springfield’s oldest district on September 1-2 with two days of food, blues, jazz and more. Saturday at 4 p.m. Dan Rivero Trio plays, Sunday from 6-8 p.m. Blues Expression takes the stage, followed by Ruka Puff from 9 -11 p.

THE CALENDAR
2pm Sun, Tony-award winning electrifying fusion of morality, sexuality, and rock and roll about teens coming of age. $18-$20. The Legacy Theatre, 101 E. Lawrence, 1-800-838- 3006. To Kill a Mockingbird.

FESTIVAL | Ladies of lore
Aug. 31 through Sept. 3 is the 14th Annual Prairieland Chautauqua at the Community Park in Jacksonville. This year’s theme is “Women Who Made History.” Under the big tent will be presentations by reenactors, storytelling, lectures, music, dance and nightly communal suppers.

THE CALENDAR
flea market 8:30 a.m. and after meeting with Coppertree talking about new-to-market trees, shrubs and perennials. Westminster Presbyterian Church, 533 S. Walnut Street, 217-522-4415. Volunteer Steward Orientation.

FESTIVAL | Cultural experiences
A weekend of cultural experiences awaits you at the popular Ethnic Festival, held at the Illinois State Fairgrounds Ethnic Village. Admission is free during the three days of exotic cuisine and invigorating music and dance from local ethnic groups. Saturday, Sept.

THE CALENDAR
with healing sounds of Unity’s crystal bowls every first Thursday. Unity of Springfield, 417 Cordelia, 217-523-5897. Lama Lodru Rinpoche Calm Abiding Meditation.