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Keep pushing for excellence in education
School reform has proven to be tricky business in Springfield. Leading up to Dr. Walter Milton’s hire as superintendent in 2007, Springfield Public Schools were under growing public pressure to reverse declining test scores, improve failing high...

Board games
The most accident-prone intersection in Springfield is at 1900 West Monroe Street where the corridor to the boardroom crosses the corridor to the superintendent’s office. There was yet another pileup at that spot when the District 186 board bought out the final year of Superintendent Walter Milton’s contract.

Editor’s note
Here are some metrics that matter as much as math. School District 186 has polled students in grades 5-12 on their levels of “hope,” “engagement” and “wellbeing” as part of a national project by the Gallup research organization.

Do more than the minimum on minimum wage
Right! Way to go! Not only does his call to raise America’s minimum wage put some real pop in populism, but it could finally start putting some ethics back in our country’s much-celebrated (but rarely honored) “work ethic.

LETTERS
Eight years ago I was diagnosed with severe bipolar disorder. I went from an advocate for seniors and a village trustee to someone swimming in the chaos of a mental health disorder. I learned in the beginning not to discuss my disability because of our society’s lack of compassion and understanding.

Cost of inaction on concealed carry law
As you most assuredly already know, a federal appellate court has given the General Assembly until June 8 to pass a new law allowing some form of public carrying of loaded weapons. After that deadline, Illinois’ laws against public carrying would be struck down.

SMARTPHONE? SMART FIX!
Is that pothole on your street taunting you? There’s an app for that. A few months ago, the City of Springfi eld quietly started using an application for smartphones called “Public Stuff.” The app allows users to report problems like potholes, downed tree limbs and busted streetlights directly to the city for repair.

BROTHER CAN YOU SPARE A FLAG?
Money is tight at Springfi eld’s daily newspaper as reckoning day approaches for GateHouse Media, corporate parent of the State Journal-Register that went on a drunken-sailor spending spree with borrowed money a few years back and paid way too much for a whole bunch of publications, including the SJ-R in 2007.

Closing the school that closes the gap
At the Feb. 18 meeting of the Springfield Public Schools Board of Education, board member Bill Looby disputed the $1.7 million savings estimate associated with closing the Capital College Preparatory Academy, 1101 South 15th St. Looby said the actual savings would likely be between $1 million and $1.

Breaking down what goes into your food
On Feb. 20, Lincoln Land Community College welcomed almost 100 participants to the 10th annual Composting Symposium. During the symposium, guests were invited to listen to business models and share personal composting ideas.

Illinois starts giving prison inmates release credits
Certain Illinois inmates have started to receive early release credits under administrative rules adopted this month by the Illinois Department of Corrections. The move follows a state law passed last year in response to public outcry over a previous early release program.

You drink, you drive, you cruise
Since the early 1980s, lawmakers in the Land of Lincoln and throughout the nation have passed one get-tough law after another aimed at getting intoxicated drivers off the road.

Feet first
“We were on day five of a 10-day shoot,” she recalls. “My emotions were basically everywhere, I was facing my greatest fears.

Bloody good fruit
True, the name is a little off-putting. And their exterior, mottled with vermilion and/or brownish purple, sometimes looks more like a nasty bruise rather than something good to eat. But the first sight and taste of blood orange flesh reveal why they’re so highly prized.

Jack revitalizes classic tale
While Hollywood studios are often criticized for having a lack of imagination where feature films are concerned (too many sequels and reboots, thank you) and have been knocked recently for plumbing the fairy-tale vault far too often, if each retold legend is as well-crafted and smart as Bryan Singer’s Jack the Giant Slayer,.

March madness
This Saturday the Illinois Central Blues Club commemorates 27 years of serving up the best in the blues to Springfield aficionados of this most enduring and popular musical American genre.

PUB CRAWL
Dates, times and locations are subject to change, so we suggest calling before attending an event..

BAND SPOTLIGHT | The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band
With a back story like a Hollywood movie, Josh, “The Reverend” Peyton was told he’d never play guitar again, met his wife and band mate “Washboard” Breezy while recovering from hand surgery and now plays around 250 shows annually.

THE CALENDAR
Dates, times and locations are subject to last-minute changes, so we suggest calling before attending events..

MUSIC | Elvis entertainers
Head out to this exciting two-day extravaganza downtown at the Hilton Springfield where Elvis tribute artists from across the country vie for $10,000 in cash prizes and a chance to compete in Memphis at the King of the World Competition. The 17th Annual Midwest Tribute to the King Competition is Friday and Saturday, March 1-2.

MUSIC | Grand guitarist
Johnson has a Grammy Award and five nominations, one platinum album, a slew of Top 10 hits such as “Cliffs Of Dover” and praise from critics. Included in Eric Johnson’s accolades is a place in Guitar Player’.

FOOD | Sweet samples
More than 70 Illinois companies come together at the Orr Building on the Illinois State Fairgrounds to provide free food samples and to sell their local products. The 15th Illinois Products Expo ... A Food and Cooking Extravaganza will be held March 2-3.

COMPETITION | Rousing renditions
Probably the most fun in Springfield all year, Springfield PrideFest Drag Race, at The Legacy Theatre on March 1, features drag performers vying for a slot in Springfield PrideFest this spring. The drag race contest features drag queens and kings dancing, lip syncing and bringing out some amazing costumes and makeup.